A Trekking Holiday On The Lamayuru Route

Filled with bustling bazaars and historic sites, Delhi is a magnificent monument to the grandiose designs of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and the British Raj of the 1930s. A city of mosques, memorials, minarets and markets, its vibrancy, colour and chaos captures the very essence of India, making it the ideal place to begin our journey.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

An early flight out of Delhi brings us to a fertile valley just to the north of the mighty Indus River. Here, amongst the towering peaks of ice and snow, we find the small, picturesque town of Leh, once an important trading centre along the old Silk Road from China. The town is dominated by the nine storey Namgyal Palace, whose faded grandeur has been likened to a mini version of the Potala Palace in Lhasa. We have the rest of the day to relax and perhaps enjoy an orientation walk through the town to help acclimatise to the altitude.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

The predominant faith here is the Lamaistic form of Tibetan Buddhism and today we have a chance to discover some of its traditions and influences amongst the gompas (monasteries) of the Indus Valley. We visit the Shey and Thiksay monasteries this morning, before then driving on to Hemis, to visit the 17th century remains of one of the most important gompas in the region. Belonging to the Drukpa order of Buddhism, the monastery at Hemis has long been an important pilgrimage site and each year attracts monks from all across the Indus Valley to its annual festival.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

We have a long day’s drive ahead of us today, as we leave Leh and head down the main Leh-Srinagar Highway to Kargil. Nestling besides the banks of the Suru River, Kargil is the second largest town in Ladakh and lies close to the ‘Line of Control’ between the Indian and Pakistani controlled parts of Jammu and Kashmir. Deeply traditional, this region is home to a rich mix of ethnic diversity, with Tibetan and Persian influences still apparent amongst the language and rituals of the local people.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Another long drive today brings us to the town Padum, the former capital of the ancient Zanskar kingdom. Home to a sizeable community of Buddhists and Sunni Muslims, the town is our gateway into the Himalayan landscapes that will line our route over the coming days ahead. Centred around an old gompa and two large chortens (Buddhist places of worship), the town is the largest in the Zanskar Valley and has the distinction of possessing the only mosque in the entire region.

Overnight Simple Camping Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breaking ourselves in gently today we start with a three hour trek from Padum to the village of Karsha. We head first for Pipiting and its Gelukpa monastery, before crossing the dusty plains towards the Doda River. Crossing the river by way of its new bridge, we then climb towards Karsha, home to a beautiful 15th century monastery that dominates the crest of a hill above the village. Home to some 170 monks, this impressive structure is the largest and richest of Zanskar’s Buddhist gompas. (3 hours trekking).

Overnight Simple Camping Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today’s trek starts with a fairly easy but hot walk along the dusty banks of the Zanskar River. Just before Pishu we make a short detour to take a look at the longest hanging bridge in the Zanskar region, boasting an impressive 55 metre span. Continuing on to Pishu we camp this evening just below the village. (5 hours trekking).

Overnight Simple Camping Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Continuing along the left bank of the river this morning we cross a moraine plateau and head up towards the bridge at Pidmo. From here it is a further two hour climb to our next camp at Hanumil, hopefully arriving in the village in time to enjoy the late afternoon views across the entrance to the Zanskar River gorges. (5 hours trekking).

Overnight Simple Camping Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We climb steeply this morning, following the trail away from the Zanskar and up towards the Parfi-la Pass (3,900 metres). The pass marks the boundary between Zanskar and Ladakh and the trek up to the plateau should take us around four hours this morning. We then have a rather steep descent back down to the Oma Chu River on the other side. Crossing the bridge we crest a sandy slope to enjoy some stunning views of the mountains and valleys, before completing the journey to our camp, close to the sheep pens at Snertse. (7 hours trekking).

Overnight Simple Camping Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

A long, gradual ascent this morning takes us up towards the summit of Hanuma-la (4,700 metres). The journey winds its way through the gorge and past more sheep folds, before a two and a half hour climb to the top. From here we make a steep 1,000 metres descent down the mountain, before another 300 metre climb to a small pass that marks the rim of the Lingshed Valley. We then begin an easy hike down to Lingshed and our camp near to the village’s monastery. (6 hours trekking).

Overnight Simple Camping Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breaking camp this morning we trek up to Mugum La (4,100 metres) and then across an escarpment that offers us some wonderful views out across the Nierag Valley and the Zanskar River. After following the gentle slope down to the villages of Gongma and Skiumpata, we then begin a very steep climb to the Kiupa-la (3,850 metres). The last part of our day’s journey then follows a gradual path along the side of the mountain up to our camp at the base of Singe-la. (6 hours trekking).

Overnight Simple Camping Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We begin the day with a steep two hour climb to Singe-la this morning. At over 5,000 metres, the pass offers us some stunning views of the glaciers, before we make the short descent into the wide expanse of the Photang Valley. From here the going is fairly easy, with a gentle climb towards the Bumiktse-la (4,200 metres) followed by a descent into the village of Photoksar. The village lies enclosed between high mountain walls and lush pastureland, overlooked by an abandoned gompa in the hills above the village. (6 hours trekking).

Overnight Simple Camping Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Departing Photoksar after breakfast we climb to a large chorten, from where we begin the long ascent of the Sir Sir la (4,800 metres). The last part of the climb is steep, but the views from the top look out across the main Zanskar ranges and back towards Singe-la. From here we have an easy descent down to the river, before crossing a bridge and heading up to the Sniugutse-la (5,000 metres). Descending into a rocky valley we then head for our next camp, just on the outskirts of the village of Hanupata. (6 hours trekking).

Overnight Simple Camping Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

From Hanupata we head next to Wanla, a four hour hike that takes us into the dramatic landscapes of the Zanzkar gorges. At a junction where the rivers converge we come across a lone chorten where prayer flags flutter in the wind. Passing the ridge we then descend to the River Yapola and, making our way across the bridge, head towards the village of Phenijlla. From here it is a fairly easy walk on to our final destination in Wanla. (4 hours trekking).

Overnight Simple Camping Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breaking camp for the last time this morning we drive back to Leh, passing by the 11th century monastery at Lamayuru en route. One of the oldest and largest in Ladakh, the gompa at Lamayuru is home to around 150 monks. Back in Leh we should hopefully have a little time to enjoy the distinctive frontier feel of the town, perhaps taking a stroll through streets that once echoed to the sounds of the caravans that passed through here on their way to the markets of Kashgar.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We fly back to the Indian capital today, after which we have the rest of the day to explore a little more of its bustling streets and historic landmarks. Old Delhi contains many of the city’s most impressive Muslim and Mughal monuments, such as the magnificent Jama Masji, whilst the newer parts of the city are sprinkled with the colonial monuments of Edward Lutyens. Then of course there is the Chandni Chowk, a jamboree of deafening noise and colour that is one of the oldest and busiest markets in the city.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast