Explore the hidden mysteries of Ladakh with
LungtaTravel
Scheduled itineraries:
- Trans-Zanskar Expedition (alternative medicine and botany)
- Changthang Wild Exploratory
- The Ultimate Eco-trek (Wildflower)
- Chadar Ice Trek
Proposed itineraries:
- The Zanskar Explorative
- Sham Cultural trek
- A Pilgrimage in Ladakh
- The Kingdom of Zanskar
- Markha Classic Trek
- Bicycle Expedition to The Top of The World (Khardung Pass: 5602 meter)
- The Mystic Zanskar & Ladakh Expedition
- Shang To Yagang Trek Plus
- The Hemis National Park Exploration
TRANS-ZANSKAR EXPEDITION (15 July – 6 August)
This trek is designed for people passionate about the natural world, including
the abundant diversity of Ladakh’s high-altitude plants, as well as its unique
wildlife and culture. A key focus of the trek is medicinal plants, and their
use in traditional medicine, and Kanji, Rangdum, and many other areas of
the trail are gifted with medicinal plants in full bloom this time of year.
The trail also goes through high-altitude summer grazing pastures and to
remote villages, each with a distinct lifestyle, culture, and dialect, with
the opportunity to meet traditional health practitioners (amchis) in
Kanji, Rangdum, Hamiling and Lingshed.
D-1: 15
July 07 LEH -KANJI: Leave
Leh by taxi at 6 a.m.
D-2: 16
July 07 KANJI – NORTH BASE
LA: 8hour
D-3: 17
July 07 NORTH BASE LA –
SOUTH BASE LA: 8hour, 5,150 meter
D-4: 18
July 07 SOUTH BASE LA –
RANGDUM: 7hour
D-5: 19
July 07 AROUND RANGDUM
D-6: 20
July 07 RANGDUM – PENTSE
LARTSA: 6hour
D-7: 21
July 07 PENTSE LARTSA –
BOKS: 7hour
D-8: 22
July 07 BOKS – SRINMOI
NUMA: 5hour
D-9: 23
July 07 SRINMOI NUMA –
HAMILING: 6hour
D-10: 24 July
07 HAMILING – RANTHAGSHA: 5hour
D-11: 25 July
07 RANTHAGSHA – SANI: 5hour
D-12: 26 July
07 SANI – PADUM: 4hour
D-13: 27 July
07 PADUM KARSHA: 3hour
D-14: 28 July
07 KARSHA – PISHU: 5hour
D-15: 29 July
07 PISHU – HANAMUR: 4hour
D-16: 30 July
07 HANAMUR – NERTSE: 5hour
D-17: 31 July
07 NERTSE – LANANG: 5hour
D-18: 01 Aug 07 LANANG
– LINGSHED: 3hour
D-19: 02 Aug 07 LINGSHED
– STYANGS: 6hour
D-20: 03 Aug 07 STYANGS
– PHOTOKSAR: 7hour
D-21: 04 Aug 07 PHOTOKSAR
– HANUPATA: 6hour
D-22: 05 Aug 07 HANUPATA
– WANLA: 6hour
D-23: 06 Aug 07 WANLA
– HOTEL IN LEH
Cost
Above 4 members: 50 Euro/ Day/Person
Below 4 Members: 60 Euro/ Day/Person
CHANGTANG WILD EXPLORATORY (1 July – 22 July)
Following ancient caravan trails, this treks offers the best of Ladakh, with
open grasslands, jagged peaks, turquoise lakes, picturesque villages, Buddhist
monasteries, high passes, and Tibetan nomads grazing livestock across high
plateaus. Few tour operators are aware of this thrilling trail, and clients
rate this trek as a superior experience.
The trek is challenging and demanding, with long days and high passes. LungtaTravel’s
guides and accompanying horsemen have the logistic expertise to handle unexpected
hardships that occur due to fluctuations in the weather.
Day 1: Leave Leh at 7 a.m, drive to Shang Sumdo; begin
trekking by 9 a.m. Camp at Larsta.
Day 2: Lartsa-Nimaling, via Kongmaru-la , 5,130 meter.
Day 3: Nimaling – Thachungtse, visit Hankar village.
Day 4: Thachungtse – Tamachan.
Day 5: Tamachan – Yakrupal.
Day 6: Yakrupal – Tsogra.
Day 7: Rest day at Tsogra.
Day 8: Tsogra –Dat –Dango, via Yar-la, 4,950 meter.
Day 9: Dango – Lungmoche.
Day 10: Lungmoche – Spangmur.
Day 11: Spangmor – Numah, via Spangmor-la, 4,905 meter.
Day 12: Numah – Tagstago.
Day 13: Tagstago – Lanyar, via Thelakung-la, 4,980 meter.
Day 14: Lanyar – Lato, via Manechan-la, 4,765 meter.
Day 15: Lato – Kyangdam.
Day 16: Kyangdam – Korzok.
Day 17: Rest day at Korzok, in the exotic heartland of
the Ladakhi nomads. Camp on the shores of Lake Tsomori. Explore the area,
visit nomad encampments, and watch for the rare black-neck cranes. Celebrate
the end of the trek with a sumptous feast, with provisions brought by taxi
from Leh.
Day 18: Drive to Leh, stay in a cozy guesthouse; explore
the town or shop.
Day 19: Flight to Delhi.
Cost
Above 4 members: 50 Euro/ Day/Person
Below 4 Members: 60 Euro/ Day/Person
THE ULTIMATE ECO -TREK (15 July – 15 August),
with
an emphasis on medicinal plants, wildflowers, and Tibetan Medicine (Sowa
Rigpa)
DAY 1: FLY TO LEH. This is one of the
most sensational scheduled flights in the world, flying over the snow-capped
peaks of the Himalayas in Ladakh and Kashmir with spectacular views of the
distant Karakorams, to land at the small military airport in Leh. You will
be met by LungtaTravel staff at the airport and driven to a Ladakhi-style
Guesthouse. We recommend that the remainder of the day be spent resting to
insure acclimatization.
DAY 2: AT LEISURE IN LEH. Enjoy
a tour of the town and the bazaars as you adjust to the altitude. Visit
the Royal Palace, reminiscent of the Potala in Lhasa, and the Tibetan Buddhist
monasteries. The large chortens, prayer flags and mud brick houses with
flat roofs and slow pace of life are a dramatic change from the frenetic
rush of Delhi.
DAY 3: SIGHTSEEING IN THE INDUS VALLEY.Visit
some of the largest monasteries and palaces in the Indus Valley,
including: SHEY PALACE, 15 km from Leh, was built by
the first King of Ladakh, 550 years ago, and houses Ladakh’s largest statue
of the Buddha.The statue, of gold and gilded copper, stands 12 meter high
and has blue hair. THIKSE GONPA, 17 km from Leh,
perched on a hill high above the Indus, has the largest population of Gelupa
monks in Ladakh. The 500 year old monastery has a new chapel with
a 15-meter-high seated Buddha. HEMIS GONPA , 45 km
from Leh, is famous for its annual masked dances, held from the 9th to
11th day of the fifth Tibetan month. The 350 year old monastery has
one of the largest thangkas in the world, displayed to the public every
12 years at the Hemis Festival.
DAY 4: DRIVE TO SAPI. Begin driving at 6:30 a.m. west
of Leh for three hour, breakfast at Khaltsi. Drive four hour to Mulbek, through
a sparse and dramatic landscape, to lunch at Mulbek, site of a tall Maitreya
Buddha carved in rock. After an exciting three hour drive reach Sapi, a region
gifted with diverse medicinal and aromatic high altitude plants. Camp in tents
at Chhangyul, with astonishing views of sharp mountains, crystal clear glaciers,
and glacier melt streams.
DAY 5: TREK TO SUMDHO THANG. The botanical trek begins
today, crossing Shagaran bridge, and walk to Spanglung and Rdzamlung viewing
countless flowers and medicinal herbs, following a stream with traditional
water-run grinding mills. Camp at Sumdhothang, in a sanctuary surrounded by
medicinal and aromatic plants. Today’s trek may extend to six hour or more
as we stop to photograph wildflowers.
DAY 6: SUM DHOTHANG TO SAPI LAKE. There is no defined trail
yet to the lake. Different rare and unusual flowers and medicinal herbs, their
characteristics changing with the altitude, cover the landscape. Close to the
north edge of Rtabresthang and the glacier lies Sapi Lake, 50 meter down a
steep and slippery trail. The lake appears as a ’paradise on earth’, surrounded
by a carpet of wildflowers and medicinal plants. Villagers say the lake changes
color; sometimes it is milky white, other times it is turquoise blue. Camp
at a lower altitude.
DAY 7: SAPI LAKE TO CHANGYUL. Cross through the Dentsang
and Kapachan valleys and follow a small stream on a beautiful zigzag trail,
bordered by abundant botanical diversity, for two hour before reaching Pharka
village opposite Chhangyul.
DAY 8: DRIVE TO LEH. Drive to Leh starting at 6:30 a.m,
breakfasting at Mulbek (or picnic enroute). Lunch at Khaltsi and return to
the hotel in Leh for a comfortable rest.
DAY 9: FLY TO DELHI
Cost
Quotation on Demand
CHADAR ICE TREK - an exclusive winter trek
This expedition is possible only in the coldest part of the Ladakhi winter
and involves walking on the frozen Zanskar river, accompanied by Zanskari
guides and porters experienced in this adventurous route. The trek enters
some of the most isolated yet inhabited regions of the Zanskar Mountains,
commencing from the village of Chiling located not far from the confluence
of Indus and the Zanskar rivers, and follows the river gorge through a spectacular
landscape, a photographer’s paradise offering an occasional sighting of wildlife.
We average five to seven hour daily walking at an easy pace on the frozen
river; however a reasonable degree of physical fitness is needed to sustain
a nine day trek in winter conditions.
It is possible that this unusual itinerary will not available in ten years,
as the Indian government is planning to build a road from Manali to the remote
regions of Zanskar.
Day 1: Arrival Delhi.
Day 2: Early morning flight to Leh, transfer to hotel
and rest.
Day 3: Morning sightseeing, including Shanti Stupa and
Sangkar Gonpa; lunch at hotel; afternoon visit to traditional medicine
centers in Leh to witness the tradition of Sowa Rigpa and the
preparation of Tibetan medicinal formulas.
Day 4: Sightseeing around Sham, west of Leh, visiting
Likir and Alchi monasteries. Alchi is known worldwide for its paintings.
Day 5: Leh to Chiling (by private bus or jeep) accompanied
by our Zanskari porters , 5 hour driving; visit artisans of Chilling famous
for their copper containers.
Day 6: The Chadar, the walk on the frozen Zanskar River,
commences from Chiling with a 5 hour walk to Zaribago, and a 4 hour walk
to camp at Dipyokma.
Day 7: Dipyokma to Nyaraks Pulu, a 4 to 5 hour walk;
walk 10 minutes to camp below Nyaraks village.
Day 8: Nyaraks Pulu to Lingshed, a one hour walk on the
Chadar, and 5 hour steep walk uphill to Lingshed village; stay in a private,
well-heated house.
Day 9: Rest day in Lingshed, one of the most remote villages
in Ladakh; visit the monastery, school for monks, and traditional medicine
center.
Day 10: Lingshed to Nyaraks Pulu, a 5 hour walk.
Day 11: Nyaraks Pulu to Tsomopaldar, a 4 hour walk.
Day 12: Tsomopaldar to Tilatdo, a 5 hour walk..
Day 13: Tilatdo to Chiling, returning by jeep to Leh,
5 hour driving.
Day 14: Rest day in Leh.
Day 15: Return flight to Delhi.
Cost
Above 4 members: 50 Euro/ Day/Person
Below 4 Members: 60 Euro/ Day/Person
The Zanskar River cuts across flatlands and through deep canyons in some
of the most spectacular and remote regions of western Ladakh. 10th century
monasteries cling to the sides of sheer cliffs; remote villages and a surreal
landscape add to the enjoyment of the trip.
Day 01: FLIGHT DELHI TO LEH. This is one
of the most sensational scheduled flights in the world, flying over the snow-capped
peaks of the Himalayas in Ladakh and Kashmir with spectacular views of the
distant Karakorams, to land at the small military airport in Leh. You will
be met by LungtaTravel staff at the airport and driven to a Ladakhi-style
Guesthouse. We recommend that the remainder of the day be spent resting to
insure acclimatization.
Day 02: SIGHTSEEING IN LEH: Take the
first few days easy; tour Leh city, including the 17th century Palace and
the many Buddhist monasteries.
Day 03: SIGHTSEEING IN THE INDUS RIVER VALLY. Tour
of Thikse, Shey and Hemis Gonpa, the spiritual heart of Ladakh. Drive to
Thikse at 6:30 to observe morning prayers; drive to Hemis Gonpa for a picnic
lunch; return to Leh via Shey Palace.
Day 04: SIGHTSEEING IN LEH. Visit Shanti
Stupa, Tisuru and Samkar Gonpa; free time after lunch to explore the city
and its fascinating bazaar.
Day 05: DRIVE TO LAMAYURU. Visit Basgo
and Alchi on the way to Lamayuru, the starting point of the trek. Camp
in tents at Lamayuru.
Day 06: LAMAYURU TO WANLA. A 5 hour walk
through a silent, narrow gorge; cross Prinkiti-la (3725 meter). Camp in
tents.
Day 07: WANLA TO HANUPATA. A 7 hour walk
on steep rock trails along the river, crossing the river three times in
this narrow gorge. It is a difficult route for people and pack animals,
but the beauty of the gorge’s rock patterns will give you much pleasure.
Camp in tents.
Day 08: HANUPATA TO PHOTOKSAR. A 6 hour
trek beginning with the steep climb before crossing Sirsir-la, with its
breath-taking views of snow-clad peaks and glaciers. Cross the Hanupata
and Photoksar streams on wooden bridges; camp in tents.
Day 9: PHOTOKSAR TO SINGELA. An 8 hour
walk, passing herds of yaks, with the occasional sight of a wild marmot.
Cross snow-melt streams on rock stepping-stones, and camp at Ga-zho.
Day 10: SINGELA TO LINGSHED (via
Skumpata). A 7 to 8 hour walk, the landscape becoming open and panoramic
close to the Zanskar river, with views of Nyaraks and Yulchung villages.
There’s the potential for seeing wild animals today. Camp at Lingshed.
Day 11: REST DAY AT LINGSHED. Visit the Lingshed monastery,
foreign-assisted community schools, and traditional (Sowa Rigpa) health
center, meet local amchi; camp in tents.
Day 12: LINGSHED TO NYERTSE. A 7
to 8 hour walk, crossing Haluma-la with a view Lingshed village, and continuing
through a narrow gorge following a crystal clear stream until camp at Nyertse.
Day 13: NYERTSE TO HANAMUR. A 5 - 6 hour
walk, descending to the Oma-Chu River near Zhing-Chen, the last village
in Leh District bordering Zanskar. If you are attentive you could see Ibex
today. Camp at Hanamur.
Day 14: HANAMUR TO PISHU (via Pitmo).
A 4 to5 hour walk, with a views of the historic Zankari village of Zangla.
Day 15: PISHU TO KARSHA. A 5 to 6 hour
walk, passing through Rinam to Karsha, the center of the Zanskar region;
visit Karsha Gonpa, and overnight in tents.
Day 16: KARSHA TO PADUM. Trek
for 3 to 4 hour to Padum. After lunch drive to Rangdum. Overnight
in Rangdum, making the journey to Leh shorter and less tiring.
Day 17: DRIVE TO LEH. Early morning visit to Rangdum
Monastery; drive to Leh, arriving late in the evening.
Day 18: LEH. Free day, and farewell party
in the evening with LungtaTravel staff.
Day 19:FLIGHT TO DELHI.
Cost
Above 4 members: 50 Euro/ Day/Person
Below 4 Members: 60 Euro/ Day/Person
SHAM CULTURAL TREK
Likir –Balukhar in 7 Days
The route from Likir to Balukhar seldom goes above 4,000 meter, and passes
through several isolated villages. The trek offers the opportunity for observation
and interaction with traditional Ladakhi culture, and the possibility to
stay with local families and observe everyday life.
Day 1: LEH TO LIKIR. Drive to Likir in the late morning
for little more than two hour including a few photo stops, visit the monastery
including a walk around the village to observe traditional farming and other
daily activities of a typical Ladakhi village life, camp overnight.
Day 2: LIKIR TO YANGTHANG. A 4 to 5 hour walk, crossing
Chagatse La at 3,550 meter; tour Yangthang village having unique farming
activities and interesting socio –economic history, and overnight in camps.
Day 3: YANGTHANG TO HEMIS. A 4 to 5 hour walk to Hemis,
with its interesting monastery and cultural sites; Hemis is one of the
model villages where you could experience a complete set of traditional
and cultural values in an intact form, without much negative influence
of modern changes.
Day 4: REST DAY AT HEMIS. A 3 hour round-trip to a meditation
cave called Dakmar: an extremely elevated cave used by a sage. And free time
to explore the Hemis village environment.
Day 5: HEMIS TO ANG. A 3 hour hike to Ang village in the
Tingmosgang region across Meptak La, knowing as ’burning hot pass’, if
crossed on a sunny day.
Day 6: ANG TO TIA. A 3 to 4 hour scenic and interesting
walk to Tia village.
Day 7: TIA TO BALUKHAR AND CHULICHAN. A 5 hour walk to
the road at Balukhar, between Nurla and Khalsi villages, and a one hour
drive to camp at Chulichan Nunnery. This nunnery hosts about 30 nuns of
both young and aged nuns.
Day 8: CHULICHAN TO ALCHI. Visit Chulichan Nunnery and
Rizong Monastery in the early morning; drive an hour to a guesthouse in
Alchi.
Day 9: ALCHI TO MANGYUE TO LEH. Visit Alchi Monastery
in the early morning and drive to Mangyue, visit Mangyue Gonpa; return
to Leh, stopping at Basgo Castle. Wallpaintings at Alchi are famous in
the world and Mangyue has similar artifacts to Alchi. Stone paintings at
Basgo is again one of the wonders like at Alchi.
Cost
Above 4 members: 50 Euro/ Day/Person
Below 4 Members: 60 Euro/ Day/Person
Day 1: FLIGHT DELHI TO
LEH. This is one of the most sensational scheduled flights in
the world, flying over the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas in Ladakh
and Kashmir with spectacular views of the distant Karakorams, to land at
the small military airport in Leh. You will be met by LungtaTravel staff
at the airport and driven to a Ladakhi-style Guesthouse. We recommend that
the remainder of the day be spent resting to insure acclimatization.
Day 2: SIGHTSEEING IN LEH. Drive to Shanti Stupa and
Sankar Gonpa via Tisuru Chorten, a monument of historical importance. After
lunch explore Leh’s ancient bazaar.
Day 3: SIGHTSEEING IN LEH. Drive to Namgyal Tsemo, and
walk to Leh Palace passing through the older part of Leh; visit Gonpa Soma
in the afternoon, located in the heart of the town.
Day 4: THIKSE MONASTERY AND SHEY PALACE. Drive
to Thikse Monastery in the early morning to attend a religious ceremony in
the main assembly hall, tour the monastery; vist Shey Palace and the chapel.
Day 5: LEH AND CHOGLAMSAR. Attend a talk on Sowa
Rigpa, the traditional Ladakhi system of healing, also known as Amchi medicine,
originating in Tibetan Buddhism. After lunch tour the Tibetan community of
Choglamsar, visiting the summer palace of H.H. the Dalai Lama, and Zhiwai Tsal,
the grand teaching ground for Buddhists.
Day 6: VISIT CHEMREY GONPA AND TAKTOK MONASTERY. A
3 hour drive including both ways; Chemrey Gonpa is situated on a rocky slope
having magnificient view of Sakti and Cherey villages and Taktok is the only
monastery in Ladakh of the Nyingmapa sect of Buddhism, Guru Rinpoche is said
to have meditated in a nearby cave. Both Chemre and Hemis monasteries are built
by Lama Stagtsang raspa.
Day 7: VISIT STAKNA GONPA AND MATHO MONASTERY. A
2 hour drive including both ways, and at least 1 and a half hour tour of the
monasteries leaves the afternoon free for exploring Leh.
Day 8: LIKIR TO LAMAYURU. Drive to Likir
in the morning, visit Likir Gonpa; continue driving to Lamayuru, and visit