Extreme Adventure Tsomoriri

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Ladakh's biggest attraction is its ancient Gompas, or Buddhist monasteries, which contain some of Asia's greatest wonders of gold and tapestry work. It is possible to stay overnight in some tents while making a Trek in Ladakh. The people of Ladakh, many of whom are Tibetan refugees, are famous for their friendliness and hospitality.

Ladakh is just ideal for trekking, rafting and biking offering energetic out-door people a different and exciting option for an adventure holiday. One of the most remote and mythical regions of India, Ladakh is a landscape of unearthly beauty. It is an ideal place for extreme adventure.

Trekking possibilities include short, day-long walks up and down mountain slopes to visit isolated villages or monastic settlements, or across a ridge to enjoy the sheer beauty of the mountains lit in the moonlight. It contains long trans-mountain treks involving weeks of walking and camping in the wilderness. For example, the trek from Lamayuru in the Indus valley to Darcha in Lahoul across Zanskar takes nearly three weeks. Most of the established routes traverse the Zanskar range which separates the Indus Valley from Zanskar.

A range of rafting options is available on the Indus and its major tributaries. The best stretch for professionally guided runs in white water is on the Indus between Spituk and Saspol. The most difficult but exciting option for river running is on the Zanskar along its spectacular course through the gorge in the Zanskar mountains, between Padum and Nimo.

Mountain biking is the best way to keep oneself in limelight. The adventurer ride a Ladakh Trek is full of surprises. This adventurous mountain biking journey takes you to the world’s greatest motor biking roads. The journey boasts of some unforgiving roads. One has to ride on roads at heights where clouds usually hang out.

Photography By Michelle Morris

Day 01: Arrival at Leh airport

On arrival at Leh airport we will be received by the representatives and will be transferred to the hotel. Check in to the hotel for a complete day of rest wherein welcome tea/coffee will be served by the Hotel. Lunch will be served at 2.00 PM, after lunch visit Leh Market, Leh Palace and Shanti Stupa. Stay overnight at a Hotel.

Day 02: Day spent visiting to the monasteries (104 Kms).

After breakfast, we will drive to visit the Shey Palace, Thiksey, Hemis monasteries and Stok Palace Museum. Packed or Hot Lunch will be provided. Return to Leh in the evening. Stay overnight at a hotel.

Day 03- Day 04: Rafting from Chilling to Alchi.

Day 3: On this day, we will raft 35 kms of Class III/IV white water from Chilling to Nimu (3154m; 10,345 ft; 3 hrs) along the way we pass the village of Tsogsti and exciting rapids as the Zanskar plunges out of the canyon to meet with the Indus at Nimu and ends the day’s trip at the confluence of the Zanskar with the Indus, and spend the night at Nimo in Camps.

Day 4: Another 30 Kms of rafting on the rapids of Zanskar and Indus River combined Class III/IV rapids. While enjoying the thrills & chills of rafting we can see the breathtaking landscape as well. During this time, we will be served with soft drinks and a hot lunch at a Scenic spot near Basgo. We will pass through village Basgo & Saspol, before reaching Alchi. At the end of the trip we can explore Alchi village and Monasteries, and while coming back we might go to Likir and Basgo the famous spots. Stay overnight at Hotel in Leh.

Day 05 – Day 12: Trekking- Hemis to Tsokar Trek (8 days)

This trek is famous for its unique landscape, nomads and the lakes. This area is a part of the Changthang Plateau, a part of western Tibet which can be called Eastern Ladakh. This region, known as the land of the nomads, will give us an experience to last a lifetime. We can see the nomads’ traditional lifestyle. The area is also an important wildlife sanctuary, harboring snow leopards and wild asses, as well as various species of birds, such as Black Necked Crane.

Day: 5 Leh to Shang Sumdo via Martselang (2½ hours)

We will leave Leh by jeep to the starting point of the trek at Martselang (3600 m). We will drive to Shang, where we will meet our crew, which is the entry point into Hemis National Park, where we might get a glimpse of such endangered high-altitude animals such as the snow leopard, Tibetan wolf, Tibetan sheep and Golden eagle. From there, we will climb steadily through the gorge of Shang, enjoying the magnificent colors and rock formations on the way. We will then pass through the small village of Chogdo (4000 m) and cross a few rivers before reaching the camp for the night.

Day: 6 Lartsa 4600 m. - Thachungtse 4250 m via Kongmaru La 5200 m. (6-7 hrs)

A steep ascent leads us up to Kongmaru La (5200 m). From the pass we will get a breathtaking view of the north face of Kangyatse (6400 m), Zanskar and the Karakoram ranges. We then descend gradually to the summer pasture of Nimaling, where the villagers from Marka valley spend the summer with their sheep, goats and yaks, which graze on these lush green fields. The campsite of Thachungtse is further down the valley on the banks of the Marka River at 4000 m.

Day: 7 Thachungtse – Yakrupal (5-6 hours)

After the strenuous walk on the previous day, this day’s walk is easier as we walk through the remote Langthang valley, where few other trekkers go. It’s only the villagers from Markha, who use this valley as a pasture ground for their animals. From Thachungtse, we will follow the valley down until it divides, cross the river and follow the valley to the left along the Langthang Chu River. The valley down to the right leads to Markha. The Langthang River has a tendency to rise during the day due to the melting of snow in the mountains, and by noon it becomes a dangerous river to cross. An early start in the morning is therefore essential, as one has to cross the river several times. Yakrupal is a nice, green campsite where we will have a good meal with the horses grazing alongside.

Day : 8 Yakrupal – Zalung Karpo La 5200m – Khar (5-6 hours)

After Yakrupal, we will continue up the valley towards the pass of Zalung Karpo La. From the top of the pass there is a spectacular view of the Zanskar range on one side, while on the other, the highest plateau in the world appears: the Chang Tang plateau stretching far into Tibet, known as the land of the nomads. The downward trail is steep and several river crossings will follow which will lead us to the beautiful and lush campsite of Khar, our home for the night.

Kharnak means “black castle” in Ladakhi, and it is situated on a hill above the campsite, one can imagine the former palace of Khar where the king of Kharnak used to live. The ruins of this former kingdom still stand and the nomads believe it to be haunted. It is said that the nomads in Dat are descendants of the people who lived in Khar and that they moved to Dat, three or four generations ago for some reason.

Day: 9 Khar – Dat (5-6 hours)

It is a relatively easy day where a beautiful walk through wide, lush valleys is something to look forward to, even by Ladakhi standards.

At Tangtse Sumdo the valley divides – the left valley leading to Dat and the right into Zanskar, by the ‘Zhunglam trek’, where one will get one’s feet real wet due to the 80 river crossings! On the way we pass several nomad camps before reaching the tiny village of Dat, a settlement of stone huts and the winter headquarters for the nomads in Kharnak. Here they live from October to December and March to June. The nomads of Kharnak are colorful and joyful people moving together with their yaks and pashmina goats. In Dat there is also a Monastery, and when the villagers are away from Dat, one or two people ride back on horses every second day to light the candles here.

Day: 10 Dat – Yar La 4950m – Lungmo Che (5-6 hours)

From Dat we enter the vast land of the Changthang plateau and follow a long, wide valley before taking one of the side valleys towards Yar La. In spring the nomads move with all their animals towards Zara and it can be an unforgettable sight to see 30-40 families moving with their yaks in caravans. The ascent to this pass is gradual. From here it is a short walk down to the pastures of Lungmo Che, where we will spend the night, surrounded by snowcapped mountains, grazing yaks and pastel light.

Day: 11 Lungmo Che – Zara (5 hours)

The trail follows rolling hills towards Yagang, another settlement of stone huts belonging to the Kharnak nomads. A jeep road continues to Zara, the summer headquarters for the nomads in Kharnak. If we go for a visit up here, we will most likely be welcomed with numerous cups of butter tea and probably be invited into the nomads’ black tents woven out of yak hair.

Day: 12 Zara – Ponganagu (6 hours)

We set out to conquer another small pass, the Shibuk La (4900 m), in about 2-hour journey. From the top of the pass, we have an incredible view of the surrounding mountains and of our next destination, Tsokar Lake. With a breathtaking view to ease our exhaustion, we head down towards the valley accompanied by the shrill whistles of the shy and active marmots, which is characteristic of this harsh region. It’s approximately a 4 hrs walk to the Tsokar basin, and our camp for the night will be near nice campsite of Tsokar lake.

Day 13: Tsokar to Puga via Polo Konka 4750 mts 26kms

Our biking support vehicle will join us & bring fresh supplies, bikes and biking gears.

Early morning we will start another adventure biking trip,on the Chanthang plateau it is advised to go slowly and steadily as we have to cross the Polo Konka Pass 4750mts. The lush green pastureland with grazing yaks white clouds hanging upon the village. It is an unforgettable scene of shooting fountain. This is Butane gas which Puga valley is famous for.

Day 14: Puga to Thadsangkaru A Brakkish Lake between Puga & Korzok 18 kms

This lake is near sumdo. The experience here is different as sumdo is a Nomadic Head quarter in summer, and it’s a nice opportunity to see the life style and culture of these nomads apart from this we can enjoy the awesome landscape full of life.

Day 15: Thadsangkaru to Korzok 20 kms.

Last day of the Extreme adventure get ready to see the most fascinating part of the trip. Now it would be rather easier and smoother for us. We will soon get a view of Tsomoriri Lake surrounded by barren mountainsides with snow capped peaks, these lakes provide an enchanting experience of remoteness and unique beauty found nowhere else. Near this lake one of the highest village in the world is situated and is known as Korzok, at 15,000 feet (4,572 m) with its dozen or so houses and its gompa appearing like a mirage among the barren hills, is the only permanent settlement in Rupshu; otherwise the region is inhabited only by nomadic Chang-pa herds people. The Rupshu Chang-pa live in tents all the year round, moving in accordance with an old-established annual routine between the pastures wherever an occasional stream carrying snowmelt from the heights makes possible the growth of grass, scanty indeed, but reportedly highly nutritious. Rupshu's bare hills support a sparse population of wildlife, and the animal most likely to be spotted is the Kyang, the wild ass of the Ladakh and Tibet plateau. More plentiful are marmots (ubiquitous on mountain slopes all over Ladakh), hares, and an unusual tail-less rat. The lakes are breeding-grounds for numerous species of birds. Chief among them are the barheaded goose, found in great numbers on the Tso-moriri, the great crested grebe, the Brahmini duck (ruddy Sheldrake) and the brown-headed gull. After lunch we will have the unique experience of Biking in the shores of Tsomoriri Lake. After dinner camp fire is at the lake.

Day: 16 Korzok – Leh (7 hrs drive)

We drive back to Leh along the gorges of the mighty Indus with all these good memories in mind, leaving behind the beautiful Lake Tsomoriri.

Day: 17 Rest and Shopping at main market Leh.

Day: 18 Transfers to Airport for Dep to Delhi