Zanaskar Trek Darcha to Padum

About 35 km south-east of Rangdum, just across the Penzi la (4390m) watershed, begins the most ravishing of all the trans-Himalayan valleys. Spread over 5,000 sq km, Zanskar has a sparse population of Indo-Tibetan descent. The geographical inaccessibility and the esoteric nature of Buddhism practiced here, gave its inhabitants the freedom to preserve and perpetuate their cultural identity. So that today Zanskar is one of the least interferred with microcosms of Ladakh and one of the last surviving cultural satellites of Tibet

Within the mountain ramparts of the valley stand some ancient yet active monastic establishments. Close observation of the living conditions evokes admiration for a people who have learnt to live in tune with nature.

Program :

Duration: 20 Day Delhi to Delhi ( 10 days trek )
Destinations Covered: Delhi Chandigarh Manali Darcha Palamo Zanaskar Sumdo Chumi Napo Shingo La Lakham Kugiak Bepul Purni Phuktal Gompa Mune Padum Ringdom Gompa Kargil Leh Delhi

Day 01 : Arrive Delhi
Ariive at Delhi Int. airport as per your flight schedule. Meet and assistance on arrival and transfer to Hotel.

Day 02 : Delh Chandigarh Manali 1920 m
Today transfer early morning to station to board train for hanmdigarh. Upon arrival at Chandigarh board your prearranged coach for Manali ( 310 km ). On arrival transfer to Hotel

Day 03 : Manali
After leisurely breakfast explone this beautifull hill station of your own. Hotel

Day 04 : Manali Darcha 3360 m
After breakfast drive to Darcha 140km over the Rohtang pass. A stop over on the pass to enjoy the Himalayan ranges. From here it is a down hill into Lahul valley where the road cuts in to two one goes to Darcha and other turns to Spiti valley. Gramp is the fist village you enter in Lahul valley along the Bagha river. Hotel

Day 05 : Trek Darcha Palamo 3580 m
After breakfast the trekking starts to reaxh Palamo by covering 12 km. The trek is easy and gradual all the way upto Palmo. Camping

Day 06 : Trek Palamo Zanaskar Sumdo 3750 m
From here you will get a daily wake call from our staff with a hot cup of tea followd by breakfast to energise for the days trek. Today it is a 14 km trek to reach Zanskar Sumdo. Cross the mail river by a rope trolly ( some times this trolly is not avalaible ) just before the campsite. Camping

Day 07 : Trek Zanaskar Sumdo Chumi Napo 4060 m
After breakfast gear up for a steep climb immediately after campsite followed by gradual climb till you reach the camp site after coverig distance of 14 km

Day 08 : Trek Chumi Napo Shingo La Lakham 4100 m
Today after an early breakfast it is a long and tiring day as crossing the Shingo La ( 5100 m ) . The climb is not too difficult but the down hill is quite steep through the glacier. After a trek of 16 km reach the campsite. Camping

Day 09 : Trek Lakham Kugiak 4060 m
After a hot cup of tea followed by the breakfast getting an energy to trek for nearly 14 km long to reach the days campsite. Today you will enter the Zanaskar region and will observe the difference in the features of the mountains. Camping

Day 10 : Trek Kurgiak Bepul 3950 m
After breakfast trek 14 km to reach Bepul. Camping

Day 11 : Trek Bepul Purni 3700 m
After breakfast trek 12 km to reach Bepul. Camping

Day 12 : Trek Purni Phuktal Gompa Purni
After morning tea followed by leisurely breakfast. We will be camping at the same place this night for an excursion to Phuktal Gompa which is one of the impressive Gompas in Ladakh. Camping

Day 13 : Trek Purni Mune 3650 m
After breakfast it is a 12 km trek to Mune . Camping

Day 14 : Trek Mune Padum 3560 m
After the got tea is servrd as a wake call followed by breakfast. We will trek nearly 12 km to reach Padum which was the capital of Zanaskar. You find some Gompa here also. Camping

Day 15 : Padum Ringdom Gompa 4100 m
The trek ends here and we will board the prearranged transport to visit Ringdom Gompa where we will stay overnight in camps.

Day 16 : Ringdom Kargil 3700 m
After breakfast it is a drive of nearly 160 km to Kargil. On arrival check in at hotel.

Day 17 : Kargil Leh 3500 m
Today after breakfast drive on Srinagar Leh highway to reach Leh after covering 250 km. . Leh is the captal town on Ladakh. On arrival check in at hotel.

Day 18 : Leh
After a leisurely breakfast visit the important and most sacred monastries of this area covering Shey . Thiksey and Hemis. Hotel

Day 19 : Fly Leh Delhi
Early morning transfer to airport for your flight to Delhi. It is one of the most spectacular flights over the Himalayas. On arrival transfer to Hotel.

Day 20 : Depart Delhi
After breakfast at hotel you check out at midday and in the afternoon we provide transport and an English-speaking guide to take you on a sightseeing tour of Old and New Delhi. Delhi the Indias capital is a major gateway to the country and a city of contrast. The city is in two parts Old and New Delhi. The former is the 17th century Mughal city with bustling bazaars, JamaMasjid and Red fort while the later reflects the imperial touch with vide tree lined avenues, museums and imposing Government buildings. The other interesting monuments are Qutb Minar, the 73m high tower of victory and Rajghat. Later after dinner transfer to Int. airport for your onward journey.

Altitude Variation 3360 m to 4100 m

WEATHER : The best weather in this part of Himachal Pradesh is from late April to November ( July Sep Monsoons ) with warm sunny days and pleasant nights. It can be quite hot during the day (up to 25°C) at lower altitudes and at higher altitudes (over 10,000ft) the temprature can drop to -1°C at night. In late March/April there is the added attraction to many of rhododendron in bloom.