Fly from Delhi to Leh (3,500m / 11,483ft), the capital of Ladakh
- The local team will meet you at the airport & assist with hotel transfer
- Spend the rest of your day at the hotel and acclimatize to the high altitude
- Overnight stay in Leh
Drive to Shey palace, Short walk to Thiksey monastery
- Visit the Shey Palace, a former royal palace of the Ladakh kings and witness the 350-year-old copper and gold statue of Buddha
- Hike up to Thiksey monastery perched on top of a hill. (Duration: 2 hours)
- Explore Thiksey monastery, find 15 a metre high statue of the Future Buddha)
- Meet the red-robed monks who live in the monastery
- Overnight in Leh
Acclimatization Trek to Gyamsa, Gyamsa to Shanti Stupa trek:
- Visit the remotest part of the Leh town, Gyamsa
- Trek through the pasture land of Gyamsa
- Trek will help you to bring the pace of walking for a longer duration along with acclimatisation
- Walk up to the Shanti Stupa, built by Japanese Buddhist Bhikshu
- The rest of the day will be utilised for multi-day trek preparations
- Overnight in Leh
Acclimatization at Rumtse:
- Drive towards the Eastern part of Ladakh and reach the small village of Rumtse
- The Rumtse to Tso Moriri Lake Trek starts from this hamlet which is at a height of 4166 M.
- Spend the rest of the day exploring and going on short acclimatization walks around the village.
- Overnight in Rumtse
Trek to Kyamar; Time: 4 hrs; Distance: 10.9 km Approx,
- On the 1st day of the Rumtse Tsomoriri trek, you will be walking a distance of about 10 Km all the way up to the Kyamar valley (Jadis La) on the salt road.
- During ancient times, the salt from Tsokar Lake was transported to Leh from the Rumtse Kyamar route due to which it was named as the Salt route.
- Overnight at Kyamar (Sleeping altitude 4500 m)
Trek to Tisaling; Time: 6-7 hrs Approx, Distance: 13.5 km Approx,
- After breakfast at Kyamar, begin a gradual ascent towards Kyamar La (5.120 m), the 1st pass of the Rumtse Tsomoriri Trek followed by the Mandalchan La (5.215 m)
- From the top of the passes, you can enjoy breathtaking views of the Zanskar range and a wide panoramic view of the Changthang valley
- After crossing the pass, descend to the camping site at Pastureland of Tisaling
- During the trek you may find several nomads with their herds of livestock
- Overnight in Tisaling (Sleeping altitude: 4.900m)
Trek to Ponganagu; Time: 6 hours Approx; Distance: 14.3 km Approx,
- Cross the third pass of the Trek Shibuk La (5275 M)
- Enjoy incredible views of the surrounding mountains and the Tsokar Lake from top of the pass.
- During your descent to the valley capture amazing photographs of migratory birds and mammals.
- Overnight stay in Ponganagu near Tsokar Lake (Sleeping altitude: 4651 M)
Trek to Nuruchan, Time: 5-6 hrs Approx; Distance: 17.8 km Approx,
- Follow a dusty jeep track road along the west side of the Tso Kar lake. The Tsokar is popularly known as the white lake because of the large concentration of salt that gets deposited on its banks.
- During your trek on the salty shores of the lake, you might see folks of endangered migratory birds such as Necked black cranes and the bar-headed geese along with local wildlife residents such as Tibetan sand grouse, and brown-headed gulls to name a few.
- You will keep walking on a trail along the lake until you reach the beautiful grassy pastures and freshwater streams of Nuruchan.
- Overnight in Nuruchan (Sleeping altitude: 4679 M)
Trek to Rachungkaru (4668 M) Time: 4 - 5 hrs Approx; Distance: 11 km Approx
- After breakfast at Naru-chan, you will hike up to the Nuruchan La (4750 M) to reach the camp at Rachungkaru
- You are very likely to meet Tibetan nomadic herdsmen with their yaks, sheep and goats
- Overnight camp at Rachungkaru (Sleeping altitude: 4668 M)
Trek to GyamarTime: 7 hrs Approx; Distance: 14 km Approx
- We will cross 2 passes which are above 5000 m in altitude namely Kyamary La(5500 M) and Kartse La (5284 M)
- The views from the top of the passes will extend across the high-level landscape to the snow-capped peaks.
- Overnight stay at Gyamar (Sleeping altitude: 5157 M)
Trek to Korzok village (5435 m); Time: 5 - 6 hrs; Distance: 11.3 km Approx.
- On the final day of the trek, cross the highest pass of the Rumtse Tsomoriri trek, the Yalung Nyau La (5435 m).
- You would see a beautiful view of the Tsomoriri Lake surrounded by high snow-capped peaks some 20 Km away from the top of the pass.
- Meet the nomads of Changthang valley as you walk to Korzok village.
- Descend on a zig-zag path to the Korzok village near the banks of the Tsomoriri Lake
- Enjoy the sunset from the banks of Tsomoriri Lake.
- Overnight in Korzok Village. (Sleeping altitude 4632 M)
Drive across Changthang plains to Leh (220 Km)
- Wake up to a beautiful sunrise at Tsomoriri.
- Set off on a 6-hour drive from Korzok to Leh via the Changthang valley.
- The drive will be bumpy till you reach the Indus River after which you will find well-tarmac roads making the final part of the journey very comfortable.
- Enjoy great views as you cross the open plains of the Changthang valley
- Overnight in Leh
Leisure day in Leh
- Early morning visit to the Shanti Stupa to watch the sunrise
- Visit the Leh Palace.
- Spend the rest of your day at leisure exploring the old Leh market and buying souvenirs
- Overnight in Leh.
Departure
- The Local team will drop you at the airport for your onward flight.
Is this trek for me?
- The Rumtse-Tsomoriri trek is considered to be a challenging trek, due to the high altitude, cold weather, and rugged terrain that hikers can expect to encounter. The trek is usually classified as a moderate to difficult level trek.
- The trek involves climbing high passes and crossing glaciers, which can be physically demanding. The altitude of the trek ranges from 4,300 meters to 5,300 meters above sea level, so hikers should be prepared for the effects of altitude sickness, such as headaches, fatigue, and difficulty breathing.
- It is also important to note that the trek requires a good level of fitness, as it involves a lot of hiking and climbing over steep and uneven terrain. Trekkers will be trekking for around 6-8 hours a day, and carrying their own backpacks.
- To sum up, while the Rumtse-Tsomoriri trek is a rewarding and beautiful trek, it is not recommended for the first-time trekkers or those who are not in good physical shape. It is important to be well-prepared, both physically and mentally, before undertaking the trek.
Guidelines Do’s & Don'ts
- Give your body enough time to adjust to the high altitude/acclimation.
- Avoid sleeping during the day & get enough sleep at night.
- Avoid frequent smoking or drinking alcohol.
- Respect and greet the locals with Jullay (pronounced joo-lay which means Hello).
- Wear respectable outfits during your visit to sacred sites/ Monasteries.
- Kindly read the Monastery guidelines before entering a monastery.
- Ladakhi people will always be ready to help you. So, it's advisable to travel with a smile and greet Jullay.
Save the Himalayas: Follow the leave no trace policy
Majestic Ladakh proudly supports the ‘Leave no trace policy’ for our majestic Himalayas. We request you to follow the below guidelines and help us in preserving the splendid natural beauty of our country:
- Carry personal water bottles throughout the tour as locals will be always happy to provide water to refill & basically free of cost at restaurants and hotels.
- Advisable to carry a water bottle with a filter as you can refill it while travelling to any part of Ladakh.
- DZOMSA stalls are also available for refilling water bottles at just ₹7 per litre.
- Use reusable shopping bags in Leh market as plastics are totally banned in Ladakh as they are harmful to our environment.
- Do not litter. Bring back your own trash.
- Let nature’s sounds prevail; avoid loud voices and noises.
Safety during the Trek:
- Our Trek Leaders are advanced mountaineering course qualified and are trained in rescue procedures from leading mountaineering institutes and certified first-aid responders.
- Local guides who will accompany the group are certified first-aid responders and the support staff are trained in 1st Aid.
- The expedition team carries Oxygen cylinders which can be used if any medical emergency arises.
Recommended stay & food options available
- During the Rumtse-Tsomoriri trek, you will be staying in Moving camps.
- On a full-service moving camp, the support staff erects and dismantles the tents at different places selected for an overnight stay. Apart from the basic facilities such as hot water to drink, the staff also carries oxygen cylinders in case of a medical emergency at high altitudes. As the camp does not carry drinking water you will be camping close to the river/ stream where fresh running water is available for cooking.
- There will be toilet and dining tent
- Stay in Leh and other cities:- Twin-sharing rooms are provided with breakfast
- Single rooms can be requested for a supplement and are subject to availability
In a moving camp the breakfast, lunch and dinner will be prepared by the cook travelling with the group. Meals options are mentioned below:
- Breakfast - porridge, cereals, eggs and toast with plenty of tea, coffee or hot chocolate
- Lunch - a picnic lunch with soup, various kinds of local bread, cheese, eggs, tinned fish, meat and fruit as per the availability.
- Afternoon snack - tea and biscuits on arrival at camp
- Dinner - usually soup, pasta, rice or potato-based main course with fresh vegetables, followed by dessert, tea, coffee or hot chocolate.
Weather in Ladakh
Generally the weather is good in Ladakh during the Summer, with warm to very hot sunny days (temperatures can reach up to 30ºC/35ºC), and cool to cold nights depending on the altitude.
- There is, however, always the possibility of rain, and snow at higher altitudes, and you should be prepared for this. Ladakh, though technically part of the Tibetan Plateau and classified as a high altitude desert, can and does occasionally experience the effects of the Indian monsoon.
- During the trek, you should expect to face the high altitude, cold weather, and rugged terrain. It is important to be properly equipped and physically prepared to undertake this trek.
What is AMS?
Acute mountain sickness (AMS), is the negative health effect of high altitude, caused by rapid exposure to low amounts of oxygen at high elevation. Symptoms may include headaches, vomiting, tiredness, trouble sleeping, and dizziness.
How to avoid AMS?
- Give your body enough time to adjust to the high altitude/acclimation
- Get enough sleep and eat healthy food
- Avoid smoking or drinking alcohol
If you suffer from any respiratory or health-related issues, please let the tour guide know before the start of the tour.
How is the mobile connectivity in Ladakh?
Only Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh registered pre-paid sims are serviceable in Ladakh. The following services providers/services are active in Ladakh:
- Airtel: Postpaid service
- Jio: Postpaid & pre on post-service
- BSNL: Postpaid service
You can buy and activate a new sim in Leh.
What things should I carry for the trip?
Following are the list of essentials that you should carry:
- Medicines such as Diamox, Aspirin/ Disprin, Candy bars
- Warm clothes and Thermals
- Sunglasses, sunhat & sunscreen
- Torch and power banks
- Water-bottles
- Backpack for Extra Luggage
- Warmer layers for the late August/September trips
- Soft kitbag for camping - please note that this trip is camping. A large, hard, wheeled suitcase is not recommended for camping. We suggest you bring a Sift kit bag.
How are the restaurants in Leh?
You can find plenty of restaurants in Leh serving Ladakhi, Indian, Kashmiri, Tibetan, Korean, Italian and continental food. There are always plenty of choices for both vegetarians and meat-eaters. Please keep about £70-100 (US $110-160) for food.
Do try the Ladakhi cuisine like vegetable momos or thukpa during your time in Leh!
Booking and Cancellation Policy
