Different in August and September
Each person travels to Leh, the capital of Ladakh, from a different place of origin. The journey begins with your arrival at Leh airport. From there, transfer to Soma Resort in Stock where we commence a Meditation and Silence Retreat.
There will be someone waiting for you on arrival at Leh airport for your transfer to the Resort where we do the Silent Retreat.
In case you decide to arrive before our journey begins, I will arrange hotel booking, pick-up and transfer from the airport.
AUGUST 2024
From 10 to 24 August, both days inclusive.
Day 10-11: Meditation and Silence Retreat at Soma Resort, Stock.
Day 12: By minibus we move to the Sham Valley. We continue in silence. Walk about 2 hours from Yantang to Hemischupachan where we stay in a ladakhi house, sharing with local life.
Day 13: We walk for about 5 hours to cross the spectacular landscape that separates Hemischupachan from Tymosgang. We stay at the beautiful Namra Hotel, delicately designed in Ladakhi style with attention to detail in every corner. We visit the spectacular Tymosgang Monastery and enjoy the breathtaking views in the natural light of the sunset.
Day 14: By minibus we descend the canyon that separates Tymosgang from the Indus Valley. We drive to Photoksar, trekking entrance to the Zanskar Valley. A spectacular beautiful trek. At Photoksar our trekking team awaits us with the camp already set up at the foot of a glacier in a natural environment of amazing mountainous forms that take your breath away as you experience yourself immersed in such beauty.
Day 15 to 18: Trekking. Crossing valleys and mountain passes we reach Padum, the capital of the Zanskar Valley. During these days of trekking, we move through pure nature, pass through small authentic Ladakhi villages, camp in the middle of breathtaking mountains, immersed in beauty.
We are accompanied by a team of people from villages in the Zanskar Valley who prepare the camp every day, our wonderful cook delights us with nutritious and tasty food prepared with love.
The horses carry all the equipment and our luggage. We walk with a small backpack with water, nuts and lunch. This makes it easy to enjoy the surroundings and the route.
Day 18: We arrive in Padum for lunch. Padum is a small capital town in the Zanskar Valley where Ladakhi, Tibetan Buddhist, and Muslim societies coexist. We stay at the beautiful and comfortable Omanzila Hotel.
Day 19: From Padum we visit the spectacular monastery of Phuktal. Literally hanging from the steep mountain walls. Ancient monastery with active monastic life set in stunning natural surroundings. We spend the night in the monastery’s small guesthouse. We drive by minibus about two hours from Padum to Purne, from here we walk about 2.5 hours to Phuktal. A beautiful drive.
Day 20: Phuktal to Padum. Arrival around noon. Overnight at Omanzila Hotel.
Day 21: Padum to Suru Valley. Spectacular drive by minibus. Landscape of extraordinary beauty. We stop to contemplate the impressive view of the glacier at the Penzi-la pass, where the glacier tongue reaches the road we are driving on. After crossing the Penzi-la we enter the Muslim-populated Suru Valley. We stop at the foot of the Nun and Kun glaciers, two peaks over 7000m high. The view of Kun from the small village of Panikar, where we stop for tea, is impressive. We stay on the banks of the mighty Suru River at the beautiful eco hotel Ashuna where we can enjoy exquisite food.
Day 22: Kargil to Lamayuru. We stop for breakfast in the populous Muslim town of Kargil to visit its bustling bazaar. Before reaching Lamayuru we make a detour into the steep canyon that leads to the small authentic Ladakhi village of Kanchi, located in a stunning natural setting, a walk of about 3 hours. In Lamayuru we stay at the Dragon guest house. Lamayuru is a small village with one of the most important monasteries in Ladakh, located in a unique natural environment of extraordinary beauty.
Day 23: Lamayuru to Leh via the mythical Indus Valley. We stop to visit Alchi Monastery, the oldest monastery in Ladakh. In Leh we stay at Lardakh Homestay, a beautiful and familiar guesthouse, very clean, where they make us feel at home, with views of the mountains that border the Indus Valley.
Day 24: Farewell and end of the wonderful trip. Flight from Leh to Delhi for the international flight.
SEPTEMBER 2024
From 7 to 21 September. We do a completely different route to the one we did in August, while maintaining the same philosophy of the trip. In this case we go into the Hemis National Park and from there to the Chumatang area where the nomadic people graze with their large herds of yaks and goats. The journey begins again with your arrival at Leh airport. From there transfer to Soma Resort in Stock where we begin a Meditation and Silent Retreat.
Day 7-8: Pick up from Leh airport and transfer to the Resort where we do the Silent Retreat.
Day 9: By minibus and maintaining silence, through the Indus Valley, we move to the Sham Valley. From the small village of Yantang we walk about two hours to Hemischupachan where we stay in an authentic Ladakhi house, sharing and enjoying the hospitality that characterises these people. It will be our first contact with walking in these mountains and at this altitude. This small village is located in a spectacular natural environment.
Day 10: From Hemischupachan we walk for about 5 hours to Tymosgang. This first part of the trip coincides with the August trip. We have a beautiful hike with spectacular views of the high mountains bordering the Indus Valley. We stay at Nimra Hotel. Very beautiful and delicately decorated with traditional Ladakhi and Buddhist motifs. We visit the impressive monastery from where we enjoy the wonderful views at sunset.
Day 11: By minibus we descend from Tymosgang to the Indus Valley towards Alchi where we visit the oldest monastery in Ladakh. Following the Zanskar River, we pass through the beautiful setting of Chilling and turn off towards the Markha Valley where our trek begins. We stay in a beautiful and comfortable Ladakhi house in Sara.
Day 12 to 16: This low-difficulty trek crosses a beautiful protected wilderness area and ascends the wide Markha riverbed. We pass through small villages with authentic Ladakhi rural life, monasteries and the remains of ancient castles that remind us of villages from the movie “Lord of the Rings”. Each day we walk for 4 to 8 hours, slowly, stopping each one at his own pace, bathing in the crystal clear melt water, dissolving in this pure nature of extraordinary beauty. From Sara to Markha, Hankar, Nimaling, Sumdo and on to Lato.
On the first day in Markha we visited the small monastery and the ruins of the castle. On the second day in Hankar, we visit Techa Gompa, built on a cliff at the foot of Umlung village. On the third day we ascend to Nimaling where we will meet people from the nearby villages grazing with their cattle. On the fourth day we make our way over Chaksang Pass and Puzze La to Sheul Sumdo base camp, from the pass we will enjoy spectacular views of the Kang Yatse glacier and the peaks of Karekorum. On the fifth and last day of trekking we have an easy walk down the river to the beautiful village of Lato where we spend the night in a Ladakhi house and enjoy the rest and beauty of the place.
Day 17: In our minibus we take a beautiful 3 hour drive to Lake Tsokar, called the white lake, where we spend the night in one of the few guesthouses in the area.
Day 18: We drive about 4 hours to Mahe where we visit the famous monastery and nunnery. From Tsokar we drive over the Polokongka mountain pass and stop at the hot springs of Puga. Overnight in Mahe.
Day 19: From Mahe we drive about 4 hours to Hanle. We start our journey on dirt roads into the wilderness areas of the Tibetan plateau where we visit the unexplored Kung and Ting Tso lakes.
Day 20: We drive about 7 hours to Leh passing and stopping at the hot springs of Chumatang. Near Leh we visit the impressive and famous Thycsey Monastery. We stay in Leh at Lardakh Guest House and The Nangsay Hotel.
Day 21: Farewell and end of the wonderful journey. Flight from Leh to Delhi to connect with the international flight.