A section of the ancient silk route that connected China to middle Asia
Nubra – the famous ‘Valley of flowers’ of Ladakh
Crossing of the high eternally snowbound Lasermola Pass(5400m)
Sand dunes of Hundar and double-humped Camels
Massive Maitreya statue at Deskit monastery
Ancient monasteries and palaces of Ladakh
ITINERARY AT A GLANCE
Day 01:Arrive Leh
Day 02:Sightseeing and Acclimatization
Day 03:Drive to Hundar
Day 04:Drive to roadhead. Trek to Hundar Dok
Day 05:Trek to Sniu Sumdo
Day 06:Trek to Thanglasgo
Day 07:Trek to Lasermola Base
Day 08:Trek to Phyang Sumdo
Day 09:Trek to Morobuk. Drive to Leh
Day 10:Depart
Day 01:Arrive Leh
Day 02:Sightseeing and Acclimatization
Day 03:Drive to Hundar
Day 04:Drive to roadhead. Trek to Hundar Dok
Day 05:Trek to Sniu Sumdo
Day 06:Trek to Thanglasgo
Day 07:Trek to Lasermola Base
Day 08:Trek to Phyang Sumdo
Day 09:Trek to Morobuk. Drive to Leh
Day 10:Depart
The Chadar Trek is a phenomenal winter expedition. Period.
If Ladakh is a remote Himalayan region of Indian Himalaya, then Zanskar would be called the remote region of Ladakh! The region gets its name from the Zanskar river that cascades through the stunning Zanskar Gorge famously referred to as ‘The Grand Canyon of Asia’. Zanskar river is a tributary of Indus and is popular for whitewater rafting and kayaking in the Summers. In the winters, the temperature in this cold, arid desert plummets drastically falling as low as -30 degree celsius forcing the Zanskar to freeze on the surface. Thus the top layer forms a veil of ice referred to as ‘Chadar’ by locals.
Deo Tibba peak at 6001m is one of the higher peaks in the Pir Panjal Range of the Indian Himalayas. Starting from Jammu and Kashmir, the Pir Panjal range extends all the way into Himachal. Mt. Deo Tibba and Indrasan mark the eastern end of this range. The Deo Tibba Valley trek takes you to the base camp of this big mountain through dense conifer forests, lush green meadows, high altitude lakes and snow-capped mountains. Starting from the beautiful hill town of Manali, we make a small circuit over 5 days starting at Shuru village and ending at Jobri, where there is a small dam. Shuru is the first and last village on the trail. Post that, the only people we get to meet on this Himalayan trail would be the Gaddi Shepherds and Gujjar cattle herders. Gaddis camp in the mountains with their huge flocks of sheep and goat throughout the Summer and Monsoons. Gujjars are few and are normally found at Tilgan and Jobri with theirs herds of buffaloes.
The trek is of moderate difficulty with a couple of tough days which includes steep ascents. Starting at 2000m, we ascend to the highest altitude of 3700m at Rourikholi, the enchanting grazing grounds for all horses of Prini and Shuru Villages in Manali. You can count about a hundred horses and mules in this sprawling meadow with views of Deo-Tibba and Indrasan on one side and Dhauladhar range on the other. Each campsite on the trail is picturesque, enhancing the joy of camping in the mountains. For first time trekkers and visitors into the Himalaya, this trek works as a classic introduction to the beauty and rigour of trekking in the Indian Himalaya. For the seasoned trekker, this is a relaxed walking holiday with a lot of #metime that will leave you totally des-stressed and rejuvenated by the end of it all.
Deo Tibba Base Camp trek is the perfect active Himalayan getaway for over stressed souls.
Stok Kangri at 6153m is a superb introduction to high altitude mountaineering in the Himalayas. It is considered a trekking peak that can be attempted without being bogged down by the technicalities and skill of mountaineering. On the other hand, Stok Kangri can prove to be a serious challenge depending on the snow and weather conditions on summit night.
In recent times this mountain has garnered so much popularity among amateurs and novice climbers, that it could easily be considered as the “common man’s Everest”! The most important aspect to consider while attempting Stok Kangri would be the acclimatization to high altitude. At 6153m, the peak is very high while the Base Camp itself is at a height of 4900m, as high as some passes one would encounter on a trekking trail in Ladakh, earning itself the name “The Land of High Passes” Hence, it is paramount to be completely acclimatized before the summit night increasing the chances for a successful attempt. For aiding acclimatization, Adventure Sindbad guides you through the sun-scorched slopes of Matho La and through the arid vast lands Gangpoche, before reaching the base camp on Day 6 of the trip.
The trek up Stok Kangri is scenic, to say the least. The vivid colours and hues of the Stok range changes as the curves that adorn the mountains. These steep slopes are home to some unique buckthorn shrubbery and other patched vegetation. The 'Bharaal' is a sight to behold in the mountains of the Stok Range. Also, the trek is layered with a stint of local essence, the shepherds living in the Doksas give a new perception to a 'hard life and a happy life', one gets to imbibe a little through their stories and generous offering of the local dairy products.
It isn’t everyone’s cup of tea to climb Stok Kangri, as there are no high camps allowed above Stok Base Camp, this stretches the summit night and increases exhaustion levels by the time we complete the attempt. The view of jagged mountain ranges, snow-clad peaks from the summit of Stok Kangri gratifies the journey through the night. As the trekkers’ descent, the panorama is much more enjoyed and absorbed with the jubilation of summiting Stok Kangri. The climb is definitely a test of endurance and promises to push your limits in a controlled setting. After high altitude trekking, this mountain would be the first step in your path towards serious mountaineering and reaching higher summits in the Himalayan range.
Just the trek minus the climb is in itself an extremely rewarding experience!
An ethereal walk traversing countries and geographies, from Indian desert mounds-of-sand like mountains of Spiti Valley to the vast expansive high altitude plateau, Changthang - the home of the nomadic Changpa’s in Tibet, is the Parang la trek. The trek reaches it crescendo, not just on one day – the day we cross the Parang la across the ragged mountains, but another – the day we soak in the serenity of the Tso Moriri. The trek is an endless walk along through green meadows where the Kiangs (Tibetan wild horses) run wild, through little bushes of green in the arid brown of the Spiti that are the rhododendrons, along the cobalt blue stillness of the Tso Moriri and then on to the vast expansive ill-populated wetlands of the Changthang plateau. This trek embodies the art of mindfulness – Vipaasana Meditation – One is truly mindful of their surrounding, their breath and the breathtaking visages.
The trip starts with a drive across the stunning landscapes and the lush green meadows of the Kullu valley to the arid mountain scapes of Lahaul and Spiti. To get acclimatised to the high altitude, the next couple of days is well spent understanding the ways of the monks and the people of Spiti in the millennial old, favourites of Dalai Lama -Toba and Kye/Key monasteries, soaking up some good energy and history. Taking the traditional trade route between Ladakh and Spiti, we cross Parang la (5580m), source of the Pare Chu River that flows from India to Tibet and final circles back to India to join the Spiti River. Then we descends to the almost never-ending plateau of Changthang and walk to the Tso Moriri (Lake Moriri) we get to sight some exotic migratory birds like the rare Great crested grebe, endangered Black-necked cranes, the lake is also the lone breeding home for the Bar-headed geese. Camping at the green grounds of Chumik Shilte and Kiangdam, we get to sleep under the stars and uninhabited lands of the Changthang, is a surreal experience of living, even if for few days, amongst the magnificent glacier peaks and still blue lakes. The trip ends with another scenic drive across Changthang to Leh, the main city of Ladakh, for a leisure day in Leh to relax the aching muscles after the challenging yet exciting walk.
This trek is recommended for experienced trekkers who have had some high-altitude trekking experience or maintain an active lifestyle.
- High altitude crossing from surreal Spiti into Changthang, the
Tibetan plateau
- Turquoise Tsomoriri Lake between Kiangdam and Korzok
- Wild Tibetan wild Asses and rare birds at Tsomoriri
- Witness lifestyle and interaction with Changpa Nomads of
Ladakh
- Millennium old monasteries of Spiti
- 2 splendid high altitude drives through awe-inspiring scenery
Ladakh - a rugged land of high passes and mystic. A land that grows on you each time you visit. A land you can never get enough of.
“Slice ofLadakh”, as the name goes is designed specifically for travellers visiting Ladakh for the first time. Travellers who just want to test the waters before they invest more time into a substantial adventure. The adventure is designed to cover most of the highlights of the region in an active manner. We trek along the Sham Valley with its green villages and warm Homestays, bike down the highest motorable pass- Khardung La and take a day rafting trip down the Zanskar. A perfect trip to excite and engage you.
If you had to choose just one trek to do in Ladakh, it must be the Markha Valley Trek. It’s not “the most popular trek” in Ladakh without reason. Right from ease of access, remoteness of valley, wilderness experience and just the feel of trekking in Ladakh - it is all there on this trail. The long hours of walking in wind swept arid landscape with green villages suddenly appearing as a welcoming Oasis, is exactly how trekking in Markha is. Right in between the valley is the quaint Tacha Gompa perched high up on a cliff adding some mystic to this trek. What really adds to the experience is the presence of little hamlets along the way affording a high degree of interaction with the hardy natives. This is the first valley where the concept of homestays was pioneered in the 2000s and later replicated across other trekking valleys in Ladakh. The high altitude grazing grounds at Nimaling with splendid views of snowcapped Kang Yatse is yet another highlight.
The Markha Valley was connected to the mainland via a steel bridge across the Zanskar river in Feb,2016. This bridge was sadly washed off later that year from the Tsarap Chu floods. A new bridge has been proposed here and will soon see the light of day. It gives the trekkers the last few years to enjoy trekking in this fabulous valley sans vehicles! Make the most of it, when you can.
In the dead of the night, in peak winter, when the mountains are covered by a snow quilt and are in deep slumber, ‘the grey ghost’ descends from the high inhospitable Himalayan heights to the lower reaches in the valley…in search of a mate and its prey - the wild mountain goats!
Snow Leopard (Ladakhi: Shan) - An enigmatic mammal capable of surviving in some of the most brutal terrains and in extreme environmental conditions, is the undisputed King of the snowcapped regions. Easily the most magnificent of all the wild cats, this nocturnal cat moves like the phantom in the high mountains of Central Asia in about 12 countries including India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Tibet, Bhutan and Nepal. In India, it is most prevalent in parts of Ladakh and Spiti. Due to its highly camouflaged coat and secretive habits, it is almost impossible to spot it in the summers. But in winters, when the mountains are under snow it becomes relatively easier to spot them by following their walking trails in the snow. There’s an estimated 250-350 that survive today and is marked as an endangered species.
For wildlife enthusiasts, spotting a snow leopard is akin to coming face to face with God. It takes penance and patience and luck to actually spot it in its natural habitat. For some of them, it's a yearly pilgrimage they need to make to hopefully catch this charming creature at close quarters. Mid-Feb and end-March being the mating season, the probability of spotting them is high. It is normal for a male and female leopard to stay put in the same place for 2-3 days once they meet.
Our itinerary spanning 10 days is spread out across 2 locations where snow leopards have been sighted most frequently in the winters - Sham Valley and Rumbak Valley. The trip also builds in a good mix of trekking, homestay experiences and a chance of spotting the other wildlife of Ladakh. We start our itinerary with 2 days of acclimatization and sightseeing in Leh before venturing into the Sham Valley for a small trek combined with wildlife spotting. We will spend a couple of days scanning the slopes of Yangthang, Ulley and Hemisshukpachen. The next half of the itinerary is around Rumbak Valley divided between Husing Do and Yurutse.
Scanning for wildlife involves a lot of patience and long hours in the outdoors is not so favourable conditions. It is almost meditative in its approach and can be exhausting but the reward is most satisfactory. Few can explain the jubilation of spotting rarely seen wildlife in all their glory. And if it happens to be the King itself, the joy just quadruples!!.
Wildlife spotting expected: Himalayan Blue Sheep, Tibetan Argali, Asiatic Ibex, Lynx, Red Fox, Tibetan Wolf, Snow Leopard.
We do not promise sure shot spotting in these locations, but the probability is high. What we definitely promise is to give you a great and safe time as you enjoy an active winter in Ladakh hiking, camping and spotting some of its splendid wildlife.
During the middle of winter, in the high altitude arid mountains, when the peaks and valleys are covered in snow, and the trees stand all bare, it feels like the Himalaya is in deep meditative state! A state which exudes an aura of peace and serenity so profound that it pervades into the being of every traveller who cares to visit.
We discovered this trip accidentally in the winter of 2017, when our scheduled trip to Chadar got cancelled due to excessive snowfall and we had to think of alternatives and zeroed on Markha Valley. Markha Valley is generally a summer favourite and has few takers in winter with its illustrious cousin the Chadar trek drawing all the attention of trekkers. To our good fortune, what we chanced upon to our delight when we walked the Markha Valley was a ‘winter wonderland’ with exquisite scenery. Imagine a sprawling valley with huge swathes of snow, occasionally interspersed with charming villages, shepherd settlements and buddhist chortens, an ancient monastery perched high on a hill, lengthy prayer walls and colourful prayer wheels, mountain gateways erected of poplar with icy prayer flags fluttering in the cold wind. The place is at once is both elevating and calming.
Starting from Leh, the main town of Ladakh, we spend a couple of days acclimatizing before embarking on the 6 day trek which takes us to the heart of Markha Valley and back. We spend the nights at clean Himalayan homestays interacting with the locals and enjoying Ladakhi hospitality and great food prepared by our very own kitchen team. In the day time we walk from one village to the other enjoying the snow and some awe-inspiring landscapes.
The Markha Winter Walk is a classic trans-Himalayan winter trekking experience. An experience so deep it will convert you into a believer.
Annapurna Conservation Area is the 2nd most walked Himalayan region in Nepal after Everest area. With myraid world class trekking options in the Annapurna region, the Annapurna Base Camp Trek and Annapurna Circuit lead the popularity charts with most trekkers. Annapurna 1(8091m) was the first ever 8000er ever climbed by a French team led by Maurice Herzog in 1950.
From Kathmandu, we fly to the lakecity of Pokhara and drive to the roadhead at Nayapul(1050m) from where our trek into the Annapurna Sanctuary begins. Over the next few days we will walk to the base camp of an 8000er through some extraordinary variety in ecosystems - starting from terraced farmfields, to tropical jungles to arid desert like landscape at the foot of Annapurna. The trek initially passes through beautiful villages with terraced farm fields cut into mountain sides. The Tea-houses on the trail are all part of the villages and gives us immense scope for witnessing the lives of Gurung and Magar ethnic communities of Annapurna region. Ahead of Sinuwa, we enter dense tropical forests with a high chance of witnessing wildlife.For a birder, this is a trail through paradise!
Kang Yatse sits like a throne for the Gods in the middle of one of the most popular trekking routes of Ladakh - The Markha Valley! Rising above the grazing grounds of Nimaling and covering the sky, it is the most prominent snow peak on the Markha trail. Magnificent in appearance it rises a good 1700m above the camping site of Nimaling and beckons any trekker passing by to think of climbing it some day. It has 2 summits. The higher one Kang Yatse 1 at 6400m+ is a technically difficult climb and requires considerable mountaineering skills. The lower peak termed Kang Yatse 2 at 6250m is a comparatively easier ascent, with many teams launching summit attempt from the base camp itself.
Due to its altitude, climbers attempting this peak need to be well acclimatized. Hence our appoach starts from a little ahead of Chilling where we cross the Zanskar river to enter Markha Valley and trek over many days ascending gradually to reach Nimaling and then onto Kang Yatse 2 base camp at 5000m. The trip is spread across 14 days with a few buffer days built in to counter bad weather days and other exigencies. It is important to stay well hydrated, well fed and well rested on this entire route to help speeden acclimatization. For a hiker acclimatizing well the only tedious day on this whole route would be the summit night which is about a 10-12 hr round trip depending on the conditions. Post the scree section, the climb is over a steep slope where it is important to be roped up. Deep snow conditions could hamper walking speeds considerably.
On a clear day, the views as you climb and from the summit is simply breathtaking. From the summit, you will be able to see the Eastern Karakoram range and might be able to spot K2 as well. The entire Markha Valley and Stok Range are also seen.
Compared to the popular Stok Kangri Climb, Kang Yatse 2 Climb is quieter and more scenic ascent. And probably more rewarding!
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