Darcha Padum Trek
Darcha Padum trek takes you along the fascinating journey from Darcha in Himanchal Pradesh to Padam in Zanskar. Prior to trekking, you get an unbeatable experience with an insider’s perspective while sightseeing Manali. Temples impart a unique timelessness to the charming town of Manali giving plenty of time to soak up its atmosphere and get complete acclimatization for trekking. Thereafter, the trek connects you to the incredible trekking adventures; the trail transverses through Chalang Tokpa, Ramjak, Chumikanakpo, Lakong, Kurgiak, Purne and finally to Padum. En route, you will encounter great diversity of landscapes, lovely unspoilt pastoral mountain scenery, pristine villages and indigenous people. Further ahead, you have to journey through Ringdom Gompa and Kargil to arrive in Leh. With insightful sightseeing tour around Leh you conclude your trip. Throughout the tour, we maintain high level of comfort and safety.
Outline Itinerary
- Day 1 Arrive Manali [2050 m]
- Day 2 Sightseeing in Manali
- Day 3 Drive from Manali to Darcha [3400 m]
- Day 4 Trek from Darcha to Chalang Tokpo [3580 m]
- Day 5 Chalang Tokpo to Ramjak
- Day 6 Ramjak/Chumikanakpo (Trek)
- Day 7 Chumikanakpo to Lakong [4470 m]
- Day 8 Lakong to Kurgiak [4060 m]
- Day 9 Kurgiak to Purne [3745M]
- Day 10 Excursion to Phugtal Gompa [3850m]
- Day 11 Purne to Itchar [3650]
- Day 12 Ichar to Mune [3750 m]
- Day 13 Mune to Padum [3560 m]
- Day 14 Drive from Padum to Ringdom Gompa [4100 m]
- Day 15 Ringdom to Kargil [3700 m]
- Day 16 Kargil to Leh [3505 m]
- Day 17 Sightseeing in Leh
- Day 18 Fly from Leh to Delhi &
- Day 19 Departure
Detailed Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrive Manali [2050 m]
Upon arriving in Manali, our staff will escort you to your hotel. After thorough briefings about your travel plan, we let you enjoy the rest of the day amidst the superb ambience of the hotel. You can do whatever you feel like. The hotel provides high services and good accommodation..
- Day 2
Sightseeing in Manali
After breakfast, you kickstart your sightseeing journey around the attractions of Manali. Regarded as a major contributing trading center, Manali connects upper sections of the Kullu Valley with Lahual and the Indus Valley. Mountaineers generally rest in Manali for complete acclimatization before heading for Leh and Ladakh. Hindus also regard Manali very sacred for its temples. After exploring lifestyle, tradition, arts and culture of Manali, you return to your hotel for dinner and good night sleep..
- Day 3
Drive from Manali to Darcha [3400 m]
Transversing past Rohtang pass, you will be driven away from Manali to Darcha. After 140 km drive on a jeep, you enter Darcha amidst the gorgeous backdrops. In the evening you set a campsite and overnight at your camp tent after dinner..
- Day 4
Trek from Darcha to Chalang Tokpo [3580 m]
After breakfast following an easy and comfortable trail, you begin trekking away from Darcha towards Chalang Tokpa. It normally takes 5-6 hours to reach your camp site at Chalang Tokpo. After dinner, you overnight at your camp tent..
- Day 5
Chalang Tokpo to Ramjak
Shortly after breakfast, you resume your trek. Basking in the grandeur of nature, you reach Zanskar Sumdo at an elevation of 3750 m. 7-8 hours of trekking eventually concludes on reaching your camp site in Ramjak. You spend the night at your camp tent..
- Day 6
Ramjak to Chumikanakpo [4060]
Heading away from the campsite in Ramjak, you ascend towards Chumikanakpo. After trekking for 5-6 hours, Chumikanakpo springs into picture. Resting the journey to a halt, you camp at a superb location. After meals you overnight at your camp tent..
- Day 7
Chumikanakpo to Lakong [4470 m]
Unlike the previous day you take on a little challenging route. After breakfast, you follow the trail that meanders through several ascents to Shingo La which is at an elevation of 5100m. From here onwards, you begin descending towards Lakong. It normally takes 7-8 hours to trek up to 4470 meters. After meals, the trek concludes with an overnight stay at your camp tent..
- Day 8
Lakong to Kurgiak [4060 m]
You have to follow the trail that paves to Kurgiak. As you enter Zanskar after several descents, you will observe a pleasant diversity in the landscape. 6-7 hours of trek eventually ends on arriving at your camp site in Kurgiak at an altitude of 4060 meters. Once again you spend the night at your camp tent..
- Day 9
Kurgiak to Purne [3745M]
You continue descending further away from Kurgiak early in the morning after breakfast. It usually takes 5-6 hours to reach Purne. Your camp tent will be put in place at a superb location where after meal you can grab your well earned sleep..
- Day 10
Excursion to Phugtal Gompa [3850m]
In the morning after breakfast you advance towards Phugtal Gompa, the most dotted gompa in Ladakh. On following the left bank of the Tsarap River and crossing a bridge, Phugtal Gompa can be sighted on the limestone cliff. Inside the Gompa you can see that an enormous cave has been built into its main assembly hall. After excursing through this religious site, you head back to Purne with ultimate spiritual rejuvenation. Back in Purne, you overnight at your camp tent after meal..
- Day 11
Purne to Itchar [3650]
Leaving behind Purne you have to transverse along rock-laded trail. En route, you cross Char, Hanumi and Surle villages. At last, 5-6 hours of trek ends on reaching your campsite in Itchar at an elevation of 3650 meters. Once again you have sleep inside your camp tent. .
- Day 12
Ichar to Mune [3750 m
The trek starts immediately after breakfast. You have to walk for 5-6 hours to reach your destination Mune. Upon arriving at an elevation of 3750m you camp at a superb location, enjoy delicious meals and overnight at your camp tent.
- Day 13
Mune to Padum [3560 m]
Shortly after breakfast, you journey towards Padum for 5 - 6 hrs. Padum is the old capital of Zanskar. After meals, you spend the night at your camp tent..
- Day 14
Drive from Padum to Ringdom Gompa [4100 m]
You will be driven from Padum to Ringdom Gompa shortly after breakfast. You get to explore the religious and cultural richness of the Gompa. After the visit, you camp at a nearby superb location, enjoy meals and then sleep inside your camp tent..
- Day 15
Ringdom to Kargil [3700 m]
From Ringdom you will be further driven to Kargil. Then, you will be transported to your hotel in Kargil where you can rest, have your meals and sleep well..
- Day 16
Kargil to Leh [3505 m]
Early in the morning you will be taken to Leh, the capital of Ladakh. At an altitude of 3505 meters, Leh lies at the base of Khardung La on the north of the Indus River. Our staff will escort you to your hotel in Leh..
- Day 17
Sightseeing in Leh
Shortly after breakfast you will begin your guided sightseeing tour in Leh, the cultural heart of Ladakh. The fertile valley of Leh houses many Buddhist monasteries and historic monuments. While touring around Leh, you will observe that the town resembles Tibetan culture and is distinctively influenced by Buddhism. Leh has several houses with terraced roofs. 16th century Leh Palace built by King Tashi Namgyal is one of the major attractions of Leh. On climbing up the stairs of the palace, you reach an ideal vantage point to sightsee the magnificent view of Leh. Visits to Spituk and Phyang are the two major attractions. On following the trail along the Kargil road 10 km away from Leh, you will come across Spituk monastery. Nestled high on a hill, Spituk monastery overlooks breathtaking view of the Indus. Historic thankas and statues are the prides of this site. There are several statues of Kali at this monastery and once in a year Kali's face is unveiled before her devotees. You can find the reformist Gelugs-pa or Yellow-Hat sect at this monastery. Phyang gompa is another such religious site which represents diversity of India's culture and tradition. Shey, Hemis and Thiskey are the major highlights of the second day sightseeing tour. You head 15 km away from Leh towards Shey monastery after breakfast. Built amazingly on a hill, this monastery looks scintillating with its two-storey statue of the sitting Buddha adorned in copper and gold. If you turn to the east of Shey gompa, you can see several chortens. Further on, your guide will escort you to Hemis gompa, situated 49 km south of Leh. This is the biggest monastery built in 17th century by Chapgon Gyalshas and being the headquarter of the Red Hat Drukpa order administers all the monasteries of Ladakh. Lamas need to be trained at Hemis monastery prior to working for other monasteries at Leh, Shey and Bazgo. It is believed that this monastery possesses the largest thankas in Ladakh which is displayed once in every 11 years. In June July you can see a very important festival of masked dances at this site. Equally fascinating is Thiskey Monastery which rests 19 km away from Leh. It has the biggest library in Ladakh, accommodates 60 Lamas and houses historic statues, stupas and thankas. This monastery is most dotted for its picturesque panorama of verdant Indus Valley. Eventually, after sightseeing you will head back to your hotel and enjoy the high quality service at the hotel. .
- Day 18
Fly from Leh to Delhi
Soon after early morning breakfast, you will board a flight back to Delhi where you will be chauffeured to your hotel by our staff..
- Day 19
Departure
You will be driven to the airport in time for your flight back home. We ensure that you will leave Delhi with cherishing memory and an experience of a lifetime..
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Happy Explorers
I felt the staff did their best to provide good service- even the higher in altitude we went- and I must say, were extremely friendly and courteous.
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