Day 1:
Early morning flight to Leh. Day free for rest and acclimatization.
Day 2: Tour of Leh city, including the 17th century palace and
gompa.
Day 3 - 4: Touring the monasteries and palaces of the Indus
valley.
Day 5: Travel by jeep to Lamayuru gompa, a site that abounds in
myth and legend. Overnight in the village.
Day 6: Begin trek! Cross the Prinkiti La (~3700 metres) to the
village of Wanlah, where there is a beautiful ancient gompa. A short
day.
Day 7: Continue through awesome gorge country to pastures
beyond the village of Hinju.
Day 8: Cross the 4900 metre Konzke La for a spectacular view
before descending to pastures just above the village of Sumda Chenmo.
Day 9: Pass through Sumda Chenmo, which actually has two gompas:
One is active, while the other lies in ruins below the village. Camp
in the valley near the river.
Day 10: Rest day, with an optional side trip to Sumda Choon,
whose ancient and rarely visited gompa houses remarkable artistic
treasures.
Day 11: Continue upwards to the beautiful meadow of Lanak. In
the evenings, we have often spotted Bharal, the rare and elusive blue
sheep, on the nearby cliffs.
Day
12: Today's climb to Dundunchen La (4800 metres) is strenuous, a
stunning view encompassing the Stok and Zanskar ranges. Finish our
trek with a long descent into Chiling, before boarding the rafts on
the Zanskar river. Ride the river to its confluence with the Indus at
Nimu, then board jeeps for the trip to Alchi. Overnight at Alchi
village.
Day 13: In Alchi, we tour the remarkably well-preserved 11th
-century gompa and the famed frescoes within. In the afternoon, we
return by jeep to Leh for a well-deserved rest.
Day 14: Day free in Leh.
Day 15: Morning flight to Delhi. Brief exploration of India's
capitol.
Day 16: Depart-Delhi, Transfer to airport for flight to Onwards
journey.
