camping / high altitude trekking - 22 days
We journey through the high, wild reaches of the Chang Tang, the remote plateau in East Ladakh first settled by Tibetan nomads over one thousand years ago. After exploring the monasteries of the Indus valley around the ancient capital of the region, we trek in easy stages through the beautiful grasslands surrounding the turquoise lake Tso Moriri at 4500m, camping in delightful locations.
After several days spent acclimatizing and exploring the area, we take a remote route towards the Great Himalayan Barrier, slowly ascending to our glacier camp before the high point of the trek, the demanding crossing of the 5700m Parang La pass. From there we descend into what is almost a different world, the old kingdom of Spiti, for centuries the last outpost of Tibetan Buddhism before the traveler encountered the dusty plains of India.
To finish our journey, we trek through the wild Pin Valley to our second and last pass, the 5349m Pin Parvati, where we pass from an ancient Buddhist Kingdom to an ancient Hindu one, the lush forested valley of Parvati, home of the Goddess. We take time to enjoy the pastures and forests of this gorgeous valley, before an overnight drive to Delhi and journeys end.
This trek is everything a Himalayan odyssey should be - high plateau, peaks, glaciers, passes, dense forest, and fascinating and diverse cultures. There are some demanding days, but the sense of journey as you move from the sublimely beautiful Tibetan world of the Himalaya to the colours and bustle of modern Indian is overwhelming.
Title: Caravan in the Sky
2010 Departures:
June 27 - July 18
Required fitness level: high
Trip Price: US$ 2.950 (9 max)
Single Supplement:US$ 100
Prices exclude meals in Delhi and Leh and whenever not camping!
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Photos of this trek