Saga - The Forbidden Land of Zanskar Trek

This trek takes you to and through the heart of this remote mountain region. This is physically challenging program, with passes as high 17,000feet, you reach it by traversing a sea of mountains passing small village en route. From the perspective of Buddhist farmers and herders who call this land their home.

Day 1: Home to Delhi on arrival transfer to hotel.

Day 2: Delhi - full day sight seeing by A/C car. Overnight hotel.

Day 3: Morning transfer to airport to connect with flight to Kullu. Drive to Manali (2050m) For overnight stay hotel.

Day 4: Manali - Darcha: (3,300Mts.) After Breakfast by four wheel drive vehicles and start climbing up to the first pass of the many on this tour, Rohtang pass (3980meters).Soon we reach the bustling keylong,the capital of Lahoul district, which we entered on crossing the Rohtang. Another e hours journey on this military road brings us to our camp at Darcha is a small town sprung out being a transit point for travelers. Camp.

Day 5: Darcha - Phalamo (3,450 Mts.) 4-5 hrs After Breakfast from Darcha follow the trek until the last hamlet then a footpath. Pass a spectacular gorge. Continue along the left bank, then cross a first ford. Good camp I hour beyond the ford, groves. Camp.

Day 6: Phalamo - Zanskar Sumdo: (3,600 Mts.) 5 Hrs Continue on the left bank until reaching a second major ford, then go up the right valley. There are good path on the both slides of the stream, but both are hard going. Camp.

Day 7: Zanskar Sumdo - Chumik Nakpo (4,460Mts.) 7Hrs From the camp, climb moderate slopes to the foot of pass, several easy stream crossing. The ground flattens out and path zigzags through a moraine as far as the Shingo-La (5100m). The descent is steep fallen rocks. Cross a final firn to reach the first meadows. Cross several easy streams, then go down an escapement towards a small plateau. Nice view of the Gumburanjon. Good camp between two streams. Camp.

Day 8: Chumik Nakpo - Lakang: (4,060 Mts.) – Over Singo-la (5,100 Mts.) 6hrs Leaving the meadows and pasture land behind us we start climbing to the first of our high altitude passes, the (5100m) Shingo-La Pass. There is always some snow on top of pass. You are now in the heart of the great Himalayan range amid unclaimed and unnamed 20,000-foot mountains, glaciers and ice falls. As we descent down the other side we enter the rain shadow side of the Himalayan range and the lack of vegetation growth on the terrain reflects it. Camp.

Day 9: Lakang - Kargyak (4030Mts.) 5-6 Hrs A gradual descent along the Kargyak River, lined with Mani walls, on the way we will come across a few Doksas, where yaks are kept in summer time. We pass a small village kargyakh. Campsite beside the river. Camp.

Day 10: Kargyak – Purne (3700Mts.) 6 hrs Continue on the bank along an easy path. Before Tanze you cross in front of a narrow gorge where the route joins up with hiking another treks to Sarchu over Phirtse-la. Tanze is small village gompa in ruins a bit higher up. A short distance beyond Tanze, there is bridge across to left bank. Monotonous going across moraine terrain, slight rise leading to Kuru, major village to livestock beerders. Afterward, an excellent path leads steadily lower. Arrival Teta beautiful village. The path continues downward near the river. Stay on the left bank, and then climb gentle slope up to jal. Next comes a steep descent towards a large bridge, which you cross to get to Purne. Camp near the house. Camp.

Day 11: Purne - Phuktal - Purne 4 hrs Go up the left bank of the tsarap into splendid gorges. After 1 hours, cross a bridge in good condition. A leadge leads to small plateau sprinkled with chortens and religious banners. From there you can see the Phuktal monastery, one of the most spectacular sights in Zanskar region. Phuktal belongs to the tradition of the Gelupas sect (yellow hats) .The spring that gurgles deep in the cave is still out of bound to women. Return to Purne for the night. Camp.

Day 12: Purne - Pipula (3750m) 5-6 hrs From Purne go back down cross the bridge then go up the left bank. The trail that overhangs the tsarap is sometime tricky and hard going. Frequent small canvons of pudding stones, pass a bit above a hanging bridge, which leads to the village of Cha. Two hours later, you arrive at; pass Kaydang, a small village in a popular grove. The trail is still not good, several stretches difficult for the horses. Arrive at a large bridge, which leads to Pipula. Camp at small ground. Camp.

Day 13: Pipula - Mune (3,600Mts.) 5 hrs Cross back over to the left bank ,then a gradual climb before coming to a major tributary gradual descent down towards Raru, then quite a beautiful plains with flowers as far Mune. Camp.

Day 14: Mune - Padum (3,500Mts.) 5-6 hrs Go down a steep incise to the mail trail. After two hrs you arrive at Barden Gompa, a Kagyupa monastery famous for its prayer wheel (180cm). From Barden, a dusty road suitable for motor traffic leads to Padum. Padum has become the major center for the Zanskar area. In the village there are few guesthouse, restaurants and shops all on the main road. Camp.

Day 15: Padum - Karsha (3700m) Trek to Karsha by the bridge that crosses the Zanskar River 7 km from Padum. Karsha is beautiful village with a fairly large monastery and nunnery, both worth visiting. Evening return to the camp.

Day 16: Karsha - Pishu (3500m) An easy and dusty trek along the Zanskar river, the longest hanging bridge joining Zangla Gompa can be visited before arriving Pishu. Almost 06 hrs easy trek with overnight stay at camp. Camp.

Day 17: Pishu - Hanumil (3800m) This day of easy walk takes on to Pidmu (3420m)village and Monastery. 14 km a 06 hrs trekking with over night stay at camp.

Day 18: Hanumil - Snertse Lead to Puri-la after steep and difficult climb. After 3 hrs the path leads away from the edge of Zanskar unto the plateau, then to the foot of the pass. Steep and difficult climb for animals on Purfi-La (3900m), rather steep decent until reaching the Oma Chu river. Camp.

Day 19: Snertse - Hanuma-La - Lingshet After about three hours of trek pass a sheep ford sometimes milk is sold at this place, it another same time approximately to reach the summit of the Hanuma-la (4700m) Campsite is near the Gulepa style monastery. Camp.

Day 20: Lingshet - Foot of the Singge-la (4550m) 6 hrs Easy climbs to Netuke - la (4280m). The beautiful landscape opens views of the valley of Nirang on the other bank of Zanskar. Descending to village of Gongma (3840m) and Skiumpata then very steep climb to Khyupa-la (3840m). A tent Dhaba (Tea shop) run by a monk at Lingshed. Camp.

Day 21: Foot of the Singge-la - Photoksar 07 hrs After 5000m passes a short slope leads into a board valley. A gentle climb after an easy going trek to Bhumikste-la 4200m) .a beautiful trek in deed Photosar (3750m), a splendid village at the base of urge mountain wall. Abandoned Gompa is 20 minutes away above the village. Camp.

Day 22: Photosar- Sirsir-la – Hanupatta (3760m) 6 hrs A large chortens at top and long ascent to Sirsir-la (4850m). Another route from here leads up to Sniugutse-la (5000m) that takes to lamayuru avoiding Hanupatta. Camp.

Day 23: Hanupatta - Wangla: (3250m) 5 hrs At the junction of river chortens and regions banner on the flat is seen. Bridge across the Yopala, which further with a difference in walk to Phenji-la, a beautiful Gompa at Wangla. Camp.

Day 24: Wangla - Lamayuru 3 hrs Going up to Shilla Khong and reach village Shilla. Prinkit-la (3726m) is en route and reach village Lamayuru- short climb towards the monastery wich is most photographed in Ladakh. Drive to Leh by taxi 125 km. check in hotel.

Day 25: Day free in Leh.

Day 26: Morning transfer to airport to Delhi. Pickup from Domestic Air port to hotel.

Day 27: Delhi - you will be free for your personal activities.

Day 28: Transfer to International airport fly back to home.