NUBRA VALLEY TREK

Season: July to September
Duration: 12 days
Grade: Moderate

The Nubra Valley was once a busy outpost with numerous caravan trains stopping to restock before heading on to the Karakorum mountains and further to the exotic bazaars of Central Asia.

Day 01: We welcome you on your arrival at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi and escort you to your hotel where you stay overnight.

Day 02: Take the morning flight to Leh
and check into your hotel. Afternoon free to wander around the bazaars and relax. A couple days in Leh is strongly advised due to the high altitude.

Day 03: We visit the ancient monasteries
of Shey with its enormous state of Buddha and Thiksey one of the most important Gompas in central Ladakh which has some beautiful wall paintings besides gilded statues of the Buddha. In the afternoon we drive down to the famous Hemis Gompa in a secluded grove of poplars. Return to your hotel for the night.

Day 04: Visit the secluded Stok royal palace the Spituk monastery
and the Tibetan Camp of Choglamsar and get further acclimatized for the days ahead before returning to your hotel for the night

Day 05: Drive from Leh to Sabu - 3500m / 11,480ft.
After a short drive to Sabu, situated at the foot of Sabu mountain at 4496m / 14,746ft we get on to a trail that leads north through a narrow valley, beside the Sabu River. We reach our campsite at Sabu Zong by early evening.

Day 06: Sabu Zong - Pulu Diggar - 4500m / 14,760ft.
All along the trail you are afforded with spectacular views of the snowy ranges especially the Stok mountains and the majestic dominating Stok Kangri at 6123m / 20,083ft We camp near Pulu Diggar for the night.

Day 07: Pulu Diggar - Diggar La - 5250m / 17,220ft to Diggar Lartsa at 4600m / 15,088ft
. The trail follows a stream at first then winds up steeply till we reach the Digar La pass with its colourful fluttering prayer flags and from where again you get splendid views. Stretching to the north you can see the Saser mountain range part of the eastern Karakorum where the Saser Kangri - 7670m / 25,157ft Ladakh's tallest peak rises to the skies. The descent leads into a small plateau with abounding in tiny silvery streams. Camp.

Day 08 : Diggar Lartsa - Digar - 3700m / 12,136ft.
The small hamlet of Diggar is approached by a steep descent and before entering the village you pass a huddle of Chortens and colourful prayer flags. Camp over night nearby.

Day 09: Diggar - Rong - 3150m / 19,332ft.
The trail leaves the village and you get stunning views of the sweeping flood plains of the Shyok River far below. A steep descent takes us to the valley floor and a walk through silvery sand dunes an unusual sight at this high altitude. Suddenly we come across a green oasis of Poplar and Willow trees our ideal campsite for the night.

Day 10: Rong - Khalsar - 3500m / 11,480ft.
From this oasis we are picked up by a Jeep and driven to the village of Hunder at 3020m / 9805ft situated in a green valley. From here we visit the Diskit village a serene and quiet place with an ancient monastery on a hillside commanding a 180° view of the mountain ranges. Camp at Khalsar the first town on the Leh-Nubra highway while entering from Leh. Camp.

Day 11: Hunder - Skarchen - 3800 m / 12,464ft..
A trail winds gradually upstream along two streams and then through narrow gorges till we reach our campsite at Skarchen.

Day 12: Skarchen - Thanglesgo (4400 m).
Climb gentle slopes thorough pastures.

Day 13: Skarchen - Thanglesgo - 4400m / 14,432 ft.
The trail climbs gently and emerges into vast pastures where we camp for the night.

Day 14: Thanglesgo - Base of Lasermo La -D 4600m / 15,088ft.
The trail goes along a glistening stream and through green pastures adorned with an amazing variety of wild flowers. The trail attains a gentle slope right up to the base of the Lasermo La pass.

Day 15: Base of Lasermo La
over the Lasermo La pass at 5200m / 17,056ft to Morubuk located at 4400m / 14,432ft. Climb gradually to the top of Lasermo La on one of several routes depending on the time of the year and the snow conditions. The climb reveals the grandeur and beauty of the Zanskar range and the Indus valley while the descent to the sleepy village of Morubuk is steep and involves a number of stream crossings.

Day 16: Morubuk - Phyang - 3500m/ 11,480ft.
The trail continues to descend alongside the river till we reach the ancient Phyang monastery located on a hill above the village. Camp.

Day 17 : Leave Phyang and drive back to Leh
and check into your hotel for the night.

Day 18: Catch your early morning flight to Delhi
where you send the afternoon at leisure. Transfer to the airport late in the night or early morning when international flights take off for your next destination