subject: Best Trekking Tour And Trip To Ladakh [print this page] Youve seen the pictures and the videos, youve heard your friends and family relate thrilling stories; youve wanted to go yourself for ages then why wait any longer? After all, Ladakh has something for all levels of trekkers from simple, 2-3 day easy-to-do routes that even first-time trekkers can do, to long expeditions that extend to a few weeks, need a lot of preparation and are meant for experts. Ladakhs true beauty lies in its lush green valleys and gurgling rivers walled in by starkly barren mountains and the snow-covered silent peaks. And the best way to take in all this is through treks. Whats more, over the past few years, more and more peaks have been
Opened for foreigners.
Easy treks, which are for 5-7 days usually, include routes to Sham, Spituk and Indus valley. Home stay as well as tent accommodation is available on these routes. The former gives one a chance to participate in the local culture, while staying in tents means bonfires and looking at the Milky Way for hours. These tours are suitable even for seniors and families with young children. Ladakhs unique beauty, however, lies not in its valleys but in its peaks. And that is where most of the trekking routes lie. While some are of moderate difficulty and require the trekkers to cross passes in the range of 4,000-4,900 mt, the high-difficulty ones are only for experienced trekkers as they mean crossing passes in the 4,500-5,600
mt range.
Some of the popular mid-level trekking routes include Markha valley and Nubra valley. For those willing to go higher, a trek across the Zanskar valley is recommended. Another popular option in this category is the Tsomoriri-Kibber route that goes via the Parang La pass (5,600 mt).
But the to-do trek is the chadar trek, over the frozen Zanskar River. This one is possible only in winters when the river water freezes, and expectedly is for those who can brave the freezing temperatures. Another option is to merge trekking with expeditions. This takes more number of days and requires a high level of fitness. For example, Markha valley trek with expedition to Stok Kangri peak and Khangya Tse peak. One can also do the Rumtse-Tsomoriri trek with Mentok Kangri peak and Chamser Kangri peak, as also Kanji-Rangdum trek via Kanji La pass with Nun-Kun peaks.
Most travel agencies in Ladakh can arrange treks. But it is always better to plan in advance as during high-tourist season availability of tents, horses, experienced guides, etc., can be difficult. Climbing some peaks requires special permits. Another point to pay attention to while making the preparations is the clothing. Although it can be quite warm on a sunny day, temperatures can dip suddenly and it is best to be equipped for the drastic changes.
