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1st Day: Padum (3.550 m) to Hanumil
(3.450 m), 2 hour
walk + 2h drive
You drive to Karsha 3.600 m (11.811 ft).
In the village Karsha 3.600 m (11.811 ft) is the largest monastery of
Zanskar with about 140 resident monks. The beautiful monastery gives you a good
few to the Great Himalaya range. There is also a nunnery on the hill to the west
of the main monastery, the visit sTongde Gompaand Zangla.
Then cross the iron bridge of Pidmo Continue on the left bank of the river. It is an easy going over gently undulating land, sometimes along the river sometimes across the moraine plateau.
You reach the village Hanumil 3.480 m (11.410 ft) after 2 hours. There is a very good campsite 100 metres past the 2 houses which make up this pretty settlement.
You can walk from Padum
to Pidmo on the left bank in two/tgree days and visit the Lamdon Model High Scool.
2nd Day: Hanumil (3.480 m) to Snertse
Pulu (3.770 m) via Parfi-La (3.900 m), 6 hours
This is the first hard day because you have to climb the first pass. From Hanumil you continue on a good and easy path for
2 hours. Take a supply of water from the small stream because the path leads away from the edge of the river Zanskar. The river cuts an impressive path east and the north through the mountains. For 2 month in winter the river becomes the improbable “Chaddar” trade route to Nimu, when temperatures dip so low that the Zanskaris can venture
on foot along its frozen surface (see
Winter trek).
You go up to the plateau and then to the foot of the pass. It is a steep and difficult climb on a sandy slope as far as the Parfi-La 3.900 m (12.790 ft). This is the first of 8 passes you cross on your way to Lamayuru in the next 6 days. Rather steep descend until reaching the river Oma-chu. You cross the bridge and go up a 500 metres sandy slope. Enjoy the wonderful lookout. The slope leads you to the
hut of Snertse
Pulu 3.770 m (12.370 ft).
3rd Day : Snertse
Pulu (3.779 m) to Lingshed (3.900 m) via Hanuma-La (4.700 m), 7 hours
The long gradual ascent leads towards the second pass Hanuma-La. After
3/4 hours you pass a sheep fold. It takes you further 2 hours to reach the summit of the Hanuma-La 4.700 m (15.410 ft). The descent is for 1 km a steep zigzag trail. After that you climb for 300 m along the mountain side. From this small pass it is an easy descent towards Lingshed. The campsite is near the monastery of the village
of Lingshed 3.900 m (12.790 ft).
4th Day : Lingshed (3.900 m) to the foot of Sengi-La (4.700 m) via Murgum-La (4.370 m) and via Kiupa-La (4.430 m), 6 hours
This is the first of two days you have to climb 2 passes in one day. The day starts with an easy climb of 4 hours up to the first pass. If you reach the first pass of the day Murgum-La 4.370 m (14.330 ft) you will have a wonderful view of the valley of Nierag, on the other bank of the Zanskar. The gentle descent toward the villages Gongma 4.000 m and Skiumpata 4.060 m. Start the very steep climb gradually along the mountain side up to the summit of the Kiupa-la 4.430 m (14.530 ft). Continue to the foot of the next pass Sengi-La 4.430 m (14.534 ft).
5th Day : The foot of Sengi-La (4.700 m) to Photokasar (4.130 m) via Sengi-La (4.900 m) and via Bumiktse-La (4.200 m), 7 hours
The rather steep claim to the highest pass of the trek takes you 2 hours. The views from the summit of Sengi-La 4.900 m (16.070 ft) are spectacular. Then a short slope leads into a broad valley. It is an easy going then gentle climb towards the second pass Bumiktse-La 4.200 m (14.430 ft). The descent leads you to the pretty village Photoksar 4.130 m (13.550 ft). It is a splendid village at the base of the hung mountain walls. There is abandoned monastery 20 minutes above the village.
Car can pickup you in Photoksar.
6th Day : Photokasar (4.130 m) to Hanupatta (3.830 m) via Sirsir-La (4.800 m), 6 hours
From the village it is a gentle climb up to a large chorten. The ascent to the pass is long. The last third of the pass is steep. From the Sirsir-La 4.800 m (15.740 ft) you can look back to the Sengi-La. It is an easy descent to the river. Cross the
foot bridge and follow the long descent in to a stony valley. There is a good campsite a short distance before the village of Hanupatta 3.830 m (12.560 ft).
Last chilometers on the road (working in progress). Jeep can pick -uo you in
Hanupatta.
You
can avoid the road going on your left to Shillakong on the
Rangdum-Kalse trail)
7th Day : Hanupatta (3.830 m) to Wanla
(or Leh) (3.200 m), 5 hours
From the attractive village
of Hanupatta continue across the slope until entering the gorges. The george is spectacular and makes interesting walking. There are several caves. At the junction of the river there are a chorten and religious banners.
A natural bridge cross the river Yapola. Pass some easy and some difficult stretches until you reach the
road head. You can stop here and have a lift by jeep to Wanla and Leh.
Or walk on the road to the village of Phanjila after 3 hours.
From this village you can turn on the
Lamayuru-Chilling trail. The next village you pass is Wanla 3.200 m (10.500 ft). Wanla is a pretty village with an
old gompa high up on crag and makes a pleasant place to stop. (Jeep can pick up us in Wanla).
8th Day : Wanla (3.200 m) to Lamayuru (3.450 m) via Prinkiti-La (3.720 m), 3 hours
If you go up the Shillakong Valley along the right bank and cross it than you arrive in the village Shilla. Pass the village, go to broad chorten then follow a narrow and dry gorge as far as the pass Prinkiti-La 3.720 m (12.140 ft). From the summit you look over the complicated terrain of the Zanskar Mountains. It is an easy descent. Cross the river and go towards the monastery
of Lamayuru, the most photographed in Ladakh.
It takes you 5 hours by jeep back to Leh.
Suggestions
7th-8-9 Days Sirsila base north-Lamayuru
Procede to the north, cross the Sniugutsela, turn right in Shillakong gorge and
reach Lamayuru via Prikitila. |
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