MARKHA VALLEY-KHARNAK CHAMSER PEAK

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 receives you for 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 tour at places of interest, Leh has a vast range of main bazaar on the street colorful local fruits and vegetables vendors. The streets are busy with roadside restaurant, cafes and craft shops.
The old Leh Palace stands on the top of the high hill overlooking Leh town and the scenic valley. The white Peace (Shanti) Stupa located on a high hill which is interesting for visit offers grand views of Leh. Witness the world's highest Polo ground, which is close near main bus station, enjoy rest of the day free at leisure to browse around Leh, Ladakh capital. Tour extends to famous Khar Palace, located on a high hill facing view of the Leh town. It is an amusing artistic marvel of Leh. The palace has several miniature statues of Buddha showing various phases of his life.

At Leh for another day, to support acclimatization before heading towards higher terrain, morning after breakfast a full day tour with exciting drive. Enjoy the scenic ride through beautiful countryside and visit Thiksey Gompa built in 16th Century, situated on a hill top. The monastery enriched with Tibetan-style books, a huge Buddha statue and excellent works of arts.
Last stop on the way back to Leh, tour of ruined Shey Palace once a summer palace of the pre-Tibetan kings. Shey and its fort also known as Lachen Palkar Palace, the massive nine-story stone structure lies at the base of the Tsemo ridge and towers over the old town. Built by King Senge Namgyal during 15th till 17th Centuary in a Tibetan style. The great Mahasiddha Staktsang Raspa along with great ancestor Singey Namgyal built this biggest monastery in 16th century.
The palace monastery houses a large, bronze, blue haired Buddha statue and then
visit of Hemis, one of the largest and wealthiest monasteries in Ladakh with more than 150 monks; an annual Hemis festival is held. This monastery, is the oldest monastery of Gelugpa School in Ladakh, the great Lama Paldan Shesrap built it in 14th Century. Here you can see the big statue of the Future Buddha,
After a great day drive to Leh hotel for overnight and preparation for the adventure to Mentok Khang-Ri climb.

Leaving early in the morning, drive up to Markha valley on route Spituk time permitting, visit Spituk Monastery or Pethup Gompa a Buddhist monastery in which is at a distance of 8 km from Leh. The site of Spituk blessed by the Arhat Nyimagung. An 11th Century monastery the monastery of Gelugpa or Yellow Hat of Tibetan Buddhism and is home to 100 monks. On Spituk’s premises, there’s also a museum that has a wide collection of ancient masks, antique arms, other icons and numerous Buddhist religious paintings of ‘Thangkas’.
After an interesting tour of Spituk monastery, drive continues towards a wide valley to Zingchen, a small town where our walk starts heading towards Yurutse.
Where the valley narrows following a trail into a gorge. After few hours reaching
an isolated small village of Yurutse for overnight camp.

Today, a great exciting walk to cross the first pass of the adventure after a pleasant overnight with first overnight in tented camp. Morning walk follows a high route with steep climb of few hours reaching on top Ganda-La Pass.
Enjoy tremendous scenery of surrounding snow-clad peaks includes view of Stok Khang-Ri towards west.
From the pass a short downhill and then on gradual path to Shingo for overnight camp, an isolated and remote settlement on route to Markha valley.

From Shingo scenic walk on winding trails with few ups and down to Skiu, the first village on entering Markha valley, around the high hills of village stands a ruined wind-blown forts. After an interesting stop at Skiu following a high trail of Markha valley to Shara, another small settlement of yak herders for overnight camp.

Another long day walk around Markha valley, as route leads on long winding dusty trail on reaching at Markha village, the largest settlement within Markha valley home to about 20 families. If time permits interested people can visit the monastery above the village with old ruin fort.
From Markha village walk follows to a place called Umlung, located on a high ridge, and then another few hours of good walk reaches at Hankar for overnight camp, close around a small settlement of cattle herder.

Walk today leads to gentle path, heading towards remote corner of Langthang valley, following down the trail to a river and into the valley of Langthang, crossing the river several times then reaching another wide grazing pasture at Yaripulu for overnight camp on a nice green field.

After spending an overnight in lovely camp at Yaripulu, walk begins heading towards Zalungkarpo-La pass, a steep climb for few hours. From the top enjoy grand vista of Zanskar Himalaya range and Changtang valley that stretches towards Tibetan plateau. A pure deserted wilderness, from the pass downhill to cross a river then reaching the overnight campsite at Tso Kar, within a summer camp of Yak herder.

From Tso Kar, morning starts with moderate walks to a wide valley where trail splits to Tantse Sumdo on the right side, our route leads to the left side of the valley towards Dat village, heading past nomads camps then reaching a deserted village of Dat, an amazing settlement houses built with stones and muds.
Overnight camp is made close to the backyard of the isolated village, with time to visit its old monastery of Gelugpa sect Buddhism.

Morning walk leads to wide and beautiful Changthang plateau, within a vast valley, as route leads to steep climb for few hours on top Yar-La Pass.
From the top enjoy dramatic panorama of surrounding beautiful landscapes, and then downhill to Lungmochey, located on lovely valley. Which is also a caravan route of Nomads bringing their cattle during summer time to Zara through Lungmochey pasture land. Overnight camp in a nice wide field with grand views of surrounding windswept valley with towering rocky cliffs and snow peaks.

After a pleasant overnight in complete wilderness, walk is much easier on gradual path for few hours. As trail leads with few short ups and down following the windswept valley facing astonishing views through nomads few smaller settlement then ending the day on reaching a remote wild areas at Zara for overnight camp.

Leaving the camp walk leads to gradual and easy ascend around the wide valley and chances of spotting some wild-life like herd of wild Asses known as Kyang.
As walk follows on wild country then reaching a small nomadic summer settlement at Pongunagu. A place with nice camping site around a green meadow and wide pasture field.

Walking along a wide path within a valley, where trail follows further west, on walks might see many birds and Wild Ass Kyang within this vast plain of Ladakh an extension of Tibetan South West plateau. After a steady walk then finally ending the day adventure on reaching at Nuruchan. The campsite is set next to a beautiful stream.

Adventure today one of the longest trek as it involves crossing two high passes traversing over Horlam Kongka-La at 4,900 m and Kyamayuri-La 5,416 m high.
After completing both passes then reaching at Rachungkaru. A place of nomads with Tibetan refugee’s reservation camp and settlement. A lovely and interesting place to observe the nomadic life of Tibetan herding livestock of Yaks, Sheep’s and Pashmina Goats and the slowly walk takes you at Gyama Barma for overnight stop.

After overnight stop at Gyama Barma, walk today is quite shorter compared
to previous long days. Morning starts heading towards to cross Kartse-La, as route leads to steep climb, then reaching on top Kartse-La pass at 5,385 m. From the top of Kartse-La enjoy glorious views of surrounding beautiful landscapes and then downhill to Gyamar, as walk leads past nomads camp descended from South-West Tibet.
A nice wide valley for overnight camp at Gyamar, close to Tibetan nomad’s small settlements.

From this nice camp at Gyamar, start the morning walk along the eastern shore of
Tsomori-Ri Lake, and then a climb leads you on top of Yalung Nyau-La pass.
Enjoy the spectacular vista of surrounding beautiful valley enclosed by high snow- capped peaks, and then descend to the valley floor. A short climb over Zerlung Merlung ridge then heading towards Korzok village, placed close on the bank of Tsomori-Ri Lake, here witness flocks of ducks and storks around lake side.

A perfect scenic campsite at Korzok village close to Tso Mori-Ri Lake, for exciting walk and to explore around its beautiful scenic Tso-Mori-Ri Lake.
One of the largest lakes in Ladakh, it is also a prime location for rare fauna with exotic wild-life. On the eastern shore of the lake, lies our adventure destination the majestic Chamser Kang-Ri peak.

An enjoyable and interesting overnight stop at Korzok and the lake, morning walk leads along the west bank of the lake. A pleasant trek on level path facing superb views of the Mentok Himal range with Chamser and Lungser Kang-Ri right across from the lake. Walk follows through spread-out nomadic temporary shelters around Sachanglung, Kele, Rile and Kharlung. The route with options as per the season wise, either taking a rocky off shore or walk on sandy banks to reach at Kyangdam, means an area of wild ass, which you can often spot around the lake shore. From here a short hour walk towards our overnight camp at Peldo, a small settlement close to a motorable road-head.

A different type of landscape, from Peldo to Skyurchu, following an icy river into a river gorge to enter another wide valley. As route leads closer to our destination following and crossing a river then reaching our campsite at a small herder camp at Skyurchu.

From Skyurchu, walk on wild windswept country towards our adventurous climb to Lungser Khang-Ri Peak on top 6, 666 m high. A short day trek following on rugged terrain trails to Base Camp for overnight stop.

After a great time at base camp, to make the climb much easier and accessible high camp is necessary. As the peak is quite high around Rupshu valley and close to great lake of Tso Mori-Ri. Walking slowly and steady as altitude gains gradually then reaching at High Camp right beneath the stunning Lungser Khang-Ri peak.
One of the highest peaks around Ladakh and Rupshu valley area, at high camp with time to scout the route of climb. The camp is set near glacier and moraine of rocks with small field of grassy meadow.

Start the Big Day, as early as possible before dawn following a faint trail towards a rocky ledge, our guide will lead on the safest route. Although the climb is non-technical, but all climbers must be equipped with adequate gear with crampons and ice-axe. As climb gets steeper for some hours then finally reaching on top of Lungser Khang-Ri peak summit. For all the tough and hard effort rewards with spectacular panorama of surrounding glorious landscapes and high snow-capped peaks, includes view of beautiful Tso Mori-Ri Lake below.
After achieving our goal, descend back to base camp after a long hard day and relax rest of the afternoon.

An enjoyable day as you lose height every hours of walks to reach back to human civilization at Peldo for last overnight in absolute wilderness. Walk is pleasant on downhill path most of the day with few short ups and downs all the way to Peldo for overnight camp in tents.

From Peldo, bidding farewell to camping staff, yak men and pony drivers an exciting drive for few hours on dirt tracks. As the road narrows following a stream and then on main highway to Leh. Drive on nice scenic road for some hours then reaching back at Leh for last overnight in Ladakh.

Depending upon the flight time, guide and staff transfer you for a short drive to the airport for flight to Delhi, after a memorable adventure and experience on Zinchen Markha Valley-Kharnak Tso Mori-Ri Chamser Khang-Ri Climb.