19 Nights / 20 Days
Manali – Darcha – Palamo – Chhalag Tokpo – Zanskar Sumdo – Chumik Nakpo – Lukung – Kagyak – Phuktal – Gyalbokh – Raru – Mune – Bardan – Padum – Karsha – Rinam – Pishu – Hanumil – Purfila – Snertse – Hanumi La – Lingshed – Shinge La – Photoskar – Sirsir La
Darcha Lamayuru trek is a journey that connects the remote terrains of Himachal Pradesh with the ancient hues of Indo – Tibetans in Lamayuru at Ladakh. The trail passes through a wide barren landscape and cascade of snow fed ranges, high altitude mountain passes and quaint villages. Further, it embarks upon the beautiful vicinity of alpine lakes where one can get acquainted with the wild whispers of several Himalayan wildlife, which includes migrating birds endangered animals. Interestingly, this rugged trekking tour to Lamayuru from Darcha will also travel across different high passes including Shingo la 5,090 at meters, Parfi la at 3,950 meters, Hanamun la at 4,800 meters, Sengge la at 5,060 meters, Sirsir la and Prinkti la. The trekking routes also require crossing magnanimous rivers like Chandra, Bhaga, Tsarap, Doda, Zanskar and Indus. The Darcha Lamayuru trek goes deep into the far-flung monasteries and gompas and the major attractions are the Sani Gompa, Mani Gompa, Bardan Gompa, Karsha Gompa, Lingshed Gompa and Lamayuru Gompa.
Drive to Darcha after enjoying the breakfast. The route will take you across Rohtang Pass (3980 meters), which is a doorway to spectacular regions like Spiti, Lahaul, Pangi and Zanskar Valleys. It is the 8-hour drive through Lahaul Valley. The dinner and overnight stay will be at the camp.
Start for the trekking to Pa-Lahmo after having the breakfast. On the way to Leh, Darcha is the last village that comes en route. Darcha to Padum Trek starts from this village. Our trekking journey begins from this day. At starting, it is an easy trek for 3 to 4 hours. Keep following the track until you reach the final village and then good footpath. You will cross a magnificent gorge. Enjoy the dinner and overnight stay in a tent.
Continue trekking on the same trail and follow the tack on the left side of the river that passes through rock-strewn path with big rock. The trail also crosses the streams two or three times. Reach Zanskar Sumdo (4000 meters). It is a good ground for camping. Have dinner and overnight stay in the camp.
You will trek high up on the mountainside today. Firstly, cross the river by a hanging bridge and they ascent steeply for about an hour and then pursue the trek on a slender valley until you arrive at Ramjak, which is a small paddock. From then on, you will move to Chuminakpo (4800 meters). Have dinner and overnight stay at the camp.
Ascending the crisscross trail through the moraine and snow up to till you reach small grassland. Further down close to the river, Lukung (4400 meters) is the area where you will camp for dinner and overnight stay.
It is an easy and long trek on up and down trail. Transverse the bridge to go on another side of the river and go after the path with the mass of fallen boulder. We will cross numerous streams on the way also transverse through the face of Gumboranjom Peak. Reach Kargyak Shi and have dinner and overnight stay in tents.
It is a long day that includes 8-9 hours of trekking. Continue to the right side of the river along the easy track after having the breakfast. Some of the villages that come en route are Tanze, Table, Jal and Kuru. Kuru is the prominent hamlet of livestock breeders. Ascend up the steady gradient in the Jal Village and then gentle dip down towards a good bridge to reach Purne (3650 meters). The dinner and overnight stay will be in tents in Purne.
On this day, we will visit Phugtal Gompa, which is one of the oldest monasteries in Zanskar and it is marvelously positioned. Passing all the way through a slender valley and the wonderful gorge, we cross the bridge and come to a small plateau speckled with chortens and sacred banners. From here, we see one of the most extravagant spectacles of the Phugtal Monastery erected in a cave. The monastery belongs to the folklores of the Gelugpas (Yellow Hats). The monastery is like a honeycomb, shaped into a cock under a huge grotto, and has 70 monks as well. In the caves over the structure, there is a water hole whose water level not at all recedes, even after taking out any quantity of water from there. This water is said to have remedial powers. Thereafter, we will be back to Purne and further trekking up on the left bank of Tsarap River after passing the bridge. Turn up at Gyalbokh village. Dinner and overnight stay will be in tents.
Numerous difficult stretches comes on the way that are tough for horse and mules. A steady ascent before reaching a small plateau and the steep dip down towards Raru village. Have the dinner and overnight stay in the tents.
There is motorable road that makes trekking down easy. We will arrive at Mone, a small village, after trekking for an hour. Explore the Gompa at Mone. After trekking for two hours there is Bardan Gompa, located on the mountain plateau. Reach Padum (3650 meters). Padum is the capital of Zanskar where two rivers Tsarap and Doda confluence to form Zanskar river. The dinner and night stay will be in tents.
Head towards Pipiting from Padum, pursue the dusty plains towards the Doda River, and arrive at the bridge. Pass the bridge and reach Karsha Monastery that date backs to 16th century. Thereafter, on trekking down on the plain path, you will reach Rinam. Dinner and overnight stay in tents.
We will trek through the easy trails on this day. The track is often dusty and hot through the banks of Zanskar River. There is a small shelter formed by the boulders. Reah Pishu by following the trail and have the dinner and overnight stay in tents.
Move on the left bank of Zanskar River. It is an easy trail along the river. Reach Hanumil by trekking for 5 to 6 hours. Dinner and overnight stay in tents.
The path from Hanumil leads to Zanskar River. Ascend up to Parfi La (3950 meters) and then gradual slope until arriving at Oma Chu River. We will cross the bridge and further ascend to 500-meter sandy gradient to reach the sheepfolds of Snertse. Enjoy the hearty dinner and overnight stay in tents.
From Snertse, it is a long steep climb towards Hanumi La (4877 meters). Get to the top of Hanumi La and then gradual descent about 1 kilometer. Thereafter, climb around 400 meters up along the mountainside. After this, cross a small pass to descend down to Lingshet (3800 meters). Dinner and overnight stay in tents.
Steady one-hour ascend to Murgum La (4200 meters), and then pass an escarpment, move along the gradient. Steep descend towards the villages of Skiumpata and Gingma. Gentle scale to Kiupa La (3850 meters) and then steady ascend along the mountainside to reach the foot of Shingo La.
From here, there is a one-to-two-hour gentle climb to Shingo La (5050 meters) and then coming down to a wide gorge. Thereafter, there is a steep climb towards Bhumiktse La (4200 meters) and move downhill towards Photoksar (3750 meters). Photoksar is a wonderful village. Enjoy the tasty dinner and overnight stay in tents.
It is a steep ascend to large Chorten and then a long climb to Sirsir La (4990 meters). Thereafter, there is a simple descent to river and Hanupatta Village (3450 meters). Have dinner and overnight stay in tents.
On this day, we will trek down the gradient until arriving at the ravine and bridge at the confluence of two rivers. Some easy and some strenuous stretches of fallen boulders will come until Penzi La. From here, it is trekking motorable track up to Wanla (3245 meters). Dinner and overnight stay in tents.
It is the last day of our trekking. We will cross the Shila Village and transverse Prinkti La (3726 meters) in order to each Lamayuru. Explore the monastery and then drive to Leh (3500 meters). Enjoy the dinner and overnight stay in guesthouse.
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