Kanji – Padum Trek (Ladakh)

€1590 per person

An 18-day scenic trek & tour through breathtaking mountain landscapes, from the photogenic town of Kanji to the peaceful village of Padum in the remote Zanskar Valley

Best time: September (as river flow is low)

Difficulty (4/5): Moderate to difficult (very good physical condition required)

Maximum altitude: Kanji-la (5150 m)

A sub-district of Kargil, the Zanskar region is a high-altitude semi-arid desert. Until recently, the Zanskar valley was little visited. However, the beauty of its wild landscapes is drawing more and more travelers to the winding roads of this part of Ladakh, which was briefly part of the kingdom of Guge in Tibet.

This Trip includes:

9 days of trekking
Monastery visits
A guide, one or more muleteers & cooks
Accommodation in a 2-person tent during the trek, otherwise in guesthouses

Estimated price (may be subject to variation)

Based on 2 people: €1,590 per person.

INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED

INCLUDED

The prices indicated above are estimates. As we only offer tailor-made services, this budget depends on several factors (choice of services, number of people, type of car, time of year, etc.); the final price is that of your personalized (free) quote obtained after an in-depth discussion with you.

THIS TRIP INCLUDES:

Double occupancy accommodation in guesthouses for non-trek portions
All airport-hotel transfers
Breakfasts and dinners (MAP) for non-trek portions
Full board during the trek (picnic lunch)
All transportation by 4×4 car or minibus with a private driver (taxes, fuel, accommodation, and driver’s meals included).
National park permits
All camping fees
Tents (Alpine or Dome for two people)
Foam mattresses for each person (7 cm thick)
Kitchen tent, dining room, and toilets during the trek
Table chairs and all cooking supplies during the trek the trek
Multiers, cooks, and assistant cook during the trek
Visits to the monasteries
Local English-speaking or French-speaking guide throughout the trip
Oxygen tank
24/7 assistance, we are in constant contact with you.

NOT INCLUDED

THE TRIP PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:

International flights
Domestic flights
Visa fees
Your trekking gear (bag sleeping bags, hiking poles, etc.)
Bank fees
Travel insurance (mandatory)
Meals other than those listed in “included.”
Drinks with meals.
Fuel surcharge if extra travel is not included in the itinerary.
Any personal expenses.
Arrangements required in case of emergency (e.g., hospitalization).
Tips.
Anything not listed in “included.”

CUSTOMISE THIS TRIP

From our gallery

Day 1

Flight Delhi-Leh

Om Mani Padme Hum. We'll drop you off at Delhi Airport and head to Leh. Our representative will meet you at Leh Airport and take you to your guesthouse.

Altitude acclimatization day. Visit Leh depending on your fitness level (Leh Palace and Tsemo Fort, which offer panoramic views of the city, as well as Sankar Monastery). Overnight in Leh

Day 2

Visit of the monasteries of Mato & Thiksey

Before the trek, we will visit several monasteries around Leh (Mato Thiksey).

The Thiksey Gompa was built in the 15th century based on the architecture of the Potala Palace in Tibet (hence its nickname "Little Potala"). It contains 10 temples and houses over a hundred monks. It houses beautiful Buddhist art and an imposing 15-meter-high statue of Maitreya, the largest in Ladakh, installed to commemorate the visit of the 14th Dalai Lama to this monastery in 1970. Overnight in Leh

Day 3

Leh – Alchi – Lamayuru - Kanji

We depart for Kanji, the starting point of the trek and a most picturesque village. Along the way, we will visit the monasteries of Alchi and Lamayaru.

Alchi is a monastic gem considered one of the most important Buddhist centers in Ladakh. It comprises five sanctuaries with splendid murals from the 11th and 12th centuries CE and houses an impressive statue of Buddha Manjushri (representing wisdom), painted with mineral colors.

The Lamayuru Gompa, dating from the 11th century, was founded by Mahasiddhacharya Naropa and belongs to the "Red Hat" branch of Buddhism. It houses more than 150 monks and a rich collection of artifacts such as murals, thangkas, statues, carpets, and an impressive thousand-eyed idol. Overnight in Kanji

Day 4

Kanji – Kanji DOK - base camp (TREK 5-6 h)

The trek begins today. We will walk along the Kanji Valley before reaching the base of Kanji La Pass. This is a relatively short and easy uphill hike along the Kanji River. Overnight in a tent.

Day 5

Kanji DOK - Kanji South Base Camp via Kanji LA PASS (5250 m) (7 h)

Today we will cross the first pass of the trek.

The trek will follow the Kanji Valley followed by a long and steep climb, then an easier one towards Kanji Pass.

At the top of the pass, you can see the twin peaks of Nun and Kun.

From there, a moderate descent to Kanji la Sumdo, our base camp.

Overnight in a tent

Day 6

Kanji la Base – Pigdong La (5020mtrs) - Dipling Dok (7-8 h)

After a few hours of descent, you'll reach a point where two rivers, from Kanji-la and Pigdong-la, meet. From there, we'll take the road to the left and cross the Pigdong-la Pass before arriving in Dipling. Overnight in a tent

Day 7

Dipling Dok - Lingshet Sumdo (6-7 h)

After leaving the villages of Dipling and Gonpa and walking for an hour, we will come across a river that we will have to cross several times until we reach Lingshet Sumdo. We will visit the village of Lingshet, one of the most isolated villages in Ladakh, and visit the monastery. Overnight in a tent

Day 8

Lingshet - Barmi la pass - Lanang (7h)

After enjoying the surroundings, we will continue our trek to Lanang via the Barmi Pass. Overnight in a tent.

Day 9

Lanang – Hanamula (4900 m) - Snertse (7-8 h)

Today is a challenging day, as you'll have to climb one of the steepest passes on the trek. But the view from the top is worth it. Afterward, you'll descend into a valley to reach Nyetse La Pass. The view is magnificent. Camp at Oma Tokpo.

Day 10

Snertse – Hanamur Pidmo via Parfi la pass (6 h)

We continue our trek to Hanamur. This region boasts a rich wildlife, and it's not uncommon to see urial (wild mouflon) and the greater Bharat (blue sheep). There's a good chance of seeing wild animals like urial, blue sheep, argali, and ibex on the slopes of the Parfila Pass. You will camp in Hanamur, the first village in the Zanskar Valley. There are only two houses. Overnight in a tent.

Day 11

Hanamur Pismo Pismo - Padum by car and visit to Zangla

We'll drive to Padum and, along the way, we'll visit Zangla, which was once the capital of Zanskar. An ancient 11th-century fortress built on a hilltop just before the village begins bears witness to this era.

Nearby, you'll visit a small gompa in the village of Tsazar, which boasts fabulous murals.

You'll also visit Zangla Convent, inhabited by around thirty nuns, which houses rare statues of bodhisattvas believed to be over 300 years old. Overnight stay in Padum at a guesthouse.

Day 12

Padum - Karsha Monastery - Sani - Padum

We continue our exploration of Zanskar with a first visit to the Karsha Monastery, the largest gompa in the entire Zanskar Valley. Located on a hill at the top of the village, the gompa is home to no fewer than 100 monks affiliated with the Gelugpa order.

We will also visit the Chuskit Ja Convent opposite the Karsha Gompa, which is home to around fifteen nuns.

On the way back to Padum, we will stop in the village of Sani, which is home to a monastery and a sacred lake. named Tuthot. Overnight stay in Padum at a guesthouse

Day 13

Padum - Purne - Phuktal Trek (2 hrs)

After breakfast, we set off on a short 2-3 hour trek to Phuktal Monastery. This gompa is built around a natural cave carved into the cliff face.

This is one of the few Buddhist monasteries in Ladakh that is only accessible on foot. It is also said that the 16 “arhats,” or mythical disciples of the Buddha, were among the cave's first inhabitants. We will spend the night in this legendary monastery.

Overnight stay at Phuktal Monastery's guesthouse

Day 14

Phuktal - Purne trek - Padum

Today we'll return to Padum by car. Overnight in Padum at a guesthouse.

Day 15

Padum - Temisgham

In the morning, we will return gently to Leh, stopping at the village of Temisgham, which houses a 15th-century monastery and a palace of the same name perched on a hillock high on the banks of the Indu River.

Day 16

Temisgham - Leh via Likir

Return to Leh, stopping at the picturesque Likir Gompa, perched on a small hill near the Indus River. “Likir” means “encircled by snakes.” Legend has it that the monastery is guarded by two serpent spirits, Nanda and Taksako. Overnight in Leh

Day 17

Leh- Stok- Spituk - Leh

We will take advantage of this last day in Ladakh to visit the 15th-century Spituk Gompa overlooking the beautiful Indus Valley. It houses the Mahakal Temple, containing a statue of Vajrabhairava (Kali) whose ferocious visage is only revealed during the annual Gustor festival.

We will then continue our journey to the Stok Palace, built by King Tsespal Tondup Namgyal in 1825 and still the residence of the kings of Ladakh. Parts of it have been converted into a luxury hotel.

Day 18

Vol Leh - Delhi

Our driver will escort you to the airport. Farewell to Ladakh, a true paradise on earth. The hotel shuttle will pick you up from Delhi Airport and take you to your hotel. We look forward to seeing you again.