Duration: 17 days, 9 days trekking
Accomodations: Camping on trek
Best time: May-October
Grade: Strenuous

INTRODUCTION

The Mysteries Trek is a wonderful high altitude trek (3939m/13,000 to 5454m/ 18,000 feet) that crosses several mountain passes. It offers gorgeous views of the Ladakh and Zanskar Ranges before descending to Tsokar Lake. We then cross the "Changtang" of the Rupshu plateau where nomads move from place to place with their yaks and cattle in search of pasture. We then venture to the shores of the exquisitely beautiful Tsomoriri Lake. Here we will visit nomad camps and view bar-headed geese, brahminy ducks, and rare, black-necked cranes.

The itinerary also allows us to visit some of the centuries old Buddhist monasteries while acclimatizing in preparation for the trek.

DAY BY DAY ITINERARY

DAY 1: ARRIVE DELHI. Our Local representative will greet you at the international airport and help you transfer to the hotel.

DAY 2: FLY TO LEH. You will have an early morning transfer to the domestic airport for the flight up to Leh. This surely is one of the most sensational scheduled flights in the world, taking you right over the top of the Greater Himalaya before dropping down in a series of steep turns, to land at the small military airport at Leh. Flight time is about 1 hour. You will be met on arrival and driven through Leh to check into your Hotel. Leh is at an altitude of 11,500 ft and therefore we recommend that the rest of the day is spent resting to help adjust to the altitude.

DAY 3: AT LEISURE IN LEH. Again we will take it easy today and your guide can show you around town. Leh is very Tibetan in many respects; the national dress, 'stove-pipe' hats and felt boots with turned-up toes are much in evidence. The Royal Palace which dominates the town is very reminiscent of the Potala in Lhasa and Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, large chortens, prayer flags and mud brick houses with flat roofs are a dramatic culture change from the hot, teeming frenetic rush of Delhi. Don't try to do too much on this first day! Visit the palace, poke around the bazaars, and if you're feeling really keen and strong, walk out to one of the villages just to the north.

DAY 4: PHYANG SIGHT SEEING. The Phyang Gompa has 50 lamas and seven 'novices' of the red-cap sect and possesses five chapels. The monastery is interesting for its museum containing some old Chinese, Tibetan, Mongolian and possibly Saracen weapons and armour. The museum room itself is said to be nearly 900 hundred years old. The monastery has had several recent renovations, including the addition of a large house for the head lama and a new entrance hall with a large prayer wheel. The 650 year old Dukhany Temple was renovated in the late '70's. Return to Leh hotel.

DAY 5: DRIVE TO MIRO, TREK TO CHUMIK CHANMO. (4242m/14,000ft) After breakfast we drive to up the Indus River valley and cross the bridge at Upshi. We follow the Manali highway until we reach the village of Miro. Here is where we begin the trek by crossing the bridge and following the river for a short distance before turning up the right hand side of the valley. We follow the stream up the valley, ascending gradually up to Kortsangla pass at 16,700 ft. We trek for about 5 hours this first day.

DAY 6: TREK TO KYAMER. (4545m/15,000ft) (5.5 hrs) This day will be very easy and exciting. We might see ibex, deer, marmot, and especially Edelweiss.

DAY 7: TREK TO MANDALCHAN VIA KYMARLA. (5109m/16,860ft) (5 hrs) This day will be a bit more difficult. It will take 4 hours to get to the pass, but the spectacular panorama of the Great Ladakh and Zanskar Ranges make it very worthwhile. From the pass we descend a steep trail to Mandalchan. There is a nice camp before crossing the river.

DAY 8: TREK TO PANGUNAGU. (4818m/15,900ft) (7 hrs) We cross the stream in the morning and gradually ascend to Mandalchanla pass (17,200 ft). We descend to a valley where we eat lunch by the stream. We then leave the stream and go up the right slope of the valley to a small pass at about 16,400 ft. After several more passes, we cross the last pass, Thatangla (17,000 ft) and descend to camp. On this day it might be possible to see wild donkeys, sheep, goats, rabbits, and lots of marmots. You will also see beautiful flowers including Eidelweiss at the camp. The varied geological forms are amazing and the colors of the mountains are truly breath-taking.

DAY 9: TREK TO NURUCHAN. (4787m/15,800 ft) (8 hrs) This is one of the longest days of the trek. After 3 hours you will see some springs near a road. At Nuruchan there are several possibilities for camping, but the best campsite is after the village. You will see many herds of yak.

DAY 10: TREK TO KY-MA SHALMA. (5303m/17,500ft) (6 hrs) From the beginning of this part of the trek we ascend towards the small pass Zangbula at 17,000 ft. Then we proceed down into a valley where we can visit some nomads. They are likely to offer us some Yak cheese. These people come from Sumda. We then hike along the beautiful stream ascending toward Ka-yourula pass at 18,000 ft. After the pass we descend to camp.

DAY 11: TREK TO KORZOK DOG. (4636m/15,300ft) (9 hrs., approximately 15 miles) We cross the river in the early morning near the nomad's camp. Then we go up to the Kamapanela pass at 17,700 ft. We then descend to a valley where there are more nomads. We gradually ascend along a river to Gogmo chy la pass at 18,000 ft. Here we have a beautiful view of Tsomoriri lake. We go down to Korzok Dog and camp.

DAY 12: TREK TO KORZOK VILLAGE. (4381m/14,460ft) (2hrs) We visit another nomad camp in the morning. These are true Changtang Nomads. We then follow the stream until we reach the village of Korzok.

DAY 13: DRIVE TO LEH. Our vehicles meet us at Korzok and drive us down to the Indus River Valley and back to Leh, where we check into the hotel.

DAY 14: RELAX IN LEH. We will have a chance to relax in the relative luxury of Leh, and do any last sightseeing and exploring. There will no doubt be a chance to have a final celebration with your guide and crew before the flight tomorrow. In the summer there are often polo matches on a Sunday. Overnight in the hotel.

DAY 15: FLY TO DELHI. Our representative will meet you and transfer you to your hotel.

DAY 16: RELAX IN DELHI. International flights usually leave after midnight, so sleep in and relax. Leave for the airport about 10 pm.

DAY 17: FLY HOME.

LAND COST: on request

What’s Included:

What’s not included:

IMPORTANT TREK NOTES:
Whilst every effort is made to keep to the above itinerary, clients will hopefully appreciate that this is Adventure Travel in a remote mountain region. There will quite likely be changes to the itinerary in terms of anything from on-the-spot choice of campsite to when a rest day is taken. Weather conditions, road conditions, vehicle breakdowns off the beaten track, local availability of, horses or yaks, can contribute to the need for changes. The Trek guide will do everything in his power to see that you are inconvenienced as little as possible in such circumstances. Timings are approximate.

© Yama Adventures, 2022.