Sersank La & Poat La Trek

Trip Details

  • Trip Type: Trekking

  • Region: Pangi and Zanskar

  • Grade: Challenging

  • Duration: 12 days

  • Max Altitude: 5130m

  • Batch Dates: Custom Trips only

Sersank La & Poat La Trek Overview

The Sersank La - also called the Shiv Shankar Pass is a 5130m high pass that connects the Pangi Valley to the Dharlang valley. The pass was once used frequently by the Bhot community of Sural to trade salt and other items with Zanskar but the trail now is rarely used.

 

The trek begins from Bhatori in the Sural valley, a subsidiary valley in Pangi near Killar. The trek takes you along the Sural Nallah and in the shadow of the Sersank peak to reach the steep glaciated terrain of Sersank La. We descend from the pass to reach the rarely visited Darlang valley. The Poat La connects the Darlang valley to Zanskar. We cross through the Sapphire and Emerald mines of King Zorawar Singh and eventually after crossing the pass end the trek at the town of Padum in the Zanskar Valley.

Trip Cost

This is a custom departure tour and so please write to us for prices and more info on this trek. 

Email
Trekking in India

Sersank La & Poat La Trek Detailed Itinerary

Day 01: Manali
Arrive in Manali in the morning and check into your hotel. Walk around town and orient yourself to your surroundings. Final gear check and prepare for the climb ahead. Overnight in a hotel.

 

Day 02: Manali -  Killar
Duration: 10 hours
We leave Manali early in the morning over the Rohtang Pass and pass Udaipur town and drive onward to reach Kishtwar in the remote  Pangi Valley.

 

Day 03: Killar - Bhatori - Tiaso

Duration: 6 hours

We drive from Killar into the Sural valley and drive along the Sural Nalla to reach our roadhead at Bhatori. From here, we start our trek to reach the meadows at Tiaso.

 

Day 04: Tiaso - Sersank Base

Duration: 7 hours

We continue following the Sural Nalla today and get great views of the Shiv Shankar Peak throughout the day. We leave vegetation behind during the day and high alpine terrain to reach the rocky base of Sersank La.

 

Day 05: Sersank Base

We spend the day acclimatising and preparing for the pass crossing the next day.

 

Day 06: Sersank Base - Sersank La (5130m) - Darlang Camp 1

Duration: 9 hours

A long day today. We leave for the pass and make our way through steep mixed rock and snow terrain. We reach the rocky pass to view the expansive peaks of Kishtwar and Zanskar. Make our wat down through the steep, crevassed terrain to reach the moraine on the Darlang Glacier  and set up camp.

 

Day 07: Darlang nulla Camp 1 to Chomochoir Camp (4100 m)

Duration: 7 hours

We set off across the Darlang Glacier to reach the base camp of Chomochoir peak.

 

Day 08: Chomochoir Camp to Darlang Camp Below the Pass (4800 m)

Duration: 8 hours

Another day of walking over the Darlang Glacier gets us to the base of the Poat La. 

 

Day 09: Darlang Camp Below the Pass - Cross Poat-la and camp across the pass on the other side at Camp 3.

Duration: 9- 10 hours

Another long day. We climb to the top of Poat La and descend to enter the Zanskar Valley. 

 

Day 10: Camp  3 to Sumdo/ Bardan Gompa.

Duration: 8 - 9 hours

Make our way through the heart of the Zanskar valley to reach the Bardan Gompa. 

 

Day 11: Drive back to Padum.

Duration: 3 - 4 hours

Our cars pick us up and drive us to Padum. 

 

Day 12: Return back to Leh/ Srinagar.

  • Camping Tents, Kitchen tents, Sleeping bags (Holofill) and Carry mats.
  • Nutritious, high-calorie vegetarian food will be served for the whole trek.
  • Guide, cook and camp helpers.
  • Porters/ Horses to carry loads on the whole route.
  • Participants are not expected to carry any loads other than a small daypack with a camera, some trail layers and some trail food.
  • Two people will be accommodated in one tent.
  • Transport Manali hotel to Road Head and back.
  • Hotel accommodations in Manali for 1 day before the trek.
  • All expenses of personal nature like drinks, tips, telephone calls, mineral water etc.
  • Food in Manali
  • Accommodation in Leh/Srinagar on return.
  • Medical and evacuation expenses, we strongly recommend purchasing a suitable insurance cover.

Pack:
- Backpack 40 - 50 Lts with rain cover.This you will need in case you choose to offload your larger pack onto a horse/porter
- Day Pack 15 - 20 lts - You will use this to carry your camera, water bottle, Trail layers, trail food etc.
Footwear:
-Trekking Shoes: Please do not wear sports shoes as on most treks as we go higher it gets harder to use the sports shoes. We recommend shoes with a good hard sole and also ankle support preferable water proof. While we do not subscribe to any particular brand you can try the Quechua forclaz 100, 500 or 600.
Socks:
- 2 -3 pairs of cotton socks.
- 2 pairs of woolen socks ( these are ideal to sleep in and best to use when in camp. We do not recommend them while trekking).
Clothing:
- Pants: 3 pairs (including the ones you wear) - Ideal are the quick dry light weight synthetic pants. Alternatively track pants are also comfortable to trek in. We do not recommend you get Denims or Jeans as they get hard to trek in.
- Tshirts 3 pairs (including the ones you are wearing) - Preferable cotton t-shirts that are full sleeves. You can also choose to get T-shirts with collars, they offer extra protection for the neck from sun burns.
- Synthetic Fleece Jacket - 1 pair.
- Wind proof/ Water proof Jacket - 1 pair.
- Down filled / Hollow fiber fill insulated Jacket - 1 -pair ( optional - get this if you want to stay extra warm at camps.)
- Thermal liners - 1 pair upper and lower (optional).
Accessories:
- Raincoat/ Poncho - what ever you get make sure it is something that will cover your daypack and camera too.
- Warm Beanie - make sure it is something that covers your ears. You can also use buffs, scarfs etc in addition to your beanie.
- Gloves - Lightweight synthetic gloves made of Fleece or you can also use woollen gloves.
- Sun Cap- 1 no
- Sun Glasses with good UV protection.
Other necessary things that we recommend you get:
- Toiletries - Sunscreen SPF 40+, Moisturizer, Lip balm, Soap, Toilet paper.
- Repair Kit (needle and thread).
- Headlamp/ Torch.
- Camera.
- Water Bottle- Ideally keep two bottle 1 litre each.
- Trekking Pole - Optional.
- Plastic Packing covers. (Please pack all your gear in waterproof plastic bags so that your clothes etc do not get wet while on horses or porters. Also carry extra plastic bags in case you need to pack wet clothes.)