A very interesting trek beginning at Lamayuru and walking up
the less traveled Ripchar valley with its small villages, nomadic
settlements and pastures where you see a wide variety of flowers
from end of July to end of August and birds too.
You
cross some high passes with excellent views of the Karakoram
and the Zanskar ranges. The initial part of the trek till Chilling
is less traveled. From Chilling you cross the Zanskar river
by a pulley cable and continue into the Markha valley-most popular
and considered one of the best valleys in Ladakh.
This trek is not difficult but is demanding in stages due to
the terrain. The average walking time is 5-6 hours.
Itinerary
Day 01 : Arrival in Delhi.
Upon arrival you will be met by our representative and transferred
30 minutes to hotel Park. Overnight hotel.
Day 02 : Delhi - Leh flight
Early morning transfer for flight to Leh. Arrival and transfer
to Hotel. Afternoon free.
Day 03 : Leh sightseeing
Sightseeing at Shey, Thikse and Hemis monasteries.
Day 04 : Leh - Uleytokpo
Drive to camp at Uleytokpo visiting Alchi monastery enroute.
Day 05 : Uleytokpo - Lamayuru
Drive to Lamayuru. Visit the monastery built in the
10th century and one of the oldest monastic sites in Ladakh.
Day 06 : Lamayuru - Wanla
Trek starts.The trail heads down the valley before turning east
to Prinkitila (3506m). Descend from the pass to the scenic village
of Wanla. Camp overnight.
Day 07 : Wanla - Hinju
Hinju: - Follow a nice wide path till the village of
Penji from where you leave the main trail and head up the Ripchar
valley to Hinju.
Day 08 : Hinju - Base of Konzela
Continue up the valley to grazing areas which support the village
summer camps to camp at the base of Konzela.
Day 09 : Konzela - Lanak
Begin a short but steep climb to Konzela (4950m) for views of
the Zanskar range. A long and steep descent brings you to a
camp by the river at Lanak.
Day 10 : Lanak - Chilling
Chilling (3390m):- Follow the left bank of the river
to the village of Sumda then go up the ridge to another pass
- Dunduchunla (4435m) and descend to camp near the village of
Chilling, the inhabitants of whom are the only ones who are
the main metal workers making Ladakhi copper utensils.
Day 11 : Chilling - Skiu
Skiu (3390m):- Cross the Zanskar by pulley cable and follow
a lovely trail to camp at Skiu.
Day 12 : Skiu - Markha
Markha (3810m):- A full walking day. Cross the Markha River
at two places to the village of Chalak. Beyond this settle-ment
is an impressive line of chortens and a huge mound of goat horns.
Follow the Markha River to the village of Markha to camp overnight.
Day 13 : Markha - Thachungtse
Thachungtse:- Follow the main trail passing the monastery at
Humlung to the village of Hankar. We now go away from the wide
valley and go up a narrow valley to the pastures at Thachungtse.
(5-6hrs).
Day 14: Thachungtse - Nimaling
Nimaling (4700m):- Approx. 3-4hrs from Thachungtse,
the trail climbs steeply to the plateau and pastures of Nimaling
with impressive views of Kangyassey peak.
Day 15 : In Nimaling
Rest day at Nimaling. Optional hike up the left shoulder of
Kangyassey.
Day 16 : Nimaling - Chogdo
Chogdo:- Begin a gradual climb of about 2 hrs to the top of
Kongmarula (5030m), the highest point on the trek with excellent
views of the Stok range and the Karakoram range of mountains.
Descend to the wooded gorge to camp at Chogdo.
Day 17 : Chogdo - Shang Phu
Shangphu:- Follow the Shang Tokpo (stream). Go up Shang la at
4900m and descend to camp.
Day 18 : Shang Phu - Matho - Leh
Leh:- Descend from Mathola to the village at Matho. Drive to
Leh visiting Stok Palace and museum on the way back.
Day 19 : In Leh
Free day in Leh.
Day 20 : River Rafting in Leh
Rafting on the Indus. Grade 2+ with a lot of waves. Approximately
3 to 4 hrs of fun on the river. Return to Leh.
Day 21 : Leh - Delhi flight
Extra day to be adjusted in case of flight cancellation or exchanged
for an Agra extension.
Day 22 : Delhi Departure
Fly Leh - Delhi.
Day 23 :
Depart Delhi.