Phyang: The monastery is situated 17 Kms. from Leh on the Leh-Kargil road. It was built by Tashi Namgyal in the later half of the 16th century A.D.and looks like a place from a distance. The Gompa belongs to the Red Cap sect of the Buddhists. Hundreds of icons of Buddha are kept on wooden shelves.
Day 05: Leh – Khardung La - Leh
In the morning drive for the Khardung - La Pass. This is the ultimate challenge of the trip. It is the highest motorable road in the world taking you to a dizzy 5,600m! The view from the top is spectacular, stretching from the Indus valley in the South over the endless peaks and ridges of the Zanskar range to the giants of the Sesser Massif in the North. You can feel proud of a true achievement as you finish the trip with your final satisfying descent. Evening back to Leh for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 06: Leh - Rumtse (4000 mts/13120 ft)
Trek to Kyamar (4420 m) in 4 h. We stop at Hemis to visit its monastery, one of the largest and most important of Ladakh. Later, we will continue to Rumtse, where the trek starts. We enter a magnificent and vast area, where the Changpas - nomadic herders take their yak to pasture. We follow the ancient salt along the green Kyamar valley.
Day 07: Kyamar - Kumur La (4770 mts/14990 ft)
- Tisaling (4805 mts/15760 ft) 5 -6 hrs
We start through beautiful color gorge towards Chorten Sumda. Easy walk for one hour then ascend towards Kumur La. From the top one can see the beautiful view of the chain of Kangyatse and the chain of Indus valley.
Day 08: Tisaling - Shibuk La (4875 mts/15990 ft)
- Pangunagu (4800 mts/15744 ft) 5 hrs
From the pass we get a panoramic view of the Tsokar Lake (4400 mts/14432 ft) and the Rupshu valley. Then descend towards the lake, from witch the nomads collect some salt. We will camp near the winter camp of nomad people of Chanthang.
Day 09: Pangunagu - Nuruchan (4630 mts/15187 ft)5 hrs
Today we have an easy trek along the lake. On the way one can see many birds and Wild ass (Kyang) of Ladakh and Tibet plateau. At the end of the lake the trail goes right and enter the Nuruchan village.
Day 10: Nuruchan - Horlam Kongka La (4900 mts/16072 ft) - Kyamayuri La (5 410 mts/17745 ft) - Gyamabarma (4950 mts/16236 ft) 6 hrs
This is a high altitude route and we will cross two passes around 4900 m.
Day 11: Gyamabarma - Yalung Nyau La (5440 mts/17844 ft) - Karzok (4550 mts/14925 ft) 6 hrs
Trek over the Yalung Nyau La to Korzok, on the northwestern |
 |
shore of Tso Moriri, the "Mountain Lake". We visit the Korzok monastery. Camp by the lake.
Day 12: Karzok - Kyangdam (4550 mts/14924 ft) in 6 h 30.
Walk along the western shore of Tsomoriri to Kyangdam, an expansive grassland on the southern shore.
Day 13: Kyangdam - Narbu Sumdo (4450 mts/14924 ft) 6 h.
After crossing the river, the trail climbs up for a while and enter the Parang Chu valley.
Day 14: Narbu Sumdo - Parang Chu 1 (4850 mts/15910 ft) 5 hrs
We gradually ascend the Prang Chu valley, on the right bank of the river.
Day 15: Parang Chu 1 - Parang Chu 2 (5000 mts/16400 ft) 5-6 hrs
The trail passes through a narrow gorge involving many ascents and descents to the side valleys and streams
Day 16: Parang Chu 2 - Parang La (5500 mts/18040 ft) - Jugstok (4800 mts/15744 ft) 7 hrs
After the frontal moraine of the Parang glacier, the trail continues on the opposite bank, thorough a mass of fallen rocks. After making our way over a few patches of snow, we climb gradually up to Parang La. The top of this Pass presents spectacular viewpoints of the peaks and ranges of Lahaul and Ladakh. The Parang Chu, whose source is on the southern slopes of Parang La, can be seen below.
Day 17: Jugstok - Kibar (4205 mts) 7 hrs
Steep descend towards the Sampa Lungpa valley. After crossing a little pass, the Thaltak La (4600 m), one can see towards Parilungbi in the Lingti Valley and Shilla. We soon reach the little hamlet of Dumla, a tiny green oasis, then Kibar, which is the highest village in the world.
