Wildlife & Adventure Tours India

Darsha Lamayuru Trek

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

Duration : 25 Days (Delhi - Delhi), 20 days trekking
Places Covered : Delhi - Manali- Darsha - Palemo - Zanskar Sumdo - Chumi Napo - Shingo La (5090 m) - Lakham (4470 m) -Kurgiak (4050 m) - Tetha (3950 m)-Purni - Ichar - Mune (3900 m) - Shilla - Karsha - Pishu - Hanumil - Purfi La (3950 m) - Snertse (3850 m)- Hanuma La (4950 m) - Lingshet (4000 m)

Grade : Strenuous
Max. Altitude 5100 Mts. at the Shingo La.
Season End June to October

Day 01 : Delhi. Airport - hotel transfer.

Day 02: Delhi - Manali by private vehicle.

Day 03 : Manali - Darsha by private vehicle.

Day 04 : Darsha - Palemo (3600 m) in 5 h.
We start our journey by an easy walk into the valley. En route, we will visit the Chika and Rarik monasteries.

Day 05 : Palemo - Zanskar Sumdo (3860 m) in 5 h.
We cross the river by a hanging trolley.

Day 06 : Zanskar Sumdo - Chumi Napo (4640 m) in 5 h.
The route leaves the valley and starts climbing up quite steeply towards the Shingo La pass.

Day 07 : Chumi Napo - Shingo La (5090 m) - Lakham (4470 m) in 6 h.
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 Lakham yak pastures.

Day 08 : Lakham - Kurgiak (4050 m) in 6 h.
A gradual descent along the Kurgiak river, lined by mani walls. On the way, we will come across a few Doksas, where yaks are kept in summer time.

Day 09 : Kurgiak - Tetha (3950 m), in 7 h.
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 (3700 m), in 2 h.
We visit Phuktal monastery (3850 m), perched at the hillside of an impressive cliff. (4 h return journey).

Day 11 : Purni - Ichar (3650 m) in 4 h.

Day 12 : Ichar - Mune (3900 m) - Shilla (3600 m) in 5 h.
The trail goes up and down along the Tsarap river. En route we visit Mune and Bardan monastery.

Day 13 : Shilla - Karsha (3600m) in 6 h
A pleasant walk through fields. On the way, we will visit Pepiting monastery, the Karsha Gompa. One of the most important in Zanskar and dating of the 15th century. We gain beautiful panoramic vistas towards the full Himalayan range.

Day 14 : Karsha - Pishu (3470 m) in 5 h
We progress along the Zanskar river.

Day 15 : Pishu - Hanumil (3380 m) in 5 h.
An easy going walk along the right bank of the river takes us to Rinam village. We continue to the tiny hamlet of Hanumil.

Day 16 : Hanumil - Purfi La (3950 m) - Snertse (3850 m) in 6 h.
Montées et descentes se succèdent sur un chemin escarpé.

Day 17 : Snerstse - Hanuma La (4950 m) - Lingshet (4000 m) en 6 h.
After a steep climb we reach Purfi La pass, from where the panorama towards the Ladakhi and Zanskari ranges is quite impressive. Visit of Lingshet monastery.

Day 18 : Lingshet - Camp before Singue La (4550 m), in 6 h.
We start a long and gradual ascent to Netuke La pass (4280 m), where we have a wonderful view towards Nierag valley. The trail, then, descends shortly to reach Skimpata and Gongma villages, and climb steeply to reach the second pass, Khyupa La (4300 m).

Day 19 : Camp before Singue La - Singue La (5050 m) - Photoksar (4200 m) in 6 h.
An amazing spectacle of hanging icefalls. We descend towards Photang river to progress through barley fields.

Day 20 : Photoksar - Sirsir La (4850 m) - Hanupatta (3760 m) in 6 h.
Photang valley turns into a gorge labyrinth, which forces us to make a detour via Sirsir La pass. Three shortens mark Hanupatta and its giant hundred-year-old cedar, flanked by colorful prayer flags.

Day 21 : Hanupatta - Wanla (3250 m) in 5 h.
We head down towards the Photang valley and climb up to Panjila pass(3410 m). We finally descend to Wanla and visit its tiny.

Day 22 : Wanla - Lamayuru (3420 m) in 4 h.
Visit of the monastery at Lamayuru, which is the biggest in western Ladakh and was built in the 16th century on the site of a much older temple. The gompa is very well kept and famous for its many colorful wall paintings.

Day 23 : Lamayuru - Leh (3500 m) by bus.

Day 24 : Leh - Delhi by plane.

Day 25 : Delhi
Day at leisure. Safety day for your international flight.

Day 26 : Delhi. Hotel - airport transfer.


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