Ladakh vacation, trekking & culture
| country: | India |
| location: | Indian Himalayas, Ladakh |
| trip type: | Strenuous walking holidays |
| departures: | 2008: 17 Aug |
| price: | From US $3095 (14 days) including flights, as per itinerary. Price includes trekking equipment, permits and fees |
the amazing things you'll be doing
This trip is for someone who seeks adventure, spirit and community and wants to experience the indigenous cultures influenced by Tibetan Buddhism.
Our journey takes us to the beautiful Northern India and the majestic Himalayan Range. Arrival into the extreme heat of Delhi is in stark contrast to the spring of Leh where we begin our trek. Situated on the western end of the Himalayas, Ladakh has four major mountain ranges - the great Himalayan, Zanskar, Ladakh and the Karakoram, passing through it.
A maze of enormously high snow capped peaks and the largest glaciers outside the polar region dominate the terrain where valley heights range from a mere 8000 ft. to 15,000 ft. while passes of up to 20,000 ft. and peaks reaching above 25,000 ft. can be seen all around. The world’s largest glacier outside the polar region, Siechen is here.
This trek is one of the most varied and beautiful treks in the world. It ventures high into the Himalayas crossing two passes over 15,000 ft (4575m) as it circles from the edges of the Indus Valley, down into parts of Zanskar, and passes through terrain that changes from incredibly narrow valleys to wide-open and vast expanses!
It is made all the more interesting by the ancient form of Buddhism that flourishes in the many monasteries that dot the landscape perched high atop the hills. The trails are decorated by elaborate “chortens” (shrines) and “mani” (prayer) walls, which further exemplify the region’s total immersion in Buddhist culture. As we trek to the upper end of the Markha Valley we are rewarded with spectacular views of jagged snow capped peaks before crossing the 16,730 ft (5100m) Gongmaru Pass and descending to the famous Hemis Monastery, where we end our trek.
Our journey takes us to the beautiful Northern India and the majestic Himalayan Range. Arrival into the extreme heat of Delhi is in stark contrast to the spring of Leh where we begin our trek. Situated on the western end of the Himalayas, Ladakh has four major mountain ranges - the great Himalayan, Zanskar, Ladakh and the Karakoram, passing through it.
A maze of enormously high snow capped peaks and the largest glaciers outside the polar region dominate the terrain where valley heights range from a mere 8000 ft. to 15,000 ft. while passes of up to 20,000 ft. and peaks reaching above 25,000 ft. can be seen all around. The world’s largest glacier outside the polar region, Siechen is here.
This trek is one of the most varied and beautiful treks in the world. It ventures high into the Himalayas crossing two passes over 15,000 ft (4575m) as it circles from the edges of the Indus Valley, down into parts of Zanskar, and passes through terrain that changes from incredibly narrow valleys to wide-open and vast expanses!
It is made all the more interesting by the ancient form of Buddhism that flourishes in the many monasteries that dot the landscape perched high atop the hills. The trails are decorated by elaborate “chortens” (shrines) and “mani” (prayer) walls, which further exemplify the region’s total immersion in Buddhist culture. As we trek to the upper end of the Markha Valley we are rewarded with spectacular views of jagged snow capped peaks before crossing the 16,730 ft (5100m) Gongmaru Pass and descending to the famous Hemis Monastery, where we end our trek.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrive in Delhi, India. Upon arrival to Delhi International Airport, you will be greeted outside the customs and immigrations area. From there, you will be transferred to the hotel. |
| Day 2: | Fly from Delhi to Leh. An early morning transfer to the domestic airport for the 5:40am flight to Leh. If the weather is clear, there should be magnificent views of the Himalaya and Karakoram. Upon arrival, transfer to the peaceful surroundings of the hotel. The remainder of the day is free for rest, to explore the surrounding area, and to acclimatize. |
| Day 3: | Tour of Ladakh’s Monasteries. Today we’ll visit the monasteries of Shey, Thiksey, and Stakna returning to Leh in the late afternoon. Shey, the former palace of Upper Ladakh, is situated at the top of a hill and commands a breathtaking view of the Indus River. The palace contains a massive statue of the Sakyamuni Buddha – the biggest of its kind in Ladakh. After a day of exploration, we will return to the hotel for dinner and reflect on our initial experiences of Leh and the Ladakhi culture. This evening we’ll prepare for our trek that begins tomorrow. |
| Day 4: | Chilling (10,660ft) to Skiu (10,880ft). Enjoy a warm breakfast as we gather our gear and then we head out for a 2 hour drive through the lush green valleys of Leh to Chilling. This village is known for producing some of the finest metalwork in all of Ladakh. We will cross the Zanskar on the cable car and meet our pack horses and crew. An easy 3 ½ hour walk past the village of Kaya will bring us to our first night’s rest in the village of Skiu. |
| Day 5: | Skiu (10,880ft) to Markha (12,140ft). Today is a long but relatively level trekking day ascending only 1000 ft over 10 miles. We will pass through Chaluk and Tunespa with wonderful views down the valley. Approaching Markha we will get our first glimpse of the snow-capped slopes of Kang Yaze - Nimaling (21,000 ft). This magnificent mountain commands the view for the next two days. Arrival into the village of Markha begins our 2 night rest stop! Trek time: 6 hrs; 10 miles |
| Day 6: | Rest Day at Markha. Sleep-in, explore, interact with local villagers over a cup of tea & visit the monastery. The Markha School provides an opportunity to interact with the students and gain an understanding of the education system of Ladakh. Enjoy the remainder of the day to rest up for Gongmaru La Pass. |
| Day 7: | Markha (12,140ft) to Thachungtse (13,620ft). The trail splits and we continue on the left side of the valley. A large rock spire marks the head of the Zhumlan Valley, the start of the most demanding part of the trek that ends in Zanskar. We will visit Hankar Yogma village & Monastery. A short climb up to the Umlung Gompa will provide an epic view of the valley floor before arriving into camp. Trek time: 5 hrs; 9 miles |
| Day 8: | Thachungtse (13,620ft) to Nimaling (15,490ft). Just beyond Thachungtse, the broad valley narrows as we gain elevation. The river is seen from afar as we pass by a small lake and cross the green pastures to Nimaling. This one of the most beautiful high valleys of Ladakh! Trek time: 5 hrs; 8 miles |
| Day 9: | Nimaling (15,490ft) to Chuskurmo (13,350ft). Today we reward our efforts to the days prior by reaching our highest point of the trek. We climb along the mountainside then zigzag up to the Gongmaru La at the height of 16,730 ft. From the pass you will see the amazing Zanskar Range and the vertical ice wall of the North Face of Kang Yaz. A couple of easy stream crossings and then we arrive into our basecamp at Chuskurmo. Trek time: 5 hrs; 11 miles |
| Day 10: | Chuskurmo (13,350ft) to Shang Sumdo (12,010ft). Travel along the riverbed and pass a series of Chortens on your way to Shang Sumdo. An easy descent will bring us into our camp at Shang Sumdo. Our campsite is beautifully situated in front of farmhouses with a series of irrigation channels flowing around the grassy site. The village gompa is a short 20 minute walk up the valley. Trek Time: 3.5 hrs; 5 miles |
| Day 11: | Shang Sumdo (12,010ft) to Martselang (12,139). From Shang Sumdo it is an easy walk to the end of the trek. Upon arrival into Martselang we will take a short drive to the Hemis Monastery before our drive back to Leh. Hemis Monastery, located 40 km from Leh, is the wealthiest, most well-known and biggest Gompa of Ladakh. Trek time 3 hrs; 6 miles |
| Day 12: | Explore Leh. Sleep-in, relax, visit the market and witness the advancement of spring of the Leh countryside. The evening brings us together for our final dinner – reflections of our journey shared amongst our new friends. |
| Day 13: | Leh to Delhi, Airport Transfer. We take an early morning flight to Delhi. Upon arrival to Delhi we transfer to Hotel. Enjoy a cool swim at the pool or explore the streets of Delhi. Transfer to the airport. |
how this holiday makes a difference
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It is our philosophy to interact with the indigenous people of the region throughout our entire journey. We encourage communication exchange and support of our staff, the villagers we meet along the way, and the children who will quickly win our hearts. We have established a long-term partnership with a local trekking company that employs porters and pony men, cooks, and guides. Not only do they provide all that we need, they are the communication link to the villages and their people.
We encourage and support the philosophy of ‘Leave No Trace’ ecotourism. Only established areas are used for campsites in order to protect the fragile tundra of the Himalayan regions. All that is packed in is carried out. Travelers are encouraged to reduce waste prior to the trek by eliminating boxes, plastic, and any packaging that is not necessary to carry on the trek. Specifically we will experience: Afternoon tea with local families: Our small group of only 12 travelers will be welcomed into the homes of villagers to sip tea and engage in a communication exchange as we learn about the family, their life in the village and their vision for the future. We encourage our travelers to bring along donations of clothing, small gifts or cash contributions. School visits: The children of the region welcome us with smiles as they open their classrooms to our group. Interaction with both teachers and students provides an intimate look into the learning environment of these high mountain regions within the Himalayas. We encourage our travelers to provide support by donating school supplies or cash donations for the school. Cultural dances: There are several evenings that are filled with local cultural entertainment as villagers dress in their traditional best and entertain us with song and dance. Interpretations are provided by our guides as the dances and music tell the stories of rich cultural history indigenous to the area. A common language is found as we sing, dance, laugh and share stories together. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've lead the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |