Duration : 15 Nights / 16
Days
Day 1 : Arrive Delhi :
Assistance and garland welcome and transfer to pre-booked hotel. Afternoon visit to Qutab Minar and Hayumun's Tomb. O/nHotel.
Day 2 : Delhi to Ladakh :
Early morning transfer to airport for spectacular mountain flight to Leh (3505 m). Arrive Leh and transfer to hotel. A day free to acclimatize.
Day 3 : Today we drive 3 hrs to Alchi monastery :
Situated in willow, poplar and apricot grows and home to birds like wagtail, bisbills. Drive back to Leh. O/n Hotel.
Day 4 : Today drive to Stok -Mankyurmo (4,240m / 6 hrs) :
About three hours into the day's walk, a spur forces the river to take a sharp turn, passing the jagged ruins of the Staklang Khar Fort. This fort supposedly dating back to the 13th or 14th century, dominates the upper part of the gorge. From here the trail climbs steeply for a short distance to a saddle called TonTon, with its ritual cairn of rocks, decked with prayer flags and topped with the skulls and horns of Bharal (blue sheep). From here the path drops down to the stony river bed and then continues upstream, past the summer camp or 'doksa' of Chatang to another 'doksa' at Mankyurmo, where camp is set for the night.
Day 5 : Today trek from Mankyurmo to Gyangpoche (4080m over Matho
Pass (4878m) 5 hrs :
The climb up to Matho La is strenuous and at the top travellers are often greeted by the high pitched, wild cry of the snowcock. The initial descent to the plain of the Upper Matho valley is steep. At the end, the trail crosses a couple of streams and camp is set near Gyangpoche Doksa. To the south it extends to the foot of the ice -clad bastion formed by Matho Kangri peak The plain is full of life; white -tailed hares are abundant and whole colonies of Himalayan marmots can be seen stunning themselves outside their burrows, whistling sharply in alarm as they catch sight of a golden eagle circling above. O/n in camp.
Day 6 : Gyanpoche to Base of Shang La (4,300m / 6 hrs) :
The first part of the day's walk goes eastwards across the plain, to the edge of the pastures. A 2 hour walk along a trail, descending to the bottom of one such valley, brings us to a stream which has to be followed by a long torturous climb of 2 to 3 hrs to the top, leading us through dry terrain with very little vegetation in this barren wildernes of shale, rock and sand. Camp is set on the bank of another stream which eventually meets the main Matho Nala..The descent is fairly steep, though not long. O/n in camp.
Day 7 : Shang La Base to ShangPhu (4174m/8hrs) over Shang La (4945
m) :
Crossing the stream, the trail climbs up the opposite hill. Three to four hours of steady walking through relatively barren country, leads to Sang La which links the Matho Valley with the Shang Valley. From here the view to the south is spectacular. A gradual descent leads to a small stream, the trail continues along right hand side of river bank, through dense scrub vegetation. It is one of the loveliest parts of this trek. O/n Camp.
Day 8 : Near Shang Phu to Martselang (3400m / 7hrs) :
Some two hours after leaving camp, the trail goes through the pretty little village of Shang Perched high above to the left of the trail, the old gompa with its stone fences and complex braided irrigation system, dominates the valley From here, the trail continues to the confluence of the Shang and the larger Martselang Nala, where there is a one house settlement called Sumdo. From Sumdo, the trails follows the Martselang Nala, crossing back and forth from one bank to the other, fording it numerous times, until it opens into the wide valley of the Indus. Vechiles wait here for the 1 hour drive to Stok and on to Leh.
Day 9 : Drive towards the forbidden Rupshu valley :
Only recently opened to foreign tourists. We drive via Thiksey monastery and camp near the village Chumthang near the hot water spring.
Day 10 : Drive to Tsomoriri Lake :
Tsomoriri Lake We drive along the Pugga stream and cross over bridge at Mahe and drive about 02 hrs more to the spectacular lake of Tsomoriri Here the Zanskar range is transformed into bare rolling hills. We camp for 02 nights.
Day 11 :
Explore -A day to explore the lake and surrounding area which supports Kayang (the wild ass of Tibet), marmots, hares, and tailless rats. The lake is the breeding grounds for numerous species of birds.Visit Karzok, situated at 4,572m with a dozen or so houses and a gompa, which appears like a mirage among the barren hills. This is the only permanent settlement in Rupshu, otherwise the region is only inhabited by the nomadic Chang Pa herd people.
Day 12 : We drive back to Leh :
Overnight in hotel.
Day 13 : A day of rest :
Mingle with the locals, visit bazaar. Overnight in hotel.
Day 14 : Early morning flight back to Delhi :
Afternoon is free or visit Old Delhi. Overnight in hotel.
Day 15 : A day for independent activities :
Late night Departure transfer.
Day 16 :
Earlymorning flight back.