Zanskar River Rafting
Duration : 10 Days / 09 Nights
Destinations : Leh - Kargil - Rangdum - Remala - Karsha - Pidmu - Nyerak - Lamaguru – Nimmu - Alchi - Leh - Delhi
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.
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.