Trekking is one of the most pleasurable as well as
the challenging activities of the highlands of Ladakh and needs
experience. One may hire horses and ponies to ride as well as tents and
other camping gear. However, a good pair of trekking boots, warm socks,
warm and waterproof clothes, sun glasses and hats, warm sleeping bags
and first aid kit will leave you with little to want and well prepared
for any difficulties that you may have to face while on your trekking
tour. Chadar trek is one of the most popular treks, which takes you
straight to Zanskar through one of the world's strangest trade routes,
the frozen Zanskar River. While this river freezes in midwinter and
passes for a safe route till late February, it melts in summers, cutting
off Zanskar from the outside world for more than half a year. The
dramatic white landscape and the glaciers along with the Zanskari people
and the ancient monasteries provides one of the most exotic visual
treats that one can ever imagine.
The nearby Zangla with its small towns of Pishu, Pidmo and Stongde is
breathtaking. The most popular treks in the Zanskar Region are the
rigorous 10-day trek of Lamayuru-Padum via the highest pass of 5,100 m
and across the world's highest mountains, a 10-day trek of Padum-Darsha
taking one from Zanskar region to Himachal Pradesh, a 12-day tough trek
of Hemis-Padum sporting over 100 river crossings and is only open from
last week of August till September end, 8-day trek of Changthang or
Rupsho valley region where one has to cross three passes at more than
5000m height leading to the pretty plains of Rupsho and lovely
high-altitude lake of Tsomoriri at 4200 m and a 15-day high-altitude
trek of Lato-Tsomoriri, which takes one to the beautiful Rupsho Plains
via Markha. While covering the last trek, one has to cross a pass
everyday, the highest being 5300 m high Zalung Karpo La. Similarly, in
the Nubra valley region, there are 5-6 day Saboo-Khalsar trek, 14-day
Saboo-Phyang trek, 8-day Markha valley trek and 12-day rigorous
Lamayuru-Hemis trek. One may also opt for the easy 5-day
Likir-Tingmosgang trek of the Shaam region.
