Rupshu Valley Trek

The morning after a short scenic of an hour flight to Leh from Delhi, on arrival at Leh, Ladakh Kushok Bakula Rimpoche. As you head outside the air terminal, our staff and guide receive you for a short drive in the heart of Leh town to your Hotels. Afternoon free at leisure, optional walk to the center of Leh and its market.

At Leh, for acclimatization and for exciting tours at places of interest, Leh has a vast range of main bazaars on the street with colorful local fruits and vegetable vendors. The streets are busy with roadside restaurants, cafes, and craft shops. The old Leh Palace stands on the top of the high hill overlooking Leh City and its valley. The white Peace (Shanti) Stupa stands nearby high on a hill which is worth a visit for the great views of Leh. The world’s highest Polo ground is located beyond the main bus station, and the rest of the day is free at leisure to browse around Leh, Ladakh’s capital.

Another exciting day in Leh and beyond, a scenic drive to Indus Valley to visit Monastery, Phyang Gompa a Buddhist monastery. Located in Fiang village, just 16 km west of Leh in Ladakh, the monastery was established in 1515 AD. Enjoy tour of Spituk Monastery also called as Pethup Gomba, which is not far from Leh at about 8 km. One of the famous monasteries was founded in the 11th century, and a yearly Gustor Festival is held, an interesting site of great historical and religious importance.
Tour of Thiksey Gompa built in the 16th Century, situated on a hilltop. The monastery is enriched with Tibetan-style books, a huge Buddha statue, and excellent works of art. After a great day, an hour’s drive takes you back to Leh in the comfort of the nice View Point Hotel and, the rest of the afternoon at leisure and preparation for Rupshu Valley trekking.

Having a good breakfast at the hotel, getting ready for trek departure towards Shang Sumdo within Markha valley, and adventure to Rupshu scenic valley.
An interesting drive through farm country to Hemis village and its large religious complex. Hemis is one of the largest and wealthiest monasteries in Ladakh with more than 150 monks; an annual Hemis festival is held. The monastery stands in a gorge surrounded by mountain scenery, built in the 18th Century.

Hemis Monastery is a Himalayan Buddhist monastery of the Drokpa Lineage, in Hemis, Ladakh, India. Situated 45 km from Leh, it was re-established in 1672 by the Ladakhi king Sengge Namgyal. The annual Hemis festival takes place in honor of the great Padmasambhava, a Guru of the 6th century who reformed Tibetan Buddhism and the founder of the Nyingma sect. After an interesting tour and a short drive to Marteselang,
the ride leads close to the Hemis National Park, which is also a good habitation of endangered snow leopards and other wildlife. From Marteselang a small settlement of Yak herders, where our first-day walk starts for a few hours to Shang Sumdo, with a first overnight in a tented camp backed by camping crews and chef and pack animals to carry the camping gear and food for the whole trek and climb.

The second day’s walk starts heading towards the river, where the shore is studded with ochre rocks and boulders. A walk leads into a narrow gorge after walking past Chukirmo Village. All our camping gear loaded on ponies will be unloaded twice, as the route leads to a climb to the base of Kongmaru-La where our overnight camp is set at Latze Kongmaru the base of the pass.

The morning after a good breakfast, the walk leads to a steep climb for an hour or more reaching on top of the first pass over Kongmaru-La. From the top enjoy a grand panorama of eastern Karakoram as far towards the China-Tibetan plateau.
Overlooking the southern view of Kang Yatze peaks with Ladakh Mountain Range. After a spectacular scenery taking a ridge downhill crisscrossing over a scree and smaller pebbles, and then heading more down towards our campsite by the Langtang Chu River on a nice meadow.

Enjoying a pleasant overnight, the morning begins with a climb up reaching a large valley, where our route leads wading across a stream. Having short refreshing stops as walk along a wall of moraine towards a valley floor then reaching our overnight camp at a small place in Yakrupal. Around the summer pasture of the Yak grazing area.

The adventure continues as our route heads further southward reaching a point where the Markha Valley separates towards the Rupshu area. The morning starts with a climb to a high pass of Zalung Karpo-La, with gorgeous views of surrounding landscapes and snowy peaks. From the top heading downhill then taking a right direction from the pass. The trek proceeds towards a ridge and then traverses into another valley towards our overnight camp at a place called Sorra.

From Sorra a small cattle herder and nomad settlement, the walk takes you to lovely gorges and then enters a broad and wide valley. As the walk leads towards Chorten and Mani walls lined on the path to Dat, a small amazing village blending with the surroundings with houses built of stones and muds with a small old monastery close to Sara River, where our overnight camp is set.

The morning begins on leaving the isolated village of Dat, heading towards a high Yar-La pass a climb of few hours. From the top enjoy glorious views over Rupshu valley with surrounding high snow peaks. After a grand panorama downhill towards scenic Rupshu valley, coming across nomads’ camps and might spot a wild ass called Kyang. Then slowly walk leads close to the river bank of Lungmo Che for overnight camp on a grassy meadow.

From Lungmo-Che, on leaving the camp as morning starts as surroundings scenery changes coming across into a vast barren and arid plain where the Zara Chu River flows. As the walk progresses heading towards a temporary nomads camp at Lun for overnight camp.

An enjoyable last and final day trek of the adventure, as well as crossing the highest pass of the journey. The morning walk follows to cross a river and then heading up to a scenic plateau, as climb starts on a steep slope reaching on top of Marang-La Pass facing amazing scenery of beautiful surroundings with snow-capped peaks.
From the pass, descend to a wide grassy valley and follow a nice gradual trail to the last village of the trek at Takh, located on a roadhead. Overnight camp around the nice meadow with last overnight in tented camp.

The morning after a nice breakfast, taking a car or four-wheel drive, an exciting drive of six hours to lovely Manali hill town from Takh village. As drive head on a winding road and then back into the green lush vegetation of tall tree lines of pines and firs. Slowly journey ends on entering a nice Manali town, and transferring to the best hotels or resorts. After a long interesting overland journey to Manali crossing over Rohtang-La Pass at 3, 990 m.

A free day in Manali, a perfect and interesting town to observe local hill people’s culture and activities. Morning our guide takes you around the market square in the hub of Manali, as well as visiting its famous Hindu temple of Hadimba Mahadev.
The tour takes you refreshing hot spring of Vashist, and the rest of the day at leisure for short walks on the streets of Manali, a famous holiday town for Indians as well as foreign tourists.

Last day in the hill station town of Manali, after an exciting adventure of a lifetime experience on Rupshu Valley Trekking and crossing the highest passes of the Himalayas. As per flight time for Delhi an hour or more drive to Bhuntar domestic airport for flight to Delhi, to connect your international flight homeward bound.