Day 01: Leh – Phanjila via Lamayuru (5 hrs drive)
Embark on a thrilling jeep ride from Leh to Lamayuru in the morning. On the way, witness some of the oldest and most renowned monasteries in Ladakh. Don't miss the opportunity to visit the age-old monasteries in Lamayuru, Likir, and Alchi for their rich historical significance. Later, we will head to Phanjila, where we will camp overnight.
Day 02: Phanjila- Hanupatta (5- 6 hrs)
Today, we will commence our long trek. After a short walk from Phanjila, the valley gradually narrows, leading into a breathtaking gorge with rock walls towering 1000m above the river. The Zanskar River makes its way deep down into the gorge, and in this arid landscape, lovely rosebushes bloom. We will camp near the river, just after the village of Hanupatta (3760m), from where we can enjoy a spectacular view down the valley.
Day 03: Hanupatta – Photoksar via Sir Sir la (6- 7 hrs)
We will ascend the wide Spong Valley for some time before crossing the river and gradually climbing up to Sir Sir la (4850m). From the pass's top, you can catch magnificent views of the main Zanskar range, as well as our next pass, Singge la (5090m). After descending for about 2 ½ hours, we will reach the village of Photoksar (4200m), surrounded by lush green fields and nestled amidst towering mountain cliffs. The trail towards Sumdo disappears into the deep gorge on the right of the village. We will camp near the village for the night, providing ample opportunity for rest and relaxation.
Day 04: Photoksar – Base of Singe la (5- 6 hrs)
After crossing the small pass of Bumiktse la (4200), we will enter the broad and fertile Photang valley. A gentle trail will lead us through this picturesque landscape, where villagers keep their yaks and horses grazing. One of the most captivating aspects of the Zanskar trek is the constantly changing scenery. Every time you turn a corner or cross a pass, a new world appears before you, displaying the deepest gorges, greenest fields, and the magnificent Zanskar River, providing life and form. Slowly we will ascend towards our base camp at the foot of Singe la (4600 m).
Day 05: Base of Singe la – Gongma via Singe la (6-7 hrs)
We will start our day with a gradual ascend towards Singge la (5090m), also known as the "Lion Pass." The last few hundred meters can be steep, but the top of the pass offers a rewarding view. From there, we will begin a steep descent for a few hundred meters.
We will then follow the trail high above the Zanskar River, and the mountains will take a greener and gentler formation before we ascend gradually to Kiupa la (4400 m). The trail down from the pass is steep zigzagging to the village of Gongma (3840m).
Day 06: Gongma- Lanang via Lingshed (6-7 hrs)
Starting from Gongma, we will climb up the gentle trail to the Margum la (4400m) from where we can see Lingshed an hour or so away. The Lingshed monastery is founded by the Gelugpa order and gives home to around 60 monks. The village is spread out over a large area enclosed in green fields of barley. After visiting the monastery of Lingshed, we will continue towards Lanang.
Day 07: Lanang- Zingchen via Hanumur la (6-7 hrs)
Today, we will embark on a steep and long ascent that will take us to the pass of Hanumur la (4950m). Once we reach the pass, the views north to Singe la and the snowcapped peaks of the Ladakh range are simply spectacular. We will then descend easily for an hour before starting a steep descent down to Snertse.
Just above Snertse, there is a herders’ camp, and sometimes fresh cheese, milk, and curd are available. It's also possible to hunt for fossils down in the riverbed, and the locals may have a nice collection to show.
We will rest for a while at Snertse before continuing towards Zingchen, where we can take a bath in Oma Chhu river.
Day 08: Zingchen- Hanamur via Parfi la (4-5 hrs)
On our last day before reaching Padum, we will head to our final pass, Parfi la (3950m), in the early morning. The juniper-covered trail zigzags up to the pass, which is also home to the Himalayan brown bear, as well as blue sheep.
From the pass, we will descend down to the banks of the Zanskar River and reach the village of Hanamur (3380m), where we will set up our camp for the night.
Day 09: Hanamur - Pishu (4-5 hrs)
Embark on a relatively easy stage along the Zanskar River, with picturesque views all around. On the way, we will pass by Pidmo (3420m), a small village with a few families. Further ahead, we will reach Pishu (3470m), a scenic village situated on the west side of the Zanskar River. Hanamur, Pishu, and Pidmo, along with Tsazar and Honia on the other side of the river, make up the former kingdom of Zangla. The entrance to Pidmo is marked by a long mani wall and chortens, from where we will find our way to a grassy campsite.
Day 10: Pishu - Padum (6-7 hrs)
Prepare for an easy day along a dry, dusty jeep road. The trail from Pishu leads to Rinam (3550m), following the banks of the Zanskar River. We will also visit the famous Karsha Monastery (3600m), one of the largest monasteries of the Gelukpa sect, founded around the 10th century A.D. and with 140 resident monks. Situated on a hillside, Karsha Monastery offers an impressive view of the entire valley. After the visit, we will continue towards Padum (3531m), the capital of Zanskar and a major trade center in the valley.
Day 11: Padum - Raru (6 hrs)
Today we will follow a dusty jeep road until Raru, a recently built village. On the way, we will pass by the villages of Shila and Bardan, the latter being renowned for its monastery as well as its huge and beautifully engraved prayer wheels. After Bardan, we will hike for a couple of hours along the Tsarap River before entering a plateau and reaching the village and monastery of Mune. Finally, after another 40 minutes of walking, we will reach our camp at Raru (3900m).
Day 12: Raru - Pepula (5-6 hrs)
Get ready for a day of hiking as we follow a flat ground from Raru before descending steeply to the banks of the Tsarap River. From there, we will continue to follow the river leading to our camp at Pepula (3850m). Keep your eyes peeled for stunning scenery along the way!
Day 13. Pepula- Purne (5-6 hrs)
Embark on a thrilling adventure as we trek from Pepula to Purne. Be prepared for a challenging trail as we navigate through tricky terrain, with steep inclines and descents, and cross small side rivers leading to the charming villages of Surle and Char. Our path will lead us through a valley that opens up to the confluence of the Tsarap and Kargyak Rivers, where we will cross a bridge and climb up to the picturesque village of Purne (3700m), where we will spend the night at our comfortable campsite.
Day 14. Day hike to Phuktal Monastery 3850m (4 hrs)
Prepare to be amazed as we embark on a day hike to the magnificent Phuktal Monastery, one of the most stunning gompas in Ladakh. The monastery is built into the side of limestone cliffs, with the main assembly hall carved out of a massive cave, and the monks' residences scattered down the hillside. The monastery, which belongs to the Gelukpa order, is built around a sacred spring that flows all year, even during the harsh winter months when other springs freeze. Inside the monastery, we'll find an inscription to Cosma de Koros, one of the first Europeans to visit the Zanskar region and the first to translate Buddhist texts from Tibetan into English. After exploring the monastery, we'll return to Purne for a well-deserved rest.
Day 15. Purne – Tetha (2 hrs)
Our journey continues as we recross the bridge across the Kargyak River and follow the trail to the charming settlement of Yal. From there, we'll embark on a steep ascent to the vast, fertile plateau of Tetha, a whitewashed village that sits at an elevation of 3950m. Our campsite in Tetha will provide us with stunning views of the surrounding mountains and ample opportunity to rest and recharge for the adventures ahead.
Day 16. Tetha – Kargyak (5 hrs)
Today's hike is a gentle one as we enter the charming village of Karu, marked by traditional chortens. Along the trail, we will see stone walls protecting the fields from pack animals.
As we cross the bridge below the village of Tanze, we'll catch a glimpse of Kargyak, the highest permanent settlement in the Zanskar region, just 5 kilometers away. Our campsite for the night will be situated by the riverbed.
Day 17. Kargyak – Lakhang (4- 5 hrs)
After breakfast, we'll set off towards the Gumburanjan, an impressive rock monolith, passing through lush yak grazing pastures blanketed with edelweiss. We'll eventually reach Lakang (4470m), a traditional shepherd's encampment, where we'll be camping for the night. The panoramic views of the Himalaya Range from our campsite will be truly breathtaking!
Day 18. Lakhang – Ramjak via Shinkul la (7-8 hrs)
Today will be a challenging day as we start with a steep climb before crossing an alpine tract leading to the base of the Shinkul la. We'll most likely get our boots wet while crossing a river that flows from the glacier north of the pass.
From here, the ascent to the Sinkul la (4980m) follows a trail across snowfields or scree, depending on the season. At the top of the pass, we'll be greeted by rock cairns and prayer flags, and the view of the 6000m peaks defining both the Himalaya and Baralacha Ranges will be awe-inspiring.
After admiring the view, we'll make a steep descent to the valley floor before reaching our camp at Ramjak (4290m).
Day 19. Ramjak- Palamo (4-5 hrs)
Our trail today will take us through boulder fields, across several streams, and meager grazing pastures before reaching Palamo (3600m).
Day 20. Zanskar Sumdo- Darcha
Our final day of trekking will take us across a bridge high above the Darcha River before continuing down to the village of Rarig, and finally, Darcha (3350m), our destination. Along the road, we'll come across many dhabas and a campsite. From here, we'll find our transportation onwards to either Leh or Manali.