India - In Ladakh

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Arrival in Delhi and transfer to the hotel.

  Upon your arrival in Delhi, you will be greeted at the airport and driven to your hotel in the center of Delhi. The rest of the day is at your disposal. Relax after the flight or go out to discover the city. There is much to see: Connaught Place, which is the bustling downtown of New Delhi, the lively life of Old Delhi, the Red Fort, the Lotus Temple, fabulous restaurants, as well as shopping streets and bustling markets. Accommodation at the hotel.

• day 2

  Flight from Delhi to Leh

  After breakfast, transfer to the airport for a spectacular journey through the Himalayan mountains to Leh, the capital of Ladakh, at an altitude of 3505 m. Upon your arrival in Leh, you will go directly to the hotel to check in. The rest of the day will be devoted to your acclimatization to the altitude. In the afternoon, take a walk through Leh and the old city bazaar.

• day 3

  Visit of Leh

  Today, you are hiking in the Leh valley. On Namgyal hill, above Leh, are the ruins of the old royal palace. From there, a winding path leads to the Tsemo monastery, where physical efforts are rewarded with a magnificent view of Leh and the surrounding villages. From the back of the palace, you descend to the Sankar monastery, then from there to the Japanese peace shrine Shanti Stupa. The large stupas above Leh offer breathtaking views of the city and the mountains on the other side of the valley. There is also the possibility of a jeep safari up to Khardung Pass, located at an altitude of 5602 m. The journey takes place on the highest highway in the world.

• day 4

  Leh - Spituk - Rumbak Trek

  You leave Leh and cross the Indus valley to Spituk. Spituk is only 7 km from Leh, and it is the first Gelugpa monastery in Ladakh. You visit the monastery and enjoy the beautiful view of the Indus valley. From there, you continue on a newly built road above the Indus towards Zinchen. You drive as far as road conditions allow, to the place where your ponies are waiting for you. After loading the ponies, you start the trek into the Zinchen gorge, at the foot of the Stok mountains. The trail is straight and follows the Zinchen Nala towards its source. The valley opens up and reveals the snow-capped peaks. Accommodation in a camp at Rumbak (3800 m).

• day 5

  Rumbak – Yurutse 4000m Trek

  Heading towards Rumbak, you can see in the distance the incredible rock of a multicolored mountain range. In the morning, take a short walk in Rumbak. On your way back to the camp, take a break, then continue through the main valley, past a water mill and over a bridge that you cross. The trail climbs, and where the valley splits, take the right branch passing in front of the village of Yurutse. Just after Yurutse, you camp at the foot of Ganda La or Yurutse, which is the first pass of the dragon. Accommodation in a camp.

• day 6

  Ganda La Passet – Ski Trek

  It's a long day today, where you have to cross the Ganda La pass. As you climb higher, the view becomes more and more spectacular. Behind you, Stok Kangri towers, its snow-capped summit standing out on the horizon. Ganda La, located at 4900 m altitude, is beautifully decorated with prayer flags and the view there is wonderful. In front of you is the Zanskar mountain range, and, far away in the valley, you can see the fields around Shingo. The path to Shingo is easy, and in high season, there is usually a tea tent. On the other side of Shingo, the trail leads through a set of beautifully eroded and colored cliffs. You continue through the gorge to the small village of Skiu, at 3400 m, where you camp by the river.

• day 7

  Ski – Markha 3400 m Trek

  Today, you are on a fairly long but easy walk through the valley to the village of Markha. Under the sun, the rocky mountains of Ladakh shine with pink, blue, and green pastels. At sunrise and sunset, the colors change dramatically. The trail crosses the Markha river several times, even though there are bridges built. Markha is a large village, and in the afternoon, it will be possible to visit it on your own. The camp is set up on a lush meadow, just outside the village.

• day 8

  Markha - Thatchungtse Trek

  After breakfast, the journey to Thatchungtse begins. Here, you can see the Umlung monastery on the cliffside above you. It is time to visit the monastery before continuing through the valley and the village of Hankar, where there are several fortress ruins and a small monastery. After Hankar, the trail leaves the main valley and follows the Nimaling river to Tatchungtse, where you will spend the night.

• day 9

  Thatchungtse – Nimaling Trek

  The trail climbs steeply up to the plateau where the valley stretches out. Opposite, you can see the Kang Yatze, which, at 6400 m, is the highest peak in the valley. There is no permanent residence in this region, but in summer, shepherds bring their flocks of sheep, goats, and dzo to the highland meadows. A dzo is a cross between a yak and a cow. In the evening, the animals and the shepherds migrate again, and it is not uncommon for hundreds of animals to pass through the camp. If you are particularly energetic, during the afternoon, you can climb the highlands behind the camp towards the Kang Yatze.

• day 10

  Nimaling - Shang Sumdo Trek

  The day begins with the ascent to Kongmaru La, 5200m. The climb is relatively long and steep, but, as always, it is worth the effort. Behind, you can see Kang Yangtse and the distant twin mountains Nun and Kun. In front, there is a view of the Stok mountains and towards the Indus valley. The descent is initially steep. At the very top, on the rocks, you might spot bharals that live in the area. The bharal is a brown goat with strong horns, also known as the blue sheep. You pass Shogdo and continue to the village of Sumdo.

• day 11

  Return to Leh via the Hemis and Thiksey monasteries.

  Depending on where you camped, there may be a short hike to the country road and the car that takes you to Leh. On the way, you visit the Hemis and Thiksey monasteries. Hemis was once the largest and richest of all the monasteries in Ladakh. You are back in Leh around lunchtime. The rest of the day is free for sightseeing and shopping.

• day 12

  Return by plane from Leh to Delhi.

  After breakfast, you drive to the airport and take a flight from Leh to Delhi. Upon your arrival in Delhi, you go to the hotel for check-in. The afternoon is at your disposal.

• day 13

  Departure

  The day is at your disposal in Delhi until your arrival at the hotel, then return to the airport to go back home.