India essentials

Ladakh-Zanskar extras

Himalayan Circuit

'I could have spent weeks idling away my time under the apricot trees in the clear warm sunlight of central Asia'
Fitzroy Maclean, 'A Person From England'

From the alpine pastures of the Kulu valley we travel in easy stages to the rarely visited Chenab valley, just south of the main Himalayan barrier in the Tibetan Buddhist kingdom of Lahaul.

Our trek follows the old trade route by which our destination, Zanskar, was invaded by the forces of Zorawar Singh in the 19th century, the legendary, and challenging, Umasi La, and we have plenty of time to explore both the high pastures and the high glaciers leading to the pass, before trekking through the beautiful villages of Zanskar in all their summer splendor to our trek's end, the wild way out, the 5350m Phirtse La.

Outline Itinerary

Day 1 - Friday 3 August 2007 - Arrive Delhi

2 - Overnight sleeper to Manali

3 - Manali

4 - Drive Atholi

5 - Trek Shashut 2600m

6 - Trek Marchel 2790m

7/10 Acclimatization in Dharlang valley

11 - Trek Suncham 4000m

12 - Trek Umasi High camp 4600m

13 - Trek Umasi High camp North 4400m

14 - Trek Zonkul 3800m

15 - Trek Padum 3500m

16 - Trek Reru 3750m

17 - Trek Purne 3700m

18 - Trek Phuktal Gompa

19 - Trek Tanze 3850m

20 - Trek Phirtse base 4800m

21 - Trek Lingti camp 4400m

22 - Trek Kilang Serai 4600m

23 - Drive Manali

24 - Overnight bus Delhi

Day 25 - Monday 27th August 2007 - Trip finish

Highlights

A rarely taken exploratory route

Cross the main Himalayan range

Demanding trekking through stunning scenery

Traditional Tibetan-style Himalayan villages

Buddhist monasteries & ancient forts

Beautiful camps in remote locations

2007 Dates

3-27 August, 25 days

Cost - US$2100

Max 9 bookings

Hotel single supplement $75

Leader

Joel Schone

mobile: (+91) 98719 81236

Arrival Hotel Delhi

Cottage Yes Please

Laxmi Narayan St, Raj Guru Rd, Chunu Mandi, Paharganj

Tel: +(91 11) 2356 2100, 2356 2300

Contact: Mr. Vishesh

Alan mobile: +(91) 98100 09810

Local Delhi office contact & Airport Transfers

Druk Expeditions

205, Bharat Chambers, 70-71 Scindia House,

Connaught Circus, New Delhi

Contact: Mr. Basant Giri, Director

Office: (+91 11) 2372 0282

Mobile: 9810 352 728

Suresh mobile: 9810 538 348

Our service includes

Airport transfers

Hotels in Delhi & Manali

Group transportation by private vehicle

Expedition-style trek:

Experienced western guide

Local guide from the region

Extremely high quality meal

All portering

Highly experienced staff

High quality tents (double tents for singles, triple for couples)

Our service excludes

meals in Delhi & Manali and when not camping

insurance, India visa, international flights, equipment rental, alcohol and soft drinks, laundry, tipping and other items of a personal nature