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Manali Shingo La Padum Lamayuru - 20 Nts /
21 Days
Months:
Early July to end September
Number
of Days: 13Nts / 14 Days
Maximum
Altitude: 5450m
Grade:
Moderate - Strenuous
Day 1:
Manali Darcha 8 - 9 Hours drive.
Drive from Manali to Darcha, crossing over the
Rohtang Pass, a scenic winding highway over the
Pir Panjal range. Descend into the Lahaul valley
and continue onto camp at Darcha.
Day 2: Darcha Camp1 (4-5 hours)
From Darcha we follow the track until the last
hamlet. Pass a spectacular gorge. Continue along
the left bank, then cross a stream. We camp in a
grove of poplars.
Day 3: Camp 1 - Ramjak (6-7 hours)
Continue on the left bank until reaching a second
(major) ford, and then go up the right hand
valley. There are good paths on both sides of the
stream, but both are hard going. Good camp at
Ramjak in small meadow, spring.
Day 4:
Ramjak - Shingo La - Camp below the Gumburanjon
peak (8-9 Hours)
From the camp, climb moderate
slopes to the foot of the pass. Several easy
stream
Crossings (4 hours). The ground flattens out and
the path zigzags through a moraine as far as the
Shingo-la (5090m, 5 ½ hours). The descent is steep
till we cross and reach the first meadows of
Zanskar. Cross several easy streams, then go down
an escarpment towards a small plateau. Nice view
of the Gumburanjon. Good camp between two streams.
Day 5: Gumburanjon - Table (6 Hours)
Climb down a mass of fallen rocks, then cross
several streams. After one hour, you pass beneath
the face of the Gumburanjon, then an easy descent
towards Kargyak (4100m) on the right bank. Two
hours after Kargyak, you reach Table. Good camp.
Day 6: Tabley - Purne (6 Hours)
Leaving Tabley we continue on the Right Bank along
an easy path. ½ hours before Tanze, you cross in
front of a narrow gorge where this route joins up
with Darcha - Padum route by the Baralacha-la and
Phirtsela. Tanze is a small village, gompa in
ruins a bit higher up. A short distance beyond
Tanze, there is a bridge across to the left bank.
Walk across a rocky terrain till the trail ascends
slightly leading to Kuru, a major village of
livestock breeders. From here a gentle descent
leads to the beautiful village of Teta (3 ½
hours). The trail continues downward to the river
on the left bank then climbs gently up to Jal
after which a steep descent goes towards a large
bridge which you cross to get to Purne. Camp at
Purne.
Day 7:
Purne - Ichar (5-6 Hours)
From Purne we descend to cross a bridge, then go
up the left bank. The trail that overhangs the
Tsarapchu is sometimes a bit strenuous. We cross a
few canyons and pass a bit above a hanging bridge
that leads to the village of Cha (from Cha it is
possible to go to Phuktal Gompa an ancient
monastery built within a cave). We continue
walking passing the small village of Keydang and
the teashop at Harsani The trail has a few
difficult stretches till we cross a large bridge,
leading to Ichar. We set up our camp a bit outside
the village.
Day 8: Ichar - Mune (5 Hours)
Cross back over to the left bank, then a gradual
climb before coming to a tributary (bridge).
Gradual descent down towards Reru, then quite a
beautiful plain covered with flowers (July) as far
as Mune. We camp opposite monastery.
Day 9: Mune - Padum (5 Hours)
From the monastery, go down a
steep incline to the main trail. After two hours,
you arrive at Bardan Gompa, a monastery famous for
its massive prayer wheel (180 cm high). From
Bardan, a dusty road suitable for motor traffic
leads to Padum. Camp outside the village.
Day 10: Padum - Karsha (3-4 Hours)
From Padum, head towards
Pipiting, then cross a dusty plain towards the
Doda River. Then after crossing a bridge we climb
towards the village of Karsha where we visit the
beautiful Karsha monastery dating from the 15th
century. Camp a little ahead of Karsha.
Day 11: Karsha - Pishu (5 hours)
Easy stretch on the often hot and dusty bank of
the Zanskar River. Above Rinam, small stream and
shelter formed by the rocks. Before Pishu, make a
little detour to see the longest hanging bridge
over the Zanskar (55m). It leads to Zangla.( from
Zangla, a trail goes to Padum via Tsazar and
Thongde). We camp in an attractive campsite below
the village of Pishu.
Day 12: Pishu Hanumill (5 Hours)
Continue on the left bank of the river on an easy
trail and then cross a plateau of moraine till we
reach a bridge before Pidmo. It is another 2 hours
walking to reach the small hamlet of Hanumil with
a beautiful campsite 100 metres past the only 2
houses here.
Day 13: Hanumil - Parfi La - Snertse (6
hours)
We walk on a good and easy path and an hour beyond
Hanumil reach a small stream on the left. Take on
a supply of water. The path leads away from the
edge of the Zanskar up to the plateau then to the
foot of the pass. Its a steep climb as far as the
Parfi-la -3900m- 4 hours and an equally steep
descent to the Oma-Chu river which has a good
bridge crossing which we climb up a 500m sandy
slope as far as the sheepfolds of Snertse. Camp
overnight.
Day 14:
Snertse - Hanuma La - Lingshed (7 Hours)
Its a long gradual ascent towards the Hanuma-la
through gorges. After 2 hours, pass a sheepfold
(sometimes milk for sale). A further 2 ½ hours
hours to reach the summit of the Hanuma-la
(4700m). a 1000 meter steep descent, then a 300
metre climb along the mountain side. From this
small pass , easy descent towards Lingshed (about
3800m). Campsite near the monastery (Gelupa).
Day 15: Lingshed - Foot of the Sengge La
(6 hours)
An easy climb of 1 hour up to
the Murgum-la (4100m). Continue climbing, pass an
escarpment then go along the slope. Wonderful
landscape, view of the valley of Nierag, on the
other bank of the Zanskar. Gentle descent towards
the villages of Gongma (3840m) and Skiumpata. Then
climb gradually along the mountainside up to the
foot of the Sengge-la (Tent-restaurant run by a
monk from Lingshed).
Day 16: Base of the Sengge La - Photoksar
(7 hours)
Rather steep climb to the Sengge-la taking from 1
½ to 2 hours (5000m), from where a short slope
leads into a broad valley. Easy going and a stream
crossing then a gentle climb towards the Bumitse
-la (4200m), beautiful views. Descent towards
Photoksar (3750m), splendid village at the base of
huge mountain walls. Abandoned gompa 20 minutes
away above the village.
Day 17: Photoksar - Sirsir La - Hanupatta
(6 hours)
From the village a gentle one hour climb up to a
large chorten then a long ascent up to the 4800m.
high Sirsir-la. The last stage is steep. Its an
easy descent to the river which we cross to the
left bank on a bridge. (From there, a path leads
up to the Sniugutse-la (5000m) reaching Shilla and
Lamayuru without going through Hanupatta, many
easy stream crossings - 3 days). However we stick
to our route and after a long descent into a stony
valley we reach a good campsite a short distance
before the village of Hanupatta.
Day 18: Hanupatta - Wanla (5 hours)
From Hanupatta we continue across the slope until
we enter a few gorges. Since August 1984, a new
path cut into the rocks avoids the difficult river
crossings. At the junction of the rivers, we get
to see a chorten and prayer flags on a flat patch.
After passing a ridge we descend reaching a good
bridge across the Yapola. We walk along some easy
and some difficult stretches (fallen rocks) until
Phenzi la (3 hours). A little beyond the village,
we cross again onto the left bank on a bridge.
From here its a plain walk till the small village
of Wanla with its charming gompa.
Day 19: Wanla - Lamayuru (3 hours) Go
up the Shila Kong along the right bank, cross it
(bridge), and then arrive in Shila. Pass the
village, go to a broad chorten then follow a
narrow and dry gorge as far as the Prinkiti-La
(3726m). Easy descent, then pass an escarpment.
Cross the river and go towards the village of
Lamayuru. Short climb towards the monastery which
is the most photographed in Ladakh. Camp at
Lamayuru.
Day 20:
Lamayuru Leh (125 kms) Today we leave
after a hearty breakfast towards our last
destination Leh- the principal town of
Ladakh where we check into a comfortable hotel for
the night to await the date of our onward flight
to New Delhi or drive to Srinagar.
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