Grand Traverse of the Indian Himalaya

Arrive Delhi

Upon arrival in Delhi, you will be met and escorted to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to relax after your journey or for independent exploration of the city.

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals: Breakfast

Fly Delhi to Leh (3500m)

Drive to the airport for an early flight over the Himalaya to Leh. If weather permits, arrive in Leh early. Spend the day relaxing and acclimatizing (11,485ft/3,500m). We take a rest in the morning and in the afternoon there will be a short orientation walk around Leh and its bazaars.

Accomodation: Hotel

Meals: Breakfast

In Leh

Today we have an acclimatization walk around the Leh Valley, allowing your body to adjust to the high altitude. Visit Sankar monastery, followed by the peaceful Shanti Stupa, offering breathtaking panoramic views of Leh town and the surrounding mountains. Continue to the old Royal Palace, a historic nine-storey structure overlooking the city, and conclude the walk with a visit to Tsemo Gompa, perched atop a hill with sweeping views of the Indus Valley.

Accomodation: Hotel

Meals: Breakfast

Trek Distance: 8 km / 4-5 hrs

Ascent: ↑ 200m

Descent: ↓ 200m

Drive up to the Khardung La (5380m) for views of Stok Kangri. Return to Leh (3524m)

Drive up to the Khardung La (5380 m) one of the world’s highest motorable road passes. This high pass in the mountains to the north of Leh leads into the Nubra Valley, which has until recently been closed to foreign visitors. The 2000 m climb to the pass provides panoramic views of the Zanskar Range beyond the Indus Valley, and towards the Karakoram of Pakistan.

Accomodation: Hotel

Meals: Breakfast

Distance: 75 km / 4 hrs drive

Drive to Rumtse & afternoon acclimatization walk (4218 m)

After breakfast, depart from Leh and drive towards Rumtse, a scenic journey of about 2.5 hours through the stark and beautiful landscapes of Ladakh. En route, visit the magnificent Shey palace, known for its giant copper-gilt statue of Shakyamuni Buddha, followed by the iconic Thiksey monastery, often compared to the Potala Palace for its impressive hilltop architecture and sweeping views of the Indus Valley. Continue to Rumtse, a traditional village and starting point for high-altitude treks.

Accomodation: Tents

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Distance: 77 km / 2-3 hrs drive

Trekking through riverside pastures to the base of the Kyamar La (4615 m)

Start your first day trek up the Kyamar Valley. We cross the river a couple of times but the walking today is fairly gentle as we gain height slowly. Our campsite is on a green grassy area – look out for marmots around the camp. The energetic can take an extra hike up a hill behind our campsite. This is an area much used by nomadic shepherds and we will get used to seeing their tented camps, surrounded by herds of sheep.

Accomodation: Tents

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Trek Distance: 12 km / 4-5 hrs

Ascent: ↑ 350m

Descent: ↓ 50m

Trek across the Kyamar La (5130 m) and the Mandalchan La (5216 m) to Tisaling (5046 m)

The day starts out with a gradual but quite tough climb to the Kyamar La (5130 m), which takes a little over 2 hours from camp. On the way we are likely to see hares, marmots and picas, as well as the elusive Himalayan blue sheep. There are spectacular views westwards to the Zanskar range of mountains and also, looking north and east, wide-ranging panoramas across the high plateau of the Chang Tang. We descend on grassy slopes for an hour to Tiri Doksa, a temporary shepherding settlement and then continue to a stream where we take lunch. After lunch, a trek of an hour or so takes us across the Mandalchan La (5216 m). We reach our camp at Tisaling (5046 m).

Accommodation: Tents

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Trek Distance: 14 km / 7-8 hrs

Ascent: ↑ 800m

Descent: ↓ 350m

Trek across the Thasang La (5300 m) to Phongponagu on the shores of Tso Kar Lake (4579 m)

We start the day with climb up to the Thasang La (5300 m). Excellent views of the lake of Tso Kar (White Lake) below us. We descend steadily and walk across level plains to Phongponagu (4579 m) close to the salt lake of Tso Kar. There should be time in the afternoon to explore the lake shore, with a good chance to see kyang (wild ass), marmots and great birdlife, such as bar-headed geese and Brahminy ducks on the lake. Tso Kar is a salt water lake and the nomads take this salt across to Tibet for trade.

Accommodation: Tents

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Trek Distance: 15 km / 7-8 hrs

Ascent: ↑ 300m

Decent: ↓ 750m

Trek along the lake shore and across the Chang Tang plains to Nuruchan (4694 m)

Today’s trek follows a well-defined trail along the shore of the lake and then across the open and quite arid Chang Tang plains to a beautiful campsite in the pastures of Nuruchan (4694m). There are usually several nomad camps in this area, with scattered tents, shepherds and their dogs and herds of livestock.

Accommodation: Tents

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Trek Distance: 16 km / 5-6 hrs

Ascent: ↑ 150m

Decent: ↓ 50m

Trek across the Nuruchan La (4750 m) to Rachungkaru (4952 m)

Continue your trek, we cross a stream and pass close to a mani wall, sculpted by the Chang Tang herders. We then hike up to the Nuruchan La (4750m), before descending easily to cross another stream and another low pass. In this area, the nomadic herdsmen that we meet are likely to be Tibetan, having been displaced here from the western part of that cross-border territory. We camp at Rachungkaru (4952m) amongst grazing yaks, sheep and pashmina goats. Afternoon at leisure.

Accommodation: Tents

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Trek Distance: 10 km / 4-5 hrs

Ascent: ↑ 350m

Decent: ↓120m

Trek across the Kyamaru La (5400m) and the Gyabarma La (5300m) to Gyabarma (5171m)

Today we cross 2 passes of above 5000 metres, it is a fairly long day . It takes us around 2 hours to reach the first of these, the Kyamaru La (5400m), where the views extend across a high-level landscape to numerous snow-capped peaks. After a short descent, we climb again to cross the Gyabarma La (5300m), beyond which we descend, cross a stream and reach our camping place in the pastures at Gyabarma (5171m). A wild and remote location.

Accommodation: Tents

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Trek Distance: 16 km / 8-9 hrs

Ascent: ↑ 700m

Decent: ↓ 450m

Trek across Yalung Naula Pass (5400m) with views of Tso Moriri Lake and descend to Korzok Dok (4632m)

Today we will enjoy sensational views of the stunning lake of Tso Moriri, as we reach the top of the Yalung Naula Pass (5400m). Some 20 kilometres long and surrounded by high, snow-capped peaks, Tso Moriri is one of the most beautiful lakes imaginable. The approach to the pass is straight forward, but quite long. We descend to Korzok Dok (4632m) on a zig zag path.

Accommodation: Tents

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Trek Distance: 18 km / 6-7 hrs

Ascent: ↑ 300m

Decent: ↓ 800m

Drive from Korzok – Leh

After breakfast, depart from Korzok, bidding farewell to the serene surroundings of Tso Moriri Lake. Drive back to Leh, passing through vast high-altitude plains, remote villages, and dramatic mountain landscapes that define the Changthang region. Enjoy the scenic journey with photo stops along the way. Arrive in Leh in the late afternoon and check in to your hotel for that welcome hot shower.

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals: Breakfast

Distance: 230 km / 6-7 hrs

Fly from Leh to Delhi

A memorable flight across the Himalayas and a dramatic end to our adventures in Ladakh.

(Please note – there is not much time to explore Leh at the end of the trip. If you would like additional days in Ladakh please let us know and we can arrange your flight and accommodation).

Accommodation. Hotel

Meals: Breakfast

Depart Delhi

Depart Delhi or extend your trip. Optional extensions include visiting the Taj Mahal or exploring more of Delhi. International flights should ideally depart after 14:00 for possible flight delays from Leh.

Meals: Breakfast