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Day 1: Leh- Lamayuru (3364 mtrs.) 5 / 6 hrs. drive.
Drive five hours
on the Leh / Sri-Nagar Highway as far as Lamayuru, a splash of green against the stark desert with its charming village and
a centuries old Gompa. The afternoon is spent exploring the village and gompa. Camp is set on a forested riverbank below the
village.
Day 2: Lamayuru -Wanla (3090 mtrs.) 3 / 4 hrs. trek.
trek starts after
breakfast, passing through crumbling gorges. The path gradually ascends southwards, to the Prinkiti la (3726m.), reached in
about an hour. Descend along a dry narrow gorge to the valley to Shillakong, through apricot orchards and beautiful willow
groves, via the village of Shilla and on to Wanla village, dominated by its red-hued gompa.
Day 3: Wanla- Hinju (3787 mtrs.), 5 / 6 hrs. trek.
The trail follows
the Yapola before turning off into the Ripchar valley which is dotted with tiny green village with a typical cluster of mud
houses built on to the hillside and bridge green fields stretching out into the barren land. Camp is set by the stream, just
below the village.
Day 4: Hinju -Marjak,
6 hrs. trek
After following
the Ripchar Nallah for about Konzke la where the fierce winds on top of the pass
are more than compensated for by the spectacular views all round. Descend into the pastures where the local people bring their
horses, cows, dzos and yaks to graze. This is blue sheep and ibex country and if lucky, one might even spot the occasional
red Himalayan fox. Camp in a meadow by the stream.
Day 5: Marjak - Lanaq, 6 hrs. trek.
Continuing along the Sumdah Tokpo, the trail
reaches Sumdah Chenmo, a beautiful village with some very interesting 11th century wood carvings embedded in the ground and
exposed to the elements. According to local belief, great disaster will strike the community if the carvings are moved in
any disaster will strike the community if the carved in a more basis folk style. Get back on the trail and, having waded across
the stream, climb up to Lanka, a grassland dotted with quaint little shepherd shelters built with piled up stones.
Day 6: Lanaq - Sumda Chun, 6 hrs. trek
After descending to the Sumdah Tokpo, the
route turns to Sumdah Chun, where camp is set for the night.
Day 7: Sumda Chun - Pulu ( 4320 mtrs. )
The trail ascends steeply to the Stakspi
la (16,990 ft,/ 5, 180M.) where again there are wonderful view of the valleys on either side.
A steep descent get to you to the campsite at Pulu.
Day 8: Pulu - Alchi , 2 hrs. trek
A short descent to the end of the trail brings
us to Alchi Gompa, located near the small village of Saspol. It is one of the earliest monasteries built before the invading
wars began in the 15th century; Alchi was built on lowlands, rather than on a hilltop as others were, in order to protect
them from marauding armies. The rambling monastery has six main buildings, the Dukhang or main assembly hall, the Sun tsek
or three-tiered temple; the adjoining Manjusri Lha-khang and Lotsawa Leh-khang temples; the Lha-khang Soma or New temple and
the Kanjur- Lha-khan, which is closed to the public. Walking towards the gompa from the small group of houses nearby, the
first temple of importance is the Sum trek temple, the best oldest of the Alchi gompa. The temple is surrounded by wooden
pillars and carved woodwork of mythological animals. The woodwork is where the lamas gather for religious ceremonies. The
Dukhang is the place sides of the Dukhang are covered by mural paintings, which are probably original to the time of the monasterys
original to the time of the monasterys founding. Of particular is the royal drinking scene which is one of the most remarkable
to have survived anywhere in the Tibetan speaking world. The costumes in this scene clearly depict central Asian dress and
the king and queen each have a halo, a convention that appears else where in Alchi and possibly shows Nestorian Christian
influence from Persia. This is the only painting in Ladakh that shows central Asian influence so clearly. The Chortens around
Alchi gompa also contain numerous wall murals, often of Rin-chen bZang-po, meant to honor his activities as a transfer in
collaboration with Indian teachers of Buddhism. Camp at Alchi.
Day 9: Alchi -
Leh, 3 hrs. drive.
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