Transfer to hotel. Relax and acclimatise. Visit Leh market in the evening.

A day for acclimatization. Optional visit to the Leh palace and the Shey, Thikse and Hemis gompas. Last minute shopping in the Leh market.

Set out after an early breakfast, travelling west of Leh towards 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 up to 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 from where one can either continue west to Kashmir or take the rough road south up the Suru valley into Zanskar, which is our destination. Settle into the hotel D’Zojila in a quieter part of town, have our last showers, and charge camera batteries. We are moving into a week of the great outdoors!

We drive to Remala, which is the starting point for the rafting trip on the Stod river, a tributary of the Zanskar river. Overnight tented camp. We drive over the Pensi La which enables grand views of the Zanskar peaks at the bottom of which is the Drung Durung glacier that feeds the Zanskar river.The road descends to the Stod or Doda river which it now follows past the Zanskari villages to Padumthe capital of Zanskar.

Rafting begins at Remala. Raft till near Karsha Gompa, near Padum. We raft 30 km in 4-5 hrs which includes a break for lunch and hot beverages. We are surrounded by 6000-metre-high peaks. River section today includes a Class II section, a good introduction for first timers as well as to the river in general. Settle into camp by afternoon, we can take an optional hike around Camp. A long walk to Karsha Gompa, is possible.

After a late morning start, we raft from Karsha up to Honyo / Pidmo. This stretch is approximately 25 km with Class II and III rapids. Another easy day to get used to the river, the altitude and hone our paddling skills.

After packing camp, we raft 25 km to Nyeraka Class III section. The gorge narrows in on the river – there is a rapid formed at the entrance to the canyon, by the making of the road, the dynamiting and also due to a fallen JCB! This indeed is a Grand Canyon in its own right. We stop for the day to pitch camp in a gorge below Nyerak village.

Rest day at Nyerak. Take a hike to Nyerak village or relax under the cool shade of the willows at our Campsite. Wash up at the campsite stream and enjoy the day off.

Today’s 35 km rafting section goes through the core of the Zanskar A classic white water day with continuous Class III rapids, a few Class IV rapids where the river squeezes between a gap of about 18ft. We stop for lunch near a huge waterfall and continue to camp at the confluence of Markha river with the Zanskar. Rock formations, spires and an amazing palette of colours add to the trip.

We raft 40 kms of Class III/IV white water from Lamaguru to Nimu today. We raft past the village of Chilling and exciting rapids as the Zanskar plunges out of the canyon to meet with the Indus at Nimu. We end our trip at the confluence of the Zanskar with the Indus. Drive an hour back to Leh. Last minute retail therapy and a hot shower.