Overview
Treks in the Himalayas create some of the core memories you are going to remember for the rest of your lives. Trekking experience in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand consists of paradise-like ecstatic views and thrilling experience. Trekking in the trans Himalayan ranges is a total game changer. The landscapes, terrain, temperature, facilities, locals, everything drastically changes in Ladakh. The northernmost state of Ladakh that borders China and Tibet has some of the most ancient architecture, Indo-Aryan communities and Tibetan settlements in the region.
The treks that capture the essence of this thrilling face of the Himalayas are;
Chadar Trek
The Chadar trek is known for its extremely cold temperatures and frozen Zanskar river. The trek lasts for approximately a week or more. The enchanting views of the Zanskar valley and the frozen river gives you a sense of walking on a lunar surface. The trek trail encompasses Zanskar valley, steep slopes, frozen river, small villages, monasteries and Himalayan wildlife. The trek needs acclimatization and permit before commencing your journey further up. This is a moderate trek which requires a certain level of experience in trekking. Solo trips are rare here hence better to go with a group of fellow trekkers and an experienced guide. The temperatures drop to -25 degrees at night making it the coldest nights of your lives.
Markha Valley
The Markha Valley trek leans towards a more intense side of trekking. This 10 day trek takes you through rivers, lofty slopes, small villages in Zingchen and if you are lucky, a cable car ride at Chilling. The trek involves 7 hours of hiking everyday which can only be done by experienced trekkers or those who are familiar with trekking in the trans Himalayas. The starting point of this trek is Spituk which takes you till Hemis. The trek’s last stretch includes a steep slope at Kongmaru la.
Darcha- Padum
This is a cross state trek which takes you from Himachal Pradesh to Ladakh. The trek begins from Darcha in Himachal Pradesh and ends in Padum, Ladakh. The trek trail involves a road from Leh- Kargil which makes this trek even more convenient. As you enter the Zanskar region, there are several villages you will come across while trekking which makes it more fascinating. The views are stunning all throughout, you are bound to notice a shift in the view as you change states, the flowery and lush green landscapes turn to barren beige yet beautiful Zanskar valley. This is approximately a week long trek.
Rangdum – Kanji
The trek has some of the most extraordinary views of gorges, Mani walls, and wildflowers. The trek route takes you through a handful of Ladakhi villages of Lamayuru, Alchi, Likir, Kanji and Rangdum. This 8 day trek begins from a drive from Leh to Kanji. Visit the Phyang and Likir monastery before embarking your journey towards Kanji. The trek begins from the next day where you will walk across glaciers, gorges, and witness a stunning view of the Great Himalayas. The trek is moderate with few challenging sections in between. This is a beautiful trek filled with small monasteries enroute keeping the mood light and calm for the trekkers.
Panikhar Trek
This trek is also referred to as Warwan Valley trek or Suru Valley trek. The trek trail stretches from Kashmir to Ladakh in the most incredible way possible. The key highlight of the trek remains the Botkhol Pass (4390m) which is the highest altitude achieved while trekking. It is believed to be the most desirable treks between Kashmir and Ladakh. This is a strenuous 10 day trek which begins and ends at Srinagar. The trail takes you through Srinagar-Achbal- Margan Top- Warwan Valley- Kaintal- Botkhol pass- Panikhar Village-Kargil-Drass-Zojila-Sonmarg. The trek is challenging, time consuming and requires experience in the field of trekking. The views are fantastic from Warwan Valley to Suru Valley in Ladakh. Make sure you travel in a group of 5-10 people.
The Treks in the trans Himalayas check your strength, patience, perseverance and teamwork. The views you will witness during the trek will be etched on your mind forever. The sky high Himalayas seem endless with its dynamic mountain ranges with unique terrain, landscapes and locals. The mountains are truly the life altering thing that will ever happen to you. The views, the meals, every drop of sweat will be rewarded at the end of your thrilling trans Himalayan trek. It is truly a ‘level up’ to your trekking skills and enhances the adventure part.
