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Activities in India |
Zanskar Trip
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North of
the Great Himalayan range, amongst a tangled knot of jagged mountains,
lies a rugged and fascinating land, the once independent kingdom of
Zanskar. Sandwiched between the Indus Valley and the main crest of
the Indian Himalaya, this remote and inaccessible setting, well guarded
by snowy mountain passes, has kept alive an archaic form of Tibetan
Buddhism which flourishes in chain of far-flung monasteries, most
of which occupy spectacular fortified locations, high on rocky ridges
in isolated valleys.
Lovely high meadow camp sites and dry desert land, high passes and
snow-capped peaks stunning scenery, Buddhist monasteries and picturesque
villages with their irrigated fields of barley and potatoes, and fascinating
encounters with the Zanskari people turn a trek in this area into
an unforgettable experience. |
Day
to Day Itinerary |
| Day
- 01 |
Arrive Delhi, where you will
be met and transfered to your hotel. (Hotel B&B) |
| Day
- 02 |
Delhi
- Manali by bus. |
| Day
- 03 |
Manali - Darcha by bus.
Early morning drive from Manali to Darcha. Arrive Darcha and
overnight in Camp. |
| Day
- 04 |
Darcha - Palemo (3600m) in
5h
Leave Darcha, We start our journey with an easy walk into the
valley. En route, we will visit the Chika and Rarik monasteries.
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| Day
- 05 |
Palemo - Zanskar Sumdo (3860m)
in 5h.
We cross the river by a hanging pulley. Overnight at Zanskar
Sumdo |
| Day
- 06 |
Zanskar Sumdo - Chumi Napo
(4640m) in 5h.
Early morning trek from Zanskar Sumdo to Chumi Napo. The route
leaves the valley and starts climbing up quite steeply towards
the Shingo La pass. |
| Day
- 07 |
Chumi Napo - Shingo La (5090m)
- Lakham (4470m) in 6h.
Prayer flags flapping in the wind mark the Shingo La pass, surrounded
with fascinating views of the glaciers. An easy traverse of
a glacier takes us to the valley and to the Lakham yak pastures. |
| Day
- 08 |
Lakham - Kurgiak (4050m) in
6h.
A gradual descent along the Kurgiak river, lined with mani walls.
On the way, we will come across a few Doksas, where yaks are
kept in summer time. |
| Day
- 09 |
Kurgiak - Tetha (3950m), in
7h.
The trail is now boarded by meadows of flowers and barley fields.
Shortens are spread all the way and highlight the religious
fervour of the Zanskaris. |
| Day
- 10 |
Tetha - Purni (3700m), in 2h.
We visit Phuktal monastery (3850m), perched on the side of an
impressive cliff. (4h return journey from Phuktal monastery
to Purni). |
| Day
- 11 |
Purni - Ichar (3650m) in 4h. |
| Day
- 12 |
Ichar - Mune (3900m), in 5h.
The trail goes up and down along the Tsarap river. On arriving
at Mune, we will visit its monastery. |
| Day
- 13 |
Mune - Padum (3600m) in 6h.
En route we visit Bardan monastery, one of the most important
in the area. Overnight in Padum |
| Day
- 14 |
Padum - Kargil (3700m) by bus.
Drive from Padum to Kargil, Overnight at Kargil |
| Day
- 15 |
Kargil - Leh (3500m) by bus.
Drive from Kargil to Leh, Overnight at Leh hotel. |
| Day
- 16 |
Leh – Delhi by plane.
(Hotel B&B) |
| Day
- 17 |
At leisure in Delhi. Safety
day for your international flight. (Hotel B&B) |
| Day
- 18 |
Transfer to airport and fly
back home |
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| Ladakh Trip |
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This journey will take us on the ancient
silk road, through the Ladakh and the Nubra valleys, a crossroad
for commercial activities between India, Tibet and Central Asia.
In the ancient kingdom of Sham, we will discover the main Ladakhi
monasteries and the wonderful sites surrounding them: Shey, Thiksey,
Hemis, Spitok, Phyang, Lamayuru and Alchi… The second valley
was an important stage for caravans following the Silk Road , which
where swapping their mules for the famous camels of Bactriane.
It is only since 1995 that the restricted area of the Nubra opened
its doors to foreigners. Lying approximately 400m lower than Leh,
Nubra sports a much milder climate, which enables its inhabitants
to cultivate more extensively, as compared to their counterparts
in the main Indus valley. The highlights of this tour are the crossing
of the Khardong La pass (5400 m), on the highest motorable roads
in the world and a Bactriane camel safari.
|
Day
to Day Itinerary |
| Day
- 01 |
Arrive Delhi,
where you will be met and transfered to your hotel. (Hotel B&B) |
| Day
- 02 |
Delhi
– Leh (3500m) by plane.
Afternoon at leisure in Leh, where we can take a walk to the
colorful bazaar. |
| Day
- 03 |
Visit of the high
Indus valley monasteries.
Shey houses the old summer palace of the kings of Ladakh. Its
gompa shelters an amazing Buddha, 12m high. The picturesque
Thikse monastery is perched on top of the hill overhanging the
Indus. The Hemis gompa is one of the largest in Ladakh. |
| Day
- 04 |
Visit Stok royale palace,
Spitok monastery and the Tibetan Camp of Choglamsar. |
| Day
- 05 |
Leh – Phyang
(3600m) by bus (1h) and walk towards Taru (3700m) in
3h. We visit the Phyang monastery and continue onwards with
a pleasant walk. A short day necessary for our acclimatization. |
| Day
- 06 |
Taru – Taru La
(4200m) – Nyemo (3700m) in 5h.
The trail climbs steeply towards the first pass of the trek,
and descends to the Nyemo village. |
| Day
- 07 |
Nyemo – Nie (3800m)
in 5h.
The route traverses Basgo, dominated by impressive ruined fortresses.
A quite stricking succession of shortens, sanctuaries and a
palace line the path. |
| Day
- 08 |
Nie – Likir
(3600m) in 4h 30mins.
We enter an arid and bare landscape. Visit of the Likir monastery,
one of the oldest in Ladakh. |
| Day
- 09 |
Likir – Yangthang
(3600m) in 5h.
The route goes through two low passes, the Phobe La (3700m)
and the Charatse La (3800m), opening to beautiful views of the
surrounding mountains. |
| Day
- 10 |
Yangthang – Hemis
Shukpachan (3600m) in 5h.
En route, visit of the Ridzong monastery, which is set in stunning
surroundings and hidden amongst the hills. After a tiny pass,
we descend towards Hemis Shukpachan. |
| Day
- 11 |
Hemis Shukpachan –
Temisgang (3700m) in 5h.
This part of the trail has been carved out from the ochre rocks
into a balcony. We climb towards two passes at 4000m and arrive
at Ang. Then on to Temisgang, ancient capital of the Sham Kingdom,
and its monastery. |
| Day
- 12 |
Temisgang – Lamayuru
– Leh by bus.
En route, visit of the Lamayuru and Alchi monasteries. |
| Day
- 13 |
Leh – Delhi by
plane. (Hotel B&B) |
| Day
- 14 |
At leisure in Delhi.
Safety day for your international flight. (Hotel B&B) |
| Day
- 15 |
Transfer to airport and fly
back home. |
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