Itinerary:
Day 0 (OPTIONAL ADD-ON): ACCLIMATIZATION IS THE KEY
- It is strongly recommended that you arrive a day earlier, walk around and initiate the process of acclimatization in the Himalayas.
- we'll recieve you upon your arrival in Manali and check-in at the base in comfortable rooms
- Free to explore the town of Manali or Naggar
- Go through your checklist and finish off last minute essential shopping for the trek.
Day 1: Arrive in Manali - Acclimatization Hike - Village Culture and Cuisine
- The team would receive at Manali at the '15 Mile Bridge' bus stop (14 km before Manali).
- You will check-in at the dA Base for the rest of the day.
- Hike to the ancient village of 'Soil'. Experience the culture and cuisine of the valley
- Reach dA Base by early evening for “around the bonfire” conference with the other climbers. Break the ice with some great dinner and chill with your fellow climbers.
Day 2: Manali – Chandertaal (4200m) -126 km / 8 hours
- The beautiful and charming town of Manali will greet you in the morning and after a rich, high energy breakfast you will depart for The Moon Lake – Chandertaal.
- The drive to Chandertaal will take you over Rohtang La (3,980 metres) and Kunzum La (4,558 metres). It takes about 8 hours roller-coaster drive and finally we will arrive at the camping site, 5 km short of Chandertaal. Chandertaal gets its name from the crescent shape that it rests in.
- The reflection of the moon over the lake at night is a sight which cannot be put into words. After a nice, warm and vegetarian dinner, you will retire for the day.
- You will camp in tents overnight after spending time at the banks of Chandertaal and this will also offer us a chance at another day of acclimatization at a relatively high altitude of 14200 feet.
Day 3: Chandertaal (4200m) – Kibber (3800m) - 4 hours
- If a night by the shores of Chandertaal cannot be described in words, then the sunrise is only too good to be real. Enjoy some yummy and high-nutrition breakfast to welcome the day.
- You will leave Chandertaal and drive up to Kaza. You will camp in Kaza for tonight. Kaza is a charming little township and is adorned with ancient monasteries.
- Depending on our timescale, you may get the rare opportunity to visit and explore the ancient Tabo monastery, Dhankar Monastery and Lalung Monastery.
- Once we arrive in Kibber, we will pitch our tents to camp here for the night.
- Imagine being perched at the highest village in the world and sipping yummy masala chai with Parle G.
- Another great day to get acclimatized to the high altitude Indian Himalayas!
Day 4: Inner line Permit - Kaza - Acclimatization
- Adventures of this day include exploring Kaza and Kibber (4,205 metres) – the highest inhabitable village in the world.
- Enjoy a hearty breakfast and embark on your exploration of the ancient and famous Ki Monastery, Gungri monastery and Kibber Village.
- Mingle around with the natives of Kibber and live a life that only a handful live, if only for a day.
Day 5: Kibber – Dumla – Thaltak (4693 m) - 7 hours trek
- The trail from the highest inhabited village in the world – Kibber, arrow-heads north and steeply drops into the gorge of River Parilungbi.
- It moves on to a bridge and climbs through cultivated fields on to a carved rocky area.
- This path then leads to Thalda (4,875 metres) camping site. This is where you will pitch our tents for the day. Have some much deserved tasty dinner before snuggling into your sleeping bags.
Day 6: Thaltak – Boroghlen (5100m) - 12 km, 7 hours trek
- Wake up and see. Just see the beauty that surrounds you while you munch on your breakfast.
- Pack up your bags and buckle up for another day of some amazing sights.
- The trail from Thalda is sandy in parts and descends on while crossing a moraine to the river gorge. Meandering on through to the gorge, the trail leads on to Jagtha.
- After this, the trail ascends and climbs steeply to a point where two glaciated valleys meet.
- You will take the opening facing north. After trekking for about a kilometre, you will cross the moraine and will begin our descent to the camping site at Boroghlen (5180 m). Pitch your tents and turn in after dinner.
Day 7: Boroghlen – Parangla (5578 m) – Kharsa Gongma(4850m) -14 km, 8 hrs. trek
- After breakfast and some high energy morning exercise, you start ascending the snowy landscape.
- The trek here entails steep sections before you reach Parang La and so necessary care needs to be taken will negotiating the crevasses.
- From here, there is a clear view of Parilungbi (6160 m), Shilla (6111 m) and Gya peaks (6794 m). To the north, is a descent of 4 km along the glacier, which leads to the origin of the River Pare Chu.
- You will keep moving on to the right face of it and navigate our steps through boulders and scree and finally, on to the Pare Chu belt. This will lead on to the camping site at Karsha Gongam (5,150 metres). Chill here for the night after dinner.
Day 8: Kharsa Gongma – Thakote(4700m) - 12 km, 5 hrs. trek
- The trek to Thakote can be slow to negotiate as this stretch of about 12 km runs along slide the river and many side streams need to be navigated.
- After crossing Parang La, you will come across many small spots such as Dogpo Phirtse, Dotung and Dakarkuru.
- You will camp for the night at Thakote (4,900 metres).
Day 9: Thakote – Umdung (4750 m) - 20 km, 7 hours
- You will religiously follow the roller coaster trail which runs along parallel on the right side of the River Pare Chu.
- On the way, are many side inlets and it goes up & down a few times before it reaches Umdung (4,750 metres). This is where we will pitch our tents.
Day 10: Umdung – Chuntung – Tsomoriri Lake (8 hours)
- Leave Umdung and head on to Tso Moriri. A trek of few minutes from Umdung, will lead the trail to ford the ferocious River Pare Chu and on to Narbu Sumdo (4,663 metres).
- Singe Namgyal built a fort here in the 17th century and its ruins stand even today.
- This is where one also gets to witness the first signs of human existence – the Drukpas with their yaks and thousands of sheep & pashmina goats.
- You will also see the hardcore tribal lifestyle of the Changpa tribe with their rugged, woollen tents.
- Welcome to the wilderness that is Rupshu valley. The trail will now suddenly move away from the river. It meanders along a smaller and secondary stream through a grassy meadow and finally arrives at the campsite at Chumiksthal.
- From here, the trail moves on to Phirtse Phu and passes through an expansive valley to reach Chuntung village (4,542 metres).
- This is where we get the first sightings of Tso Moriri. On the southern shores are some old and ruined houses. The lake is surrounded by snow-capped mountains and has hues of a brilliant blue. You will camp here by the lake.
Day 11: Chungtung – Chakardung (4588 m) - 14 km, 5 hours trek
- Trek around and explore the surreal environs of the lake at your own pace.
- If you are lucky, you might even see some migratory birds.
- Trek on to Chakardung (4,542 metres) and pitch tents to camp.
Day 12: Chakaradung – Karzok (4615 m) - 21 km, 8 hours trek
- On the 12th day, trek alongside the river and reach the village of Karzok (4,540 metres).
- It is an extremely remote village and chiefly inhabited by nomads. Spending time here makes your connection with nature raw and pure. Visit the monastery and mingle with the nomads to feel the nomadic way of life. Camp here in the nomadic village and this brings us to the end of the trek but the adventure goes on.
Day 13: Karzok – Leh- 211 km /5 hours
- The trek is over. Now, get ready for a beautiful drive to Leh.
- You will leave for Leh from Karzok in shared vehicles.
- Reach Leh in the afternoon
- Explore the little town of Leh, Shop for souveniers, try local cuisine
- Shanti Stupa is stunning in the night time
Day 14: Departure
After early breakfast, arrangements will be made to drop participants to the airport
Day 15 (OPTIONAL ADD-ON):
Drop to the airport in the morning after breakfast.