On arrival in Delhi you will be met by a representative and transferred to your hotel.

The remainder of the day is free to explore the sights and sounds of this great city, where cows walk freely through busy streets laden with rickshaws and old style cars, and sari clad ladies with bundles of shopping balanced on their heads pass by beggars and street peddlers all the time against a background noise of beeping horns and bicycle bells.

Due to the differing times of arrival of group members, a group briefing will not be held until tomorrow morning. Should you arrive earlier in the day we are happy to assist with any optional sightseeing.

A pre-trek briefing will be given where arrangements will be made for the distribution of your kit bag and sleeping bag. We will then undertake our sightseeing of Old and New Delhi, which will include the Red Fort and the Jama Masjid.

We take the early flight from Delhi to Leh in the Indus Valley. If the conditions are clear you will be rewarded with grand views across the Great Himalaya and Zanskar ranges before landing at the capital
of Ladakh, Leh. 

On our first day in Ladakh we spend time wandering the bazaar and imposing Leh Palace. We have the opportunity to visit the Victory Fort (above the Palace) built in the 17th century to commemorate Ladakh's independence from the invading armies from Baltistan and Kashmir. From the Palace we can also appreciate the alleyways that comprise the old town of Leh, located to the east of the main bazaar.

We include a sightseeing trip to Shey Palace, before visiting Tikse monastery. Shey Palace originally housed the Ladakh royal family before they moved to Leh in the 17th century. A few km up the Indus valley is the spectacular setting of Tikse monastery perched on the summit of a sugarloaf mountain. 

On return to Leh we have the opportunity to visit to the Shanti Stupa at Chanspa, as well as visiting the Ladakh Ecological Centre to appreciate how the Ladakhi people have been able to incorporate new technology into their traditional lifestyles.

The two-day festival at Hemis commemorates the Indian sage Padmasambhava who introduced Tantric Buddhism to this region of the Himalaya in the 8th century. The festival consists of an elaborate series of masked dances depicting the life of Padmasambhava and the moral victory of knowledge over ignorance etc.

Several hundred Ladakhi villagers from throughout the Indus Valley attend the festival. Besides its religious significance it is a time to renew acquaintances, visit the many stands and drink large quantities of butter tea and barley beer. In essence it is more of a medieval fair than a religious festival that reflects much of the contemporary cultural life of Ladakh. On both days we return to Leh for overnight accommodation.

We drive to Stakna village alongside the Indus River. It will not take long for our packhorses to be loaded before we set off on our trek. For the first two to three hours we head along a track to the north of the Indus before heading into a shady willow-lined gorge that marks our route to the tiny settlement of Jingchan (3380m).
 

From Jingchan we ascend a spectacular gorge to the village of Rumbak. The trail then crosses several tiny meadows to the tiny settlement of Yurutse. The peak of Stok Kangri looms above the stark mountainscape. Our campsite (4300m) will be located in one of the many meadows just above the village and within striking distance of the Ganda La. That afternoon we undertake a short walk to further assist with acclimatisation.
 

Above our camp we gain views of the snow-capped Stok Range. After gradually ascending a series of switchbacks we make the final gradual ascent to the Ganda La (4920m). From the pass there a views south across the endless folds of the Zanskar Range and the snow capped summits of the main Himalaya Range before completing the gradual descent to the village of Shingo (4090 metres)

Below Shogdo the trail enters a narrow gorge where willow, poplar and rose bushes provide a natural canopy alongside the river course. The Skiu monastery (3380m) marks the confluence of the stream coming from Shingo and the Markha Valley. We then head up the valley to the settlement of Narding (3530m) and a comfortable, grassy campsite.

The trail gradually ascends the Markha Valley passing a few small settlements en route to Markha (3800m) the largest village in the valley. That afternoon we visit the derelict fort on the hillside and the village gompa just above the village.
 

Our trail crosses the Markha River twice to reach the village of Umlung. A few km beyond the village the valley widens and the imposing peak of Kangyaze (6400m) can be appreciated before reaching Hankar (3980m), the highest village in the Markha Valley.
 

From Hanker we divert from the main trail and commence our ascent across yak herders pastures to our camp at the base of the Zalung La (4500 metres).

From camp it is a gradual haul to the summit of the Zalung La (5050 metres). It is a windswept pass that affords impressive views of the peaks and jagged ridges of the Zanskar Range. From the pass it takes about three hours to reach a delightful grassy camp near to the abandoned encampment known as Sorro (4300 metres).

From Sorro we trek to the head of a nearby gorge. Anticipate a cold start to the day as this section necessitates two or three river crossings. We then enter a side gorge that we follow for three hours to the settlement of Dat. (4250 metres). During the summer the settlement is practically deserted as most of the villagers are grazing their yaks and goats on remote grazing pastures. The shepherds are known as Chang Pa and follow lifestyles similar to their counterparts in nearby western Tibet.
 

A long but spectacular drive that first winds across extensive grazing pastures before crossing the Leh to Manali highway to the secluded lake of Tso Kar. We then continue over two high passes to the lake at Tso Morari (4400 metres)
 

We spend two nights camping in the vicinity of the vast salt lakes of Tso Morari. Tiny patches of rich pastures extend to the lakes edge while gently rounded 6000m peaks provide an inspiring backdrop. 

Our campsite is also close to the monastery and settlement of Kursoc, one of the largest villages in this wild and remoter region. Kursoc is the headquarters of the Chang pa graziers who migrate in search of pastures for their animals for most of the year. Their yaks, sheep and goats provide them with meat, cheese and milk and wool including the famous pashmina wool, which is made into some of the world’s
finest shawls. Until the 1980’s the Chang pa also traded salt for barely grain with the villagers in the Zanskar valley.

During our day at Kursoc we undertake a day walk high above the shores of the lake gaining magnificent mountain vistas. Tso Morari is one of the few habitats of the black-necked crane, while Brahmini ducks and a host of other birdlife nests close to the lake. Other endangered species include the kiangs and the wild yak as well as the snow leopard that return to the shores of the lake at the margin of the seasons.

From Tso Morari we drive to the Indus Valley before completing the 4 to 5 hour drive back to Leh.

A rest day in Leh with time to explore the bazaar and complete shopping.

An early morning departure to board the one-hour flight from Leh to Delhi. On arrival in Delhi we will transfer to our hotel and the rest of the day is at leisure.

The trip concludes today and you will be transferred to the airport for your return flight.