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| A
beautiful trek through a less-frequented
area of Ladakh, this route follows the
same trail as on the Markha trek for
the first 3 days, before entering the
high plateau of Changthang, which stretches
far into Tibet. The only inhabitants
of this desolate wilderness, where the
climate is so extreme that you can get
sunburn and frostbite at the same time,
are nomadic and semi-nomadic people,
who live in tiny settlements with their
yak, sheep, pashmina goats and a small
harvest of barley on which they survive. |
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Best Time to visit |
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July to October |
| Duration
|
: |
14 Days / 13 Nights |
| Destinations
Covered |
: |
Delhi-Leh–Shang Sumdo
–Lartsa–Thachungtse-Yakrupal
–Zalung Karpo La- khar–Dat
Yar La-Lungmo Che–Zara–Leh-Delhi |
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| Day 01:
Arrive Delhi - You arrive in
Delhi by International flight. After
a traditional 'Swagat' (Welcome) our
representative would assist you at the
airport and to our hotel for check-in.
After some rest, breakfast at coffee
shop in the Hotel. After breakfast we
will go on a guided tour of Delhi at
1100 hrs., beginning with a morning
sightseeing trip to Old Delhi and followed
by visits to the 1648 Red Fort, India's
largest mosque - Jama Masjid and Gandhi
Memorial at Raj Ghat. Afternoon tour
includes visits to India Gate &
President's House. Later on time we
drive back to hotel for overnight stay. |
| Day
02: Delhi - Leh ( BY 9W-609) Dep: 0645hrs
/ Arr: 0800hrs - Early morning
transfer to Domestic Airport to connect
the flight for Leh. Upon arrival at
Leh Airport our representative would
assist you at the Airport and transfer
to Hotel. Check in to the hotel. Post
breakfast rest of the day for rest for
acclimatization. Later in the afternoon
a walk around Leh town (3500m) includes
a visit to Leh Market, Leh Palace, Shanti
Stupa & Leh Gompa - This walk shall
help us in a getting acclimatized at
this height. Overnight stay at the hotel. |
| Day
03 : Leh to Shang Sumdo via Martselang
(2½ hours) - We will leave
Leh by jeep to the starting point of
the trek at Martselang (3600 m). Along
the way, we will visit the first Palace
of Ladakh at Shey, following the famous
Yellow Sect monastery of Thikse, which
houses one of the largest Buddha statues
in Ladakh (called the future Buddha).
We will then visit Hemis, the largest
and most famous Drukpa monastery in
Ladakh (built in the early 17th century).
After the tour, we will drive to Martselang,
where we will meet our crew. Martselang
is the entry point into Hemis National
Park, where we might get glimpses of
such endangered high-altitude animals
such as the snow leopard, Tibetan wolf,
Tibetan sheep and Golden eagle. From
there, we will walk for 2 ½ hours
to the small village of Shang Sumdo
(3700 m). |
| Day
04 : Shang Sumdo 3700 m. - Lartsa 4600
m.(6 hrs) - - Today we will
climb steadily through the gorge of
Shang, enjoying the magnificent colors
and rock formations on view. We will
then pass through the small village
of Chogdo (4000 m) and cross a few rivers
before reaching camp for the night. |
| Day
05 : Lartsa 4600 m. - Thachungtse 4250
m via Kongmaru La 5200 m. (6-7 hrs)
- A steep ascent leads us up
to Kongmaru La (5200 m). From the pass
we will get a breathtaking view of the
north face of Kangyatse (6400 m), Zanskar
and the Karakoram ranges. We then descend
gradually to the summer pasture of Nimaling,
where the villagers from Marka valley
spend the summer with their sheep, goats
and yaks, which graze on this lush greenery.
The campsite of Thachungtse is further
down the valley on the bank of the Marka
River at 4000 m. |
| Day
06 : Thachungtse - Yakrupal (5-6 hours)-
After yesterday's strenuous
walk, today is easier as we walk through
the remote Langthang valley, where few
other trekkers go. It's only the villagers
from Markha, who use this valley as
a pasture ground for their animals.
From Thachungtse, we will follow the
valley down until it divides, cross
the river and follow the valley to the
left along the Langthang Chu River.
The valley down to the right leads to
Markha. The Langthang River has a tendency
to rise during the day due to the melting
of snow in the mountains, and by noon
it becomes a dangerous river to cross.
An early start in the morning is therefore
essential, as one has to cross the river
several times. Yakrupal is a nice, green
campsite where both the horses and we
will have a good meal. |
| Day
07 : Yakrupal - Zalung Karpo La 5200m
- Khar (5-6 hours) -After Yakrupal,
we will continue up the valley towards
the pass of Zalung Karpo La. From the
top of the pass there is a spectacular
view of the Zanskar range on one side,
while on the other, the highest plateau
in the world appears: the Chang Tang
plateau stretching far into Tibet, known
as the land of the nomads. The trail
down is steep and several river crossings
will follow to the beautiful and lush
campsite of Khar, which will be our
home for tonight. Kharnak means "black
castle" in Ladakhi, and, situated
on a hill above the campsite, one can
imagine the former palace of Khar where
the king of Kharnak used to live. The
ruins of this former kingdom still stand,
and the nomads believe it to be haunted.
It is said that the nomads in Dat are
descendants of the people who lived
in Khar and that they for some reason
moved to Dat three or four generations
ago. |
| Day
08 : Khar - Dat (5-6 hours)-A
relatively easy day and a beautiful
walk through wide, lush valleys (by
Ladakhi standards!). At Tangtse Sumdo
the valley divides - the left valley
leading to Dat and the right into Zanskar,
by the 'Zhunglam trek', where one will
get one's feet real wet due to the 80
river crossings! On the way we pass
several nomad camps before reaching
the tiny village of Dat, a settlement
of stone huts and the winter headquarters
for the nomads in Kharnak. Here they
live from October to December and March
to June. The nomads of Kharnak are a
colorful and joyful people moving together
with their yaks and pashmina goats.
In Dat there is also a Monastery, and
when the villagers are away from Dat,
one or two people ride back on horses
every second day to light the candle
here. |
| Day
09 : Dat - Yar La 4950m - Lungmo Che
(5-6 hours) -From Dat we enter
the vast land of the Changthang plateau
and follow a long, wide valley before
taking one of the side valleys towards
Yar La. In spring the nomads move with
all their animals towards Zara and it
can be an unforgettable sight to see
30-40 families moving with their yaks
in caravans. It is an easy ascent to
this pass. From here it is a short walk
down to the pastures of Lungmo Che,
where we will spend the night, surrounded
by snowcapped mountains, grazing yaks
and pastel light. |
| Day
10 : Lungmo Che - Zara (5 hours) -The
trail follows rolling hills towards
Yagang, another settlement of stone
huts belonging to the Kharnak nomads.
A jeep road continues to Zara, the summer
headquarters for the nomads in Kharnak.
If you go for a visit up here, you will
most likely be welcomed with numerous
cups of butter tea and probably be invited
into the nomads' black tents woven out
of yak hair. |
| Day
11 : Zara - Leh (5 hours) -It
will feel sad to leave this fascinating
world, but it is time to return to Leh.
From Zara the drive takes us back over
the Taklangla pass, the second highest
pass in the world. |
| Day
12: In Leh -Today we proceed
for Indus Valley monastery tour. We
start with a visit to Shey - The ancient
capital of Ladakh. The monastery here
has a huge gold-gilded statue of Buddha
Sakyamuni with a large silver lamp burning
in front of the statue. Then we visit
Thiksey Gompa, an impressive complex
rising tier upon tier on a hill above
the village. The monastery has a beautiful
30 m high gold-plated statue of Maitreya
Buddha, the Buddha of the future. Drive
further to visit Stok Palace, the Royal
residence of the King of Stok &
the Museum that has a rich collection
of Ancient Ladakhi artifacts including
old Thangkas, precious stones, arms
and armory, the Queen's necklace and
the crown of the King of Ladakh among
others. Overnight stay at the hotel
in Leh. |
| Day
13: Leh - Delhi (By 9W610) Dep: 0840hrs
/ Arr: 0955hrs -- Transfer
to the Airport to catch the flight for
Delhi. Upon arrival in Delhi we assist
you to check in at our Hotel. Later
in the afternoon we depart for Delhi
sightseeing that includes Humayun's
Tomb, Lotus Temple and Qutub Minar.
Later we drive back to hotel for overnight
stay. |
| Day
14: Departure Delhi -Day is
free for your personal activities. After
lunch, just transfer to Airport / Railway
station for Flight/Train onward journey. |
| So,
what are you waiting for...!!
Get going for the most adventurous vacation
of your lifetime in Rupshu-Kharnak with
us. |
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