Ladakh - An Introduction
Ladakh lies in the eastern half of the state of Jammu & Kashmir in the far north of India. It shares its borders with Pakistan, Chinaand Chinese occupied Tibet. It covers an area of approximately 60,000 sq. kms and the altitude ranges from 2600 meters to 7670 meters in elevation, making it the largest and highest district in India. Ladakh is sandwiched between two mountain systems – the Karakorams and the Himalayas. Ladakh can basically be divided into five geographical regions – Central Ladakh (the heartland of the Indus valley), Nubra (lying to the north of the Ladakh range), Rupshu (a dry, high altitude plateau lying in the south-east of Ladakh, Zanskar (one of the highest and coldest inhabited regions in the world) and western or Lower Ladakh (around Kargil).
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The rewarding Himalayan Panorama as seen from the flight to Leh or Srinagar, if you are lucky enough to get a window seat, make sure to check in early and demand a window seat!!!
| Ladakh really is a "Little Tibet" and it actually is situated on the Tibetan plateau. Ladakh has many Tibetan refugees who fled Tibet with the invasion from China. The daunting height of the Himalaya adds to its isolation, even today the main road routes to Ladakh remain closed for more than six months of each year. Until 1979, there were no regular civilian flights into Ladakh so from October to June the region was completely cut off. Today, it is full of amazing sights - strange gompas perched on soaring hilltops, dwarfed by snow capped mountains, the barren shattered looking landscapes splashed with small, brilliant patches of green and ancient palaces clinging to sheer rock walls. But most of all it is notable for its delightful people - friendly and immensely colourful.
THE ZANSKAR RIVER RAFTING EXPEDITION
Our yearly feature includes a drive from Srinagar in Kashmir to Phey the starting point of the expedition and starts off at one of the most surreal places on the planet. The trip begins with a flight over the Himalayas into Srinagar, unless you are one of the more adventurous ones to drive up to Srinagar in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. We then drive past the town of Kargil and travel south into the valley of Zanskar, one of the coldest inhabited 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.
Undoubtedly a classic, this journey is often reffered to as the trip of a lifetime by almost everyone undertaking it. Every year a handful of people, less than 50 in total every year participate in the Zanskar River Rafting Expedition, the river expedition with probably the highest put in point in the world at 11400 ft, you can be one of them in 2010. One in a billion...
Itinerary
Day 01 - Delhi - Srinagar - Flight - Fly from Delhi / Mumbai to Srinagar (1730 m).
Fly to Srinagar where we spend a night in a deluxe houseboat on the Dal Lake. Over a sumptuous dinner and a few drinks you get to meet your fellow expedition members, and we brief you on what to expect from the upcoming adventure.
Overnight in deluxe houseboat. Meals Included - Lunch. Dinner at your own choice of hotel or restaurant at your expense.
Day 02 – Leh - Drive from Srinagar to Kargil (3201 m / 10,500 ft, 220 km, 6 hours)
Today is the first leg of the drive to our rafting start point, where we drive 220 km. On the way you will pass through the alpine village of Sonmarg, the snow bound pass of Zoji La (11,575 ft) and the coldest inhabited place on earth Dras.
Arrive at the frontier town of Kargil where we check into a small but comfortable guest house for the night.
Overnight in guest house.
Meals Included - Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. Day 03 – Drive Kargil - Rangdum (12,000 ft) - Phey.
A spectacular drive past Panikar and Parkachik, a drive worth a thousand words and maybe even more, with magnificent views of the Nun and Kun massifs (7000 metres), hanging glaciers and large meadows. We drive all the way past the Suru valley uptill Rangdum Gompa (12,000 ft) and stop for a lunch break and then continue with our journey to Phey. 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 take a float trip on the first day of the expedition. Overnight tented camp.
Meals Included - Breakfast enroute, packed lunch and fresh cooked Dinner at the Phey Camp Site Day 04 – Rest Day at Phey
After a two day long drive a rest day is called for. To build up your energies, soak in the sun, acclimatize and to get ready for the challenging four days ahead of you. Ride a donkey, hike up to a hidden and ancient monastery, mingle with the local kids or simply do nothing.
Meals Included - Breakfast, fresh cooked lunch and fresh cooked Dinner at the Phey Camp Site Day 05 – Phey – Karsha - Jangla
After an early wakeup call and breakfast we pack up the camp and load our expedition gear on to the rafts. We start our rafting expedition at Phey (11,400 ft) probably the highest put in for a river expedition on the planet. We raft 30 km in 3-4 hours which includes a small break as we pass by the Karsha Gompa complex. Through out the day we are surrounded by 6000 metre high peaks. The River today is a Class II section, a good introduction for first timers as well as to the river in general. We negotiate a braided river which at times often splits in to as many as 10 channels with only one or two good enough for the rafts to cross. Settle into camp at Jangla by afternoon. Easy day to get used to the river, the altitude and hone our paddling skills
Meals Included - Breakfast, packed lunch and fresh cooked Dinner at the Jangla Camp Site Day 06 - Jangla - Nyerak
After packing camp, we raft 25 km to Nyerak (3286m; 10,780 ft; 3 hrs) a Class III section. 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.
Meals Included - Breakfast, lunch and Dinner Meals Included - Breakfast, packed lunch and fresh cooked Dinner at the Nyrek Camp Site
Day 07 –Nyerak - Chilling
Today’s 40 km rafting section takes us from Nyerak to Chilling (3190 m; 10,465 ft; 5-6 hrs including scout and lunch) 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 known as the GATE. We stop for lunch near a huge waterfall and continue to the confluence of Markha river with the Zanskar. Rock formations, spires and an amazing palette of colours add to the trip today. We stop for the day to pitch camp at Chilling village.
Meals Included - Breakfast, packed lunch and fresh cooked Dinner at the Chilling Camp Site
Day 08 – Chilling - Nimmo - Leh
We raft 35 kms of Class III/IV white water from Chilling to Nimmmo (3154 m; 10,345 ft; 3-4 hrs) 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 Nimmo. We end our trip at the confluence of the Zanskar with the Indus. Drive an hour back to Leh. Walk around the Bazaars of Leh in the evening. Overnight hotel.
Meals Included - Breakfast, lunch on arrival at Nimmo and Dinner at your own expense at your choice of restaurant at Leh Day 09 – Leh - Pangong Lake - Leh - Day visit
Early morning drive from Leh to Pangong Lake 145 kms – Pangong Lake is 62 kms in length and at a height of 4,220 m. The ethereal beauty of the lake lies in rich deep blue colour of its water. Only 25 percent of the lake is in India while the rest of it extends into China. Spend the day at pangyong lunch at a local restaurant and back to Leh by early evening.
Meals Included - Breakfast, lunch. Meals Included - Breakfast, lunch at Pangyong and Dinner at your own expense at your choice of restaurant at Leh
Day 10 – Leh - Delhi / Mumbai
Transfer to Leh airport. Fly Leh - Delhi.
Meals Included - No Note: Flights to Leh / Srinagar and back are extremely difficult to book during the season. We normally have an airline block which expires 45 days before the trip date. Should you wish to extend your stay in Leh, please put in a request at the time of booking.
CHECKLIST FOR ESSENTIAL PERSONAL ITEMS:
01. Warm Sleeping Bag (till 0'C or below at least)
02. Woolens / thermal underwear
03. Wind / rain proof jacket
04. Hiking / trekking shoes ; spare sandals
05. Woolen socks
06. Water Bottle
07. Flash Light and spare batteries - important
08. Sun Shade / Hat with Brim / woollen hat / gloves
| 09. Sunglasses
10. Sunscreen / Sun block
11. Vaseline / Lip Salve
12. Insect Repellent
13. Personal Toiletries - towels / soap etc.
14. Rucksack / duffel bag to carry your baggage
15. Daypack for camera, lunch, water bottle and jacket
16. Long trousers / long shirts / T-shirts etc.
| Program Cost - Rs. 65000/- per person
The Cost includes –
All transfers as mentioned in the itinerary
Accommodation on twin share basis in tents / rest houses / hotels
All camping and rafting expeditions logistics including kitchen staff, support staff and trip leader (River Runners with an experience of more than 16 years of running the rivers) and safety kayakers. The kayak to raft ratio is kept as close to 1:1.
All field and safety gear for the trip
Accommodations during the rafting expedition in two men high altitude tents and carry mats and sleeping bags.
All meals as mentioned in the detailed itinerary.
Price Does Not Include:
Any expenses of personal Nature. Monument Entrance fees.
Guide charges for sightseeing and monuments
All meals not covered in the program. Any thing not specifically mentioned under the head “Cost Includes”.
Health and Fitness Requirements - Participants must be in good health and good physical condition. It is vital that participants with medical problems make it know to us well before departure. If you should suffer from severe muscular, chest, heart or bronchial disorders or if you are severe asthmatic, have high blood pressure you are strongly advised against participating. This expedition takes place in a remote area where there is little to no access to medical services or hospital facilities for serious problems. Where necessary evacuation may be prolonged, difficult and expensive. Medical and evacuation expenses will be the responsibility of the participants.
Trip Leaders - Our Trip Leaders take their responsibilities very seriously and if a tour leaders believes in his/her judgement that you should not participate in part of the trip or not run a certain section / rapid of the river he / she may exclude you from that particular section of the trip. If during the trip the trip leader considers you should not participate further he/ she may direct you not to continue and you must follow their instructions.
Company Liability
It is in the nature of a holiday of this kind to be flexible. The day to day agenda and ultimate goal of the tour is taken as an aim and not as a contractual obligation. We shall not be responsible for the delays or alterations in the program or expenses incurred due to conflict, international or internal flight delay or cancellations, strikes, sickness, weather, landslides, war, vehicle problems, political closures and disputes. Participants will be required to bear the expenses arising out of such situations.
The booking is accepted on the understanding that you realize the potential risks and hazards that can be involved in holidays of this kind. Questrails, along with our associates/leaders/guides and any one else working in association with us can not be held responsible for any death, accident or mishap that may occur in connection with any part of, or services connected with the holiday.
The cost is for the entire package and there would be no refunds in case any part of the package is not availed.
The Company would not be liable to pay any kind of compensation arising because of any mishap, sickness, accident etc
Important Note - Our expeditions are for people who enjoy venturing into natural places, individual must be aware of the travel limitations and restrictions in this part of the world and the flexibility that goes along with it.
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