Zanskar Valley Trek

14 Day(s)

Overview The Zanskar Valley Trek is a mesmerizing adventure that takes you through the rugged beauty of the Zanskar region in the Indian Himalayas. Spanning about 150 kilometers, this trek offers a remarkable journey filled with stunning landscapes, ancient monasteries, and a glimpse into the unique way of life of the local inhabitants. Setting out from the town of Padum, the trek winds its way through remote villages, high mountain passes, and deep gorges. The trail showcases the breathtaking contrasts of the region, from barren desert-like terrain to lush green valleys, and from serene meadows to towering snow-capped peaks. Trekkers…

Overview

The Zanskar Valley Trek is a mesmerizing adventure that takes you through the rugged beauty of the Zanskar region in the Indian Himalayas. Spanning about 150 kilometers, this trek offers a remarkable journey filled with stunning landscapes, ancient monasteries, and a glimpse into the unique way of life of the local inhabitants.

Setting out from the town of Padum, the trek winds its way through remote villages, high mountain passes, and deep gorges. The trail showcases the breathtaking contrasts of the region, from barren desert-like terrain to lush green valleys, and from serene meadows to towering snow-capped peaks. Trekkers treat themselves with ever-changing vistas that range from stark and barren landscapes to vibrant and verdant oases.

One of the highlights of the trek is the journey across the famous frozen Zanskar River. During the winter months, the river freezes solid, creating a unique path for trekkers to traverse its icy expanse. This thrilling experience is not for the faint-hearted, as the icy river crossing requires cautious steps and a sense of adventure.

En route, trekkers encounter several ancient monasteries and Buddhist stupas, each holding stories of centuries past. The Phuktal Monastery, dramatically built into a cliffside, is a particularly awe-inspiring sight that stands as a testament to both human dedication and the harmony between nature and spirituality.

The trek also offers a chance to interact with the resilient locals, who have adapted to the harsh environment in remarkable ways. Their warm hospitality and traditional Ladakhi culture provide an enriching cultural experience for trekkers.

The best time to undertake the Zanskar Valley Trek is during the summer months of June to September when the weather is milder, and the frozen river has thawed. However, even during these months, the nights can get chilly, so trekkers should prepare for fluctuating temperatures.

Conclusion and Summary

In conclusion, the Zanskar Valley Trek is a soul-stirring adventure that combines natural splendor with cultural immersion. It is a journey that tests your physical endurance while rewarding you with awe-inspiring panoramas and an understanding of the incredible people who call this challenging landscape home. If you’re seeking an unforgettable trekking experience that transports you to a world of rugged beauty and ancient wisdom, the Zanskar Valley Trek is an ideal choice.

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Trip Highlights

The Zanskar Valley Trek is an incredible adventure that takes you through some of the most stunning landscapes in northern India. Here are some of the trip highlights that you can expect on this trek:

Remote and rugged terrain: The Zanskar Valley Trek takes you through some of the most remote and rugged terrain in the Zanskar Valley. You will trek through narrow gorges, cross high-altitude passes, and navigate through steep valleys.
Spectacular views: The trek offers some of the most breathtaking views of the Himalayan ranges, including the Stok Kangri, Kun, and Nun peaks. You will also witness the stunning beauty of the Zanskar and Indus river valleys, and the picturesque villages that dot the landscape.
Cultural immersion: The trek offers a unique opportunity to experience the local culture and way of life of the Ladakhi people. You will visit ancient monasteries and interact with the local people, who are known for their warm hospitality and rich cultural traditions.
Wildlife sightings: The Zanskar Valley is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including rare and endangered species such as the snow leopard, Tibetan wolf, and Himalayan ibex. You may encounter these animals during your trek.
Challenging adventure: The Zanskar Valley Trek is a challenging adventure that will test your physical and mental endurance. You will have to trek for several hours each day, cross high-altitude passes, and navigate through challenging terrain. However, the sense of achievement and satisfaction that comes with completing this trek is unparalleled.
Frozen Zanskar River: During the winter months, the Zanskar River freezes, and the trek takes on a whole new level of adventure. The frozen river trek involves walking on the frozen river bed, and you will encounter some of the most incredible natural ice formations.

Overall, the Zanskar Valley Trek is an unforgettable adventure that offers a perfect blend of natural beauty, cultural immersion, and challenging adventure. Whether you undertake the trek during the summer or winter months, it is sure to be an experience of a lifetime.

Itinerary

Land into Leh and check into Hotel/Guest House. The first 2 days at Leh are meant for acclimatization. It is extremely important to let the body adjust to the high altitude. On the second day, we can explore the local market or can also go for a sightseeing tour covering monasteries like Thiksey and Shey along with Leh Palace.

We will drive to Kargil from Leh. The drive will take a little over 5 hours as we cover a distance of about 230 Kms. We will stay overnight in Kargil.

Post breakfast, we will drive to Padum from Kargil. We will be covering a distance of 240 Kms today in a span of 5.5 hours. Once in Padum, we will check into Homestay and relax.

After breakfast, we will start our trek today to Karsha. We will cover a distance of approximately 12 Kms. We will also get to explore the Karsha Monastery (Gompa) and the Pepiting Monastery.

We will start our day at ease and continue the trail along the Zanskar River making our way to Pishu. It is quite a scenic trail and will take about 5 hours.

Post breakfast, we will start our trek towards Hanumil today. Hanumil has a beautiful camping ground as well which is amazingly scenic. The trek today is fairly easy along the banks of Zanskar River.

Our trek initially is over a flat terrain which leads to a steep ascent taking us to Purfi La. Purfi La is at an altitude of 3600 meters. It will be slightly difficult reaching the pass but we can manage our pace as we have enough time to reach Snertse.

It will be a long day today. Through a long but gradual ascend, we will make our way to Hanuma La through a gorge. The views from the top of the pass are truly breath taking. It will take close to 7-8 hours to get to Lingshed.

Another long but gradual ascend will bring us to Netuke La. On the top of the pass, we will have beautiful views of Nierag Valley. The descend will bring us to the villages of Gongma and Skimpata leading us to another pass called the Kyupa La. It will be a tiring day, but it will offer some of the most scenic views today.

We will cross the highest pass on the trek today, Singge La. It will take about 2 hours for us to get to the Singge La. Singge La in the local language means the Lion’s mouth. Through the barley fields we will descend towards Photoksar.

We will trek towards Hanupatta, which will be our campsite for the day. It will take about 7 hours to get to Hanupatta via Sirsir La. The ascend is steep towards the Sirsir La but the descend is gradual.

Our destination today is famous for its small Monastery that we will get to explore. Through Panjila Pass, we descend and make our way to Wanla.

We will get to visit a 16th century Monastery today. The Lamayuru Monastery is extremely famous for its century old wall paintings and is frequented by many tourists. We will board our vehicles from here and drive back to Leh.

What's Included

1) Meals – All the meals on the trek. Breakfast and Dinner while in Leh
2) Accommodation – 2 nights before the trek and 1 night after the trek in a hotel in Leh
3) Drive – Leh to Kargil on day 3 and Padum on day 4. From Lamayuru to Leh on day 14
4) Camping on double/ triple sharing basis
5) A certified wilderness first aid responder and a qualified skilled mountaineer as the trek leader.
6) All our guides are professionally trained and have many years of relevant experience in guiding treks.
7) Clean sleeping bags
8) Camping Mattresses
9) 2 Toilet Tents – clean and hygienic (generally separate for males and females)
10) First aid medical kit with medical assistance for the trekkers
11) Oxygen cylinder with oxy meter for a close daily check-up

What's Excluded

1) Service tax 5% (as per the current in GST)
2) Lunch on the acclimatization days
3) Porter/mule charges to carry your personal bag
4) Any meals/services not mentioned above
5) Any costs arising out of unforeseen circumstances like landslides, road blocks, bad weather, etc.
6) Any Medical Insurance/Permissions/Permits/Check-ups
7) Alcohol, soft drinks, beverages, etc.
8) Personal expenses like tips, telephone calls, laundry, etc.
9) Any charges for video cameras, still cameras, etc.

Trip Information

The Zanskar Valley Trek is an incredible adventure that takes you through some of the most stunning landscapes in northern India. Here’s some information about the trek:

Duration: The trek usually takes around 10-12 days to complete, depending on the route and itinerary.

Difficulty level: The Zanskar Valley Trek is a challenging adventure that requires a good level of physical fitness and stamina. The trek involves long hours of walking, crossing high-altitude passes, and navigating through challenging terrain.

Best time to visit: The best time to undertake the Zanskar Valley Trek is during the summer months, from June to September. During this time, the weather is pleasant, and the trekking conditions are favorable. However, the trek can also be done during the winter months, from January to February, when the Zanskar River freezes, and the frozen river trek takes place.

Route: The trek takes you through the rugged and remote terrain of the Zanskar Valley, with breathtaking views of the Himalayan ranges. The route typically starts from the village of Chilling and takes you through the Markha Valley, Stok La Pass, and Hemis National Park, before ending in the village of Shang Sumdo.

Accommodation: Accommodation during the trek is in tents, with a team of support staff, including guides, cooks, and porters, accompanying you on the trek. You will also have the opportunity to stay in local guesthouses and homestays in the villages along the way.

Permits: A permit is required to undertake the Zanskar Valley Trek, which can be obtained through a registered trekking agency. The permit is usually valid for 15 days and allows you to trek in the Hemis National Park and surrounding areas.

Overall, the Zanskar Valley Trek is an incredible adventure that offers a perfect blend of natural beauty, cultural immersion, and challenging adventure. It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that is sure to leave you with unforgettable memories.