Day 01 Delhi (270 m) to Leh (3500m)
Arrive Leh Airport and transfer to hotel. Relax and acclimatize. Evening easy stroll in Leh market. Hotel, Leh
Day 02 Shey, Thiksay and Hemis
Local Monastic Tour of Shey, Thiksay and Hemis Monasteries. These some of the most interesting and popular religious sites in Ladakh and easily coverable on the second day without much stress of acclimatization.
Day 03 Leh to Zingchen to Rumbak Sumdo (4100 m) 3-4 hours
After having breakfast drive to Zingchen (1 hr) and trek up towards Rumbak through the ascending narrow gorge. The trek is short but every 3-5 steps you gain a meter of height and hence quite tiring. The valley opens up to three wider valleys at Rumbak Sumdo . Evening one could visit the Rumbak village to the east of the camping site. Camp at Rumbak Sumdo.
Day 04 Rumbak Sumdo to Base Gandala Pass (4500 m)
After breakfast trek to Ganda La Base Camp via Yurutsey. Good area for spotting wildlife and high altitude birds. If you are lucky you might spot Blue-sheep, Himalayan Snowcock, Tibetan Patridge, Wooly Hare, Marmot, Red Forx, Tibetan Wolf, Eurasian Lynx and Snow Leopard. Camp at Gandala Base Camp.
Day 05 Gandala Base to Syu (3500 m) via Gandala Pass (4900 m)
Trek across Gandala Pass, via Shingo and enter the Markha Valley. Enjoy spectacular view of Zangskar Rage from the Pass. Camp Skyu.
Day 06 Skyu to Markha (3700m)
The trail to Markha is not too strenuous, rising about 300m across 22km, crossing the Markha rivulet a couple of times. Markha is a substantial village, complete with a derelict fort on the hillside and a small village, complete with a derelict fort on the hill side and a small village monastery. Overnight camp.
Day 07 Trek Markha to Thachungtsey (4150m)
Kang Yatse (6400m), a magnificent snow-clad mountain commands the views for the next two days. A popular place to spot herds of blue sheep slide up and down the steep cliffs with incredible agility. Overnight Camp.
Day 08 Trek Thachungtse to Nimaling (4720m)
You pass several main (stones with prayer inscriptions) walls and suddenly come across a small lake. The view is wonderful from here – both of Kang Yatse, whose bulk gets reflected in the still waters of the lake, and also of the Markha Valley which we are now well above. Overnight camp.
Day 09 Trek Nimaling to Shang Sumdo(3660m) over the Kongmaru La (5130m)
As we climb the last short but steep slope to the top there are good views over the Zanskar range and of the vertical ice walls on the north face of Kang Yatse. The trail eases out to reach the river bed at Shang Sumdo. Overnight Camp.
Day 10 Drive Shang Sumdo to Leh
Get into vehicles to go to Hemis monastery (optional) or continue directly to Leh. Afternoon in Leh market for shopping for souvenirs from Leh. Overnight hotel in Leh.
Day 11- Fly Leh- Delhi
Early morning transfer to airport for Leh-Delhi flight.
