LAMAYURU - HEMIS TREK

Season: May to September
Duration: 12 days trek
Grade: Moderate

This trek distils the very essence of Ladakh and in short, span of time provides intensive experience of the land, its people and culture. Linking two of the oldest and biggest monasteries in Ladakh at its either end. The trail passes through dramatic desert mountain scape with vivid veridian villages tucked away into the hillsides. Highlights include the Gompa at Lamayuru, Wanla, Sumdachun, Shang Sumdo and Hemis.

DAY 01: ARRIVEL IN DELHI
Meeting upon International airport, transfer to hotel, excursion around Delhi.

DAY 02: FLIGHT TO LEH, TRANSFER TO HOTEL
You will be meet upon arrival by our representative and transfer to hotel. Full day to rest and acclimatise. Overningth in hotel at Leh.

DAY 03: INDUS VALLEY SIGHT SEEING
After breakfast leave by car for full day sight seeing of Shay Palace, Thiksey monastery and Hemis monastery located on the bank of river Indus about 45kms drive. Back to hotel for overnight.

DAY 04: LEH / LAMAYURU (11'033 ft /3,364 m) 5 /6 HRS.
Drive to Lamayuru on the Leh - Srinagar highway. Enroute visit Likir and Alchi gompa. Arrive Lamayuru with its charming village and centuries old gompa. The afternoon is spent exploring the village and gompa. Camp is set on a forested riverbank below the village.

DAY 05: LAMAYURU / PRINKITI LA (3750m) / WANLA (10135 ft 3090 m) TREK 4/5 HRS.
From the camp trek down towards the village, cross a stream and gentle climb across the mountainside, then a little valley towards the Prinkiti la 3750 m, which is, crosses a river by bridge. Then on the right bank through apricot orchards and beautiful willow groves to Wanla village. Camp is set by the stream.

DAY 06: WANLA / HINJU (12421 ft 3738 m) TREK 5/6 HRS.
Go along the left bank of Yepola River for 2 hrs until reaching the village of Phenjila. From Phenjila go up a valley leading off at left, which is dotted with tiny green patches of willows trees. It then arrives at Hinju, a large village with a typical cluster of mud houses onto the hillside and bright green fields stretching out into barren land. Camp is set by the stream just above the village.

DAY 07: HINJU / MARJAK (11,152 ft 3,400 m) trek 5/6 HRS.
From Hinju go up the main valley, following the Repchar. Pass the last mountain pasture, now until ascends steeply up to the Konzke la (4950m). Long descent to pastures where the local people bring their horses, cows, Dzos and yaks to graze. This is blue sheep and Ibex country if you lucky, one might even spot the occasional Red Himalayan fox. Camp in a meadow by the stream.

DAY 08: MARJAK / LANAQ (13'574 ft 4'130m) trek 5 HRS.
Now trail gets close to the river of Sumdah Tokpo. Continuing along the riverbank until arriving the Sumdah, a beautiful village. Several campsites at the edge of the river. Following the main valley which direction. The path becomes more difficult to follow until reaching shelter formed by the rocks. Opposite these small houses there is a bridge. Cross it and start climbing to Lanaq campsite, grassland dotted with quaint little shepherd shelter built with piled up stone.

DAY 09: LANAQ / DHUNDHUNTSE LA (4'800m) / CHILLING, trek 6/7 hrs.
From camp, leaving the shepherds shelter and pasture half way up, then steep climb up to the pass. Beautiful view all around. Now go down along the mountainside then down the steep slope. Arrive at a house high up in the valley. Then take a valley that gets narrower and narrower until reaching Chilling. The inhabitants of Chilling are the only ones to work with metals such as coppers, tin, silver used for the making of ladles, Tchang pots and teapots etc. Overnight camp near the village.

DAY 10: CHILLING /SKAYA, trek 5 hrs.
From Chilling, follow the Zanskar River upstream for several hundred meters. Cross the river in a cable car, and then take a good path until Skaya village. Camp near the village.

DAY 11: SKAYA / THINLESPA (11.776 ft 3,536 m) trek 6 hrs.
A very pleasant walk up one of the loveliest sections of the Markha valley. Woody bushes grow thickly along the river, which is a spanned by several bridges over which the trail marches to Thinlespa. The camp is beyond small charming village on the true right bank of the river.

DAY 12: THINLESPA / HANKAR (13'078 ft 3'963 m) trek 6/7 hrs.
The trail continuous upwards climbing steadily up the valley through the picturesque village of Markha and its interesting monastery, which is well worth visiting. Coming in from the south is the trail from Rubering la, one of the routes to Zangla in Zanskar. Then carry on along the right banks and arrive in Hankar Sumdoh. Several houses leave a broad valley on the right hand side. Overnight camp near the village.

DAY 13: HANKAR / NIMALING (5'000m), trek 6 hrs.
Now the valley narrows and goes higher. Cross onto the left bank after crossing bridge to arrive the pasture of Tchatchutse. The path climb steadly up, then across the pasture of Nimaling. The Nimaling plain is a broad undulating meadow with tiny ponds and rivulets flowing all over its meadows. Providing pasturage in summer for astonishing numbers of animals - yaks, Dzos, sheep, goats, and horses. Himalayan marmots and white tailed hares are seen in plenty. Nimaling is one of the most beautiful high valleys in Ladakh, dominated by Kang Gyatse (6'400 m). Overnight camp at Nimaling.

DAY 14: NIMALING / KONGMARU LA (5'150m) /SHANG SUMDO (3,973m), trek 7/8 hrs.
After camp cross the Markha river and then climb along the mountainside for 45 minutes. Then some zigzagging up to the pass of Kongmaru la. Long descent into gorges with two stretches difficult for the horse. Leave the gorge and keep walking on the left bank to Chukirmo. Then, sometimes in the riverbed, right bank, then again on the left, arrive in Shang Sumdoh village. Beautiful camp in groves.

DAY 15: SHANG SUMDO / HEMIS / LEH, trek 4/5 hrs.
From camp, take the riverbed again, then a good trail through large blocks. Go back onto the left bank. Pass a small house and then a series of Chortens. Leave Martselang on the right and follow a gentle rising trail to Hemis, monastery and village is beautifully situated. Hemis is biggest monastic complex in Ladakh region. After visiting monastery 1 hrs drive to Leh city. Overnight stay in Hotel.

DAY 16: AT LEH IN LEISURE

DAY 17: LEH - DELHI

DAY 18: DEPARTURE HOME