The Great Ladakh to Kashmir Traverse
Quick Facts
This amazing, demanding, classic trek which starts from Pannikhar in Suru valley of Kargil is beautiful contrast of stark and green landscape. Glaciers, moraines, scree, boulders, crevasses, alpine meadows, snow, river crossings, lakes, passes, flora & fauna, animals, snow, rain, sunshine, winds, history, culture, … name it … and above all beautiful transitions or confluences, a true Aquaterra signature trek. If you are looking for a walk that will be like none other you have experienced, this is possibly the one!
Do scroll down to see images by Tapas Panda and Varun Gera
DAYS 1-4
Day 1: Leh Airport – Hotel (3500 M)
Board the early morning flight from Delhi to Leh. It takes a little more than an hour to get to Leh, the capital of Ladakh. On a clear day the flight offers excellent views of the mighty Himalayas. Arrive at the hotel for welcome drinks followed by breakfast. Spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 2: Leh (3500 M)
We spend half the day visiting Shey and Thiksey monasteries around Leh. Return to hotel for lunch and spend the day exploring the Leh market.
Day 3: Leh – Kargil (3000 M)
Set out after an early breakfast, travelling west of Leh to Kargil. 36 kms from Leh, we reach Nimu, the confluence of the Zanskar with the Indus. We pass the derelict fort at Basgo, the painted caves at Saspol to reach Khalsi where the road crosses the Indus River and slowly winds its way 27 kms upto the beautiful gompa at Lamayuru. Continue to cross the Fotu La (4108m) and Namika La (3700m) to reach the village of Mulbekh. 41 kms further is the town of Kargil which marks the transition to a predominantly Muslim area.
Day 4: Kargil to Pannikar and start trek to Donara (3770 m)
We start our drive to Panikhar. The road snakes up the Suru valley past the settlement of Sankhoo. Arrive Panikhar 3200 Mts from Kargil. Start trek towards Donara, we follow the Cholong River for about 1-1.5 hours and camp for the night.
DAYS 5-8
Day 5: Beyond Panikhar to Upper Shepherd Camp (3850 m)
We prepare ourselves for a river crossing at Lonlivadgalli, after which we start our uphill walk towards the Boktol pass at 4980 Mts, and camp at the upper campsite that shepherds use.
Day 6: Upper Shepherd to Kannital (3850 m)
This is the longest day on the trek (14 km; 9-10 Hours). After leaving the Upper Shepherd camp, the trek to the Boktol pass is a mix of easy and hard walk for about 5 hours. On the top of the pass there are beautiful views of some 6000 Mts high unnamed mountain peaks around and a huge hanging glacier towards the Nun massif gives a great look.
From the pass there is a long descent on main Boktol glacier for about 4 to 5 hours till we get to a beautiful camp at Kannital.
Day 7: Kannital to Humpet (3350 m)
The 10 km long walk from Kannital to Humpet is an easy walk all along the Boktol river. It can take upto 2 hours to cross the Boktol river. We camp in an open meadow at Humpet and today can take upto 6-7 hrs.
Day 8: Rest day at Humpet
Sidewalks or read, sleep, or just stare at the beautiful surroundings!
DAYS 9-12
Day 9: Humpet to Rangmarg (3000 m)
Rangmarg to Sheeshnag 3590 Mts over GololGali pass 4450 Mts. This is the second longest day on this trek (7-8 hrs), we gain about 1400 mts to the pass from our Rangmarg camp, it is a long uphill trek with steep climb towards its end to the Golal Gali pass from top we get some beautiful mountain views. We descend to our camp after walking 8km, near the beautiful lake Sheeshnag.
Day 10: Rangmarg to Sheeshnag (3590 m)
Rangmarg to Sheeshnag 3590 Mts over GololGali pass 4450 Mts. This is the second longest day on this trek (7-8 hrs), we gain about 1400 mts to the pass from our Rangmarg camp, it is a long uphill trek with steep climb towards its end to the Golal Gali pass from top we get some beautiful mountain views. We descend to our camp after walking 8km, near the beautiful lake Sheeshnag.
Day 11: Sheeshnag to Chandanwari to Srinagar (1585 m)
Today we walk all along the Baba Amarnath Ji trail covering 10km, and losing the height of about 750 Mts to ChandanWari the road, it is a beautiful walk hitting Pissu top where from we get the best views of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva mountains. At Chandanwari we board the vehicles to drive to Srinagar with some time to spend at Pahalgam. Overnight at hotel.
Day 12: Srinagar to Srinagar Airport
It’s an early morning flight back home. Trip ends!
Inclusions:
All travel from Leh and back to Srinagar by road
All arrangements for staying and camping while on trip
Accommodation on twin sharing basis in Tents / Hotel
All meals as mentioned in itinerary & safe drinking water
All trekking arrangements with India’s most experienced guiding team, camp staff and cooks
Porterage upto 15kg/ person
Peak fee/sanctuary fee/royalty/permits where applicable
Exclusions:
Sleeping bag
Any transfers or meals outside of itinerary
Bottled water
Items of personal clothing
Expenses of any personal nature (laundry / phone calls / alcohol / cigarettes / insurance / camera fee / etc.)
Any expense incurred due to force of nature such as landslides, bad weather or reasons beyond our control
Tips & gratuities (we recommend 5-10% of your trip cost- to be distributed among the team) – personal choice
Travel & cancellation insurance
FROM PREVIOUS EXPEDITIONS
Take a look at photos & videos from previous journeys. Read testimonials from our new & regular clients.
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WHY GO WITH AQUATERRA ADVENTURES
A question easy to answer, you may wonder, in an age where adventure travel is apparently booming. Varying costs are available and there is no shortage of operators willing to run your trip. This is possibly the most important decision for you to make, after you have chosen to take on an adventure trip.
An Experienced Team
Our team of guides has years of experience of travel throughout the Indian Himalaya, from running rivers to leading treks – from the barren Zanskar to the tropical rainforest of Arunachal Pradesh. They speak English, have completed graduate school, are current with First Aid and CPR certification and form the most experienced guiding team in the country today.
Value for Money
The prices of our trips provide a high value for money returns. They are priced to keep our standards high and your trip, smooth. Cost usually is a deciding factor for many a trip, but for an adventure trip, the deciding factor should be confidence in your operator. We combine high operator confidence with a pricing balanced to give you a trip to remember.
Best Equipment
Equipment on all our adventure travel trips matches worldwide standards. On treks, we use 4 season 2-person tents, which can withstand the harshest weather conditions, and keep you dry and protected from the elements. Outfitter wings accompany all mountain trips for dining under.
Great Food
Our staff is trained in hygienic preparation of meals and offers a great variety of food on an outdoor trip. Good equipment, food and guides is what makes an outdoor trip an experience to savour.
WHAT TRAVELLERS SAY ABOUT US
Kubra Sait
Actor
Scream and Shout! For I just completed the hardest treks in the Himalayas, the lesser known Auden’s Col Trek. It tests you, beats you down but you when you summit starting in the wee hours of the morning you know that it couldn’t have been a better decision not for just the moment but for life.
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Rajat Rilach
Businessman
Well what a wonderful trip it was, we were 14 climbers with about 60 helpers including guide and porters. It could not have been better, right from our stay at Kuflon to Pooja at Gangotri to climb to the Auden’s to stay at the glaciers and finally a walk through the forest which can beat the amazon.
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Mr. Sareen
Avid Trekker
A difficult trek made so much easier by the professional, ever-ready-to-help, alert trek leaders of Aquaterra. The support staff was wonderful and made the hard days lighter by their cheerful attitude. All along it felt not like client and staff but friends out for a trek.
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Mr. T.S Sareen
Business Owner
Everything right from the beginning till the end – the pre-trip updates, travel planning, itinerary, equipment, camping sites, medical help and preparedness, food, etc. were all well thought, planned and great.
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