HIGH AND WILD NOMAD TRAILS TO LADAKH’S MYSTERIOUS CORNER

• The isolated village of Karzok
• Colorful Buddhist culture
• Remote trekking & high passes
• Leh’s bustling market bazaar

Our new Tso Morari Lake Trek begins with a short flight to the frontier town of Leh, where we will spend some time acclimatizing, taking it easy and exploring some of the many monasteries around the Ladakhi capital. After this period of acclimatizing and sightseeing in Leh, we transfer to the start of our walk at Rumtse on the Leh to Manali Highway. Our sensational trek leads across several high passes and by way of the smaller lake of Tso Kar to Karzok at the northern end of Tso Morari. En route, we will have the chance to meet the nomadic Chang-pa herdsmen who graze their goats, sheep and yaks on this high grassland. We will also be hoping to see some of the unusual animal species which inhabit this area; including blue-sheep, ibex, marmot, Himalayan fox, kyang (wild ass) and wolf. This is a superb trek to a very special part of the world.

Ladakh first opened to foreign visitors in 1974. This is a high and wild region that has since has captured the imagination of adventure travelers. Geographically, Ladakh is a western extension of the Tibetan Plateau, and even as recently as the beginning of the nineteenth century was a part of Tibet. Buddhism came to Ladakh from Pakistan’s Swat Valley, and this fascinating religion is still practiced throughout Zanskar. Large numbers of monasteries, many of them occupying impressive hill-top sites, remain active in the region to this day.

Zanskar’s remarkable landscape is well-suited to the needs of trekking expeditions. A number of parallel mountain ranges, including the Great Himalaya Range, and then north of that the Zanskar and then Ladakh ranges, divide this territory, offering a maze of excellent trekking routes which usually involve high pass crossings. Scattered high villages, each with its irrigated fields of barley and potatoes, add color to this otherwise quite barren environment. Zanskar is an intriguing region with numerous snow-capped peaks, steep-sided valleys, high passes, crystal clear lakes and ancient monasteries, presenting a physical challenge and visual feast to adventurous trekkers.

The Tso Morari Lake Trek (Camping Trip) is part of our Himalayan Classic Trek Series. Our Classic Treks are led by an experienced, English-speaking Sherpa Guide and full support crew. We are able to arrange this trek starting on any day of the week during the months of June through September for groups of 1 to 10 people. Please contact us with any questions or to receive a detailed day to day Trip Itinerary.

TRIP OUTLINE:
Day 1: Welcome to India! Arrive and transfer to hotel.
Day 2. Fly from Delhi to Leh, Ladakh at 11,480 feet. Hotel.
Day 3. Visit the Alchi Monastery of the Indus Valley. Hotel.
Day 4. Day hike in the Leh countryside. Hotel.
Day 5. Drive to the Khardung La pass at 17,651 feet. Hotel.
Day 6. Visit Thiksey and Hemis monasteries. Drive to Rumste. 13,255 feet. 3 hour drive.
Day 7. To the Kyamar La Base Camp. 14,380 feet. Hiking time: 5 hours.
Day 8. The Kyamar La and Mandalchan La passes to Tisaling. 13,780 feet. Hiking time: 6 to 7 hours.
Day 9. Across the Shibuk La Pass to Tso Kar. 13,940 feet. Hiking time: 6 to 7 hours.
Day 10. A short trek to Nuruchan at 14,105 feet. Hiking time: 4 to 5 hours.
Day 11. A short trek to Rachungkaru at 14,110 feet. Hiking time: 4 to 5 hours.
Day 12. Two pass day to Gyamar Barma. 16,400 feet. Hiking time: 7 to 8 hours.
Day 13. The Yalung Nyau La Pass to Karzok & Tso Morari Lake. 14,760 feet. Hiking time: 6 to 7 hours.
Day 14. Off-roading and pass crossings to Leh. Driving time: 6 hours. Hotel.
Day 15. Fly to Delhi. The afternoon is free to relax. Hotel.
Day 16. Depart Delhi.