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The Zanskar River, Ladakh
Trip Highlights
The frigid Zanskar river originates from the high altitude plateau of Sarchu on the border of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. Originally known as the Tsarap the river gorges a path out of the rocky mountains of western Himalayas, dropping in a continuous torrent of class V rapids. The river then eases into the forbidden Kingdom of Zanskar and slowly flows past the capital at Padum. Here it joins with the Stod river which flows down from the Pensi La pass on the road from Kargil to Padum.
It is from this confluence of the Tsarap and Stod rivers that the mighty Zanskar takes birth. Your four day expedition on the river starts on the Stod river and moves in to the Zanskar Gorge. The river expedition takes you through one of the most breathtaking gorges in Asia. The stark, barren and rocky massifs are interspersed with colorful bands of mineral deposits, which run through entire mountainsides giving it a picture book finish.
The waters of Zanskar are cold at 6 – 7 degrees Celsius. Wet suits are mandatory on this trip. Over a period of 4 days you stop over at small but quaint campsites nestled within the confines of the Zanskar gorge. A series of grade 3 and one grade 4 rapid make the Zanskar an ideal way to explore this river.
Route Chart :
Delhi- Leh- Kargil - Rangdum - Remala - Karsha - Pidmu - Nyerak - Lamaguru - Nimmu - Alchi - Leh - Delhi
DAY BY DAY ITINERARY
DAY 01: ARRIVAL LEH (3466 mts, 11350 ft)
Meeting and assistance upon arrival thereafter transfer from airport to hotel. Day free for acclimatization.
Leh City: The capital of Ladakh, at one time was a major stop on the Asian “Silk Route”. A stroll along the main bazar, observing the varied crowd and peering into the curio shops, is an entrancing experience. Chang Gali, behind the main bazaar is less bustling but has intriguing little shops selling curios and jewelry like pearls, turquoise, coral, malachite, lapis and many other kinds of semi-precious stones, as well as curiously carved Yak-horn boxes, quaint brass locks, china or metal bowls etc.
Dinner and overnight in hotel Spic –n –Span or similar.
DAY 02: DRIVE LEH - KARGIL (3201 Mts. 10,500 ft. 180 Kms, 8 hours)
We drive from Leh to Kargil, through a spectacular "moon land" near the famous Lamayuru Monastery. We drive over the Fotu La (14,000-ft), the highest mountain pass on the Srinagar - Leh highway. Enroute, we visit the Lamayuru and Ridzong Monasteries. Packed lunch enroute.
Lamayuru Monastery: This photogenic monastery is a major landmark on the old silk route. Legend behind this monastery is that a lake, which was drained by the sage Naropa, to permit the foundation of the monastery, once filled Lamayuru village. The monastery belongs to the old Tibetan schools the Kargyupa / Drukpa School
Rizong: At Rizong there is a gompa and a nunnery. From the road it is a 3km trek to the gompa.
Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel D'Zozila or similar.
DAY 03: DRIVE KARGIL - RANGDUM (12,000 ft, 105 Kms, 5-6 hours)
Today we leave the Srinagar Leh highway behind us and enter in to the heart of the Zanskar area. A spectacular drive past Panikar and Parkachik, with magnificent views of the Nun and Kun massifs (7000 metres), hanging glaciers and large meadows. We stop to make camp in the lush green meadows near the Rangdum monastery. This is our first night in tents.
Overnight tented camp.
DAY 04: RANDUM - REMALA (3,365 Mts. 11,925 ft. 95 Kms, 5 hours)
We drive over the Pensi La (14,500 ft), the highest altitude we will touch. The pass opens out spectacular views of the Zanskar peaks at the bottom of which is the Drung Durung glacier that feeds the Stod and Zanskar rivers.
We set up camp at Remala which is the start point of our rafting expedition.
Overnight in tented camp.
DAY 05: REMALA -KARSHA (3,496 Mts. 11,466 ft, 40 Kms 5 hours)
Post breakfast we will gather around for a detailed safety briefing followed by packing cvamp and loading up our rafts. Our rafting expedition begins at Remala. Raft till Karsha Gompa, near Padum. We raft approx. 40 km in 5 hrs which includes a break for lunch and hot beverages.
A scenic run down the Stod river surrounded by by 6000 metre high peaks and the stark barren landscape that Ladakh is famous for. River section today includes a Class II section providing an ideal training ground for first time rafters.
Get into camp early in the afternoon set up camp and hike across to the Karsha Monastery.
Overnight in Camp.
DAY 06: KARSHA -PIDMU (3,361 Mts. 11,000 ft, 30 Kms. 4 hours)
Another easy day on the river. A scenic run down from Karsha till the small hamlet of Pidmu. Get into camp by mid afternoon. Early evening trek to the nearby villages of Pidmu and Hanumil.
Overnight in Camp.
DAY 07: PIDMU -NYERAK (3,286 Mts. 10,780 ft. 20 Kms, 4 hours)
Today is an action packed day with a series of Class III rapids. Today the river takes on a different beauty with the walls narrowing in with towering rock spres on each side. It is because of this that the Zanskar Gorge is known as the Grand Canyon of India.
We stop for the day to pitch camp in a gorge below Nyerak village.
Overnight in Camp.
DAY 08: NYERAK - LAMAGURU (3.190 Mts. 10,530 ft. 35 Kms. 5 hours)
Each day gets more exciting than the last. Today we raft through a series of Class III rapids and a few Class IV. Rafting through the heart of Zanskar some river sections offer non stop action with continuous rapids. The entire river at one point squeezes through a gap of 16 feet.
Our lunch stop today will be at the base of a breathtaking waterfall at the confluence of the Markha and the Zankar rivers.
Overnight camp at Lamaguru.
DAY 09: LAMAGURU –NIMMU (3,145 Mts. 103,75, 40 Kms 4 Hrs)
We raft 40 kms of Class III/IV white water from Lamayuru to Nimmu today. Finish the trip at Nimmu and drive to Leh 60 kms enroute visit Alchi. Nimmu is the confluence of the Indus and the Zanskar rivers. After Nimmu the Indus cuts into another gorge and drops into Pakistan. This is where we bid farewell to our rafts and river guides.
Alchi Monastery: 66 Km west of Leh, this monastery consists of six temples, which contain chorten, seated Buddhas and exquisite paintings. Over 10 centuries old, profusely painted walls depict the events of the Buddha’s life, lamas and musicians. Its murals, dating from the 11th and 12th centuries, pre-date the Tibetan style of painting that is present in all the other gompas. Some of them are reminiscent of the paintings of the far-off Ajanta caves and are presumed to be almost the sole survivors (along with some in Phuktal Gompa in Zanskar and Tabo in Spiti) of the Buddhist style current in Kashmir during the first millennium AD
Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel Spic –n – Span or similar
DAY 10: LEH – DELHI
After breakfast drive to airport on time to connect flight for onward destination. |
