This classic trek explores most of the heartland of Zanskar and covers some spectacular scenery. This itinerary includes visits to almost 15 of the oldest and most remote Monasteries in Ladakh and zanskar.

Duration: 25 days Delhi to Delhi. 16 days trekking.
Grade: Hard.
Maximum Alititude: 5150 Mts at the top of the Kanji La
Season: July to September.

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Detailed Trek:

Day 01: Delhi - Leh

Fly to Leh. Meeting and assistance upon arrival. Transfer to Hotel Caravan Centre or similar. Day free for acclimatisation. Dinner and overnight in hotel.

DAY 02 : Acclamatise / Sightseeing

Post breakfast it is advised to take a tour of some of the famous Gompas (Monasteries) around Leh.
Thiksey Gompa : 17 kms from Leh enroute to Hemis Gompa, the Thiksey monastery provides a panoramic view of the Indus valley from its vantage point atop a hill. There are several temples and wall paintings of the Buddha. Close by is the summer palace of the old Raja of Leh. This monastery is 800 years old with statues made of silver and gold.
Shey Gompa: This monastery has a large 7.5 m copper statue of Buddha plated with gold.
Hemis Gompa : 40 kms from Leh, built in 1630, it is the biggest monastery in Ladakh. It is not visible from the road as it is located in a side valley. Hemis has the largest thanka in Ladakh which is unfurled once in 12 years (next in 2004). It celebrates an annual festival attended by people from all over the provinces who come to join in the celebrated mask dances. Packed lunch enroute. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 03 : Leh - Lamayuru

After breakfast drive to Lamayuru. Visit the Lamayuru monastery which is a major landmark on the old silk route. Legend behind this monastery is that Lamayuru village was once filled by a lake which was drained by sage Naropa to permit the foundation of the monastery. The monastery belongs to the old Tibetan schools the Kargyupa / Drukpa school. Lunch, dinner and overnight in tents / hotel.

Day 04 : Lamayuru - Wanla (03 hrs)

After breakfast in camp trek to Wanla . It is an easy ascent after crossing the river up to the Prinkit La (3726mts). Pass the village of Shilla following a narrow and dry gorge and reach Wanla. Packed lunch enroute. Dinner and overnight in trekking tents.

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Day 05 : Wanla - Hanupatta (05 hrs)

Trek to Hanupatta after breakfast. Walk begins with a flat section. Cross onto the right bank before Phenjilla. At the junction of the rivers, chorten and religious banners can be seen. Continue across the slope to reach Hanupatta. Packed lunch enroute. Dinner and overnight in trekking tents.

Day 06 : Hanupatta - Photoskar (06 hrs)

Breakfast in camp. Trek to Photoskar . Long ascent into the stony valley. Cross the river and walk up to Sisir La (4800mts) after which it is a long descent to Photoskar (3750mts). Packed lunch enroute. Dinner and overnight in tents.

Day 07 : Photoskar - Foot of Sengge La (07 hrs)

After breakfast trek to foot of the Sengge La with packed lunch. Ascend to the Bumiktse La (4200mts) after which is a gentle slope into the broad valley. A short climb to the Sengge La (5000mts) and then a steep descent till the foot of the Sengge La. Camp here for the night. Dinner and overnight in tents.

Day 08 : Foot of the Sengg La - Lingshed (06 hrs)

Breakfast in camp. Begin trek to Lingshed, after Kiupa La (3850mts) is a steep descent to the villages of Gongma and Skiumpata (3840mts). It is a wonderful landscape with a view of the valley of Nierag on the other bank of the Zanskar. Reach Lingshed after crossing the Murgum La (4100mts). Camp near the monastery. Packed lunch enroute. Dinner and overnight in tents.

Day 09 : Lingshed/Rest

The whole day is reserved for a well deserved rest.

Day 10 : Lingshed - Snertse (06 hrs)

After breakfast trek to Snertse. From Lingshed it is an easy ascent to the Hanuma La pass (4700mts) then a long gradual descent to the sheepfolds of Snertse. Packed lunch enroute. Dinner and overnight in tents.

Day 11 : Snertse - Hanumil (06 hrs)

Trek to Hanumil after breakfast From the Oma Chu river is a steep ascent to the Parfi La (3900mts) and a sharp descent to the foot of the pass. Walk up to the plateau taking the path that leads towards the edge of the Zanskar to Hanumil. Packed lunch. Dinner and overnight in tents.

Day 12 : Hanumil - Pishu (05 hrs)

Breakfast in camp. Easy walk to Pishu along the river and sometimes across the morainic pleatue. Camp below the village of Pishu. Packed lunch enroute. Dinner and overnight in tents.

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Day 13 : Pishu - Karsha (05 hrs)

After breakfast trek to Karsha. Cross Rinam above which is a small stream and shelter formed by the rocks. Easy stretch along the banks of the Zanskar river to Karsha. It is a beautiful Gelukpa monastery dating back to the 15th century. Packed lunch. Dinner and overnight in tents.

Day 14 : Karsha - Padum (3-4 hrs)

After breakfast trek to Padum with packed lunch. Cross the Doda river, walk through a dusty plain to Pipiting and then Padum. Visit the local monasteries / Gompas in the evening. Camp for dinner and overnight.

Day 15 : Padum - Rangdum

Drive to Rangdum (3657mts) after breakfast. Situated 130 kms south-east of Kargil, it falls midway between Kargil and Padum. Set amidst spectacular surroundings, Rangdum serves as the ideal area for camping in the Himalayan wilderness while being sufficiently near a road head. The chief attraction of the area is an imposing 18th century Buddhist monastery with about 40 monks in residence. Packed lunch enroute. Dinner and overnight in tents.

Day 16 : Rangdum Village/Rest/Photographs

Rangdum is among the most beautiful plateaus in the World. The twin peaks of Nun Kun (7316 Mts) loom over the lush green plain. Visit Rangdum Gompa after lunch.

Day 17 : Rangdum - Kanji La (07-8 hrs)

Breakfast in camp. Begin trek back to Lamayuru across the Kanji La (5150mts) and through the Kanji Gorge. Camp at the junction of Kanji La and Puzdon La. Packed lunch. Dinner and overnight in tents.

Day 18 : Kanji La - River Kong (07-8 hrs)

After breakfast trek hours to the River Kong (4300mts). Packed lunch enroute. Dinner and overnight in tents.

Day 19 : River Kong - Kanji (04 hrs)

Breakfast in camp. Trek to Kanji (3850mts). It is a gradual descent to Kanji, the distance being covered in 04 hours. Packed lunch. Dinner and overnight in tents.

Day 20 : Kanji - River Shilakong (6-7 hrs)

After breakfast trek to the campsite near River Shilakong (4100mts) crossing the Yogma La (4700mts) Dinner and overnight in tents.

Day 21 : Shilakong - Lamayuru

Breakfast in camp. Walk to Lamayuru crossing the Shilla village. Packed lunch enroute. Dinner and overnight in tents / hotel.

Day 22 : Lamayuru - Uletokpo

After breakfast drive to Uletokpo and check into the MHE luxury camp situated at a heigh of 9000 feet. It is an ideal destination off the beaten track on the banks of the famous river Indus. Lunch, dinner and overnight at camp.

Day 23 : Uletokpo After breakfast trek to Ridzong (08kms).

Ridzong is one of the most impressive monasteries of Ladakh. Relatively new (1840), it is perched on a beautiful spot in a side valley and has a wonderful collection of Thankas. Return to camp for lunch. Evening at leisure. Dinner and overnight at camp.

Day 24 : Uletokpo - Likir - Alchi - Leh

Drive to Leh after an early breakfast enroute visiting Likir and Alci Gompas. Alchi is the oldest Gompa in the region and houses well preserved wall paintings called Thankas.

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Day 25 : Leh - Delhi

Transfer to airport in time for connecting flight to Delhi. Meeting and assistance upon arrival in Delhi. Transfer to hotel. Overnight in hotel.