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 POINT

END POINT

DIST. TIME ASL

DAY 1 LEH AIRPORT LEH DRIVE 5KM

15M 3500M

DAY 2 LEH LEH DRIVE 30 KM

5HRS 3500M

DAY 3 LEH KARGIL DRIVE 90 KM

6HRS 3200M

DAY 4 KARGIL RANGDUM DRIVE 130 KM

9HRS 4000M

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DAY 5 RANGDUM REMALA DRIVE 90 KM

6HRS 3600M

DAY 6 REMALA KARSHA GOMPA RAFT 30KM

5HRS 3496M/CLASS II

DAY 7 KARSHA GOMPA HONYO / PIDMO

25KM 4HRS 3361M CLASS III

DAY 8 HONYO / PIDMO

NYERAK 25KM 4HRS 3286M/CLASS III +

DAY 9 NYERAK NYERAK REST - -

DAY 10 NYERAK LAMAGURU 35KM 6HRS 3190M/CLASS IV

DAY 11 LAMAGURU NIMU & LEH

RAFT40KM DRIVE 35KM

4HRSDRIVE 1HR

3150M/CLASS IV

DAY 12 LEH LEH AIRPORT DRIVE 5 KMS

15M TRIP 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

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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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