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Zanskar
Trek, Padum to Leh - (15days)
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Zanskar is profoundly remote - in the winter for
months it can be snowed out of the normal access
routes, and the only way to get to it, and around it,
is over the treacherous but beautiful frozen river.
Zanskar is known for its spectacular gorges, which in
the summer enable brilliant rafting. It is a
wonderfully complete, actually insular until recently,
mountain culture, combining Tibetan influences with
those from the rest of Kashmir, and highland Pakistan.
The landscape here is like a Tibet in intense
miniature, with bluer skies and lakes, starker cliffs,
sharper-edged mountains, and lusher oases. The prayer
flags keep fluttering, and the mani walls, chhorten,
monasteries and prayer wheels add a sense of calm and
composure to even the most jaded traveller. The Indus
river has delineated the landscape for centuries, and
continues to slowly do so. The monasteries are some of
the best preserved, with their statuary, murals,
engravings and wood carvings having suffered from
little more than time, in stark contrast to those in
neighboruing Tibet. The occasional herders with their
yak, or field on a cliffside seem of a piece with the
land. This trek offers real isolation and a great
opportunity to get a taste of high mountain spaces.
Tentative Program
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Day |
Program |
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Day 01 |
Arrival at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International
Airport and transfer to domestic to fly out to Leh
(3,500 m). Take it easy, getting acclimatised, look
around this fascinating town with its echoes of Lhasa.
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Day 02 |
Today
take a look around this historic old trading town that
is replete with excellently preserved old-style
buildings and monasteries, an old mosque, as well as
the first real polo ground in the world. There's a
brilliant palace here, as also a stunning Old Town,
and fantastic views. Drive on up to Padum, to being
your trek in Zanskar. |
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Day
03 |
The
trek begins as you make your way to first the Karsha
monastery, a 12th century monastery that is set among
wonderful fields and houses and boasts well-preserved
murals and engravings. Proceed to the camp at Zangla
(3,370 m). |
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Day
04 |
It's
a short but rather challenging walk up to the Base
Camp of the Charcha La (pass). The rest of the day is
good for basking in the sun under the wonderful sky
with the craggy, icy mountains looking down on you, or
exploring the side valleys. |
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Day
05 |
It's
a scramble at times to make your way up to the pass
over rocky and scree-laden slopes, but once on Charcha
La (4,950 m), the panoramic view of the massive
mountains dotting the shimmering air makes the hard
work worth every minute. |
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Day
06 |
Today
is a day of descents and many fords of the river along
which you walk to reach the caves at Tilat Sumdo
(3,750 m). |
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Day
07 |
To
cross into the area favoured by nomads, Rupshu, make
the tough walk up to the Base Camp (4,350 m) of the
next high pass you will cross.
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Day
08 |
At
the top of the Rubrang La the views are again out of
this world, all contrast between colours and light and
dark. It's a long descent down to Markha (3,850 m)
through the Changlang gorge, where you might catch
sight of an wild ass, blue sheep, or the ubiquituous
little marmot. |
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Day
09 |
It's
not short, but it is a pleasant and none-too-hard walk
over to Thinlespa (3,700 m), a classic Ladakhi
village. As always on such treks, the contrasts are
stunning, as light and shadow, blue and green, granite
and ochre, silver and black all constantly play with
each other. |
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Day
10 |
A
rest day allows you to explore Thinlespa and its
surroundings. There are lovely willow and birch trees,
as well as a spring with curative waters in the
vicinity. It's soothing to just walk around this
typical village and observe the rhythm of daily life
playing out in the fields, monastery, courtyards and
in the narrow alleyways. |
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Day
11 |
Today
has a pleasant walk along the river and through wooded
valleys, past fields and flowers, and traditional
houses until you arrive at Shingo (4,150 m). |
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Day
12 |
The
view today is the best of Ladakh and Zanskar. When you
ascend the last pass, Ganda La (4,920 m), you see the
interplay of the major mountain ranges of the region,
the Ladakh, the Zanskar, and the Stok. Descend to the
traditional village of Yurutse (4,140 m) |
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Day
13 |
This
is a day of ups and downs -first down till Rumbak, the
up to a 4,100 m pass, Namlung La. |
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Day
14 |
On
your last day trekking cross the 4,750 m Namlung La
and then make the relieving descent down to Stok, an
old monastery village near Leh. From here you're
driven down to Leh to unwind and spend the night. |
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Day
15 |
Fly
out early to Delhi, where you'll spend some time
sightseeing before transferring to the international
airport for your flight out. |
Cost on your request
Cost quoted on itineraries
includes:
Accommodation in Leh in B category hotel on full
board basis (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Arrival and Departure transfer by non-a/c jeep/ car
in Leh
Full board during the trek section of the tour
English-speaking Ladakhi mountain guide for trekking
Cook, ponies (where needed), and porters
Complete kitchen gear and all supplies including
gasoline
All tents for camping
Accommodation in Delhi in budget hotel with AC
rooms.
Cost
quoted does not include:
Lunch and dinner in Delhi ($ 5-10 per day per
person)
Rescue in case of emergency
Medical and personal insurance
Tips, laundry, all drinks, telephone calls if any
Sleeping bags/ ropes/ crampon/ ice-axe/ other gear
Inner-line permit fee (US$12 per person)
Delhi-Leh-Delhi airfare (Current fare is US$164 one
way)
Please note: The airfare is subject to change without
prior notice.
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Highlights
of the Tour |
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Duration |
: 15
days total |
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Season |
:
Mar-May, Sep-Nov |
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Hotel |
: 3
Star in Delhi |
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Price |
:
On your request |
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Discount |
: |
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Valid
till |
:
2009-12-31 |
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Spectular
Views |
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