Darcha Lamayuru Trek

The day is for relax or do some sightseeing for half day. This journey will include Red Fort (Built in 1648 by Mughal ruler Shah Jahan), Shantivan and Raj Ghat (Cremation Sites of Jawahar Lal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi), Akshar Dham Temple, India Gate (War Memorial Arch), and later by evening transfer to Volvo station to catch AC Volvo for Manali by 17:30 hrs. Overnight Journey in bus.

Reach Manali by morning, here meet our driver and transfer to hotel, check in, rest. later explore the Mall Road in evening. Enjoy the scrumptious dinner and overnight stay in the hotel.

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 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 the 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 the 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 a easy and long trekking 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 the 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 Pughtal 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 Pukhtal 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 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.

This day is free to take rest. Dinner and overnight stay 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 Lingshed (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 Shinge la.

From here, there is a one to two hour gentle climb to Shinge 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 Photoskar (3750 meters). Photoskar 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 Sisir La (4990 meters). Thereafter, there is a simple descent to river and Hanupatta Village (3450 meters). Have the dinner and overnight stay in tents.

On this day, we will trek down the gradient until arriving the ravine and bridge at the confluence of two rivers. Some easy and some strenuous stretches of fallen boulders will come until Phenji 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.

Transfer to airport after having the breakfast in morning. Take the flight for Delhi.