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1st Day : Hemis
Marteselang - Shang Sumdo (3850 m) in 4 h.
Today we leave the Indus valley. From Leh we drive to Hemis,
visit the gompa and then drive to Martselang and then to
Shang Sundo. We star to
trek up the valley, which is fairly narrow in some places, then continue
along the riverbed to Shang Sumdo.
2nd Day : Shang Sumdo - Latza
Kongmaru (4800 m) in 7 h. We progress along the river whose banks are punctuated
with ochre rocks. From Chukirmo village, the track leads into narrow gorges
where ponies need to be unloaded twice and go up to the base of Kongmaru La.
3rd Day : Latza Gongmaru -
Kongmaru La (5030 m) - Langtang Chu (4250 m) in 7 h. From the pass, there are
great views north towards eastern Korakoram and China, whilst the southern vista
is dominated by the shapely Kang Yatze (6400 m) and the Ladakhi range. We take a
ridge trail and descend zigzagging across scree. Afterwards the path easily
descends towards Nimaling summer pastures and Markha valley, the most beautiful
valley in Ladakh.
4th Day : Langtang Chu -
Yakrupal (4700 m) in 4 h. We climb up the large valley, and after crossing a
stream follow on along a morainic wall.
5th Day: Yakrupal - Zalung Karpo La (5200 m) - Sorra
(4200 m) in 5 h. We carry on upwards until the valley divides and take right.
From the pass, we follow a ridge trail leading to another pass, then plunge into
the valley.
6th Day : Sorra - Dat (4200 m)
in 5 h. We follow gorgeous woody gorges until they widen into a valley. Manis
and chortens are spread on the trail leading Sara and Dat
rivers. Dat is a green village, where cultivation and vegetation takes every
fragment of land.
7th Day : Dat - Yar La (5000
m) - Lungmo Che (4010 m) in 6 h. An easy climb takes us to the pass, where we
enjoy a dramatic vista over the Rupshu. Sometimes some "Khyangs", wild donkeys,
go up to the caravans, frightening our ponies.
8th Day : Lungmo Che - Sangtha
(4200 m) in 3 h. Then transfer by jeep to Sarchu. The landscape completely
changes into a vast arid plain. Tibetan nomads mainly populate the area. The
road to Sarchu winds its way up to the Lachlung La pass (5060 m).
9th Day : Drive from Sarchu - Manali (2000 m) by jeep. This journey is
rewarded by magnificent landscapes. The road goes through amazing switch back
roads, pass the blue Suraj Tal lake to Darcha and pass through Rohtang Pass
(3954m) the last pass of this journey. The landscape is breathtaking. Rohtang
Pass is a very wide pass, and is one of the most beautiful passes in the Pir
Panjal. The view on both sides is exhilarating.
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