Day 01: Arrival
in New Delhi,
Delhi – Manali drive.
Day 02: Manali. Sight seeing around Manali.
Day 03: ManaliI – Rohtang la pass (3,978 m) – Udaipur
(2650 mtrs.).
Drive 145 km.
(6/8 hrs): the journey starts from Manali, at the head of the lush green Kullu valley. The road slowly winds up the Rohtang-la
pass (3’978m.), the first of the high passes, then down into the Lahoul valley. The landscape changes dramatically,
the greenery being replaced by barren hillsides, where the village with their bountiful fields of barley, peas and potatoes,
stand out in stark contrast. On entering Lahoul the Buddhist influence is visible in the many monasteries crossed on the way.
The people here have distinct Tibetan features. Today we drive along the Chenab
River. On the way we visit famous Trilok Nath temple and Mrikula Devi
temple at Udaipur.
Day 04:Udaipur – Chamrat ( 2,090m), trek 15 kms. on unmattaled road.
From Udaipur follow a road, which has recently been constructed, through
the narrow gorge making the entrance to Miyar valley. Cross the wooden bridge before Chamrat and continue on the true left
bank of the valley. The village of Chamrat
is with Mani walls and prayer flags, is the first village in the Miyar valley. On the way visit gompa at Karpat.
Day 05: Chamrat
- Urgos (3,250m), 5/6 hrs.
Trail leads
through flowered meadows and peas and millet fields before re-crossing the Miyar river on a well constructed bridge to the
village of Charput.
Urgos is at the confluence with the valley leading to the Mt.
Menthosa (6,443m). Overnight camp.
Day 06: Rest
and acclimatisation day. Or hike towards base camp of mt. Menthosa. Highest in Miyar valley.
Day 07: Urgos
- Tharang (3,450m) 4/5 hrs.
Now gentle walk
down to the river floor, a newly constructed bridge to be cross, further 2 km on the true left side of the valley, to the
village of Khanjar
(3450m). Overnight camp at Khanjar, also the last police check post.
The trail crosses
a wide alluvian fan before a gradual ascent to the highest settlement of Tharang. 200 m climb to a beautiful campsite, with
numerous snow-clad peaks far side of Chenab valley.
Day 08: Tharang – Gumba nallah (3,900m), 6 hrs.
Now gradual
ascent over rich grazing pasture, yak herder from Zanskar can be seen nearby Taralasuma pass. From camp at Gumba Nullah, you
gain glimpses of some of the 6,000 m peaks of the Himalayas.
Day 09: Gumba
nallah – camp I (4,200m)
From camp 2
hrs trek to the shepherds camp locally known as Khai got 4100m. Further to an open meadows. Crossing some side streams. A
comfortable base before heading to Zanskar.
Day 10: Camp
I – Camp II
(4750m) 6/7 hrs.
Miyar glacier,
which is 28 km long, from camp at the snout glacier there is choice of route. Walk across the terminal moraine to the left
side of the glacier, route tiring ups and downs along and increasingly ill-defined trail.
Demanding terrains
for the first 7/8 kms untill the confluence with a glacier flowing from the East side. Easy going from here with a gradual
ascent over smooth black ice. An occasional well exposed crevasses to negotiate. Camp just above the confluence with the side
glacier, there is 3 cols and the center one is the actual col.
Day 11: Camp II – Kang
la ( 5450 mtrs. ) – Camp III
(4800m), 7/8 hrs.
A magnificent
views down the valley to Menthosa 6443m. At the head of the glacier, A large snow field curves to the East side to the base
of the pass. 250 m ascent from the snowfield to the pass is not hard. Better to rope up to crossing crevasses. 1.5 kms long
Kang la pass enclosed by rock cliff to the north and snow walls to the south. After crossing Kang la pass camp near the two
confluences of the 2 streams.
Day 12: Camp III - Burdan,
5 hrs.
Now follow the
true right side of the valley. Crossing the many side streams and grassy campsites. 2/3 km down the valley. Arriving at rocky
plateau, trail descends steeply in places through meadows and boulder fields. Tenasa Tokpo remains on the right bank, it flows
down to a grassy meadow above the Tsarap River.
Continue for 2 hrs to reach Burdan. Overnight camp.
Day 13: Burdan
– Padum ( 3540 mtrs. ) – Karhsa
5/6 hrs. hrs.
A well define
trail on the left bank of Tsarap river continues up to and continue to Karsha. Evening visit Karsha monastery. Situated high
above village. Overnight at camp.
Day 14: After
breakfast trip starts in the late morning from Kharsha uptil Pidmu. This stretch is approximately 30 kms. with Class II &
III rapids. After settling into the camp by mid afternoon, we visit the nearby villages of Pidmu and Hanomil.
Day 15:
Today we raft approx. 20 kms to Nyerak, through Class III rapids and the canyon closes in on us through this I gorge section
and the views are akin to the Grand Canyon. We make a camp in a steep gorge below Nyerak
village.
Day 16: Today's rafting stretch is approx. 35 kms from Nyerak to Lamaguru. This is the heart of Zanskar. Awe
inspiring rock formations with indescribable colours . A good white water day with continuous Class III rapids , with a few
Class IV's where the river narrows down to 15ft in width. We stop for lunch at a huge warterfall at the confluence of Markha
river with Zanskar.
Day 17: Rafting from Lamaguru to Nimu today. 40 kms. on the water through class III / IV white
water. The Zanskar joins the Indus river near Nimu. The group will disembark and return to
Leh at the end of this stretch.
Day 18: Rafting
end. Transfer to Leh.
