A very interesting trek beginning at Lamayuru and walking up the less traveled Ripchar valley with its small villages, nomadic settlements and pastures where you see a wide variety of flowers from end of July to end of August and birds too. You cross some high passes with excellent views of the Karakoram and the Zanskar ranges. The initial part of the trek till Chilling is less traveled. From Chilling you cross the Zanskar river by a pulley cable and continue into the Markha valley-most popular and considered one of the best valleys in Ladakh.
This trek is not difficult but is demanding in stages due to the terrain. The average walking time is 5-6 hours.
Duration: 21 nights/22 days
Destination: Delhi-Leh-Uleytokpo-Lamayuru-Wanla-Hinju-Konzela-Chilling-Skiu-Markha-Nimaling-Chogdo-Shangpu-Leh Delhi
Day 01: Delhi
Arrival in Delhi and later transfer to your hotel.
Overnight in hotel.
Day 02: Delhi - Leh
Catch your early morning flight to Leh. Later transfer to your hotel. Rest day free for leisure.
Overnight in hotel.
Day 03: Leh
After breakfast take a city tour of Leh visiting Shey, Thikse and Hemis monasteries.
Overnight in Leh.
Day 04: Leh - Alchi - Uleytokpo
Drive towards to the camp at Uleytokpo enroute visiting Alchi monastery.
Overnight camp at Uleytokpo.
Day 05: Uleytokpo - Lamayuru
Move on with your journey to Lamayuru, visiting the one of the oldest monastery in Ladakh.
Overnight in camps.
Day 06: Lamayuru - Wangla
Today your trekking starts. The trail heads down the valley before turning east to Prinkitila (3506m). Descend from the pass to the scenic village of Wanla.
Camp overnight.
Day 07: Wangla - Hinju
Follow a nice wide path till the village of Penji from where you leave the main trail and head up the Ripchar valley to Hinju.
Camp Overnight.
Day 08: Hinju - Base of Konzela
Continue up the valley to grazing areas which support the village summer camps to camp at the base of Konzela.
Day 09: Base of Konzela - Konzela - Camp
Begin a short but steep climb to Konzela (4950m) for views of the Zanskar range. A long and steep descent brings you to a camp by the river at Lanak.
Day 10: Konzela - Chilling (3390m)
Follow the left bank of the river to the village of Sumda then go up the ridge to another pass - Dunduchunla (4435m) and descend to camp near the village of Chilling, the inhabitants of whom are the only ones who are the main metal workers making Ladakhi copper utensils.
Overnight in Chilling.
Day 11: Chilling - Skiu (3390m)
Cross the Zanskar by pulley cable and follow a lovely trail to camp at Skiu.
Day 12: Skiu - Markha (3810m)
Today take on a full day trek. Cross the Markha River at two places to the village of Chalak. Beyond this settlement is an impressive line of chortens and a huge mound of goat horns. Follow the Markha River to the village of Markha.
Overnight camp.
Day 13: Markha - Thachungtse
Follow the main trail passing the monastery at Humlung to the village of Hankar. We now go away from the wide valley and go up a narrow valley to the pastures at Thachungtse. (5-6hrs).
DDay 14: Thachungtse - Nimaling (4700m)
Approx. 3-4hrs from Thachungtse, the trail climbs steeply to the plateau and pastures of Nimaling with impressive views of Kangyassey peak.
Day 15: Nimaling
Rest day at Nimaling. Optional hike up the left shoulder of Kangyassey.
Day 16: Nimaling - Chogdo
Begin a gradual climb of about 2 hrs to the top of Kongmarula (5030m), the highest point on the trek with excellent views of the Stok range and the Karakoram range of mountains. Descend to the wooded gorge to camp at Chogdo.
Day 17: Chogdo - Shangphu
Follow the Shang Tokpo (stream). Go up Shang la at 4900m and descend to camp.
Day 18: Mathola - Leh
Descend from Mathola to the village at Matho. Drive to Leh visiting Stok Palace and museum on the way back.
Day 19: Leh
Free day in Leh. Overnight in Leh.
Day 20: River rafting
Rafting on the Indus. Grade 2+ with a lot of waves. Approximately 3 to 4 hrs of fun on the river. Return to Leh.
Day 21: Leh - Delhi
Take your flight back to Delhi. Later transfer to your hotel.
Overnight in Delhi.
Day 22: Depart Delhi
Transfer to International Airport to catch the flight to onward destination.
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