Trans Zanskar Expedition

About This Tour

Any other expedition cannot match the fervor and zeal needed to tackle the challenge thrown by this expedition. A tour of few days shorter in a month, Trans Zanskar Expedition takes off from the Darcha Village on the Manali Leh road, and thus begins the adventure trekking holidays on the rugged terrain to Ladakh.

The distance covered while trekking would vary each day depending upon the planned schedule and the amount of discipline with which it followed on a regular basis. Trekking on initial few days is for lesser time in comparison to the days that follow, and then the trekking time is continuously changes so that bodies adapt to the altitude they are reaching to. Some lesser known rivers will be encountered on the way in addition to the River Zanskar. The valley by the same name keeps a constant company onwards from Raru Village which is reached on Day 12 of the expedition.

The monasteries that the trekking will visit during the trip is something to savor because this kind of tasteful concoction of faith, religion and simplicity can never be a part of cities to which tourists and adventurers generally belong. The elements of Nature always remain in backdrop for the sake of being there and constantly accompany the trekking enthusiasts in their zeal to win over the challenges, until the trip culminates at Leh. If this could not stir the trekker in you, nothing else can. The itinerary of the trip is waiting for your consideration.

Included / Excluded

Accommodation : Manali: Hotel on bed and breakfast basis. Lamayuru: Guest House/Camp on bed and breakfast basis. Leh: Hotel/Guest House on bed and breakfast basis. While on trek dome/alpine tent, carry mat, kitchen tent etc will be provided.
Transport : Arrival, departure transfer at Leh. AC Volvo Coach from Delhi - Manali and Toyota Qualis/Tata Sumo from Manali - Darcha and Lamayuru - Leh. Also all sightseeing in Leh. Drop & pick up for trek
Meals : Manali - Only breakfast will serve. Leh: Only breakfast will serve. Lamayuru: Only breakfast will serve.
Trek : All meals will be provided. Meal will freshly prepare and will be a mix of Indian, Chinese, Continental and Ladakhi.
Mules/Porters : For carrying camping equipment, rations, vegetables and some amount of personal gear of the clients (one bag not weighing more than 14 kgs).
Professional local trekking guide & cook would accompany the group
Trekking permit fees

Air fare
Enroute Meal
Any charges for carrying still/video cameras etc.
Alcohol, soft drinks, bottled water, beverages, etc.
Entrée fee if any
Personal expenses like tips, telephone calls, laundry, etc.
Any meals/services not mentioned above
Any costs arising out of unforeseen circumstances like landslides, road blocks, bad weather, etc.
Travel insurance

Itinerary

Upon arrival at Delhi meet our executive and transfer to hotel for overnight stay.

In the morning haf day sight seeing at Delhi including Red Fort built in 1648 by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, Raj Ghat and Shantivan, the cremation sites of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Lal Nehru, India Gate (War Memorial Arch), Akshar Dham Temple and then evening drive to Manali by AC Luxury Volvo coach. Overnight journey.

Arrival at Manali by morning and then transfer to the hotel for relax. Evening free to explore the Mall road. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

After breakfast drive to Darcha. Across Rohtang Pass (3,980 mts.) which is the gateway to Lahual, Spiti, Pangi & Zanskar Valleys. 8 hours drive through Lahual valley. Dinner and overnight stay at the camp.

After breakfast trek to Pa-Lahmo. Darcha is the last village of Himachal Pradesh on the way to Leh. It is the starting point of Darcha to Padam trek. We start our trekking today. First day it's an easy trekking of 3-4 hrs, follow the track until the last hamlet then good footpath and pass a spectacular gorge. Dinner and overnight stay in tent.

Continue trekking and follow the track on the left side of the river passing through the rocky path with big boulders and moraines. We also have to cross streams twice or thrice enroute. Arrive Zanskar Sumdo (4000 M), a good camping ground for the night stay. Dinner and overnight stay in thents.

Today its trekking high up on mountain side. First cross the river by a hanging bridge and then steep climb up for about an hour and then follow the trek on a narrow valley until you reach Ramjak, a small meadow. Thereafter to Chuminakpo (4800 m). Dinner and overnight stay in tents.

Climbing zigzag up through the moraine, ice and snow up to Shingo-La (5090 m). Thereafter descent is through the iceand the snow which is steep and dangerous for the horses and the mules till you reach small meadow. Lukung (4400 m) is further down near the river Dinner and overnight stay in tents.

It's long and easy trekking up and down. Crossing over the bridge we go to another side of the river and follow the path with a mass of fallen rock. Besides this we cross several streams and also pass beneath the face of Gumburanjon peak. Dinner and overnight stay in tents.

Long day of about 8-9 hrs trek. After breakfast continue on the right side of the river along an easy path. We pass through some villages such as Table, Tanze, Kuru, and Jal. Kuru is a major village of livestock breeders. Climb up the gentle slope is the village Jal and thereafter steep descent towards a good bridge for Purne (3650 m). Dinner and overnight stay in tents.

Today we visit Pughtal Gompa, one of the oldest monastery in Zanskar and spectacularly located. Passing through a narrow valley and the splendid gorge we cross the bridge and come to an small plateau sprinkled with chortens and religious banners. From here we see one of the most spectacular sight of the Pughtal Monastery built in a cave. The monastery belongs to the tradition of the Gelugpas (Yellow Hats). Back to Purne and further trekking up on the left bank of Tsarap river after crossing the bridge. Arrive Gyalbokh village. Dinner and overnight stay in tents. Phuktal Monastery, one of the most spectacular sights in Zanskar. Phuktal belongs to the tradition of the Gelupas(yellow-Hat Monks).The monastery is like a honeycomb, cut into a cock under a gignantic grotto, and has 70 monks. in the caves over the monastery, there is a water hole whose water level never receds, even after taking out any amount of water from there. Water is said to have healing powers.

several difficult stretches for the horses and mules. A gradual climb before coming to small plateau and the gradual descending towards to Raru village. Dinner and overnight stay in tents.

Its an easy trekking down on motorable road. After an hour's trekking we come to a small village called Mone. Visit a Gompa there. Further enroute after two hours is Bardan Gompa , situated on mountain plateau. Arrive Padam (3650 m), the capital of Zanskar where two rivers Doda and Tsarap join to form Zanskar river. Dinner and overnight stay in tents.

Day free. Dinner and overnight stay in tents.

From Padam head towards Pipiting and follow a dusty plain towards the Doda river and reach bridge. Cross the bridge to reach Karsha Monastery dating back to the 16th century. It is the largest and the wealthiest of all monasteries in Zanskar. Further trekking down on the plain path is Rinam. Dinner and overnight stay in tents.

Today we trek through the easy stretches often hot and dusty through the bank of Zanskar river and a small stream and shelter formed by rocks. Dinner and overnight stay in tents

Follow left bank of Zanskar River. Easy going along the river , sometimes across the moronic plateau. Dinner and overnight stay in tents.

Now onwards the path leads us away from Zanskar river. Climb up to Parfi-La (3950 m) and then steep descend until reaching the Oma-Chu river . Crossing over the bridge and further climb up a 500 m sandy slope we reach the sheepfolds of Snertse. Dinner and overnight stay in tents.

Long gradual ascend towards Hanumi-La (4877 m) . Reach the top of Hanumi-La and then steep descent about 1000 meters. Again climb about 400 meter up along the mountain side, cross a small pass and then easy descent to Lingshed (3800 m). Overnight in Tent.

Gradual one hour climb to the Murgum-la (4200 m) then pass an escarpment, go along the slope. Gentle descent towards the villages of Gongma and Skiumpata. Steep climb to Kiupa-la (3850 m) and then gradual climb along mountainside to the foot of Shinga-la.

About one to two hours steep climb to Shinga-la (5060 m) and then descending to a broad valley. Again gentle climb towards Bhumiktse-la (4200 m) and descending towards Photoskar (3750 m) , a splendid village. Dinner and overnight stay in tents.

From Photoskar it's gentle climb up to a large chorten, then long ascent of Sisir-la (4990 m). An easy descent to the river and village Hanupatta (3450 m). Overnight IN Tent. (6-7 hrs)

Trek down the slope until entering the gorge and the bridge at the junction of the two rivers. Some easy some difficult stretches of fallen rocks until Phenjilla. Afterwards its trekking on motorable road up to Wanla (3245 m). Dinner and overnight stay in tents.

Last day of our trekking. We pass the Shilla village to cross Prinkiti-la (3726 m). to reach Lamayuru (3 hrs). Visit monastery and drive to Leh (3500 m). Dinner and overnight stay in guest house.

In the morning after breakfast transfer to airport, from here catch a flight for Delhi..