Ladakh - Zanskar Traverse Trek | JAN Treks & Travels

LADAKH – ZANSKAR TRAVERSE

Tour - 28 days/ 22 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.

Region

Ladakh
(India)

Best Time

May end - mid October

No. Of Days

28 days,
22 days trek

Sleeping Altitude

3050 - 3800 m.

Trip Character

Trekking tour
Level: 3

Price

INR XXX/ $ XXX

ABOUT THIS TOUR

Of the erstwhile long treks that crossed the Himalayan Range from Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh to Ladakh while traversing Zanskar a large portion has been converted into roads. This trek is one of the few options left to traverse Zanskar without walking on roads. Admittedly, it does not exactly follow a straight line and it is quite long. But all the leg work gets you to places that we would like to describe as the real Zanskar, time-warped villages where life still goes on like it was in the nineties, when we would walk the length and breath of Zanskar every year.

The trek passes numerous tiny tucked-away hamlets and crosses some passes that are due outside the regular trekking circuits. Part of the trails are used by local shepherds only and road maintenance is not a regular affair here. Some fairly deep river crossings have been thrown in for good measure as well. This trek is for experience mountaineers only. However, no real climbing skills are required.

The trek starts at Heniskot, west of Lamayuru on the road to Kargil, and ends at Jugtak, near Whisky Bridge on the Manali-Leh road. From the endpoint, you’ll be taken by car to Manali in Himachal Pradesh. After a day here, to splurge on malai koftas and other spicy Indian delicacies, you return to Delhi. This can be done by night coach or by a combination of taxi to Chandigarh and train to Delhi.

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) to explain your travel wishes. We will be happy to help you put together the perfect trip. You can reach us over e-mail, Messenger, Whatsapp or mobile phone.

EXTENSIONS & VARIATIONS

Apart from the tour as described here, you could consider the following add-ons and changes:

After returning to Leh – or before the trek – do a 6-day exploration jeep tour to Nubra Valley, Shyok and Pangong Tso. See here.
Do a longer or more challenging trek instead of the Lasermo La trek. For instance, the 9-day Nebuk La trek. On this trek you cross over from the Indus Valley to southeastern tip of Nubra, traversing two high passes. You end at the remote but comfortable Shyok River Lodge, after which you explore Nubra and Pangong Lake before turning to Leh (see here.) Or the more challenging 8-day high altitude trek from Rumtse to Tsomoriri. 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

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. Altitude 3500m.
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 - Heniskot & Trekking Heniskot - Kanji village (4 h drive, 2 h walking)
After a transfer to Phyang, you'll start you 5-day trek. Phyang is a fine example of a Ladakhi oasis with traditional farm houses, the gurgling sound of irrigation streams and a picturesque gompa (monastery) as well. The trekking crew (guide, cook and horseman) and pack horses await you here. You follow a jeep track between houses and fields to a walled poplar plantation beside a brook. Altitude 3500 → 4400 → 4700m
Day 5: Trekking Trekking point - Murubok (2.5 - 3.5 h)
The whole day we stick to the right bank of the main stream. Eventually the jeep track gives way to a footpath and after an old chorten we climb a dry slope and cross a brook until Murubok is reached, marked by a shepherd's hut. Altitude 3500 → 4400 → 4700m
Day 6: Trekking Murubok - Lasermo La - Ripa (5.5 - 7.5 h)
A long, tiring day. The path crosses a large stream followed by a gradual ascent over a sometimes unclear path and loose boulders until we reach Lasermo La (5300 m). Spectacular views here of the Karakoram Range before and the Indus valley and craggy Zanskar range behind you. Descend via a large snowfield, rubble slopes, a flower meadow, peat bogs and meandering streams to the campsite. Look out for blue sheep and ibexes! Altitude 4600 → 5300 → 4700m
Day 7: Trekking Ripa - Skarchan (5 - 6 h)
You climb over a moraine field with red-orange stones, then descend to a large valley with grasslands and hundreds of cows, yaks and goats. After crossing a bridge a good path leads to quiet Dokpa Yogma village. Hike through a side gorge, cross another bridge and descend further to the large oasis of Skarchan. Altitude 4700 → 3700m
Day 8: Trekking Skarchan - Hundar (2.5 - 3 h)
From Skarchan, you can follow a dirt road without traffic all the way down to the main road near Hundar Pass. Here, you pass a small gompa and follow a path to Hundar. Altitude 3700 → 3130m
Day 9: In Hundar/ Nubra
Day to spend as you like. In case you want to do any excursions the management of the hotel will be most happy to assist. See day 3 & 4 for suggestions. Altitude 3130m
Day 10: Hundar - Leh (5 h)
Day to spend as you like. In case you want to do any excursions the management of the hotel will be most happy to assist. See day 3 & 4 for suggestions. Altitude 3500 → 4400 → 4700m
Day 11: In Leh
Day to spend as you like. In case you want to do any excursions the management of the hotel will be most happy to assist. See day 3 & 4 for suggestions. Altitude 3500m
Day 12: Flight Leh - Delhi
After an early breakfast, the taxi will take you to the airport.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS TOUR

Flight to Leh

Although the flight takes only one hour, on a clear day this no doubt is one of the most spectacular flights in Asia. After leaving the North-Indian plains and the heavily forested hills you’ll cross a number of ranges before flying over the actual glacier-clad Himalayas, the highest mountain range in the world. You’ll be amazed at the different landscapes you’ll see beneath you on the other side: bare, lightly coloured mountains, tiny rivers, small hamlets of Ladakhi farms surrounded by deep-green fields of barley, made possible by ingenious forms of irrigation.

LEH

Leh is a pleasant town and there is much to see. Shopping and hanging out in the main bazaar is a pleasure since it has been turned into a pedestrians area. There’s a choice of restaurants and shops that sell Tibetan, Ladakh and Kashmiri carpets and artefacts. Leh used to be at the intersection of seven caravan routes, connecting it to Yarkand and Kashgar on the Silk Road, Lhasa, Srinagar and Kullu (Manali). Over the centuries the Ladakhis had gotten used to ‘strangers’ in the bazaar. So when the first foreigners came in 1974 they readily took to the tourism business. Organising a trek was just another form of outfitting a caravan. The very interesting Central Asian Museum in Leh is mainly dedicated to the caravan era.

CARAVAN ROADS OF LADAKH

Leh used to lie at the intersection of seven caravan routes. Yaks, donkeys and camels were used as pack animals. One route connected Leh with the Silk Road in China. Others routes went to Lhasa in Tibet, Srinagar in Kashmir and to Baltistan, Nubra and Manali (the opium route). When the borders with China and Pakistan were closed in 1962, the caravans stopped. But by now Leh had acquired a place on the world maps, and the Ladakhis were used to ‘strangers’ in the bazaar. When the first tourists came to Leh, in 1974, it was not a big step for the Ladakhis to accommodate and guide them.

LASERMO LA TREK

P.M

LOWER INDUS VALLEY (WEST)

Nubra Valley is an idyllic enclave between the mountains of Ladakh and the famous Karakoram. The main highlight here are the many small villages, hidden between poplars and apricot groves and adorned with an abundance of stupas, mani walls and prayer wheels. Definitely worth visiting as well are the beautiful gompas (monasteries), such as 15th century Deskit Gompa, with commanding views over the valley. While in Nubra you may bump into some of the large bactrians, two-humped camels that are descended from the animals that used to work the caravan trails between Leh and Yarkhand (Turkmenistan, now China). Riding the bactrians over the extensive sand dunes near Hundar is like being a Sahara traveler.

ALCHI GOMPA

Somewhat hidden, at some distance from the Indus and the main road, this is the oldest Buddhist temple in Ladakh, at least 1000 years old. Alchi is well known for its iconography. You’ll be struck by the looks of the murals and sculptures, quite different from what one can see these days in other typical ‘Tibetan’ monasteries. The reason is that this artwork dates from far before the time that the typical ‘Tibetan’ style was developed. In many ways it resembles present day Hindu art. Artists from Kashmir, at the time still a Buddhist area, are responsible for the precious artwork. The typical Tibetan art style you see elsewhere in the gompas stems from many centuries later.