Darcha Padum Lamayuru 22 Days & 21 Nights Classic Zanskar Trek

Package Itinerary

• Day 1 Arrive Delhi, drive to Manali (2050m)

  Arrive at Delhi Indira Gandhi international airport. Pickup by private car drive to Manali. Leaving Delhi drive 4-5 hours journey to Chandigarh, watching the changing scenery roll by. Chandigarh is almost the end of the line, located at the point where the Indian plains meet the foothills of the Himalaya. You continue your journey into the mountains, following the Beas River to enter the Kulu Valley, one of the most picturesque valleys in the Indian Himalaya. The road winds its way past pine-clothed mountain slopes giving glimpses of snow capped peaks, and through small settlements with their fields of rice and maize and little walled orchards. Eventually, you reach the upper part of the Kulu Valley and arrive at the popular tourist resort of Manali. Manali is approximately 300km from Chandigarh and the journey will take us around 7 hours. We check into hotel.
  
• Day 2 Manali

  To help with acclimatisation before we start trekking you spend the day in Manali at just over 2000 metres. This is a very popular tourist town and you visit some of its famous sights while you are here. You can visit the colourful Hadimba Temple, the medieval wooden palace at Naggar with its own art museum and enjoy a soak in the Vashisht hot springs. It is also fun to walk around the sprawling bazaar. a day for final preparation before leaving to Zanskar
  
• Day 3 Manali – Rohtang pass (3,978 m) – Kyelang (3,080 m), drive 5 to 6 Hrs.

  Starting trip 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. Rohtang La 3978, which is the gateway Lahoul and Spiti Pangi and Zanskar 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 & Bhaga River to Keylong check in to hotel and short hike to Shishur gompa 2 hours.
  
• Day 4 Acclimatize trek Kardang gompa (3300m) - Lapchang - Satingri (3150m), 5-6 Hrs, Drive Satingri to Jispa (3,300 m) 45 minutes.

  Today acclimatize hike to Kardang gompa, from Keylong we descend to Bhaga river and climb steadly to Kardang gompa, impressive view of Bhaga valley also known and Gharja. After visiting the gompa gentle descent to Lapchang village and descend to Gumling and from here on a well defined path to Satingri crossing small villages of Mangun, Kyor. Arrive at Satingri than drive to Jispa for overnight stay.
  
• Day 5 Jispa to Zanskar Sumdo (4,000m) drive 2 Hrs, acclimatize trek to Kuddu.

  Leaving Jispa, drive to Darcha and continue to Chikka Rarik than along the river to Zanskar Sumdo. Today we do final acclimatization hike, before entering in Zanskar valley. A proper acclimatization must be needed before crossing the Shingo la to enter Zanskar.
  
• Day 6 Trek Chhumik Nakpo (4,670 m). 6 Hrs

  Today leaving Zanskar Sumdo we cross the second ford then go up the right hand valley following the stream, which comes from Shingo la. Streams in Himalayas should be cross carefully even if they look small, camp in the small meadow.
  
• Day 7 Trek to Shingo la / Shinkun la (5,090 m) - Lakhong (4,500 m), 7 - 8 hours

  Today leaving early gradual ascent to Shingo la, the highest point of our trek at 5,090 meters. An eventful day for those who have never climbed to this height. Soon after camp trail goes through rock fields and glacier. From the camp, climb moderate slopes to foot of the pass. Top of Shingo la pass there are prayer flags and mani stones are telling story of those people cross over years back. With impressive view to Zanskar side the valley we trek and summits rising above 6000 m of Great Himalayan range. Today the road has open up this pass and its officially open for public. Walk over the glacier and fallen rocks. A long descent to Pankeya and further to Lakhong we reach at the valley floor. Lakhong is high pasture land for yaks, dzo and sheep, where domestic animals are kept during summer time and produce cheese, butter for winter stock. Finally reach Lakhong camp beside small stream.
  
• Day 8 Trek Kurgiak (4,140 m)- Sking (4,100 m), 6-7 Hrs

  Cross the stream and come to the right side of stream. Walk on a mass of fallen rocks, then cross a small stream. After one hour, you pass beneath the face of the Gomborangjum, then an easy descent to the first village of Zanskar region Kargyak.
  
• Day 9 Trek to Tangze (4,000 m) - Testa - Purne (3,800 m), 7 - 8 hours

  Leaving Kyin along the right bank of Kurgiak chu on a well define trail to Lakhong. We pass the Karu, Testa and Hal village. We descent to a small bridge near Purney and pass series of stupas to reach Purney campsite. Purney is situated at the confluence between Tsarap and Kurgiak.

  
  
• Day 10 Trek Phuktal (3,900 m) - Cha (3950m) - Anmo (3800m), 8 Hrs.

  Leaving early today from Purney to Phuktal and to reach at gompa during morning prayer time. Its a two hours hike to Phuktal also called Phukthar. We depart early from Purney on a well defined trail along the left bank of Tsarap River. Short before Phuktal we cross Tsarap river by bridge. This monastery is built under a huge cave and it belongs of Gelukpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism.
  There is a stone tablet which serves as a reminder of the stay of Alexander Csoma de Koros at Phuktal, while he worked on the first English-Tibetan dictionary between 1826 and 1827, when he explored Ladakh.
  After spending two hours at Phuktal we retrace back to bridge, from here we take trail that goes to Cha. Gentle climb for an hour and descent to Cha village. Passing Cha continue to Anmo village. A short before Anmo there is small gompa which you will visit.
  
• Day 11 Drive Raru (3,800m) -Padum (3,600 m) 2 Hrs

  We drive to Padum from Anmo for 2 hrs, enroute passing Raru and you visit Bardan gompa. You take shower and wash clothes this day and visit the Padum market while the crew will be busy buying fresh vegetables for our next part of trek.
  
• Day 12 Padum - Karsha (3,750 m) - Thongde - Zangla - Pishu (3,500 m)

  Today is the day to explore the important sights in around Padum. At first you drive to Karsha, one of the biggest monastic complex in Zanskar region, After Karsha we visit Thongde, which is built on hill top by Lama Marpa and its more than 950 years old finally drive to visit Zangla fort and to our camp is beside Zanskar River on a large meadows at Pishu.  
  
• Day 13 Trek Pidmo - Hanamur (3650m). 6 Hrs

  Leaving camp, trek along the Zanskar river for 45 minutes and cross a large bridge and pass beneath the Pidmo village. Passing through the fields of barley, short ascend than along the left bank to the campsite of Hanamur.
  
• Day 14 Trek Parfi la (3,900 m) - Zingchen (3,360 m) - Snertse (3,800 m). 7-8 Hrs

  Today after breakfast continue on the left bank of the Zanskar River. Cross Small stream on the left, the trail leads away from the edge of the Zanskar river, steep ascent to Parfi-la (3900m. Its a long and steep descent to Oma Chu River - Oma means milk in Zanskar and Chu is for water, so simply Oma Chu is "white water or milky water". Arriving at Zingchen you cross bridge and up  500 meters  on sandy slope, then one and half hour to the campsite of Snertse.
  
• Day 15 Trek Hanuma La (4,800m) - Base Lanang (4,000 m), 7-8 Hrs.

  Leaving camp long and gradual ascent to the pass of Hanuma-la (4800m.) through gorges for four hours to reach the Hanuma la. Spectacular view of Lingshed, Sengge la and Nyerak from the Hanuma la. This pass is connecting point between Ladakh and Zanskar. Soon after the pass its 800 meters long descent to campsite of Lanang also known as Hanumil base.
  
• Day 16 Trek to Lingshed (3,900 m), 4-5 Hrs

  Today we take short walk to Lingshed village and spend afternoon exploring this wonderful village. After Lanang short ascent to small pass than an easy trail to Lingshed village. Visit the monastery and explore local life at village.
  
• Day 17 Trek to Netoski la (4,475 m) - Skiumpata (4,000 m)

  Leaving Lingshed we climb to Netoski la (4,475 m). We descend gradually to the villages of Gongma and to the campsite of Skiumpata.
  
• Day 18 Trek to Kiupa la (4,420 m) - Sengge-la (4,950 m) - Base (4,400 m). 7-8 Hrs.

  Leaving Skiumpata gradual climb to pass of Kiupa-la (4,420 m) and long and finally steep climb to Sengge-la (4,950 m).  Sengge la is also called Lions pass, due to the pass and surrounding mountains making shape of a Lion. To the south great view of Yulchung and across the Zanskar river the Nyerak. An easy descent from pass down to the valley and arriving at lonely stupa where our camp is set.
  
• Day 19 Trek Bumitse la (4,400 m) - Photoksar (4200m). 4-5 Hrs.

  Leaving an early from camp today we will have a long drive ahead to Leh. Short descent to Bhumiktse-la (4,400 m) towards Photoksar, Photoksar is a beautiful village at the base of huge mountain wall. Arriving at Photoksar, our vehicle will be waiting for us here.
  
• Day 20 Drive to Wanla (3250m) - Lamayuru (3500m)

  We drive to Sirsir la - Hanupatta - Wanla and further to Lamayuru. You will spend night at homestay in Lamayuru to experience the Ladakh culture and visit monastery.
  
• Day 21 Lamayuru - Alchi (3200m) - Leh (3500m).

  Today drive to Leh along the Indus river. Enroute we visit Alchi and Likir gompa. Arrive in Leh and check into hotel and evening explore local bazaar.
  
• Day 22 Morning flight to Delhi, Evening flight back home.

  Early flight to Delhi and evening flight back to home.