|
|
The journey, as perilous and extraordinary as any in the
Himalayan region, is known as "Chaddar". The Chaddar trek takes
one to the giant "S" bench worn by the Zanskar Tiver as it
surges from Padum to join the Indus at Saspol, 120-km northeast, and is
one of the deepest and most spectacular canyons in the world.
Day
1: Arrival in Delhi
and transfer into hotel there for an overnight stay.
Day 2: Morning flight to
Leh .
Day 3: Tour of Leh city, including the 16th century palace and
Gompa.
Day 4: Tour of Shey and Tikse Gompas, and Stok Palace.
Day 5: Visit to Basgo fort and Alchi gompa, a remarkably
well-preserved 11th century Gompa and one of the artistic treasures of the
Himalayas.
Day 6: Drive to village of Chiling (3,550m), from where one
begins the trek. A short ways from Chiling, step onto the frozen Zanskar
River for the first time. Trek to Tilat Do. Overnight stay in the cave.
Day 7: Walk upstream on the ice to Bakhula. Overnight stay in the
cave.
Day 8: Walk through tremendous canyons, inaccessible in any other
season, to Nyarak. Overnight stay in the cave.
Day 9: Continue on the frozen river to Sarakdo. Overnight stay in
the cave.
Day 10: Walk to Hanuma, the first village and most likely the
first people that can be seen since leaving Chiling. Overnight stay in the
village house.
Day 11: Hanuma to Pishu, another small village. Overnight stay in
the village house.
Day 12: Pishu to Karsha, site of the largest monastery in
Zanskar. Overnight stay in the village house.
Day 13: Karsha to Padum, the regional capital of Zanskar and the
goal of the journey.
Day 14: Rest a day to explore Padum and the surrounding valley.
Day 15: Visit to local villages and Gompas, including the kingdom
of Zangla.
Day 16: A one-hour Ride on Helicopter over the main Himalayan
range to Manali.
Day 17: Tour of Manali. Stay overnight at a hotel.
Day 18: Catch a flight from Kullu to Delhi.
Day 19: Depart- Delhi and transfer to airport for catching a
flight to onward journey.