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Darcha - Lamayuru Trek
Best time: End of June to October Duration: 21 Nights / 22 Days
Description: Into remote Kingdom of ZanskarThe towering misty mountains of Ladakh and Zanskar cradle the splendors of Tibetan Buddhism, fascinating travelers for centuries. Here, monasteries built hundreds of years ago. The mystic magic of Tantric Buddhism is practices and performed with devotion. Ladakh, including the Zanskar area has been termed by many Western writers as "greater Tiber". Open to tourist since 1974, people from all over the world have flocked into experience its warm hospitality and unforgettable landscape. There are about 25 gompa in Leh district alone, with Hemis gompa the biggest and richest.
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Day 01 MANALI (2100M) - DARCHA (3300M). 145 KMS (06 – 07 HRS)
The first day is dedicated to the road transport on the 147km between Manali and Darcha. The road climbs up to the Rothang Pass (3992m) where the forested Kullu valley lies on the south and the yellow dry Lahoul valley in the North. The road passes through the wild Chander valley up to the Bhagga river to start the trek. O/n camp.
Day 02 DARCHA – PALHAMO.
Leaving the last Lahoul village of Chikka Rarik, an easy trail leads to a narrow valley. The scenery changes dramatically from wide valley to narrow valley offering a landscape coloured in deep reds and golden yellow. O/n Camp.
Day 03 PALHAMO - ZANSKAR SUMDO.
The Barai valley stretches on to the North west, but you cross the bridge and go up into the little Bari Valley, where the streams joins the main river. Walking north, the tiny meadow of Zanskar sumdo is reached after a 5 to 6 hours walk.
Day 04 ZANSKAR SUMDO - CHUMIK NAGPO (BASE CAMP).
The trail leads up to the narrow valley moraines toward the base of Shingo-La pass (5096m). Camp is held at the botton of the pass after 5 to 6 hours of walk. Coming from the south, it is important to acclimatize on these initial days.
Day 05 CHUMIK NAGPO - LAKHANG.
The trail is steep going up to the permanent snow field of Shingo-La (5096m). There are views of the great himalaya range from the pass. A small shrine and the wind ripping the buddhist prayer flags mark the pass. We then go down from the pass to the pastures on the westward of the Kargyak river. Camp is held near the
small isolated hut used by the yaks herders (6 to 7 hours of walk).
Day 06 LAKHANG - KARGYAK.
Walking toward Kargyak village, the scenery changes astonishingly with change of colour of the landscape from light red to deep purple. The valley and whole day is shadowed by grace of the majestic Gumburanjon. Kargyak, the first village of Zanskar will be reached after an easy walk of 4 to 5 hours.
Day 07 KARGYAK - PURNI.
Walking north of Kargyak, along the river, the scenery is mesmerizing. On this gentle walk through Kuru and Testa villages, one gets view of high peaks. Camp is held at the small village of Purni, at the junction between the Tsarap river and Kargyak river, after 5 to 6 hours of walk.
Day 08 PURNI - PHUKTAL GOMPA and Return
An optional day for the trip to the 11th century monastery is highly recommended. Built in a cave it is really considered as a jewel of the region. The rising and falling of the path along the well cut edges, strange canyons folds and the approach to gompa is only 3 hours of walk to and back. Couple of hours of rest and tea at the gompa is a great pleasure.
Day 09 PURNI - BIBULA.
Soon after leaving Purni, there is the opportunity to cross one of the last remaining plaited willow rope in Zanskar to the curious village of Cha. Ichar is particularly beautiful with its fortress, and a new gompa surrounded by mani walls in the terraced fields. (4 to 5 hours of walk)
Day 10 BIBULA - MUNI.
After passing the Raru village, the pass goes over moorland (that can be interesting if like birds) to the beautiful located Muni Gompa. Muni village can be seen deep inside the valley like typical Zanskar cauldron with gardens that can be seen from the other side of the gorge. (6 to 7 hours of walk)
Day 11 MUNI - PADUM.
An easy walks will show you views of great peaks. Barden gompa, perched on a rock promontory, was built in the 17th century and can be visited on the way. Padum is the small capital and the district headquarter of Zanskar (in the state of Jammu and Kashmir). Camp is heald near the stream, after 5 to 6 hours of walk.
Day 12 PADUM - KARSHA GOMPA.
A strange walk across the huge central Zanskar plain. From your first step, the dramatic Karsha gompa can be see clinging to dark jagged cliffs over the Doda river. This Gelukpa monastery is the largest of Zanskar. All your walk will be dominated by the Nun and Kun massif around Padum: ice, snow and rocky peaks... Camp site
is a few km after Karsha (4 hours of walks)
Day 13 KARSHA - PISHU.
The trails goes down toward the tiny village of Rinam and the follows the broads Zanskar river to Pishu. The villages with cellular shaped fields spill across alluvial plain, peaks towers on the other side of the valley lies ont this plain. Beside the river, you will find the lovely campsite just below the main village after 5 to 6 hours of walk.
Day 14 PISHU - HANUMIL.
A quiet walk on the sand beaches beside the Hanumil river will contrast with the geological figures, deep gorges around you. Camp is beside the river after 6 hours of walk.
Day 15 HANUMIL - SNERTSE.
The trail leaves the river and climbs up to the Parfi-La pass (3900m) and goes down to cross the Zingchen Tokpo (omachu) the border betwenn Zanskar and Ladakh. After crossing the bridge, you will have to climb again to see pasture to the North. The camp site is around some herders' huts. (7 hours of walk)
Day 16 SNERTSE - LINGSHED.
The trail is going up through narrow gorges with clear water. Before to reach the Hanuma-La (4700m), you will cross very dry yellow valley surrounded by strange hills. From the pass, you will discover a great scenery of the deep and now far Zanskar valley and the Lingshed village. The beautiful Lingshed gompa is looking majestically down to the village. (7 to 8 hours of walk)
Day 17 LINGSHED - THE BASE OF SENGGE-LA.
The day is beginning by an easy climb to the Murgum-La (4100m). A gentle descent toward the village of Gongma (3840m) and the trail will climb again to the rocky camp at the base of Sengge-La. (6 to 7 hours of walk)
Day 18 BASE OF SENGGE-LA - PHOTOKSAR.
A steep but short climb will bring you to the Sengge-La (5000m). The trail will follow Photang valley and goes to the bumiktse-La (4200m). Photoksar is lying up a canyon, at the base of huge mountains walks, a abandonned gompa remains up the village. (6 hours of walks)
Day 19 PHOTOKSAR - HANUPATTA.
The last slopes of Sirsir-La (4800m) are quite steep but the views of the two valleys will award you to reach the top of the pass. In this wide region, marmots calls and whistles can be eared. A beautiful valley will bring you to Hanupatta camp site after 6 hours of walk.
Day 20 HANUPATTA - WANLA.
The narrow trail will cross the most incredible beautiful gorges showing varieties of colours. Soon after going outside the gorges, Phenjilla village is reached: apricot trees are growing on the slopes around the village. Then campsite of Wanla is held beside a river. Wanla village is dominated by an old castle and gompa. (6 hours of
walk)
Day 21 WANLA - LAMAYURU.
After a short walk, you will leave the main valley to a narrow and dry gorge going up to the Prinkiti-La (3726m). Then, there is an easy descent to the ancient monastery of Lamayuru. The gompa holds a rich library of ancient Tibetan manuscripts. (4 hours of walk). O/n Camp.
Day 22: LAMAYURU – LEH.
Drive to Leh. O/n Hotel.
