Tso Moriri Peaks *exploratory

Classic remote area trekking with an exploratory 6000m ascent - 2012

This trip is wonderful southern Ladakh trekking with a couple of straightforward 6000m peaks, and a finish over glaciated 5780m Parang La.

Never climbed before? If you're keen, you're in. We provide patient and thorough climbing instruction on trek.

This is true Himalayan exploring. After a day acclimatizing in Leh, the ancient trade capital of Ladakh, we travel south via jeep and join our horse caravan and over the period of the next few weeks, we be in a land untouched by modernity; free and moving with the daily rhythm of expedition style trekking. Each morning, we rise soon after dawn for an excellent, fresh breakfast and piping hot coffee/tea then to move at our own pace to the next camp; stopping en route to have a crisp picnic lunch. Some days we'll switchback over 5000 meter passes, prayer flags snapping in the wind under cerulean skies on their summits. Other days we'll traverse through U-shaped valleys, carved by glaciers long since passed. Horses carry our personal equipment, we only trek with day packs; bringing water, camera, hat, and a windproof shell for each day.

High and wild Tso Moriri is a glorious lake around 20kms long that generates its own weather systems. The benchmark of this trip will be the ascent of two non-technical 6000 meter peaks, which will only require crampons and basic instruction, an excellent introduction to climbing higher. The high altitude camping and trekking of this trip is challenging nonetheless and an open mind and patience are important for an expedition of this nature. If you love feeling like you've exerted yourself at the completion of the day, then this is the trip for you. This is not a "holiday", in actuality; but is a clean, well-run exploration with all the amenities to keep you at your best while you travel through a stunningly beautiful landscape.

Outline Itinerary

Day 1 - Sunday 5 August 2012 - arrive Leh 3400m

2 - Leh 3400m

3 - Leh 3400m

4 - drive Pang, trek river camp 4490m

5 - rest Pang river camp 4490m

6 - trek Trakstago 4750m

7 - trek Zozogong 4900m

8 - trek Thargang 4750m

9 - trek Latho Gongma (via Manechan La) 4760m

10 - trek Karpa Ri high camp 5200m

11 - climb Karpa Ri 6170m

12 - trek Kiangdum 4550m

13 - rest Kiangdum (by the lake!) 4550m

14 - trek Norbu Sumdo 4490m

15 - trek Pare Chu 4680m

16 - trek peak 6364 high camp 6364m

17 - climb peak 6364m

18 - rest Pare Chu 4680m

19 - trek Parang La BC 5070m

20 - trek Thangltak (via Parang La 5580m) 4570m

21 - trek Kibber 4130m

22/23- spare days

Trails wash out, snow falls, roads wash out; this extra day is built in to our itinerary.

24 - drive Manali

25 - Manali

26 - Thursday 30 August, 2012 - trip ends

Or feel free to stay an extra day or two in Manali.

Highlights

+ Project Himalaya style exploration

+ Ascending two non technical 6000 meter peaks

+ Beautiful camps in remote locations

+ Stunning views

+ trekking across the Great Himalaya range

+ unmatched Asian trekking cuisine

2012 Dates

5 Aug-31 Aug, 26 days

Cost - US$3180

* US$2980 if booked before 2 April 2012

Domestic flights NOT included (meet in Leh)

max 9 bookings

Leader

Luke Smithwick

Nepal mobile: +977 98131 16610

Ladakh Mobile : +91 99063 08861

Leh office and hotel

Rinchen

Wonderland Trek and Tour

Hotel Shaynam

Old Road, Leh

tel: +91 1982 255 990

Mob1: +91 94191 79154

Mob2: +91 99069 90444

Extra hotel nights: US $25 single, US $30 double

Manali hotel

Johnsons Lodge

The Mall, Manali, HP

Tel: +91 1902 251523

Manager mobile: +91 98160 45123

Delhi Flights / Hotels & Office Contact

Kipling India

Prakash mobile: +91 98112 02174

email: prakash@kipling-india.com

Our service includes

Hotels and guesthouses (single in Manali & Leh)

Airport transfers

Local guides that have trekked with us for 12 years

Western guide

Compact Himalayan library while on trek

Solar charging for cameras while in camp

Horse porterage

Group transportation by private vehicle

Expedition-style trek:

Three Asian vegetarian meals a day and hot drinks

Filtered drinking water in morning and evenings

roomy single / double tent

Our service excludes

insurance, India visa, meals in Delhi, Leh & Manali

personal climbing equipment (rentals available),

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

Tips & Extra Cash

Allow approx $250 for meals (while not on trek), drinks (on trek) and tips. We recommend $150 per trekker thrown into the tips pool for the crew.