KHARNAK VALLEY


A trek that takes you through parts of both the stark Markha valley and the high Changthang plateau that stretches into Tibet. You get to see the high mountains of the Ladakh range as well as the flats of the plateau, all in 10 days.

SEASON: July - September

MAX. ALTITUDE: 5200m

NUMBER OF DAYS: 9 days

HIGH PASSES: Kongmaru La (5200m), Zalung Karpo La (5200m), Yar La (4950m)

TREK GRADIENT: Moderately Challenging

Day 01: Participants arrive in Leh.

Day 02: Leh - Shang Sumdo by road
Duration: 2 hours

Day 03: Shang Sumdo (3700m) - Lartsa (4600m)
Duration: 5 hours

Today's trek is a steady climb through a gorge. A few river crossings later you will arrive at the camp at Lartse.

Day 04: Lartsa (4600m) - Thachungtse (4250m) via Kongmaru La (5200m)
Duration: 7 hours

A steep ascent takes you to the pass from where you get views of the Zanskar and Karakoram ranges. The descent on the other side is more gradual before you arrive at the summer pasture of Nimaling. The camp is further down the valley on the banks of Markha river.

Day 05: Thachungtse - Yakrupal (4200m)
Duration: 6 hours

This is an easy day but an early start is recommended since the Langthung Chu river has to be crossed several times. As the sun goes higher, the water level in the river increases and it gets more dangerous. The path is through the remote Langthung valley that branches away from Marka.

Day 06: Yakrupal - Jalung Karpo La (5150m) - Khar
Duration: 6 hours

A short ascent brings you to Jalung Karpo La (5150) from where you get breathtaking views of the Zanskar range on one side and the wide Changthang plateau on the other which extends into Tibet and is the home of the nomadic Changa people. Once you descend from the pass, you will need to cross a few rivers before you arrive at the campsite of Khar.

Day 07: Khar - Dat (4200m)
Duration: 6 hours

It's an easy day today on relatively flat open ground to the village of Dat. On the way look out for rare sightings of golden eagle and blue sheep.

Day 08: Dat - Yar La (4950m) - Lungmo Che (4550m)
Duration: 6 hours

More walking on the open plains of Changthang will lead to a short ascent to Yar La. The descent from the pass takes you to the pastures of Lungmo Che.

Day 09: Lungmo Che - Zara
Duration: 6 hours

The flat, easy trail continues towards nomadic settlements at Yagang and Zara from where a vehicle will pick you up and drop you back at Leh.

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