Himalayan Trek Adventure: Markha & Shang Valleys, Ladakh

ladakh
  • 20 Days
  • Max People : 10
  • Tour Period : 20 Days
  • Min Age : 10+
  • Activity Level : Medium
  • Best Time : All Around Year
Description

This 20-day itinerary takes you from Leh through Ladakh and into the Spiti Valley.

The journey includes sightseeing in Leh, visiting monasteries, trekking through various landscapes, and crossing high-altitude passes.

The trek starts near Tsokar Lake, goes past Tsomoriri Lake, and ends near Kiber in Spiti, with a drive to Manali and then back to Delhi.

Itinerary

The flight over the Himalayas and the landing in Leh is an adventure in itself and even when you are tired from your long journey, that experience will wake you right up. Our guide is already waiting for at the airport in Leh and will bring you to your guesthouse/Hotel. On the first day you can relax and only relax to better acclimatize to the high altitude. (It is a conscious decision not having planned any activities on the first day, it is crucial for your adaptation to the high altitude!) Overnight : Hotel Riwang Residency Meals : BB Elevation - 3500 m

Today you enjoy the awesome view of confluence of Zanskar and Indus River, beautiful villages and landscape of valley with magnificent huge mountains. Morning after breakfast, visit Alchi, situated at a distance of 68 Km from Leh. Alchi monastery was built by great Lama Lotsava Rinchen Zangpo (The great translator) 1000 years ago and is considered to be the most famous and largest among the entire monastery built by him. En-route visit Likir Monastery. After the visit, return back to Leh. On way back you enjoy the view awe inspiring and spectacular lunar landscape across the village. Arrive Leh by late afternoon. Overnight at hotel. Overnight : Hotel Riwang Residency Meals : BB Elevation : 3500 m

After breakfast, drive to Stok via Choglamsar by crossing a bridge on the river Indus. In Stok, visit the royal palace of present king and queen which constructed by the king Tsespal Tondup Namgyal in 1825. Inside the palace, you see great collection of ancient royal ornaments, Thankas and old statues. After visiting Stok Palace, drive to Matho village, 10 km from Stok. Visit Matho monastery built by Lama Tumgpa Dorje in 13th century. The famous two oracles (known as Rongtsan), who were invited from Tibet by the founder of this monastery, still make appearance during the festival of the monastery. After visiting Matho, drive back to Leh. Post Lunch, visit Shanti Stupa that depicts four events in the life of Buddha and inaugurated by H.H. 14th Dalai Lama in 1985. Later on, visit Sankar Monastery in Leh. Overnight in Leh. Overnight : Hotel Riwang Residency Meals : BB Elevation : 3500 m

Morning, after breakfast, drive to Tsokar, 154km east of Leh. Today, your whole journey will be in the car on Leh-Manali Highway. En-route visit Thiksay monastery. This monastery is the oldest monastery of Gelukpa Sect of Mahayana Buddhism in Ladakh. The great Lama Paldan Sherap built in 15th century. Inside the monastery you visit the big statue of the Maitreya Buddha (Future Buddha) and wall paintings, Thankas (fresco paintings), statues of different Boddhisattvas and sacred shrines. After visiting Thiksey monastery, drive to Hemis monastery by crossing Indus river at Kharu village towards the south. The great Mahasidha Stagtsan Raspa along with ancestor Singe Namgyal built this biggest Drukpa sect monastery in 17th century. After visiting this monastery, drive back to Kharu and then continue your journey towards east on the Highway. Have Lunch at Upshi. After then continue drive, with crossing of Indus River over a bridge, on Leh-Manali highway as far as Langthanchu. En route you pass through spectacular gorges, several charming village such as Gya, Meru and Rumtse. After Rumtse, the road goes up in winding with scenic beauty of landscape till Taklangla pass (The world's second highest motorable pass 5300m). Arrive Tsokar Lake (salty Lake) by afternoon. Tsokar Lake is approximately 95 km. northwest of the Tsomoriri Lake at a height of (4,490m). It is also called "White Lake" because of the salt deposited around it- this is because there is no outlet from the lake which makes the water brackish. In ancient times, the salt from the lake used to take out and sell it all over Ladakh and Kashmir by the local nomads known as the Changpas. Tsokar Lake is breeding grounds for a variety of birds among them the bar-headed goose, the great crested grebe, the Brahmin duck and the brown headed gull. Overnight : Camp Meals : BLD Elevation - 4590 m

Morning after breakfast, start your adventurous and challenging trek. Today, you enjoy easy trek along with the Tsokar Lake upon vast open plateau as far as Nuruchan where you find as many as animals including Yaks. You enjoy the trek with spectacular landscape of the valley and you see many birds and wild Ass (Skyang) and wonderful Tibetan plateau. Keep on easy walk along the right valley as far as Nuruchan village. Pass Nuruchan village and continue along the stream for few minutes to campsite across meadows. Overnight at camp near the small river. (4690m)s. Overnight : Camp Meals : BLD Elevation : 4690 m

Today you have small pass Horlamla (4900m) to cross. It is easy ascent and takes 50 minutes to reach at the top. After crossing the pass you reach at Rachungkaru where you find nomadic camp of Tibetan refugees. In Rajungkaru, you have attraction with nomads and can see the life style of nomadic people. In this area they have plenty of Yaks, Sheep and Pashmina Goats. Overnight : Camp Meals : BLD Elevation : 4900 m

From the camp you have walk through the camp of nomadic people. From nomadic area stick ascent to Kyamayuri-la (5300m). It is easy to ascend and it takes about more than one hour to reach at the top of the pass. From the pass; you can see splendid landscape, Tsokar Korzok area. Easy descend to the summer pasture of Tibetan refugee camp, called Gyama Burma. And on the right side there is another small pass Kartse-la (5000m), cross and easy descend then arrive in Gyama, nomadic camp. Beautiful camping site, Overnight at camp. (5180m). Overnight : Camp Meals : BLD Elevation : 5180 m

Morning, after breakfast continue trek to Korzok. One pass to cross. Very easy ascend right from the camping up to the top of the pass Yarlung Nyaula (5440m) Continue along the small stream towards east in the valley and it takes one and half hours to reach at the top. Steep easy descend and then arrive at Korzok Phu (Nomadic camp). 30 minutes trek from here, pass the Korzok phu and continue down in the valley along the small river up to Korzok with Tsomoriri Lake. Arrive at camp. In the evening if time permits, visit Korzok Monastery or enjoyable short hike around the Lake. Overnight at camp. (4620m) Tsomoriri Lake located in the Changthang (northern plains) area, is a High Altitude Lake with an altitude of 4620m, is the largest of the High Altitude Lakes in the Trans-Himalayan biogeographic region, entirely within India. It is 23 km. long and 4 to 5 km. wide and is hemmed between Ladakh in the North and Tibet in the east and Zanskar in the west; the Changthang plateau is the geographical setting with snow peaks that provides the source of water for the Lake. Accessibility to the lake is limited to summer season only. Tsomoriri Lake is also breeding grounds for a variety of birds among them the bar-headed goose, the great crested grebe, the brahmin duck and the brown headed gull. Overnight : Camp Meals : BLD Elevation : 4620 m

Today we will trek along the magnificent lake of Tsomoriri as far as Kyangdam. You will see some rare species birds, like black naked crane, Brahamini duck and many more migrant birds. While capturing awesome scenic beauty of changing colour of the lake, continue easy trek always on the vast plateau. Nice Campsite near the lake across the meadows. Overnight : Camp Meals : BLD Elevation : 4620 m

Morning; after breakfast, leave camp for Norbu Sumbo. Leaving behind the lake continue easy and gentle trek over vast plateau. Today you see some wild animals, like Skyang (Wild ass) and pass across Tibetan nomad's camps settled across the beautiful meadows near beautiful spring water. Good and nice campsite across meadows with clean water. Overnight : Camp Meals : BLD Elevation : 4490 m

As usual after breakfast, you start easy and smoothly the trek upon the plateau and then enter into a splendid gorge. Then cross the Parang River that is the frontier between Lahoul -Spiti and Ladakh regions. Now you are in Lahou-Spiti region, the forgotten sister of Ladakh. While enjoying the spectacular and enchanting view of landscape, continue easy and gentle trek along the downstream Parang River as far as campsite across meadows. Overnight: camp near Parang River. (4540m). Overnight : Camp Meals : BLD Elevation : 4540 m

Today you have several crossing of river during the day along the same gorge with gradual ascending. The landscape change as you trek and enter in another region of the Himalaya. Today you see as many as marmots and better chance of Himalayan mountain eagles. Overnight: camp on the riverside across the meadows. (5050m). Overnight : Camp Meals : BLD Elevation : 5050 m

Today you cross one pass known as Parang La (5580m). From the camp gradual ascend for an hour then walk on the glacier. You have to be careful with cravass time to time upto the top. From the Parangla, take pleasure of splendid view of awe inspiring and marvelous landscape of Spiti valley and its surrounding spectacular towering mountains. Cross the pass, then gentle steep descend for an hour as far as campsite across greenery patch. Overnight: camp near small spring water. Overnight : Camp Meals : BLD Elevation - 5050 m

Today the trek is easy compare to other days. Morning after breakfast, you start easy and gentle trek with steep descent with awesome landscape as far as Small River, then follow the river for two hours. Then enter into another enchanting valley, from here ascend up to the camp. Overnight : Camp Meals : BLD Elevation : 4250 m

Morning after breakfast, continue short and easy trek with gradual ascent for an hour, then easy descend down as far as river. Cross the river and gradually ascend up towards beautiful and charming Kibber village Kiber. Kibber village is one of the highest motor-able villages in the world. It is situated in narrow splendid valley surrounded by spectacular and marvelous huge mountains from all sides. Surrounded in summer by lush green fields,Finish you trek in this beautiful and charming village and then drive to Losar via visiting Kie Gompa. Kie monastery founded, on hill top with splendid view of the enchanting landscape, by Bromstan in 11th century. After the visit, drive to Losar. Losar village is considered to be the first inhabited village in the Spiti Valley, located at an altitude of 4,085m, on the way to the main town of Kaza. Overnight at hotel in Losar. (4080m). Overnight : Hotel Meals : BLD Elevation : 4080 m

Morning after breakfast, drive to Manali. Today you have long journey with spectacular and splendid view of different enchanting valleys and landscape. Overnight at hotel in Manali. Overnight : Hotel Meals : BLD Elevation : 2050 m

Day is at complete leisure or in the afternoon explore Manali city. Overnight at Hotel. Overnight : Hotel Meals : BLD Elevation : 2050 m

Morning, after breakfast, drive to Chandigarh for overnight stay at Hotel. Overnight : Hotel Meals : BLD Elevation : 321 m

Morning after breakfast, your journey will be in the train. Drive to railway station then take train to Delhi. Arrive Delhi day free or visit. Transfer to hotel, overnight at Hotel.

After breakfast, visit Old Delhi and New Delhi. Evening, transfer to International airport for return flight.

Faq

The flight to Leh over the Himalayas is a memorable experience

Some of the monasteries visited include Alchi, Likir, Thiksey, and Hemis

Kibber is one of the highest motorable villages in the world.

Tsokar Lake is a salty lake and a breeding ground for various birds.

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