High Mountain Passes and Buddhist Monasteries of Northern India 14 days – Remote and Spectacular Landscapes – High passes – Buddhist religion
Ladakh truly is a land like no other bounded by two of the world’s mightiest mountain ranges, the Great Himalaya and the Karakoram. Ladakh’s remoteness and awesome high-altitude landscape are just a few of the many attractions to adventure travelers, as Ladakh’s Tibetan-style traditions and lifestyles remain firmly entrenched in day to day life and largely untouched by the western world. Ladakh was a vital link in the ancient Central Asian trade route network. For close to 900 years, Ladakh was an independent kingdom, its dynasties descendent from the king of old Tibet. Its political fortunes ebbed and flowed over the centuries, and the kingdom was at its greatest in the early 17th century under the famous King Sengge Namgyal, whose rule extended across Spiti and western Tibet up to the Mayumla and beyond to the sacred sites of Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar. Ladakh is a high-altitude desert, sheltered from the rain-bearing clouds of the Indian monsoon by the barrier of the Great Himalaya. It lies at altitudes ranging from about 9,000 feet (2,750m) at Kargil to 25,170 feet (7,672m) at Saser Kangri in the Karakoram.
Thus, summer temperatures rarely exceed about 85 degrees but winter temperatures can plummet to -20 degrees in Leh! Trekking in Ladakh is a rewarding experience and made tough mostly due to its high average altitude. The Markha Valley trek is one of the most beautiful in Ladakh. It includes an exciting crossing of the Zanskar River by trolley or jola bridge at the village of Chiling. It leads through several villages in the Sham and Markha valleys and passes by many chortens and mani walls. The beautiful valley of Markha is overshadowed by many spectacular peaks, Stok Kangri (6123m) and Kang Yatse are the most notable. The trekking route crosses the high and wild pass of Kongmaru La (5150m), the highest point on this trek. We also pass through the Hemis National Park, created to preserve the endangered snow leopard and other of the area’s precious wildlife. We end at Hemis and Leh, home to the most famous monastery of Ladakh.
Trip Itinerary :
Day 01: Arrival at Delhi airport, meet our staff then transfer to Hotel.
Day 02: After Breakfast transfer to railway station for super fast train to Chandigarh 3 hrs. Arrive at Chandigarh, met upon arrival and drive straight to reach Manali (1920 M) by covering 338 kms. Arrive Manali and check into Hotel for overnight stay.
Day 03: Manali – Morning at leisure. Afternoon proceed for half day city tour. Overnight stay in Hotel.
Day 04: Manali/Jispa (Jeep) – Morning after breakfast drive to Jispa (3142 M) 147 kms/6 – 7 hrs approx.) via Rohtang pass (3980 M). Arrive and overnight stay in tents.
Day 05: Jispa/Sarchu (Jeep) – Morning after breakfast drive to Sarchu (4253 M) (95 kms/4 hours approx.) via baralachala (4892 M). Sarchu is inhabited by Himalayan Clan Gaddi and few lonely soldiers at an army outpost. It is also the actual border between Lahaul and Zanskar. Arrive and overnight stay in Tents.
Day 06: Sarchu/Leh (Jeep) – Morning after breakfast drive to Leh (3500 M) (233 kms/8 – 9 hrs approx.) via Lachulangla (5065 M) and Tanglang La (5360 M) – the second highest pass in the world with metalled road. Leh is the capital of Ladakh and is situated on the banks of the river Indus. Arrive and check into Hotel for overnight stay.
Day 07: Leh – Morning free for independent activities. Afternoon sight-seeing of Spituk, Phyang & Shankar Gompas. Overnight stay at Hotel.
Day 08: Leh to Spituk (starting point of trek) – After breakfast leave for Spituk village. After crossing Spituk bridge, start trek to Zinchen. (Trek 4 hrs approx). Dinner and overnight in tented camp.
Day 09: Zinchen – Yurutse (Trek 6 – 7 hrs approx). – After breakfast leave for Zinchen with box lunch, an easy days trek. Dinner an overnight in Hotel.
Day 10: Yurutse – Skiu (Trek 6 – 7 hrs approx). – After breakfast start trekking to reach Skiu via Gandala (4900 M) by covering approx. 11 kms. Dinner and overnight stay in Tents.
Day 11: Skiu – Markha (Trek 6 – 7 hrs approx) – Morning after breakfast start trekking to reach Markha (3550 M) after crossing Chaluk Village. Markha village has about 30 homes and from here you will enter the Markha Valley. Just east of the village there is a Markha Gompa on a hill. Dinner and overnight stay in Tents.
Day 12: Markha – Tchatchutse (Trek 5 – 6 hrs approx) – Morning after breakfast start trekking to reach Tchatchutse via Hankar village. Dinner and overnight stay in Tents.
Day 13: Tchatchutse – Nimaling (trek 5 – 6 hrs approx) – Morning after breakfast start trekking to reach Nimaling. Nimaling (4900 M) has a sweeping pasture where thousands of sheep., goats, yaks and cowyak crossbreeds graze during the summer months, rising to the south is 6400 M high Kang Yaze (Nimaling Peak), a lovely mountain, but not an easy one to climb, Dinner and overnight stay in tents.
Day 14: Nimaling – Shang (Trek 7 – 8 hrs approx) – Morning after breakfast start trekking to reach Kongmaru La (5150 M). The trek to Kongmaru la passes through narrow Gorges. At the top of the pass, view of the Ladakh range and the villages of the Indus valley to the north is excellent. Cross the pass and proceed to Shang. Dinner and overnight stay in tents.
Day 15: Shang – Hemis (Trek 4 hrs) – Morning after breakfast start your last leg of the trek to Martselang and further to Hemis. Dinner and overnight stay in Tents.
Day 16: Hemis – Leh exploratory – After breakfast visit Hemis monastery. Later drive back Hemis to Leh by jeep. Overnight in Hotel.
Day 17: Leh exploratory – After breakfast free at leisure. Afternoon visit Leh palace. Leh Gompa and bazaar. Overnight stay in Hotel.
Day 18: Leh – Delhi (Flight) – Transfer to domestic and fly back to Delhi then transfer to Hotel.
Day 19: Last minute, transfer to airport for onward journey.
Our Service Includes:
- All land transportation by private vehicle, Bus & Train, (Airport/Hotel/Airport & trekking pick up & drop).
- Domestic flight ticket: Leh – Delhi and local airport departure taxes.
- Hotel accommodation in Delhi, Manali & Leh with Bed and breakfast basis as per the itinerary.
- All 3 delicious major meals Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner (provide continental food) and accommodation in tented camp during the trek en-route. Kitchen tent,(Single, roomy Marmot & Big Agnes tents (double for couples) & our famous ‘Tibetan Festival ‘Kamzang’ expedition-style trekking Tent’ as a dining tent, Toilet tent, staff tent, Table, chairs and Kitchen utensil etc.)
- Fresh coffee & gourmet teas prepared by our expert cook while on trek.
- 1 Professional equipped English speaking trekking guide, 1 special trekking Cook, Kitchen boys (local staff), necessary Sherpa and Horse Portering.
- Life insurance for all support crews and their daily wages.
- Per member 30 Kg. luggage allow while in the trekking. Medical Kit Box for Nepali support crews.
- All official taxes and service charge.
Our Service Excludes:
- Personal transportation except above programs.
- Major meals lunch and dinner during your stay in Delhi, Manali & Leh (Ladakh).
- Personal trekking gears as well as sleeping bags or equipment rental.
- Laundry, tipping and other items of a personal nature.
- Emergency evacuation (If incase).
- All Drinks: Alcohol and bottled except tea and coffee.
- India Visa fees.
- Airfare: to & from your country.
- Nepal entry, re-entry visa fees & international airport departure taxes.
- Personal travel health insurance.
- Tips: Allow approx $ 230 for meals and tips for the crews.