Trekking in Ladakh

In the last few years we have seen an incredible rise in adventure travel all in India.  With better accessibility to these isolated frontiers, increase in spending power of the 25-35 age group and affordable outdoor gear & equipment, more and more are now heading to the mountains for the vacations. Ladakh is unquestionably an adventure land of India with its vast highlands, stunning lakes and amazing walking trails and peaks. ‘The Land of High Passes’ is a definite on any adventure seeker’s bucket list. But the question always arises when you’re starting out on your Ladakh adventure, which trek to do first? So here we jot down some treks and non-technical climbs which you can use as something of a ladder. This will list a few treks with the first one the easiest and the last the toughest of the lot. 

Note: Please keep in mind that as Leh is situated at 3500m. We suggest that at least 2 days are kept aside to acclimatize at that altitude before heading out for any outdoor activity. All these are high altitude treks and require a certain level of fitness to make the holiday enjoyable. An easy to moderate trek requires a month of cardio, core and breathing exercises. You should train for at least 2-3 months before going on a tough trek or attempting to climb a high altitude peak.

 

a. Lamayuru to Chilling

This is a fantastic introductory trek to start of your adventure in Ladakh. This  offbeat  trail starts off in the moon landscape of Lamayuru Monastery and ends at the confluence of Indus and Zanskar at Chilling. Opt for this moderate trek to enjoy the basic luxuries while you trek in remote mountains. Your guides will assist you as you walk through the moon landscape, monasteries and quaint villages on this ancient trade route. It will include your personal chef and kitchen team, mess tent and private group toilet. Client tents are big enough for you to stand in and give you ample space and comfort while camping above 4000m. Be warned, you still have to walk at least 4-5 hours a day, so a good fitness level will surely help you.

Challenge: Trekking in 4500m+ altitude

Highest point: 4820m

Trekking days: 5-6

Grade : Easy

b. Markha Valley trek

Markha Valley trek is one of the most popular trails in Ladakh as you can stay in home stays in villages that dot the valley. There are a couple of different entry points to the valley depending on the number of days that you have and how difficult you want to it to be. You could start the trek at Chilling which means that the only high pass you will have to cross is Kongmoru La (5260m) at the end of the trek. But you could start the trek at Zingchen and also add Ganda La (4900m) which has a pretty steep ascent.  Whichever trail you choose, Markha Valley trek, with its colorful mountains and quaint villages, is a fantastic trek and not to be missed. 

Challenge : Cross your first 5000m+ pass

Highest point: Kongmoru La (5260m)

Trekking days: 6-7

Grade : Moderate

c.  Phyang to Hunder

While at Ladakh, this is another trek we swear by, and everyone must try at least once! Ladakh is well-known for its cold arid desert landscape, but what if we told you it has sand dunes as well? Yes, Nubra Valley, nestled on the banks of Shyok River, is home to some magnificent silver sand dunes and Bactrian camels!  But instead of going there by road, we suggest you trek to Nubra from Leh. This voyage, starting at Phyang, will take you to the high pass of Lasermo La (5400m) which is infamous for its unpredictable weather, offering unmatched views of the snow-capped Karakoram range, ending with a walk through the sand dunes. A phenomenal experience! You can also visit monasteries in Phyang and Diskit before and after the trek respectivley. Do keep in mind that it is a tiring trek, and you will need to get acclimatized to the thin air of Ladakh. But nothing that determination, preparation and some ‘getting used to’ can’t conquer. 

Challenge: Tough 5000m+ pass with unpredictable weather

Highest point: Lasermo La (5400m)

Trekking days: 5-6

Grade : Moderate 

d.  Rumtse to Tso moriri

We now get down to the big treks in Ladakh now and nothing is more stunning and challenging than the Rumtse to Tsomoriri trek. This challenging trek on the Changthang plateau has you trekking to the two most stunning lakes in Ladakh, Tso kar and Tso Moriri. The views of these lakes on the trail cannot be had from anywhere else. Simply incredible!! However, to do this trek you do have to cross 7 high passes in just more than a week with four of them 5000m+ in altitude. There are 2 days where you will have to cross two 5000m+ passes in one day! An absolute challenge!! The long duration of the trek also makes it a very difficult trek. But with proper planning, experience and training, this trek is a fantastic option for experienced trekkers who want to challenge their limits. 

Challenge: Cross multiple 5000m+ passes in a day

Highest point: Yalung Naula Pass (5400m)

Trekking days: 7-8

Grade: Challenging

e.  Kang Yatse II Climb (6250m) or Mentok Kangri II climb (6210m)

Now that you have crossed multiple 5000m+ high passes and have done a long trek. Well done!! You are now an experienced trekker i.e you are comfortable sleeping in a tent and sleeping bag at below 0 temperatures and have the endurance to challenge yourself to more. It is then time to challenge yourself to climbing a 6000m+ peak! And no, we will not recommend Stok Kangri (6150m) as it just very  over crowded now with the basecamp running out of water and people jostling for space to pitch their tents. Kang Yatse, the throne shaped mountain is revered as the protector of the Markha valley. Its highest summit is at 6400m which is a technical climb but it’s second summit (6250m) is a non-technical climb. The acclimatizing walk through Markha Valley is amazing and gives you ample time to get ready for the challenge. Second option but equally challenging is the Mentok Kangri II climb overlooking Tso moriri in Karzok. The short way to do this is to drive to Karzok, the settlement on the banks of Tso moriri, from Leh and then trek up to the basecamp at 5300m from there. However, this will not give you ample time to acclimatize and severely reduces your chances of summiting. We, therefore, would advise you to start the acclimatization trek from Tso kar as that will make you cross multiple 5000m+ passes helping you acclimatize better and ready for the summit attempt. The views from the top of Mentok kangri II are stunning!! You get a bird’s eye view of Tso moriri and other high peaks in Tibet.  

Challenge: Attempt a 6000m+ peak

Highest point: Kang Yatse II(6250m) or Mentok Kangri II (6210m)

Trekking days: 8-9

Grade: Tough