GRAND TRAVERSEE HEART OF ZANSKAR

Overview

Grand Traversee Heart of Zanskar Tour Package Itinerary : – Leh – Hemis – Thiksey – Shey – Alchi – Mulbeck – Shergol – Rangdum – Yulang – Ichar Village – Zangla Base Camp – Pidmo – Hanumil – Parfi La – Snertze – Hanuma La – Lingshed – Murgumla – Kiupa La – Senge La – Boumitse La – Photoksar – Sirsir La – Sniougotse La – Shillakong – Yogma La – Kanji – Leh – Delhi

The barren valleys of Zanskar, south of Ladakh were once inaccessible. This ancient Buddhist Kingdom of Zanskar, hidden deep in the western reaches of the Great Himalayan Range, has little contact with the outside world.  But today a road runs through Zanskar’s centre, and hundreds of trekkers cross over to Padum in Central Zanskar. Stare in awe at unique desert mountains,  medieval villages many nestled into cliff sides, irrigated fields of buckwheat and green pea patches . Since it’s home to many centuries old monasteries . Gaze upon the most well-known monasteries of Zanskar – Padum, Karsha, Sani, Bardan and Phuktal. Traverse through Zanskar for climbers there are high peaks like Nun, Kun, Zanskar etc. Over all this region is a hotspot for adventure activities, like water rafting, trekking, climbing, and favorite place for monastery lovers.

01

ARRIVE LEH

Arrival Leh from Delhi, on arrival transfer to hotel, check in to hotel & rest time till late noon. After Lunch, a short walk in the old bazaar and back to the hotel. Dinner/Overnight at hotel.

02

LEH VISIT: Hemis, Thiksey, Shey

Morning after breakfast visit HEMIS MONASTERY: It is a Drukpa Lineage re- established by Ladakhi king Sengge Namgyal. The annual Hemis festival honouring Padma sambhava is held here in early June. After a small walk above the monastery. Transfer to Thiksey village visit THIKSEY GOMPA Built some 600 years ago, Thiksey monastery consists of 12 levels ascending a hillside .The Gompa contains 10 temples; below the monastery itself are chapels and houses of monks. Also part of a new temple in Gompa containing a large Buddha statue. The H.H Dalai Lama constructed this Buddha, 15 meters tall, in 1980 during a visit to Thiksey. Lunch at a local restaurant in Thiksey. After lunch visit SHEY MONASTERY, an erstwhile Royal residence up to the 16th century, is located at a small village Shey near Leh on the banks of Indus River and is managed by Buddhists Monks from Hemis Monastery. The prime attraction of the monastery is the blue haired Maitreya Buddha of 17.5 m high, which is made with copper and brass and also decorated beautifully with studs of precious stones. Evening back to the hotel. Dinner / Overnight at hotel.

03

LEH – ALCHI

After breakfast drive to Alchi, enroute visit Basgo village then to Likir monastery. After the visit, continue to Alchi. On arrival visit Alchi monastery and its beautiful valley village. On arrival check in to the Guest house. Dinner / Overnight in the Guest House.

04

ALCHI – MULBECK / SHERGOL

Morning after breakfast, drive to Wanla, start the trek to Lamayuru via Prikiti La. Visit Lamayuru Gompa, then transfer to Mulbek - Shergol. Walk to SHERGOL GOMPA: The Shergol Cave Monastery is situated at a distance of about 7 km from Kargil. It is located on the Wakha River valley between Kargil and Mulbekh. The Shergol Cave monastery is built on a spectacular brown, granite cliff mounting high from the land and appears to be slipping out of a mountain. This monastery seems like a splatter in the middle of the mountain, when seen from far. Dinner/Overnight at Fixed Camp.

05

MULBECK / SHERGOL – RANGDUM

Leave for Rangdum (ZANSKAR RANGE) with pack lunch at the first chorten. Visit RANGDUM GOMPA: Rangdum Monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery belonging to the Gelugpa sect, situated on top of a small but steep sugarloaf hill at an altitude of 4,031 m at the head of the Suru Valley, in Ladakh. After that, we will visit Rangdum village. after checking in at camp. Evening walk around the village. Dinner / Overnight at Camp.

06

RANGDUM – YULANG

Drive to Pensila view Drung Drang Glacier, visit SAINI GOMPA: Saini Gompa main attraction here is the castle-like monastery, which unlike other monasteries of Ladakh, is built on level ground. By legend its origin is associated with Kanishka (Kushan ruler of 2nd century AD) on account of the Kanika Stupa, which stands in the backyard of the walled complex. The main building comprises a huge multi-columned central prayer hall housing an array of statues of popular Buddhist divinities and Kargud-pa high lamas, while the walls are covered with frescoes and adorned with Thangkas. Later visit Yulang Village. Check in to Yulang Camp. Later drive to Karsha Top for View of full Valley & return. Dinner / Overnight at Camp.

07

YULANG – ICHAR VILLAGE DAY EXCURSION

Morning after breakfast, we will start the drive to Ichar village for a day excursion. Hot Lunch Picnic at Ichar. On the way back to Yulang, we will visit MUNE GOMPA: Mune Gompa is located 3800 m approx. along the Lungnak gorge and is affiliated to the order of Gelugpa and houses around 20 monks. There is greenery around the whitewashed buildings of the monastery while tall poplars adorn the scenery. After we visit BARDAN GOMPA: Bardan Gompa, is a Buddhist monastery dating back to the 17th century. According to a legend associated with the Bardan Gompa, the site for the monastery was chosen after a crow picked up the lantern of Lama Barawa and dropped it here. Bardan Gompa is a monastery built in the shape of a fortress which sits atop a rocky outcrop in the Lugnak Valley. Later visit PIBITING GOMPA: A Gompa also known as ling, is a Buddhist ecclesiastical fortification of learning, lineage and sādhanā that may be understood as a conflation of a fortification, a vihara and a university. Dinner / Overnight at Camp.

08

YULANG – ZANGLA BASE CAMP

Drive to Karsha for PUJA Ceremony, back to camp for Breakfast. We will drive to Thongde, Zangla, Nunery after that we will drive to Zangla Base Camp. On arrival check in to camp. Dinner / Overnight at Camp.

09

ZANGLA – PIDMO – HANUMIL (4 – 5 HRS TREK)

Today after breakfast we start our FIRST DAY OF ZANSKAR RANGE TREK: to Pidmo - Hanumil. 4 - 5 hrs trek. Dinner / Overnight at Camp.

010

HANUMIL - PARFI LA - SNERTZE (5 HRS TREK)

After breakfast we start our trek to Parfi La & later we trek towards to Snertze. On arrival check in to camp. Dinner / Overnight at Camp.

011

SNERTZE - HANUMA LA - LINGSHED (7 HRS TREK)

Today we will start our trek towards Lingshed via Hanuma La approx. 07 hrs trek. On arrival check in to Camp. Dinner / Overnight at Camp

012

LINGSHED - MURGUMLA - KIUPA LA > FIRST BASE CAMP SENGE LA: (5 HRS TREK)

This morning after breakfast, we trek towards Murgumla, Kiupa La. Then onward to our first base camp Senge La approx. 5 hrs Trek. Dinner / Overnight at Camp.

013

CROSS SENGE LA - BOUMITSE LA - PHOTOKSAR: (8 HRS TREK)

This morning we will start our trek to Photoksar via Boumitse La. A total 8 hrs Trek. Dinner / Overnight at Camp.

014

PHOTOKSAR - SIRSIR LA - SNIOUGOTSE LA BASE CAMP: (5 HRS TREK)

Today morning after breakfast we again start 05 hrs trek to Sniougotse La Base Camp enroute we visit Sirsir La. Dinner / Overnight at Camp.

015

SNIOUGOTSE LA - SHILLAKONG: (5 HRS TREK)

Start our trek from Sniougotse La to Shillakong about 05 hrs. On arrival check in to Camp. Dinner / Overnight at Camp.

016

LAST DAY OF TREKKING SHILLAKONG - YOGMA LA - KANJI: (6 HRS TREK).

After breakfast we start our trekking towards Kanji via Yogma La. We will pitch out a camp at Kanji Village. Dinner / Overnight Camp

017

KANJI – LEH

After Breakfast Drive Kanji to Leh we reach afternoon on arrival have Lunch. Post Lunch free for local exploration. Dinner / Overnight at hotel.

018

LEH – DELHI

Early Morning after breakfast transfer to Leh airport to catch your flight to Delhi.