Zhanskar Valley tour

10 Days

Enormously vast land with pale or brown topography perhaps because less rainfall reaches out there but with uniquely glowing beauty! Bright wishy-washy mud-hills and of course several unique things and attractions to explore…

Trip type: touring, hiking & exploration,
Group size: no limit,
Locations: Leh, Zhanskar Valley, Leh Ladakh, North India,
Trip duration: 10 days,
Max altitude: 4500 m
Country: India
Season: Summer, late Spring,
Difficulty level: easy to medium; suitable for all active travelers.

Overview

Enormously vast land with pale or brown topography perhaps because less rainfall reaches out here but with uniquely glowing beauty! Bright wishy-washy mud-hills meet the blue sky at horizon that creates to the whole area like a perfect canvass. As a traveler here you would be enjoying the canvass scenery everyday during this Zhanskar Valley trek. Amazing view points, wonderful monasteries rich with intricately carved Buddha mantras and other religious symbols, old forts and sweeping roads along the river valleys let you enjoy totally for this 2 weeks trip.

Itinerary

Meeting at the international airport and transfer to hotel and rest whole day.

Morning fly to Leh and hotel transfer. Take a rest or just do some leisurely strolling around your hotel area to acclimatize with the climatic condition of Ladakh.

Morning after breakfast drive to Alchi. Enroute visit, Confluence of Zaskar and Indus River. Arrive Alchi and visit Alchi Monastery. Dinner and overnight at Ulley.
CONFLUNCE OF INDUS AND ZANGSKAR RIVER: On way to Sham Valley before Nimu village one can have this magnificent view of two rivers in wed-lock! In seasons they have different colors and flow and wildness.

ALCHI MONASTERY: 70 Kms from Leh, on the banks of the Indus, is the Alchi Gompa dating a thousand years back. One of its walls features thousands of miniature sized pictures of the Buddha. Three large sized images made of clay and painted brightly are its focal attractions. No longer an active religious centre, it is looked after by monks from the Likir monastery. This is the only monastery amongst 34 monasteries, which is not located on a hilltop.

Though we are continuously driving but it’s interesting as we will be seeing many unique things like huge glaciers, pastureland and old traditional homes on the way. We will pass through the famous Suru valley which is well known for lovely wild flowers and different activities.

Rangdum is highland plateau with many old homes with smoke shimmering out of the chimneys. We will pass through some of the high mountains of Zanskar range like Nun and Kun and the famous Suru valley well known as the valley of flowers. The famous section of the valley starts after Rangdum with seeing old villages on the way. Life is difficult at this highland as all the passes get blocked and the Zanskar gets stocked for more than 6 months of the winter.

Dzongkhul Gompa: Dzongkhul has traditionally been home to famous Yoginis. It is sited near the foot of a wide valley which leads to the pass known as the Umasi-la which joins Zanskar and Kishtwar.

Its foundation is attributed to Naropa (956-1041 CE), who was a celebrated Indian Buddhist yogi, mystic and monk from the renowned Vikramshila University in Bihar. He is said to have meditated in one of the two caves around which the Gompa is built and the monastery is dedicated to him. His footprint can be seen in the rock near the entrance to the lower cave. The Gompa contains images and Thankas (wall scrolls) of famous Drukpa Lamas. Zhadpa Dorje, a famous painter and scholar created some of the frescoes on the cave walls almost 300 years ago. Impressions of Naropa’s ceremonial dagger and staff are also said to be in the rocks in his meditation cave which attracts many pilgrims. Until about the 1960s there were some 20 resident monks, but the numbers have dropped sharply in more recent times. It also contains a rich collection of precious artefacts, such as an ivory image of Samvara, a crystal Stupa, and texts containing spiritual songs and biographies. Dzongkhul became a flourishing Kagyu meditation centre under the Zanskari yogi Ngawang Tsering (1717-1794). Overnight at Hotel.

STONGDEY GOMPA: Stongdey Monastery is around 600 years old situated on the Rock cliff facing towards the Stongdey village. The monastery follows the Gelugpa tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. We can have amazing panoramic view of many villages of Zangskar.

KARSHA GOMPA: Karsha is the largest and most important monastery in Zhanskar. The monastery is under the control of the younger brother of the Dalai Lama. Behind his seat in the chapel is a statue of Lhaso Cho Rinpoche, which was brought from Lhasa in the 1960s and has a golden crown with carnelian and turquoise decorations. The most important festival, known as the Karsha Gustor, is held with masked Cham dances on the 26th to 29th day of the 11th Tibetan month, which is usually in January.

ZANGLA FORT: There is not much to see at Zangla Fort. It is a very small fort which later converted in to a monastery by the king Nima. Travelers can expect to see the head of Zangla village and the village is a iconic place with green meadows and river. Overnight in Hotel.

The drive towards Anmo is a tough as we will be driving on the dusty road. But still one can enjoy the unique scenery of the small villages on the way and the whole drive is to follow the Tserap River. Once reached Anmo (sometime little further) we will began our trek to Phuktal.

PHUKTAL GOMPA: The Phuktal monastery was rebuilt in 10th cent. The majestic monastery which is roofed by rock was later converted in to a proper monastery by a great Tibetan monk called Changsem Sherap Zangpo. Great place to practice meditation. There are normally about 80 monks residing in the monastery. Night at home-stay at Purney.

Trek back to Anmo and drive back to Rangdum via same route.

After early morning breakfast and drive back to Kargil via same route.

Proceed to Leh. Enroute visit Mulbek (known for its huge Buddha Statue) and Lamayuru
monastery (10500 ft asl the oldest monastery in Ladakh). Enroute pass the confluence of Indus – Zanskar Rivers and the effects of Magnetic Hill (defiance of the law of gravity). Visit Gurudwara Patthar Sahib and reach Leh in the evening.

LAMAYURU MONASTERY: 11th century monastery, one of the earliest seats of Lamaistic learning and most picturesque monastery in Ladakh. The oldest monastery of Ladakh. The Lamayuru “Yungdrung” Gompa is remarkably built on a rock around 125 kms west of Leh on the Leh-Srinagar highway. It belongs to the Dringungpa order of Tibetan Buddhism. The history of the monastery begins with the visit of Arahat Nimagung to this place, when there was merely a lake here. It is said that Arahat made a prophecy that a monastery will come up at this spot and he made offerings (prayer with grains of corn) to the Nag serpent spirits. The corns mixed with the earth and formed in the shape of Swastika (Yungdrung), later it came to be known as Yungdrung Monastery. The Great translator Rinchen Zangpo constructed a temple here in the 11th century. Naropa also visited Lamayuru and meditated here. Gelukpa or Kadampa school of Tibetan Buddhism initially looked after Lamayuru but later it was taken over by Dringungpa order. Its monastic festival is called Yuru Khabgyat, takes place on 17th and 18th of 5th month of the Tibetan Calendar.

Fly back to Delhi and fly back home or connect your program…

Services:

  • 09 nights’ accommodation in Standard/deluxe (or as requested) room at specified hotels or as mentioned in the itinerary,
  • Stay on MAP basis with breakfast only and dinner (only breakfast or BB in Delhi)
  • Transportation by NAC Quails/Tavera/Scorpio/Innova (as per availability) for sightseeing as per the itinerary and bottle of mineral water per person per day.
  • Miscellaneous charges are inclusive: Ladakh Royalty fee, portage as hotel and airport, all applicable luxury/road taxes,
  • Airfares Delhi to Leh (& on the return by Volov bus from Manali,

Extras:

  • Any monastery entrance fees, Any Joy ride or rafting.
  • Medical expenses (apart from first aid) and insurance of any kind.
  • Tips, laundry, liquors, wines, mineral water, telephone charges, camera fee and items of personal nature.
  • Transportation is not on disposal basis. It is strictly as per the program, any extra running will be charges extra.
  • Any expenses arising out of unforeseen circumstances like flight delay/cancellation/hike in fare, strike or any other natural calamities or any emergency evacuation expenses.
  • Any other item not mentioned in the cost includes section.
11% Off
From $ 2,200 $ 1,950
/ Person