Grande Traversee Du Zanskar 23 Days & 22 Nights Across Zanskar Himalaya

Package Itinerary

• Day 1 Arrive Delhi.

  Arrive Delhi.
  
• Day 2 Arrive Leh (3600m) by morning flight from Delhi, rest, relax and acclimatize.

  Arrival in Leh, check in the hotel - Acclimatize Late afternoon visit Leh Palace, Tsemo Gompa, Shanti Stupa and explore local bazaar.
  Today morning arrive Leh from Delhi by flight. Airport pickup and check into the hotel. Rest and relax at the hotel and acclimatize to the altitude of 3500m as well as visit Leh bazaar. visit the Royal Palace of Leh from the 16th century. Continue to Tsemo gompa and finally end with the visit to Shanti Stupa. Overnight in hotel.
  
• Day 3 Indus valley tour: Visit Thiksey (3330m) - Hemis (3700m) - Matho (3590m) - Stok (3600m)

  After breakfast, we drive to visit Shey first, than Thiksey. Thiksey monastery, which is 27 km from Hemis. This monastery is the oldest monastery of Gelugpa School in Ladakh. The great Lama Paldan Shesrap built it in the 14th century. Here you can see the big statue of the Future Buddha. Hemis monastery which is 45 km far from Leh and it takes a 90-minute drive. The great Mahasiddha Staktsang Raspa along with great ancestor Singey Namgyal builds this biggest monastery in the 16th century. Continue to Matho than we drive to Stok which is situated opposite of Leh at a distance of 14 km, At Stok visit of Royal Palace built during 1825 AD and palace has great collections of antiquity. Continue to visit Matho situated 10 km from Stok, which has the 10th-century complex. Finally, we drive back to Leh.
  
• Day 4 Drive Leh (3600m) - Alchi (3100m) - Lamayuru (3600m) - Fotu La (4100m) - Kanji (3850m), 7-8 Hrs

  Today after breakfast at Leh, we drive to Alchi monastery, situated at a distance of 68 km from Leh. Its monastery built on lowlands rather than on a hilltop as others are, in order to protect from enemies. The Chortens around Alchi gompa contains numerous wall murals of Lotsava Rinchen Zangpo, who has built this monastery. Alchi monastery has vast collections of wall paintings and wood sculpture. We continue to drive to Lamayuru which is 58kms from Alchi. Oldest monastery in Ladakh, founded by Indian scholar Mahasiddhacharya Naropa in the 11th century. Lamayuru host mask dance festival (Yuru Kabgyat) during 17th and 18th day of fifth months of the Tibetal Lunar calendar. It belongs to red hat sect of Tibetan Buddhism; monastery is rich with Thankas and wall paintings. Lamayuru monastery was constructed by Arahat Nimagung in between the 10th and 11th century. History says that in the 11th century the Mahasidha Naropa visited this place and the cave where he resided and meditated is still to be seen inside the monastery. After the visit continue your journey to Kanji, still 40 km drives. Arrive Kanji. Explore the village and overnight at camp in Kanji village(3850m).
  
• Day 5 Trek Kanji Dok (4100m) - Yogma La (4720m) - Shilakong (4600m), 7 Hrs

  The first day of a trek with an easy trail along the right side of the upstream river. After the easy walk for 2 hrs, you have gentle ascent and then you arrive at small hamlet where you find the campsite. The view of the valley and its stunning mountains from here is indescribable. Enjoy the scenic beauty of nature of Himalayan Mountains. Continue for an hour and ascend towards the Yogma-la (4720m). From the top of the Yogma La, you have a spectacular view of a landscape, on the left down below you will see the Shila gorge. After enjoying a few minutes at the top you have gentle descent and then small ascent to arrive at the camp. (4600m)
  
• Day 6 Trek Nigutse La (5110m) - Spangthang / Urtsi Dok (4500m), 6 Hrs

  The morning after the breakfast, continue the trek by following the well-defined and clear trek route on the left bank of the river. En-route amazing and beautiful landscape. After a few hours of trek, you reach the top of the Nyigutse-la (5100m). At the top of the pass, you will find yourself top of the world and get the stunning and enchanting view of the unforgettable landscape with different mountains of the Himalayan range. Cross the pass and then descend in a beautiful lost valley opening on an immense plain where you find many animals like sheep’s, goats and yaks etc. Overnight Camp. (4500m)
  
• Day 7 Trek Sirsir La (4800m) - Photoksar (4150m), 6-7 Hrs

  As usual, after breakfast, continue the trek with ascending the ridge right from the camping. Following the clear path on rolling ridge and from here you see the Sirsir-la pass. Descend down in towards the river below. Cross the river and then start ascending straight towards the pass Sirsir la (4805m). Enjoy the view of wonderful Photang valley and its landscape. Gentle and easy descend by following the good trek path to Photoksar (A remote isolated charming village). Evening explore the village. Campsite before the village near the river. Overnight at Camp. (4250m)
  
• Day 8 Trek Boumitse La (4400m) - base of Sengge La (4350m), 6 Hrs

  After breakfast, continue the trek. Today you have to cross one easy pass. Right from the camp, start to ascend for few meters and then continue along the clear path beautiful view of village Photoksar and surrounding mountains and gorge. Carry on ascending up to top of Boumitse-la, from the pass you can directly see the Singey la Pass which is about more than three hours trek from this point. Continue to climb on a high pasture land on Photang valley, where villagers of Photokar keep their Yaks, Dzo, and Horses for grazing. Camp after crossing the small stream.
  
• Day 9 Trek Sengge La (4940m) - Skiumpata (4100m), 6-7 Hrs

  Today leaving camp gradual ascent to Singey la 4940m. Sengge in Tibetan means "Lion". So its "Lion pass", the view and formations of pass appears like a Lion, from pass a panoramic view of Zanskar range, Right from the camp, start ascending up to top of Singe-la. From the pass, the route descends steeply to a loose boulder-strewn area. Continue along the right side of the valley, clear path up to village Skyumpata. Beautiful and awesome view of a landscape of the valley.
  
• Day 10 Trek Murgum La (4350m)- Lingshed (3900m) - Lanang / Hanuma La base (4000m), 6-7 Hrs

  Leaving Skyumpata, the trail leads to Murgum La and descent to the village of Lingshed. The trail goes by near the Photoksar gompa. A short visit to this gompa and trail passes through barley fields. Continue to Lanang after crossing Chapskang La (4200m) steep descent to narrow valley to the campsite. Located at the foot of Hanuma La.
  
• Day 11 Trek Hanuma La (4800m) - Snertse (3800m) - Zingchen (3370m), 7-8 Hrs

  Soon after camp long ascents towards Hunuma la pass 4800m. From the top of pass panoramic view of Lingshed, Sengge la and Ladakh Mountain range. This pass is a connecting point between Ladakh and Zanskar than descent deep inside hanging valley until Snertse. After Snertse long descent towards Oma tokpo at Zingchen, where we camp for tonight.
  
• Day 12 Trek Parfi La (3910m) - Hanamur (3410m), 5 Hrs

  Crossing the oma tokpo long ascent towards Perfi la 3910m. It’s the last pass between our first part of trek Kanji - Padum. From the top, we will be rewarded with a great view of Zanskar Mountains and could visible the Hanumil from the pass. The last patch we trek along the Zanskar River to the village of Hanumil and another comfortable campsite for tonight.
  
• Day 13 Trek Pidmo (3430m) - Pishu (3450m), 6 Hrs

  Today after breakfast we follow the left bank of Zanskar River on a relatively level path. We cross the village of Pidmo 3430m. A small village located beside Zanskar River. At Pidmo bridge is in under construction to Zangla, instead of taking this route we continue along the right bank to Pishu. Another comfortable campsite beside Zanskar River.
  
• Day 14 Drive to visit Zangla (3650m) - Stongde (3800m) - Karsha (3750m) - Padum (3600m) - Bardan - Raru (3800m), Full Day

  Today you have full day culture tour around Padum by a drive. The morning after breakfast, drive to Stongde village. Visit beautiful picturesque monastery built on a hilltop by Lama Marpa 950 years ago. Approximately 60 monks are residing in this monastery. After the visit, continue drive to Karsha. Visit Karsha monastery. This monastery is the largest of all the monastery in Zanskar and this monastery (Gonpa) was first founded by Great Lama Phagspa Shesrap (the translator of Zanskar). From the monastery, you have an amazing and spectacular view of the capital of Zanskar (Padum) and its surrounding mountains. After the visit explore Padum (The capital of Zanskar) and drive along the Tsarap Chu in Lungnak valley to Raru campsite. The drive is on dusty trail usually a foundation of a road to Darcha - Padum over Shingo la pass.
  
• Day 15 Trek Ichar - Anmo (4000m), 6-7 hrs.

  Leaving Raru, trail descend to a bridge on Tsarap Chu, crossing it a well define ancient trail with an amazing and spectacular view of a landscape. It's not so far the village of beautiful Ichar. Continue to Anmo village for our tonight campsite. Instead of taking the Tsethang to Purney route. We will take the Cha to Phuktal, which presents more good views of Tsarap River valley.
  
• Day 16 Trek Anmo - Cha (3900m) - Phuktal 3900m) - Purne (3800m), 7-8 hrs

  Today leaving Anmo village and follow the trail to Cha village. and continue to climb to the ridge, from where we can have a spectacular view of Tsarap River valley and Purne at far South. The trail descends to Tsarap River and we follow the right bank of this River to Phuktal Gompa, one of most stunning sight of Zanskar. Main temple built inside huge cave and rest of monastery houses built on a rock cliff. The monastery was founded by Changsems Sherab Zangpo. Finally, we cross the river by a temporary bridge and trail goes along the left bank of the river to Purney. It will take 2:30 hrs to reach Purney from Phuktal.
  
• Day 17 Trek Yal - Testa - Tangze (4000m) - Table - Sking (4100m) 6 hrs

  Leaving Purney we climb gently to Yal village and continue along the right side of the valley. We pass through beautiful and charming villages of Testa 3900m and Karu. We cross the river just before Tangtse village. Continue to trek along the right bank of Kargiak River we arrive at Sking village, one of the highest villages in Zanskar region and last village in Zanskar. Overnight camp at Sking.
  
• Day 18 Trek Kurgiakh (4150m) - Surichan La base (5000m), 5-6 hrs

  After breakfast, we trek to Kurgiakh village, the last village in this valley and the path leads away from the river and leaving the main valley, gradually up through a gorge and later the slope. A spectacular view of Zanskar valley can have. We climb gently to high plateau to base camp. Overnight camp at Surichan La base.
  
• Day 19 Trek Surichan La (5660m) - Chumik Marpo (4650m),7-8 hrs

  Today leaving early to avoid the snow turning softens at the Surichan La is advised. We cross the highest pass of the trek. The climb may be tough, but after the effort, the extraordinary view of the peaks of Lahaul and Greater Himalayan range is a real award. After an hour of gradual walking along the small stream, we climb steeply to Surichan La with patches of ice. Magnificent view of peaks rising above 6000m to the right and the view goes as far an up to the Rupshu. After taking a break of 30 minutes we descend gradually into the scree to reach the valley floor. Wonderful campsite at Chumik Marpo where you will find numbers of doksas with numbers of Yaks and Dzos. Doksas are high altitude temporary summer settlements, where domestic animals are kept in highland meadows for grazing. Overnight camp at Chumik Marpo
  
• Day 20 Trek Berga Spangchen / Manichen (4400m), 6 hrs

  Today an early start to cross 2 rivers. Leaving campsite along the left bank of River. After 2 hrs of walking, we cross the river and cross-grassy flat land to the broad river of Khamerup. The river coming from right we cross it before noon. Continue on wide open space and flat grassland to our campsite close to River called Berga Spangchen. There are numbers of a campsite along this Lingti chu valley. Overnight camp at Berga Spangchen.
  
• Day 21 Trek Sarchu (4200m) 4-5 Hrs, Drive to Taglang La - Leh, 6- 7 Hrs.

  We leave early to reach Sarchu road head before noon. After camp again a long day of trekking is waiting for us and the last river crossing. Soon after breakfast, we continue on wide open space in high altitude grassland. After 2 hrs of a trail will bring you to a small pass from where the wide open view of Sarchu and Yunam River valley. Descent to Riverside and cross it. The campsite is located, we climb to plains of Sarchu to the other side of the valley and arrive at roadhead. Where your vehicle will be waiting. You will drive to Leh. It will be 6 to 7 hours of drive to Leh.
  
• Day 22 Leh

  This day is just as a reserve day, in case we needed. We can use this day. If all goes according to plan. You will have this day at Leh.
  
• Day 23 Morning flight to Delhi, Evening flight back to home.

  Airport transfer and flight to Delhi. Take your evening flight back to Europe or another destination.