ZANSKAR EXPEDITION
Zanskar Rafting Expedition Jul 27 - Aug 07 & Aug 08 - Aug 19, 2019
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ZANSKAR EXPEDITION: INTRODUCTION
Our "special" feature drives through most of western Ladakh, monasteries, palaces, villages, hikes and travel to one of the most surreal places on the planet. Starting the trip on the Stod river, we begin our self-contained multi-day river adventure down the spectacular and scenic Zanskar river gorge. The trip takes you down the extremely desolate, remote and sheer Zanskar gorge with walls rising a few thousand feet out of the river bed, culminating on the mighty Indus river, (which incidentally lends India its name). We finish with spending a couple of days in Leh town acclimatizing at 11,000 feet above sea level and visiting the ancient monasteries, palaces and villages around Leh. Undoubtedly a classic, this journey to the last truly lost horizon of our shrinking planet - Zanskar, the "land of white copper” is a trip of a lifetime.
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ZANSKAR EXPEDITION: FACT SHEET • DATE OF TRIP: JUL 27 - AUG 07 & AUG 08 - 19, 2019 • DURATION OF TRIP: 12 DAYS • REPORTING POINT: LEH AIRPORT • GRADE OF TREK: MODERATE • RAPID CLASS: CLASS 4
ACCOMMODATION
DAY ACCOMMODATION MEAL PLAN DAY 1 HOTEL KANG LHA CHEN/ SIMILAR ALL INCLUSIVE DAY 2 HOTEL KANG LHA CHEN/ / SIMILAR ALL INCLUSIVE DAY 3 HOTEL D’ZOJILA/ SIMILAR ALL INCLUSIVE DAY 4-10 TREKKING CAMP ALL INCLUSIVE DAY 11 HOTEL KANG LHA CHEN / SIMILAR ALL INCLUSIVE DAY 12 HOTEL KANG LHA CHEN/ SIMILAR BREAKFAST
ITINERARY CHART
DAY START END DIST. TIME ASL POINT POINT DRIVE DAY 1 LEH AIRPORT LEH 15M 3500M 5KM DRIVE 30 DAY 2 LEH LEH 5HRS 3500M KM DRIVE 90 DAY 3 LEH KARGIL 6HRS 3200M KM DRIVE DAY 4 KARGIL RANGDUM 130 9HRS 4000M KM aquaterra.in
DRIVE DAY 5 RANGDUM REMALA 90 6HRS 3600M KM RAFT 3496M/C DAY 6 REMALA KARSHA GOMPA 5HRS 30KM LASS II HONYO / PIDMO 3361M DAY 7 KARSHA GOMPA 25KM 4HRS CLASS III HONYO / PIDMO 3286M/C DAY 8 NYERAK 25KM 4HRS LASS III + DAY 9 NYERAK NYERAK REST - - 3190M/C DAY 10 NYERAK LAMAGURU 35KM 6HRS LASS IV RAFT40K 4HRSDR NIMU M 3150M/C DAY 11 LAMAGURU IVE & LEH DRIVE LASS IV 1HR 35KM DRIVE 5 TRIP DAY 12 LEH LEH AIRPORT 15M KMS ENDS!
TOTAL COST: INR 84,000 + 5% TAX
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ZANSKAR EXPEDITION: DETAILED ITINERARY DAY ONE: LEH AIRPORT - HOTEL (3500 M) Transfer to hotel. Relax and acclimatise. Visit Leh market in the evening.
DAY TWO: LEH (3500 M) A day for acclimatization. Optional visit to the Leh palace and the Shey, Thikse and Hemis gompas. Last minute shopping in the Leh market. .
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ZANSKAR EXPEDITION: ITINERARY DAY THREE: LEH - KARGIL (3200 M) Set out after an early breakfast, travelling west of Leh towards Kargil. 36 kms from Leh, we reach Nimu, the confluence of the Zanskar with the Indus. We pass the derelict fort at Basgo, the painted caves at Saspol to reach Khalsi where the road crosses the Indus River and slowly winds its way 27kms up to the beautiful gompa at Lamayuru. Continue to cross the Fotu La (4108m) and Namika La (3700m) to reach the village of Mulbekh. 41kms further is the town of Kargil which marks the transition to a predominantly Muslim area from where one can either continue west to Kashmir or take the rough road south up the Suru valley into Zanskar, which is our destination. Settle into the hotel D’Zojila in a quieter part of town, have our last showers, and charge camera batteries. We are moving into a week of the great outdoors!
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ZANSKAR EXPEDITION: ITINERARY DAY FOUR: KARGIL - RANGDUM (4000 M) A spectacular drive past Panikar and Parkachik, with magnificent views of the 7000 metre plus Nun and Kun massif, hanging glaciers and large meadows. The Balti settlements along this valley are surrounded by lush fields growing a wide variety of crops and fruits. The road swings past the last Muslim settlement of Parkachik, to the Buddhist Gelukpa monastery of Rangdum, sitting astride a small hill in the middle of a wide plain. An optional hike around the huge meadow.
DAY FIVE: RANGDUM - REMALA (3600 M) We drive to Remala, which is the starting point for the rafting trip on the Stod river, a tributary of the Zanskar river. Overnight tented camp. We drive over the Pensi La which enables grand views of the Zanskar peaks at the bottom of which is the Drung Durung glacier that feeds the Zanskar river. The road descends to the Stod or Doda river which it now follows past the Zanskari villages to Padum the capital of Zanskar.
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ZANSKAR EXPEDITION: ITINERARY DAY SIX: REMALA - KARSHA GOMPA (3496M) Rafting begins at Remala. Raft till near Karsha Gompa, near Padum. We raft 30 km in 4-5 hrs which includes a break for lunch and hot beverages. We are surrounded by 6000-metre-high peaks. River section today includes a Class II section, a good introduction for first timers as well as to the river in general. Settle into camp by afternoon, we can take an optional hike around Camp. A long walk to Karsha Gompa, is possible.
DAY SEVEN: KARSHA - HONYO/PIDMO (3361 M) After a late morning start, we raft from Karsha up to Honyo / Pidmo. This stretch is approximately 25 km with Class II and III rapids. Another easy day to get used to the river, the altitude and hone our paddling skills.
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ZANSKAR EXPEDITION: ITINERARY DAY EIGHT: HONYO/PIDMO - NYERAK (3286 M) After packing camp, we raft 25 km to Nyerak a Class III section. The gorge narrows in on the river – there is a rapid formed at the entrance to the canyon, by the making of the road, the dynamiting and also due to a fallen JCB! This indeed is a Grand Canyon in its own right. We stop for the day to pitch camp in a gorge below Nyerak village.
DAY NINE: NYERAK Rest day at Nyerak. Take a hike to Nyerak village or relax under the cool shade of the willows at our Campsite. Wash up at the campsite stream and enjoy the day off.
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ZANSKAR EXPEDITION: ITINERARY DAY TEN: NYERAK - LAMAGURU (3190 M) Today’s 35 km rafting section goes through the core of the Zanskar A classic white water day with continuous Class III rapids, a few Class IV rapids where the river squeezes between a gap of about 18ft. We stop for lunch near a huge waterfall and continue to camp at the confluence of Markha river with the Zanskar. Rock formations, spires and an amazing palette of colours add to the trip.
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ZANSKAR EXPEDITION: ITINERARY DAY ELEVEN: LAMAGURU - NIMU - LEH (3500 M) We raft 40 kms of Class III/IV white water from Lamaguru to Nimu today. We raft past the village of Chilling and exciting rapids as the Zanskar plunges out of the canyon to meet with the Indus at Nimu. We end our trip at the confluence of the Zanskar with the Indus. Drive an hour back to Leh. Last minute retail therapy and a hot shower.
DAY TWELVE: LEH HOTEL – LEH AIRPORT (3500 M)
Early morning transfer to Airport for Leh - Delhi flight. Trip Ends!
TOTAL COST: INR 84,000 + 5% TAX aquaterra.in
ZANSKAR EXPEDITION: COST BREAKDOWN COST INCLUDES
ALL TRANSFERS IN A NON-AC VEHICLE AS PER THE ITINERARY (LEH AIRPORT - LEH AIRPORT) ALL ARRANGEMENTS FOR STAYING AND CAMPING WHILE ON TRIP ACCOMMODATION ON TWIN SHARING BASIS IN TENTS/ HOTEL ALL MEALS AS DETAILED IN ITINERARY INDIVIDUAL CLMBING EQUIPMENT ALL TREKKING ARRANGEMENTS WITH INDIA’S MOST EXPERIENCED GUIDING TEAM, CAMP STAFF AND COOKS PORTRAGE UPTO 15KG/PERSON ALL COMMON CAMPING AND TREKKING EQUIPMENT PEAK FEE/SANCTUARY FEE/ROYALTY/PERMITS WHERE APPLICABLE SAFE DRINKING WATER A GUIDE FOR ALL MONASTERY SIGHTSEEING SHEY, THIKSE, HEMIS GOMPA COST EXCLUDES
SLEEPING BAG ANY TRANSFERS OUTSIDE OF LEH BOTTLED WATER ITEMS OF PERSONAL CLOTHING EXPENSES OF PERSONAL NATURE (LAUNDRY/PHONE CALLS/ALCOHOL/CIGARETTES/INSURANCE/CAMERA FEE/ETC.) ANY EXPENSE INCURRED DUE TO FORCE MAJEURE SUCH AS LANDSLIDE, BAD WEATHER OR REASONS BEYOND OUR CONTROL COST EXCLUDES
FLIGHTS NOT INCLUDED IN THE ABOVE-MENTIONED COST SINGLE SUPPLEMENT – RS 13,500 + 5% TAX, FORCED SINGLE SUPPLEMENT IN CASE THERE IS NO ONE TO SHARE YOUR TENT WITH – RS 6,500 + 5% TAX
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ZANSKAR EXPEDITION: THE NEXT STEPS
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