THE ULTIMATE ECO-TREK (15 July – 15 August)

Emphasis on medicinal plants, wildflowers, and Tibetan medicine (Sowa Rigpa)

Immerse Yourself in Ladakh’s Medicinal Plants and Tranquil Landscapes

Discover the extraordinary beauty of Ladakh on this eco-trek, specially designed for nature enthusiasts and those interested in Tibetan medicine. From the breathtaking flight to Leh to exploring monasteries and pristine valleys, each day holds a new adventure. Delight in the diverse flora, wildflowers, and medicinal herbs as you trek through remote villages, witness the mesmerizing Sapi Lake, and embrace the botanical wonders of Chhangyul. End your journey with cherished memories as you fly back to Delhi, carrying the essence of Ladakh with you.

Itinerary

Start

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 LungtaTravels 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.

Start

Day-1

Leisure

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.

Leisure

Day-2

Sightseeing

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 Gelukpa 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.

Sightseeing

Day-3

Excursion

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.

Excursion

Day-4

Trek

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.

Trek

Day-5

Camp

Day-6

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.

Camp

Day-6

Trek

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.

Trek

Day-7

Drive

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.

Drive

Day-8

Return

Day-9

FLY TO DELHI

Return