INDIA - Zanskar's Wild West
Trek from Leh to Kargil via high passes ~ Several 5000 metre passes including the Kanji La ~ Spectacular views of Nun and Kun ~ The remote and rarely-visited Ripchar Valley
8 nights hotels and lodges, 12 nights camping, 12 days DEMANDING trekking, 8 days touring and sightseeing, max. altitude - 5380m / 17,650ft. All meals included.
demanding
Beyond the Zanskar River, the western end of the Zanskar Range is home to one of the finest treks in the Indian Himalaya. This superb adventure begins with a flight to Leh, the main town of Ladakh, a high and wild region which is sandwiched between India's main Himalayan ranges and the peaks of the Karakoram. Ladakh, the 'land of passes', is known for its ridge-top Buddhist monasteries and for the quality of its mountain walking. After acclimatising at Leh and in the upper Indus Valley, our trek starts out at Chilling beside the Zanskar River and follows an ancient trade route westwards. Crossing the first of 5 high passes on our route, we can look back across the Markha Valley to the popular peak of Stok Kangri. Dropping down into the remote Ripchar Valley, our trek continues by way of centuries old hill top monasteries and scattered villages, each with its fields of barley and potatoes which add colour to the stark Zanskari landscape. Increasingly impressive views culminate at the Kanji La (5150m / 16890ft), where the twin peaks of Nun (7085m) and Kun (7135m) dominate the western horizon. This is a brilliant addition to our Ladakh collection of adventure treks.
Before we start trekking, we allow 5 days for acclimatising to the altitude in Ladakh (3500 metres / 11,500 feet at Leh). During this time we will visit several of the monasteries of the upper Indus Valley and also drive up to the Khardung La. The time that we actually spend on trek is 12 days. Generally, on our trek through western Zanskar, we will be following reasonable trails, which are used by villagers and by shepherds as they travel between villages and between high grazing areas. Crossing the several high passes on the trip, we will encounter rocky trails and zig-zag tracks across scree. This is not a particularly sustained trek, although the generally high altitude will be a factor and the numerous passes that we cross on our route will feel quite tough. There are numerous stream and river crossings to negotiate. The usual walking day is around 6 hours, with a couple of longer ones. We have allowed plenty of time for resting and acclimatisation. The trip is given the DEMANDING grade on account of the high altitude and the remote location.
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The trip pages are only a brief summary of the details available within our trip dossiers. It is important that you read the full day to day description and further information for this trip before making your booking.
Download a dossier for INDIA - Zanskar's Wild West
