Highlights: This trekking exposes you to one of the most beautiful locales of North India.
Day 1 : Arrive Delhi Arrive IGI airport Delhi. Met upon arrival at the international airport and transfer to hotel. Overnight at hotel.
Day 2 : Delhi Morning proceed on a full day sightseeing tour of Delhi visiting important tourist sites of Old and New Delhi. Visit the Qutab Minar 12th century tower and one of the tallest towers of its time, walls here consist of verses from Quran (Holy book of Islam). Wander around the complex visiting ruins of Hindu temples and palaces which once remained here and 4th century steel pillar which has not developed rust till date. Drive pass India Gate the war memorial and other government buildings stopping at President House. Visit Laximi Narayan Temple. In Old Delhi drive pass Red Fort once a symbol of Mughal power, visit Jama Masjid 16th
century mosque and largest in India. Take a rickshaw ride in the narrow alleyways of Chandni Chowk and amazing mixture of history with modern world and visit Raj Ghat cremation site of the “Father of the Nation”. Overnight at hotel.
Day 03 :Delhi to Leh
Morning transfer to domestic airport to board the flight for Leh. Arrive Leh and after a traditional Ladakhi welcome transfer hotel with rest of the day at leisure for acclimatization. Overnight at hotel.
Day 05 - Leh
Morning proceed for full day Indus Valley monastery tour. Visit Shey the ancient capital of Ladakh. The monastery here has a huge gold-gilded statue of Buddha Sakyamuni with a large silver lamp burning in front of the statue. Thiksey
Monastery an impressive complex rising tier upon tier on a hill above the village. The monastery has a beautiful 30 m high gold-plated statue of Maitreya Buddha, the Buddha of the future and famous Hemis Gompa (Monastery) founded in 1630's by Stag-tsang-ras-pa under the royal patronage of Sengge Namgyall. Hemis is one of the largest and richest Gompa of Ladakh. The two-day festival of monastic dance in June-July has raised the reputation of Hemis particularly high. The festival is dedicated to Guru Padmasambhava, popularly known as second Buddha and responsible for spreading Buddhism in the Tibetan world. Return to hotel by late afternoon or early evening. Overnight at hotel.
Day 06 - Leh to Kilchay ( 4116 mtrs.)
Drive to the Stok village trekking point; cross over the village on higher section keeping the left bank of the Stok Nallah walk in the south-west direction. Cross over the flood plains of the Stok valley enter the Gorge and climb the ruins of the Styang-la- Khar fort walking time is one and half hour to two hours. Lunch break in the ruined fortress. Climb uphill the cirque to reach Kilchay travelling time approx. 3 to 4 hours. Overnight at Kilchay.
Day 07 - Kilchay to Yuruste ( 3844 mtrs.), approx. 8 hrs. trek
Climb up hill the Stok -La ( 4900 mtrs.), follow the complicated trail winding in knots on the ridge, near the crest. Descend in the Rumbak valley, try skill on the Scree, arrival of Chortens announces the village in vicinity. Lunch break on the Rumbak Nallah. Cross the Rumbak village. Walk in the south -west direction along the Jingchan Nallah cross the bridge to the right side and follow uphill to edry Nallah. Yurutse destination for to night is a small habitation not more than a joint family. Overnight camp at Yurutse.
Day 08 - Yuruste to Skiu ( 3300 mtrs.), approx. 8 hrs. trek
Cross the village, and follow the trail in the north direction valley being separated by the purple band or rock. Observe the contrast in the physical features to the Leh town and surroundings. Move in the south-west direction and by the time you ascend to Gandala Pass must have almost gained the height by approx. 900 mtrs. Lunch break at Gandala with magnificent views of the Stok range and the Zanskar range. Descend down hill inside the Shingri Nallah walk in the spectacular gorge with beautiful coloured and the eroded landscapes. Here the
vegetation is of willow groves and the Seabuck thorn that caters enough of shade from the Sun. The tiny Skiu village entrance is dominate by the towering rock faces. They are simply awe inspiring in the evening. Visit the Gompa on top of the cliff on western side of the village. Overnight in Skiu.
Day 09 - Skiu to Thiniespa ( 3536 mtrs.), aprox. 6 hrs. trek
The trail to the Markha River is not too strenuous, for the initial part-then you walk through the thorny scrubs. Almost traveling after nine kilometers there is a wooden bridge high above the river cross onto the left bank in South direction. Cross the Hamlet that falls on the way after a steep slope, took out for the path that veers out in the South west direction cutting through the crumbly cliffs and then ascend the hilltop to reach the destination for tonight. This Thinlespa, a tiny village with very basic dwellings. Overnight in the Thinlespa.
Day 10 - Thinlespa to Hankar ( 3963 mtrs.), aprox. 6-7 hrs. trek
Climbing east, you reach the picturesque Markha village. As you approach the village, you can catch a glimpse of the snow covered slopes of Kang-Yutze(6400 mtrs.) in the distance. The monasteries in the village are definitely worth a visit. There is also the ruined fort whose walls climb sharply up a crag. Lunch break at the track from Rubering La, one of the routes to Zang La. The approach to Hankar is through a wonderful level walk with the towering peak of Kang-Yutze standing over the valley. The ruined outline of the Hankar Gompa is a lovely sight, merging beautifully with rocky ridge on which it sits. Overnight camp in Hankar.
Day 11 - Hankar to Nimaling ( 4878 mtrs.) aprox. 8hrs. trek.
Follow the trail to Nimaling which heads up the North bank of Nimaling Chu through a gateway formed by large rock buttresses. Lunch break in the meadows of Nimaling with a beautiful backdrop of the picturesque Kang-Yutze peak. Explore this fascinating valley. It is a beautiful and remote place to camp and spend some time relaxing in the afternoon . Be warned that weather can be quite tricky and you have to be prepared for unseasonal snow in case weather deteriorates. Overnight camp at Nimaling.
Day 12 - Nimaling to Sumdo ( 5274 mtrs.), aprox 6 hrs trek.
Cross the Kangmaru La, the highest pass of the trek, on the East Side of thevalley opposite Kang-Yutze. As you climb the last slope to the top, there are good views over the Zanskar range and the vertical ice walls on the North face of Kang-Yutxe. Now you are ready for a steep descends down a difficult slope into the Martselang valley. Lunch break at the Sulfur springs of Chyushkarmo. Follow the Martselang stream into the lovely village of Sumdo. Overnight camp at the confluence of the Shang River and the Martselang stream. Overnight camp at Sumdo.
Day 13 - Sudmo to Martselang ( 3400 mtrs.) - Leh, aprox 3-4 hrs. trek
Today is easy. Walk along and 8 km stretch, following the Jeep track along the Martselang stream. This broadens into the valley of River Indus at the Martselang village. At the end of tiring but exhilarating 8 days, hot lunch will be served before setting off for Leh town in waiting vehicles. The drive into Leh will be aprox. 2 hours long. Overnight at hotel.
Day 14 –Leh
Day at leisure or free for optional activities. Overnight at hotel.
Day 15 – Leh to Delhi
In time transfer to airport to board the flight for Delhi. Arrive Delhi and transfer to hotel rest of the day at leisure or free for optional activities. Overnight at hotel.
Day 16 – Depart Delhi
In time transfer to international airport to board the flight for onward destination.
