Ladakh - 'Little Tibet"

Ladakh - 'Little Tibet" Time less land’ and ‘the last Sangri- la’ are names which have been applied to Ladakh,both with a degree of truth. Ladakh is a high- altitude plateau North of the Himalayas situated geographically in Tibet. It’s a miniature version of Tibet, the people are Tibetan in their culture and religion, and there are many Tibetan refugees living there.

The Himalayas are a very effective barrier to rain – few clouds creep across their awesome height and as a result Ladakh is barren beyond belief. Only where rivers, running from faraway glaciers or melting snow, carry water to habitation do you find plant life – hence the moonland label, Ladakh is as dry as the Sahara.

Ladakh - 'Little Tibet" Ladakh could well be a last Shangri-la, in the mid-70s Ladakh was opened to outside visitors. Its strategic isolation is matched by its physical isolation – only from June to September are the roads into Ladakh from Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh not covered by snow although nowadays there are airline flights into Ladakh. The flight is one of the most spectacular in the world.

Ladakh is well worth the effort involved in getting there. It’s an otherworldly place – strange Gompas perched on soaring hilltops, ancient buildings clinging to sheer rock walls, and shattered – looking Landscapes splashed with small but brilliant patches of green. But most of all there are the delightful Ladakhis, friendly as only Tibetan people can be and immensely colorful.

At Kargil, on the Srinagar to Leh road, the Islamic influence diminishes and the region becomes predominantly Buddhist. The people follow Tibetan Tantric Buddhism which places much emphasis on magic and demons. All around Ladakh are Gompas, the Buddhist monasteries which are always fascinating to visit.

Permits: Three regions of Ladakh were opened to foreigners in 1994. They are: the Dahanu area, North of the Kargil to Leh road at Kahlsi; the Nubra Valley; and Pangong Tso ( Lake Pangong). For all of these places you have to be officially part of the group of four people with permits are issued at the police station in Leh.

Tour / trek programs

We drive by Car/Coach to Darcha 6 hrs. Trekking starts from Darcha. Enroute we cross the famous Rothang pass, the gateway to the tribal valley of the Lahaul and Spiti regions.. This trek is a great experience and a very rewarding providing a rare chance to explore the barren desolate and untouched natural beauty of the region. It is 22 days of high altitude trekking, crossing over the beautiful Slungo La Pass at a height of nearly 5200 metres. The trek takes commitment and a good level of fitness to truly value the beauty of this arid landscape and its splendidly colourful people.

Itinerary

DAY 01 Arrival in Delhi pick up transfer hotel .
DAY 02 A full days sightseeing of Old and New Delhi.
DAY 03 Drive to Manali / o/n hotel
DAY 04 Drive to Darcha distance 160 kms./ camp.
DAY 05 Commence trek Darcha / Palmo
DAY 06 Palmo / Zanskar Sumdo / river bank camp
DAY 02 A full days sightseeing of Old and New Delhi.
DAY 08 Chumnik Nakpo / Lakhong / camp
DAY 04 Drive to Darcha distance 160 kms./ camp.
DAY 10 Kargiak / Purni / camp
DAY 06 Palmo / Zanskar Sumdo / river bank camp
DAY 12 Purni / Mune / overnight monastery
DAY 08 Mune / Padu / Shilla / camp
DAY 14 Shilla / Karsha Gompa / camp
DAY 15 Karsha / Pishu / riverside camp
DAY 16 Pishu / Hanumil / camp
DAY 17 Hanumil / Snertse / camp
DAY 18 Snertse / Lingshed / camp
DAY 19 Rest day
DAY 20 Lingshed / base of Shingo La (pass 5060 mtrs) / high camp
DAY 21 Shingo La / Photesker / camp
DAY 22 Photesker / Hanupatta./ camp
DAY 23 Hannupatta / Sumdo / camp
DAY 24 Sumdo / Wanla / camp
DAY 25 Wanla / Lamayura / drive to Leh / overnight hotel
DAY 26 LEH.at leisure
DAY 27 Fly Ley / Delhi / overnight hotel.
DAY 28 Tour ends.

Note: There are many other short and long trekking possibilities in Himanchal Pradesh, Ladakh and Zanskar regions

Trekking in Ladakh