LADAKH - SHANG SUMDO to LAMAYURU TREK
Tour - 19 days/ 13 days trekking
SHANG SUMDO to LAMAYURU TREK
Tour - 19 days/ 13 days trekking
About LADAKH
Ladakh is a part of the Indian Himalayas It is located between the Kunlun mountain range in the north and the main Himalayas to the south. Although part of India now, and earlier of the princely state of Kashmir, Ladakh has been an independent kingdom for almost 900 years.
Ladakh is well-known for its starkly beautiful mountain scenery. As a result of its location in the rain shadow of the main Himalayan Range its climate is extremely dry, and due to the high altitude – most valleys are situated at 3300m or higher – winters can be extremely cold. Summers, however, are generally pleasant if not warm and sunny. Ladakh is inhabited by a mix of Indo-Aryan and Tibetan people. Especially the latter, with their colourful buddhist culture, have given the region the nickname of ‘Little Tibet.’
Ladakh in the narrower sense is the Indus Valley with adjacent areas. It is bordered by two mountain ranges: in the northeast by the Ladakh Range, in the southwest by the Zanskar Range. The area around the capital Leh, and further upstream towards Tibet, is referred to as Upper Ladakh. Lower Ladakh is the area further downstream to Kargil, where the Indus enters Pakistan.
The remoter areas of Zanskar, Nubra and Rupshu are now seen as regions of Ladakh. In the past, these areas were sometimes part of Ladakh, sometimes not. They can be visited from Leh by car or on foot. The latter would be your means of transport, if you are up to it. Because, while jeep trips in Ladakh are very rewarding indeed, trekking will give you an even in-depth experience of the land and the people, with the added bonus of a total renovation of body and soul.
Ladakh can be reached by air or overland. On this tour you fly in and out. In case you have enough time available, we strongly recommend to take the overland route, in which you travel by train and car to Ladakh through Manali, in the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh. This is one of the greatest car journeys in the world.
Region
Ladakh
(India)
Best Time
July. - Sept.
No. Of Days
19 days,
13 days trek
Trip Character
Trekking tour
Sleeping Altitude
3150 - 4480 m.
Trek Character
Camping trek
Level: 3
Price
INR XXX/ $ XXX
ABOUT THIS TOUR
This is one of the most rewarding and complete trekking routes in Ladakh. The Shang Sumdo-Lamayuru trek combines well known and very little visited places and shows you beautiful traditional villages as well as awe-inspiring mountain vistas.
The first part of this trek is very little known and therefore not yet popular. Starting from the tiny village of Shang Sumdo, not far from Hemis Monastery, it takes you along the slopes of the Stok Range (part of the Zanskar Range) along high altitude meadows and passes that rarely see an outsider. You basically skirt the north side of the Zanskar Range without crossing it for 4 days. Then, you cross the Stok La (4800m) to Rumbak, a well-known but picturesquely situated village.
Here, you pick up the traditional Markha Valley trek, crossing the Ganda La (4900m) to the small but beautiful village of Shingo, and on to the Markha Valley. Here, where everyone else turns left, we go right, cross a bridge over the Zanskar River at Chilling and continue from there on the Chilling to Lamayuru trek. Two high passes and a minor one, and four traditional villages lie between start and end. Especially reaching Sumdah Chenmo, a village unconnected by roads, will give you a ‘time-warped’ feeling. Lamayuru, the endpoint of the trek, is the site of one of Ladakh’s most enigmatic gompas (monasteries) and a very worthy closure of this complete and varied trek.
The Shang Sumdo-Lamayuru trek is best done with tents. However, at some parts sleeping at homestays is also possible (and recommended for one or two days for the experience) but as horses, cooks etc. have to come along anyway, this does increase the cost.
YOUR custom-made TRIP
The tour described here, as well as the other ones on our website, are mainly meant as suggestions. We would be happy to offer you a travel proposal that fully meets your personal demands and expectations. That means that you choose where you want to go, what level of accommodation and type of transport you want and what activities you prefer.
Please let yourself be inspired by this and other trips on our website and then drop us a line (or call us up) to explain your travel wishes. We will be happy to help you put together the perfect trip. You can send us an e-mail or call us over Whatsapp.
EXTENSIONS & VARIATIONS
Apart from the tour as described here, you could consider the following add-ons and changes:
- Travel to Ladakh by road instead of by air. Although this adds 4 – 6 days to the tour, these days are very well spent. As you will be crossing the Great Himalayan Range and other, parallel mountain ranges, you will see dramatic changes in landscape, vegetation and culture. As an added bonus, your acclimatization is take care off while on the road, saving you acclimatization days in Leh. See here.
- Do a 6-day exploration by car to the beautiful and little developed Nubra Valley and magnificent Pangong Tso, a lake at 4250m on the Tibetan border. See here.
- Spend a day rafting on the Indus. There are different grades available, so there is the easy but fun to do level as well. Professional oarsmen will be with you in any case. You will be picked up from your hotel and dropped off there again at the end of the day, a pic-nic lunch is included.
ITINERARY
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Day 1: Flight Delhi - Leh
The flight from Delhi to Leh takes only 1 hour but on a clear day, is breathtaking. Stepping down from the aircraft you may feel the altitude, but even if you don’t, it is very wise to take the rest of the day off. Stay at the hotel or at best walk around Leh bazar. -
Day 2 & 3: In Leh
If you wake up today without a headache you may consider yourself fit to go on not too strenuous walks/excursions in and around Leh. Else it is better to stay at the hotel another day. Altitude: 3500m. -
Day 4: Leh - Shang Sumdo & Trekking Shang Sumdo - Shang Phu (drive 1.5 h; walking 2 - 3 h)
After a drive through the Indus Valley you reach the start of the trek, where the trekking crew (guide, cook and horsemen) and pack animals await you. Walk through green barley fields and climb along a river to summer pastures with superb scenery around. -
Day 5: Trekking Shang Phu - Shang La - Matho Phu (5 - 6 h)
After a partly steep climb of 3-4 hours you reach Shang La (4925m) with an impressive view of the mountain wall of Matho Kangri (5900m). Descend gradually to Matho Phu. -
Day 6: Trekking Matho Phu - Base Matho La (5 - 6 h)
The trail travels across the Gangpoche meadows until it reaches the base of Matho La with magnificent views of Indus Valley and Ladakh Range. -
Day 7: Trekking Base Matho La - Matho La - Mankarmo (5 - 6 h)
Climb gently to Matho La (4930 m) and pass meadows, where yak herders live in stone settlements. The impressive Stok Kangri, highest mountain of Zanskar Range (6151 m), rises right behind you. Descend to Mankarmo. -
Day 8: Mankarmo - Stok La - Rumbak (5 - 6 h)
In about 3 hours you scale the Stok La (4800m) followed by an easy descent to Rumbak. The coming three nights you can overnight in a homestay and experience Ladakhi-life up-close. -
Day 9: At Rumbak
Walk in a few hours to the little villages of Zinchen and Yurutse or take it easy in Rumbak -
Day 10: Rumbak - Ganda La - Shingo
The steady climb to Ganda La (4900m) with chorten and prayer flags can take 4 hours. Views of the lofty Zanskar and Stok Ranges will leave you breathless. Look out for big-horn sheep. Descend to Shingo. -
Day 11: Trekking Shingo - Chilling (5 h)
Descend from Shingo through a beautiful gorge to Skiu and - after 3 hours of level walking – cross the raging Zanskar river by bridge just before Chilling. A new road is under construction here. -
Day 12: Trekking Chilling - Base Dundunchen La (4 - 5 h)
Slowly you climb to the foot of the Dundunchen La with gradually better views of the Zanskar river behind you. -
Day 13: Trekking Base Dundunchen La - Dundunchen La - Sumdah Chenmo
Climb Dundunchen La (4600 m) followed by a partly steep descent with beautiful views of colourful mountains and the green oasis of Sumdah Chenmo. Camp in a willow forest (3760m) or beyond the oasis (4200 m). -
Day 14: Trekking Sumdah Chenmo - Konske La - Hinju (6 - 7 h)
From Sumdah Chenmo - a beautiful traditional village – it takes at least 3 hours to climb to Konske La (4900m) with panoramic views over the craggy Zanskar mountains. Descent to Hinju. -
Day 15: Trekking Hinju - Wanla (3 h)
Descend using an easy route to Wanla with its nice monastery. Continue along a small river upstream to Shilla. -
Day 16: Trekking Wanla - Prinkiti La - Lamayuru (3 - 4 h)
Climb through a hot desert-like landscape and gorge to Prinkiti La (3750m). Soon the breathtaking 'moonscape' around Lamayuru comes into view. Admire the beautiful monastery and overnight in a hotel. -
Day 18: Flight Leh - Delhi
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for the flight back to Delhi. -
Day 19: Flight Leh - Delhi
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for the flight back to Delhi.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS TOUR
Flight to Leh
LEH
CARAVAN ROADS OF LADAKH
LAMAYURU & ALCHI GOMPA
LOWER INDUS VALLEY (WEST)
