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Day 01 : Arrival
Leh
Meeting and assistance upon arrival thereafter transfer
from airport to hotel. Day free for acclimatization.
Leh
City : The capital of Ladakh, at one time was a major stop on
the Asian "Silk Route". A stroll along the main bazar,
observing the varied crowd and peering into the curio shops, is an
entrancing experience. Chang Gali, behind the main bazaar is less
bustling but has intriguing little shops selling curios and jewelry
like pearls, turquoise, coral, malachite, lapis and many other kinds
of semi-precious stones, as well as curiously carved Yak-horn boxes,
quaint brass locks, china or metal bowls etc. Dinner and overnight
in hotel.
Day 02 : Drive Leh -
Kargil (180Kms / 8-9 Hrs)
We drive from Leh to Kargil, ( 180
kms) through a spectacular moonscape. We drive over the Fotu La
(14,000-ft), a high mountain pass, exiting the Indus valley and
entering the Suru valley. Enroute, we visit the Lamayuru and Ridzong
Monasteries. Packed lunch enroute.
Lamayuru Monastery: This
photogenic monastery is a major landmark on the old silk route.
Legend behind this monastery is that a lake, which was drained by
the sage Naropa, to permit the foundation of the monastery, once
filled Lamayuru village. The monastery belongs to the old Tibetan
schools the Kargyupa / Drukpa School
Rizong : At
Rizong there is a gompa and a nunnery. From the road it is a 3km
trek to the gompa. Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel.
Day
03 : Drive Kargil - Rangdum (12,000FT)(105Kms / 7-8Hrs)
A
spectacular drive past Panikar and Parkachik, with magnificent views
of the Nun and Kun massifs (7000 metres), hanging glaciers and large
meadows. Overnight tented camp.
Day 04
: Randum - Remala (95Kms / 6Hrs)
We drive over the Pensi
La (14,500 ft), which enables grand views of the Zanskar peaks at
the bottom of which is the Drung Durung glacier that feeds the
Zanskar river, 40 km below, into which we flow trip the next day.
Overnight in tented camp.
Day 05 :
Remala - Karsha
Rafting expedition begins at Remala.
Raft till Karsha Gompa, near Padum. We raft 30 km in 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. After settling into camp by afternoon, we take a
hike to Karsha Gompa for the evening incantation.
Day
06 : Karsha - Pidmu
After a late morning start, we
raft from Karsha up to Pidmu. This stretch is approximately 30 km
with Class II and III rapids. After settling into the camp by mid
afternoon, we visit the nearby villages of Pidmu and Hanomil.
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Day 07 :
Pidmu - NyeraK
After packing camp, we raft 20 km to
Nyerak, a Class III sections. The gorge narrows in on the river -
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
08 : Nyerak - Lamaguru
Today's 35 km rafting
section takes us from Nyerak to Lamaguru, through the core of the
Zanskar A classic white water day with continuous Class III rapids,
and a few Class IV rapid where the river squeezes between a gap of
about 18ft. We stop for lunch near a huge waterfall at the
confluence of Markha river with Zanskar. Rock formations, spires and
an amazing palette of colors add to the trip today. Camp at
Lamaguru.
Day 09 : Lamaguru -
Nimmu - Alchi - Leh
We raft 40 kms of Class III/IV white
water from Lamayuru to Nimmu today. Finish the trip at Nimmu and
drives to Leh 60 kms enroute visit Alchi.
Alchi
Monastery : 66 Km west of Leh, this monastery consists of six
temples, which contain chorten, seated Buddhas and exquisite
paintings. Over 10 centuries old, profusely painted walls depict the
events of the Buddha's life, lamas and musicians. Its murals, dating
from the 11th and 12th centuries, pre-date the Tibetan style of
painting that is present in all the other gompas. Some of them are
reminiscent of the paintings of the far-off Ajanta caves and are
presumed to be almost the sole survivors (along with some in Phuktal
Gompa in Zanskar and Tabo in Spiti) of the Buddhist style current in
Kashmir during the first millennium AD. Dinner and overnight stay at
Hotel Spic -n - Span.
Day 10 : Leh
- Delhi
After breakfast drive to airport on time to connect
flight for onward destination.
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