LADAKH SKY TRAIL GHT

Transcription

1 LADAKH SKY TRAIL GHT The finish point of the Ladakh Sky Trail: Tsomoriri Lake on Changthang plateau

2 HIGHLIGHTS Our Ladakh Sky Trail is a unique trek designed by us to help you experience the best of the three areas of this region of northern India: Ladakh, Zanskar and Changthang/ Rupshu. Please see the Testimonials in section below for feedback from our previous group. This trek starts from Lamarayu monastery and crosses six mountain passes over 5,000m then 21 days later you will end your journey at Tso Moriri lake located on the Changthang plateau at 4,500m. Ladakh Sky Trail visits remote and less trekked areas of the Himalaya. Our previous group have seen pugmarks from a snow leopard as well as other wildlife such as blue sheep and also kyangs (wild asses) near Tsho Kar lake. Tsomoriri Lake is known for its unique landscape, nomads and the lakes. This area is on the Changthang Plateau, a part of western Tibet which can be called Eastern Ladakh. This region, known as the land of the nomads, and while on this trek you will see their traditional lifestyle. The area is also an important wildlife sanctuary. The Ladakh Sky Trail follows The Great Himalaya Trail ( GHT ) section across Ladakh and Zanskar mountain ranges. REASONS TO CHOOSE THE MOUNTAIN COMPANY FOR LADAKH SKY TRAIL Almas Khan will lead our Ladakh Sky Trail (GHT), he knows this trek well after having successfully led groups in 2016, 2015 and Almas has an in depth knowledge of Ladakh after many years of trekking in this region and excellent rapport with our trek crew.

3 Our local partners in Leh are one of the most established and highly regarded companies in Ladakh. They own their own fleet of vehicles to support client transfers. We use comfortable twin share tents and dining tent plus toilet tents are also provided. We bring a comprehensive first aid kit plus high altitude medicine, antibiotics and other medicines. Everyone s blood oxygen saturation and heart rate is measured twice daily using a pulse oximeter in order to monitor how the group is adjusting to the altitude.

4 TESTIMONIALS I honestly felt that this trip was excellent. The best thing was that we were able to walk through and experience Ladakh, Zanskar and Changthang in one trip. Almas is an outstanding leader. The food was exellent, both on trek and in the hotels. Our cook on trek (Angdu) is a real asset. Hotels were very pleasant and I appreciated that the two-man tents had two entrances and were robust. A small but experienced company like The Mountain Company will always be my first choice. Majid Al-Khalil (UK) First of all, we would like to thank Almas and the rest of the staffs for making this a great holiday. Almas leadership skill, intimate knowledge and passion for this region and his mission to help and support every team member made this a successful trek. Under his leadership the group (staffs and trekkers and horses) were well guided and looked after and had a great time. The trek certainly lived up to the geological wonderland description in the trip note, every day we were treated with amazing landscape, views from surreal and massive rock formations, huge river gorges, vast plains and the serene salt lake and blue lakes. The TMC itinerary is also unique in that it covers Ladakh, Zanskar, Rupshu Region and both the Tsomoriri Lake and Tsokhar Lake, and the Monasteries in the regions. This trek has it all - remote and wild landscape, long and steep climb up the Passes and long and zig zag descent, days of river crossings, seeing snow leopard footprints, blue sheep, Kiang, and visiting ancient monasteries, remote villages and Sheppard villages. Cindy and Robert (Australia)

5 LADAKH SKY TRAIL Total number of days: 27 days Grade & days trekking: Accommodation: Strenuous, 21 trekking days 4 nights hotel, 22 nights camping 2018 price from Leh 2,795 (US$3,775 or 3,215) Minimum group size 5 Dates August 14 th to September 9 th 2018 (Guaranteed) August 13 th to September 8 th 2019

6 THE FOLLOWING IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF THE TRIP Ladakh transfers including airport collections. Vehicle transport from Leh to Shey and Thiksey monasteries on Day 2 and to the high pass on Day 3. Twin share room at Hotel Lotus (or equivalent) in Leh. Breakfast only in Leh, all meals included while on trek. Twin share tents while on trek, dining tent and toilet tents. All trekking arrangements including permits and fees, Western and Ladakhi guides, porters and cook. Rubberised luggage tags posted to you before departure. Full financial protection for all monies paid to us through our membership of Association of Bonded Travel Operators Trust (our ABTOT membership number is 5365) and having an Air Travel Organiser s Licence (our ATOL number is 10921). Pre departure support and advice from The Mountain Company by , phone or face to face meetings in London. After booking with us we will send our comprehensive Ladakh Pre Trip Information notes. THE FOLLOWING SINGLE SUPPLEMENT IS AVAILABLE Single room supplement Single tent supplement 205 (US$250) 290 (US$350) Please note that if you are a single person booking on one of our trips you do not have to pay the single room supplement, this is only payable if you specifically request to have a room or tent to yourself. You will not have to pay this for this option if you happen to end up with a single room or tent due to odd numbers on the trip.

7 THE FOLLOWING IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF THE TRIP International flight to/from Delhi. Internal flight to/from Leh and Delhi. Travel & trekking insurance. India visa for 30 days. Lunch and evening meals in Leh. Delhi hotel and airport transfers. Personal clothing & equipment, please see Appendix for suggested kit list. Tips (guidance on amounts included in our Ladakh Pre Trip Information notes). Other items not listed in What is included. PARTICIPANT SELECTION The Mountain Company carefully selects and screens potential participants applying to join our groups to ensure the trip is an appropriate objective for you. We have a number of pre-trip questions asking information about your outdoor experience, training, experience, medical conditions and fitness. To access the pretrip questions please send in your application by clicking on the Apply now button on the trek webpage. After review of your replies we might contact you by telephone or for further information to aid our selection process. Please ensure you have done your own research about Ladakh Sky Trail trek by reading our pre trip documents (Trip Dossier, Trip Grading and Trip Reports published on TMC blog) to ensure you have a realistic idea of what to expect. Every trip organised by The Mountain Company has been graded based on four factors: daily walking times, altitude, terrain and remoteness.

8 INTRODUCTION Our Ladakh Sky Trail is a unique trek designed by us to help you experience the best of the three areas of this region of northern India: Ladakh, Zanskar and Changthang/ Rupshu. This is a challenging Trans Himalayan traverse of Ladakh and most of the trails are rarely trekked by other groups. On this trek we cross six mountain passes over 5,000m which link landscapes aptly described as a geologically wonderland. Stunning white washed monasteries & Buddhist villages mark our route. Ladakh Sky Trail GHT follows footpaths used for centuries from the sacred monastery at Lamayuru to the heart of the Zanskar valley and on to the desolate Rupshu region and Changthang plains. From Zangla village we walk along the old salt route where the people of Zanskar used to take yak products and barley over to Tshokar Lake to exchange for salt. You will end your journey at the beautiful blue lake of Tsomoriri Lake located on the Changthang plateau at 4,500m. Tsomoriri Lake is known for its unique landscape, nomads and the lakes. While on this trek you will see nomads and observe their traditional lifestyle. The area is also an important wildlife sanctuary, harbouring snow leopards and wild asses, as well as various species of birds, such as the black necked crane. DETAILED ITINERARY It is our intention to keep to the day by day itinerary detailed below, although there might be some flexibility due to local conditions or other factors beyond our control. If this is the case the trek leader will do everything possible to work out the changes to the itinerary in order to minimise your inconvenience. Day 1. Arrive in Leh (3,500m). On a clear day this is a spectacular 75 minute flight with views of Himalayan peaks, we will meet you on arrival to Leh airport and drive you back to the hotel. The rest of the day we recommend you relax and keep hydrated in order to gradually adapt to the high altitude of Leh. Once everyone has arrived Almas will give a detailed briefing on the trek and then in the evening will organise a group meal.

9 Leh is the ancient capital of Ladakh and has many hilltop forts and palaces to visit including the Royal Palace which overlooks the town. The town is situated on the old Silk Route and still has a trading tradition; it is well worth wandering around the colourful bazaar. Overnight at Hotel Lotus (none). Day 2. Day trip to visit Shey and Thiksey monasteries. During today's sightseeing tour we visit Shey palace followed by Thiksey Monastery sometimes called the mini Potala. Thiksey is a beautiful monastery containing numerous stupas, statues, thankas, wall paintings and a large pillar engraved with the Buddha's teachings. This sightseeing is done by private cars as Shey and Thiksey are about 10 kms out of Leh. We leave the afternoon free for the group to do their last minute shopping for the trek or just to explore Leh. Overnight at Hotel Lotus (Meals: B). Day 3. Day walk around Leh for acclimatisation. After breakfast we will drive up to a 5,000m+ pass near to Leh to do some short walks to explore the area and to help with acclimatisation before starting the trek tomorrow. Overnight at Hotel Lotus (Meals: B). Day 4. Drive to Lamayuru (3,500m)- 5 hours driving. As it is only a short drive to Lamayuru we are in no rush this morning and we leave the hotel at about 10am. On the way we stop by 11.30am at Alchi Monastery (3,000m) to have a look at this ancient monastery followed by lunch. We continue the drive on to Lamayuru and we should get there by about 3pm. We check in to a guest house and later we visit the Lamayuru Monastery only 20 minute walk away. Overnight Moonland Guesthouse (Meals: B,L,D). Day 5. Cross Prinkti La (3,600m), drive to Photoksar (4,160m) over a high pass (4,750m) to Sheila village (3,160m) - 4 hours walking and 3 hours driving. Today is our first proper walk of the trek and we cross the first of many passes. We start by walking from the guest house and descend 150m to the base of the pass and then climb up the Prinkti La at 3,600m. From the top of the pass we follow the trail downhill through a beautiful gorge to Sheila village. It takes 2 hours to reach the pass from the guest house and about the same time to descend to Sheila village. Cars will be waiting to take us on a 3 hour scenic drive over a 4,750 meter high pass to our campsite in Photoksar. It is our first night of camping today. Overnight camping (Meals: B,L,D).

10 Day 6. Trek to Sigge La Base Camp (4,300m)- 6 hours walking. This is an easier day of walking although the altitude is all above 4,000m. It will take 1 hour to go over a 4,300m ridge from the camp. This is followed by a traverse through yak grazing meadows to our camp at Sigge La Base Camp. We usually get to this camp by lunch time and can do some acclimatisation walks in the afternoon. Overnight camping (Meals: B,L,D). Day 7. Cross Sigge La pass (4,800m) and trek to Skiu Pata (3,970m)- 7 to 8 hours walking. It takes us two and a half hours from the camp to ascend to Sigge La pass at 4,800m. From this high point we descend and traverse the trail for the next 5 hours to arrive at Skiu Pata village. This camp is lower and warmer camp than last night and is located outside the village in a valley half way to Lingshed in between two passes. Although there is a motorable road for most of today and all of yesterday we do not walk along it so 70 % of the time we are away from it. The road also has very little traffic about 2 or 3 vehicles a day. Overnight camping (Meals: B,L,D). Day 8. Cross pass (4,300m) and trek to Hanimu La Base Camp (3,826m)- 8 to 9 hours walking. We start the day climbing up through grazing meadows to our pass at 4,300m and then we follow a trail with a traversing descent to Lingshed village for lunch. It is well worth having a look at the monastery and then we continue on to our camp at the base of Hanimu La pass. We should arrive to camp at about 3.30pm after leaving Skiu Pata at 8am including time looking around Lingshed. Overnight camping (Meals: B,L,D). Day 9. Cross Hanimu La (4,710m) and trek to Zing Chen (3,254m)- 7 hours walking. There is steep and sustained ascent of 900m to Hanimu La pass at 4,710m taking about 4 hours to the summit of the pass. There are superb views from the pass looking back at Lingshed village and its monastery. The descent on the other side is less steep and the trail follows a beautiful gorge. Towards the end of the day we have steep descent to camp taking about 1 hour. Overnight camping (Meals: B,L,D).

11 Day 10. Cross Purfi La (3,850m) and trek to Hanimul village (3,300m)- 5 to 6 hours walking. In the morning we have 600m ascent to Purfi La pass at 3,850m and this takes about 2 hours. Once over the pass we enter into the Zanskar region and also the Zanskar river valley. Zanskar is a high altitude semi-desert lying on the Northern flank of the Great Himalayan Range. It takes 4 hours to get to the camp near Hanimul village from the pass. Overnight camping (Meals: B,L,D). Day 11. Trek to Pishu village (3,300m)- 5 hours walking. This is an easier and very scenic walk along the Zanskar river to our camp beside the river in Pishu village. Overnight camping (Meals: B,L,D). Day 12. Trek to Zangla village (3,300m) - 2 hours walking. The campsite in Zangla is on the other side of the river and it takes no more than 2 hours to get there. We have an easier day so that the cook can go to Padum village to obtain food supplies for the rest of trek. You will have most of the day free to explore Zangla village which is the ancient capital of Zanskar or just wash and relax in camp. Overnight camping (Meals: B,L,D). Day 13. Trek to Zangla Sumdo (3,800m)- 7 hours walking. From Zangla village we start walking through the most remote section of the trek in a beautiful gorge until we get to Daat. This is a trail that does not see many trekkers and according to locals usually there is less than four groups per year. We are now walking along the old salt route where the people of Zanskar used to take yak products and barley over to Tshokar Lake to exchange for salt. It is a steady ascent up the Zangla river to our camp at Zangla Sumdo at the base of our next pass Cha Cha La. We have many river crossings on the walk to Zangla Sumdo so please make sure you have your sandals and walking poles in your day pack. These river crossings are likely to have water up to knee high given normal weather conditions. If the water level is low it can be an easy half day to reach the camp however if the water level is high it can take up to 7 hours. The walk is in beautiful gorge and overall the trail is not too challenging. Overnight camping (Meals: B,L,D).

12 Day 14. Cross Cha Cha La (4,950m) and trek to Chubchak (4,300m) 8 to 9 hours walking. There is a 4 hour ascent to Cha Cha La at 4,950m where you will be rewarded with superb views of the Zanskar range. The trail is mainly on scree slopes and also passes through several small pastures. On the descent from the pass we follow a narrow valley where there will be more river crossings before reaching our beautiful campsite at Chubchak. We have to unload horses as in places the valley is too narrow. There is also likely to be some snow bridges along the way left over from the winter. Overnight camping (Meals: B,L,D). Day 15. Trek to Tsharlow (3,700m)- 7 hours walking. The narrow river gorge widens a bit so today we will probably not have to unload our horses. Throughout the day we crisscross the small river as we descend to our beautiful campsite at Tsharlow. This place is a geologist s dream with rock strata in hillsides set in a wavelike shapes from folding and faulting geological processes over many years. Overnight camping (Meals: B,L,D). Day 16. Trek to Kumara Sumdo (3,300m)- 7 hours walking. This is our last day of river crossings although the last few crossings today will be the deepest ranging from knee to waist high. The walk for last two days and today will be on less defined rocky trails along the small river. Overnight camping (Meals: B,L,D). Day 17. Trek to Rabrung La Base Camp (4,400m) - 7 hours walking. Today there is a steady climb uphill following a narrow valley which opens up towards the end of the walk into a large meadow at the base of Rabrung La and Zalung Karpo La passes. The grazing meadows for pashmina goats are seen from today. Snow leopard foot prints have often been seen in the area from here till Daat and there are blue sheep too. Overnight camping (Meals: B,L,D). Day 18. Cross Zalung Karpo La (5,190m) and trek to Tshora (4,385m) - 8 hours walking. There is a 700m ascent to Zalung Karpo La at 5,190m following a trail ranging from small rocks to loose, soft soil with a few meadows in between. There are wonderful views from the top of Zalung Karpo La including Mt. Kangyatse known as the highest peak of Ladakh. Again this is a good day for spotting wild life such as snow

13 leopard, wolves, blue sheep and marmots. We descend from the pass into green gazing meadows to our camp at Tshora. Overnight camping (Meals: B,L,D). Day 19. Trek to Daat (4,180m)- 6 hours walking. This is an easier and very beautiful day as we pass meadows through valleys to the small village of Daat. We can visit a small monastery near Daat with only two monks on way to our camp. Overnight camping (Meals: B,L,D). Day 20. Drive to Tsho Kaar and onto Nuruchen camp (4,600m) 3 to 4 hours driving. From Daat we drive across the Manali to Leh highway and continue onto the far side of Tshokar Lake at a good camp called Nuruchen. Today onwards we see a lots of kyangs (Tibetan wild ass) running around in the flats and big open valleys of Changthang and Rupshu. Overnight camping (Meals: B,L,D). Day 21. Rest day at Nuruchen (4,600m). This is a good campsite for a rest day as there are several options for walks with vantage points looking at Tshokar lake and villages across. We also wait for our horses to arrive as it takes them a day and a half to walk what we drove in 4 hrs yesterday. Overnight camping (Meals: B,L,D). Day 22. Trek to Rajun Karu (4,800m)- 4 hours walking. Our camp for tonight is at Rajunkaru, this place is a pashmina goat herders summer settlement and is not very far from Nuruchen. It is a short day more because of non-availability of campsites and water without having a very big day and camping above 5,000m. Our campsite is a little above the settlement where the water is cleaner in a wind sheltered small meadow. Overnight camping (Meals: B,L,D). Day 23. Cross Kartse La (5,380m) and Kayama Yuri La (5,250m) then trek to Gyama Burma (5,030m)- 7 to 8 hours walking. Our walk today is over two passes and through large grassy meadows. We cross the highest pass of the trek called Kartse La at 5,380m and the second pass we cross today is called Kayama Yuri La at 5,250m. For most of the day we are above 5,000m as there is no significant descent and ascent between the two passes. Our

14 camp at Gyama Burma is the highest on this trek and is located in a large yak grazing meadows. Overnight camping (Meals: B,L,D). Day 24. Cross Yalung La (5,300m), trek to Doksa (4,500m)- 7 hours walking. This is our last pass of the trek called Yalung La at 5,300m with only 300m ascent from our camp at Gyama Burma. It also gives our first view of the Tsomoriri lake and during our descent down to our campsite we pass through ia valley of yak and goat herders. Overnight camping (Meals: B,L,D). Day 25. Trek to Karzok (4,400m)- 7 hours walking. Doksa is connected by road to Karzok however we avoid the road and go over the ridge with stunning views over Tsomoriri lake. We descend from the ridge to the lake then walk along the edge to get to our camp at Karzok village. If anyone does not want to do this longer walk they can follow along the road to get to Karzok in two and a half hours. Overnight camping (Meals: B,L,D). Day 26. Drive to Leh (3,500m)- 6 to 7 hours driving. On our drive back to Leh we visit the famed Hemis Monastery. Overnight at Hotel Lotus (Meals: B). Day 27. Fly to Delhi. Transfer to Leh airport for you fight to Delhi.

15 YOUR COMPLETE FINANCIAL PROTECTION The Mountain Trekking Company Ltd (trading as The Mountain Company) is a fully licensed and bonded tour operator. For flight inclusive packages sold to UK residents these will be covered by our Air Travel Organisers Licence (our ATOL number is 10921). For packages that do not include flights and for packages sold to customers outside of the UK your financial protection is covered by our membership of Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust ("ABTOT"). Our ABTOT membership number is Our membership of these organisations means that you can book with us in complete confidence that all monies paid to us for trips are protected. ETHICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS The Mountain Company is committed to adopting a responsible attitude to the areas we visit. We are guests of the communities visited and with some thought and care we can ensure that everyone benefits from the experience. We have developed a Responsible Tourism policy which aims to ensure that The Mountain Company and its clients act in a way that is socially, environmentally and culturally sound. In 2017 the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO) launched Project PROTECT in recognition of the important role that destinations play in the future of the travel industry. The aim of this project is to encourage sustainable tourism and to nurture the destinations for tomorrow's travellers. The PROTECT acronym

16 stands for People / Resources / Outreach / Tourism / Environment / Conservation / Tomorrow. This project is led by Professor Xavier Font of the University of Surrey and each AITO member has to publish an annual pledge and report back at the end of the year on how they got along. To see The Mountain Company s Project PROTECT pledge for 2017 please take a look at our blog: We work closely with the International Porter Protection Group and abide by their five guidelines for porter protection, their website is at We also have partnered with Kathmandu Environmental Education Project in Nepal, their website is at THREAT AND RISK ASSESSMENT Participants should be aware trekking, mountaineering and travelling in a developing country are activities that involve a risk of personal injury or death. As a condition of booking you must accept these risks and be responsible for your own actions and involvement. Adventure travel requires an open and flexible attitude. You may experience extreme conditions, unpredictable weather and last minute changes to the itinerary beyond our control. The ability to work in team is an important aspect of all of our trips.

17 As a part of our planning process we have performed a detailed threat and risk assessment for our Ladakh Sky Trail trek. It is worth pointing out all of our trips have a certain degree of risk, this is of course part of the attraction of adventure travel and why so many people choose to join this type of holiday. However by identifying the potential hazards on Ladakh Sky Trail we can assess the level of risk and implement control measures to reduce this happening. Our full threat and risk assessment for Ladakh Sky Trail is available to clients on request. For your information we have listed below a summary of the significant risks and hazards identified by us: Falls and trips resulting in physical injury eg. slipping on ice or falling off the path. Altitude illness including but not limited to AMS, HACE and HAPE. Getting lost or becoming separated from group eg. crossing passes in a whiteout. Severe bad weather and conditions when camping eg. flash flooding. Climatic injuries (dehydration, sun burn, heat exhaustion, hypothermia or heat stroke). Crossing a river with no bridge resulting in drowning and/ or a fall. Rock fall and landslides. Lightning strike. Wildlife, pack animals (eg. donkeys or horses) or stray dogs. Pack animals have been known to knock people off the path. Dogs can attack and bite, we advise you discuss rabies vaccination with your doctor. Earthquake. Risk of fire in the hotel or lodge. Endemic local diseases. We advise you discuss vaccinations with your doctor before departure. Physiological injury such as heart attack, appendicitis, hernia, toothache etc. in a remote area.

18 Road traffic accident. Contaminated food and/ or water. This trip visits a remote area where you are away from normal emergency services and medical facilities. In case of a serious injury requiring hospitalisation evacuation could take up to several days and may impede your ensuing recovery. Helicopters are the most usual means of evacuation, however they are not always available or they may be hindered by poor weather and flying conditions. THE ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT TOUR OPERATORS ( AITO ) The Mountain Company is a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO) and we have agreed to abide by the terms of the AITO Quality Charter. AITO is the Association for independent and specialist holiday companies. Our member companies, usually owner-managed, strive to create overseas holidays with high levels of professionalism and a shared concern for quality and personal service. The Association encourages the highest standards in all aspects of tour operating. For more information please take a look at ALTITUDE AND ACCLIMATISATION There are ways of helping the acclimatisation process, as described below: Walk slowly: there is plenty of time included in the itinerary so there is no need to rush, go at your own pace and enjoy the incredible views!

19 Drinks lots of water: it is easier for your body to acclimatise when hydrated so drink water and avoid coffee, tea and alcohol. Consider taking diamox (acetazolamide): before using this drug we recommend consulting a doctor and thoroughly researching the pros and cons. Please remember even the fittest and healthiest person can develop one of the altitude illnesses: AMS (acute mountain sickness), HACE (high altitude cerebral edema) and/ or HAPE (high altitude pulmonary edema). The symptoms of these illnesses are listed below, if any of these occur when you are on trek please immediately tell your guide. Symptoms of AMS: Tiredness Dizziness Nausea or if severe, vomiting Poor sleep Symptoms of HACE: Usually preceded by AMS Like Severe AMS also with severe headache unresponsive to painkillers; confusion and physical clumsiness (ataxia). Symptoms of HAPE: Fluid in the lungs: cough, tiredness, breathlessness out of proportion to exercise especially at rest and worse when lying flat. Often symptoms start later (at night or after 24 to 48 hours at new altitude). Often occurs without AMS (often no headache) But you can have AMS and HACE too.

20 If you have symptoms of altitude illness (AMS, HACE or HAPE) you must not ascend in altitude. If you have HACE or HAPE you must descend to nearest health post (if available) or seek medical help. If you have only mild symptoms of AMS you should rest, drink fluids, try to eat, keep warm. If symptoms go away then you can go up. If symptoms get worse you have to descend in altitude escorted by one of our guides (someone with altitude illness must never descend alone). For further information we suggest you take a look at the following websites: Base Camp MD website: High Altitude medicine website: Medex Travel at High Altitude: BMC website: ACCOMMODATION IN LEH For our standard treks in Ladakh we use several hotels in Leh depending on availability. They are as follows: Hotel Lotus is located above the main town of Leh and is surrounded by groves of evergreen trees. The hotel has seventeen rooms, restaurant and lobby. For more information please take a look at: Pangong Hotel (Category A rated) is located in a grove of poplar trees only 5 minute walk from the centre of Leh. The hotel has a beautiful garden with views of Stok Kangri. There are18 well furnished spacious double rooms with attached bathrooms and running hot & cold shower facility with Cable TV. For more information take a look at their website Hotel Omasila is a short walk from the centre of Leh and is located in lush gardens with views of the mountains. This property has been built in traditional style and the

21 rooms incorporate traditional Ladakhi wood work and wall frescoes. There are 38 rooms with attached bathroom and TV. For more information take a look at their website at We will book hotels of a similar quality if we are unable to get reservations at the ones mentioned above. There is a store room at these hotels where you can leave luggage with items not required while on trek. There is also a safe at these hotels for valuables. A TYPICAL DAY ON TREK The day starts with an early morning mug of tea brought to your tent by one of the cook s helpers and this is followed by a bowl of warm washing water. Before heading over to the mess tent for breakfast it is best to pack your overnight gear into your kitbag. During breakfast the tents will be packed away and, after the pack animals have been loaded, they will set off on the trail in the cool of the morning. After breakfast, probably around 8am, we start walking. The pace of the trek will allow plenty of time to enjoy the scenery, take photos and explore the local villages. There is more walking after lunch and normally you will get into camp by mid afternoon with the tents already put up by the local staff. In the evening a three course meal is served in the mess tent around 7pm. After supper Almas will discuss the plan for the next day with the group. People might stay in the mess tent chatting about the day s events for a while before retiring to their tent for the night. FOOD In Leh, breakfast is provided each morning by the hotel. For lunch and dinner in Leh, our hotels have been chosen for their location, which give plenty of opportunities for eating out in the immediate area. While on the trek, the cook will provide good quality food in sufficient quantities. For breakfast you are likely to get porridge or cereal, toast or chapattis, omelettes

22 and a range of hot drinks. On arrival to camp in the afternoon you will be given tea and biscuits and a three course meal will follow later in the evening. CLIMATE The traditional trekking season in Ladakh is late June to September. This trek will have a wide range of temperatures depending on the altitude and the time of day. In the mountains between 1,000m and 3,500m the nights will be cool, normally around 5 C, and during the day temperatures sometimes rise to 30 C. At higher altitudes temperatures range from about 15 C to -10 C. CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT A list of suggested clothing and equipment for the Ladakh Sky Trail has been included in the Appendix below. This is a comprehensive list and experienced trekkers will often take only a selection of these items based on what has worked in the past. It is worth pointing out that you will need a sleeping bag for this trip. Sleeping mats will be provided in the tents. If you do not have the clothing and equipment contained in this list then a good option might be to rent from the UK. Trek Hire is a company that rents out high quality items at competitive prices which would save you the expense of buying. The link to their website is Alternatively if you are going to buy then please contact the office for the Cotswold Outdoor promo code that entitles you, as a client of The Mountain Company, to a 15% discount in their stores and online. Each trekker should bring one backpack for items required during the day. Your day backpack will contain items such as warm clothes, jacket, camera, water bottles, personal first aid kit and snacks. Typically the backpack would be 30 to 40 litres in size. The rest of your personal equipment packed in a kitbag will be carried by a porter. The maximum weight allowance is 15kgs. Please ensure that your bag is marked clearly on the outside for easy identification.

23 VISA REQUIREMENTS All foreigners require a visa for entry into India. It is your responsibility to obtain the entry visa and without this visa, airlines will refuse to accept you for your flight to Delhi. VACCINATIONS AND MEDICAL You should obtain professional advice from a travel clinic or your local GP about which vaccinations to have before you arrive in India. A dental check-up is a good idea as there will be no dental facilities while on the trek. We bring a comprehensive first aid kit plus high altitude medicines, antibiotics and other medicines. FLIGHTS The Mountain Company does not book international flights for our holidays. Instead all package prices are Land Only with services starting from arrival to the destination country. The Mountain Company has partnered with Student Universe to provide you with affordable, ATOL & ABTA bonded flights and more to any destination around the world that your travels may take you. Speak to a travel expert to get your trip started today - call or fill in the enquiry form at: Or try contacting Max Travel (ATOL registered), you can call them at +44 (0) or visit their website at

24 INSURANCE Travel insurance for any Mountain Company itinerary is a condition of booking a holiday. At the very least you should have emergency medical and repatriation insurance which must include the cost of mountain rescue. Cancellation insurance is strongly recommended as all deposits paid to The Mountain Company are nonrefundable. It is important for you to understand that ultimately the burden of any expense incurred in evacuation and repatriation procedures will be borne by you and that it is your responsibility to pay any costs incurred in respect of any evacuation or for medical treatment. You should be fully aware of the implications involved in arranging your own travel insurance and understand the limitations and exclusions of your policy. You should be aware that under certain circumstances, The Mountain Company leader (or our local agent, if no western leader) might instigate rescue proceedings via helicopter (or any other means necessary) in situations of medical emergency without first contacting your insurance company for their approval. The Mountain Company has arranged travel and trekking insurance for European Union residents with the specialist insurance broker Campbell Irvine. Their insurance policy will cover you for most of the trips in our portfolio. However if your trek is classified or graded by The Mountain Company as Strenuous or Challenging then you must make sure you select this option when obtaining an online quote for your insurance. Campbell Irvine will not provide insurance cover for any trips classified as Mountaineering. To apply for an online quote through Campbell Irvine s Direct Travel Insurance website please click on this link below:

25 Should you have any questions regarding the terms and conditions of cover please contact Campbell Irvine on or CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS For those of you who are visiting India for the first time we have provided some cultural information to help ensure your behaviour is acceptable to your hosts in India: Both men and women should dress conservatively wearing full length trousers and a shirt. There are many hot springs, rivers and lakes where it is pleasant to take a dip, it is fine for men to go bare-chested while bathing but should not go nude. Women should try and be as modest as possible in these situations. Indians consider the left hand to be unclean, therefore do not eat food with your left hand and make sure you give or receive food only with your right hand Shoes are considered degrading so keep them on the ground and remove them before putting your feet on anything and on entering a temple you should remove your shoes. You will pass Buddhist mani walls, chortens, and stupas along the trek and to follow local traditions you should pass them on your right. When visiting a monastery or gompa it is customary to give a donation for its upkeep

26 APPENDIX CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT LIST FOR LADAKH SKY TRAIL GHT For the safety of everyone in the group and to help ensure a successful trek, you are required to have the following items in our clothing and equipment list tailored for Ladakh Sky Trail trek. Your gear will be checked by the group leader in Leh prior to departure for the trek. As a reminder, the weather on this trek will vary season to season and day to day as you ascend to higher elevations. During the first couple of days on Ladakh Sky Trail trek you are likely to experience hot conditions with temperatures up to 25 to 30 C. You will experience the coldest temperatures in Gyama Yagmo camp at an altitude of 5,190m where overnight lows will be down to around -10 C. Footwear: Walking boots. A pair of waterproof boots with good ankle support. Wool and liner socks. Trail shoes or trainers. Can be used around camp. Sandals: fully enclosed sandals are best to protect your feet as you will be walking in these for most of the time for three days with multiple river crossings. These are required for river crossings as well as two trekking poles (see below). You should bring a sandal that you are comfortable to walk in all day because if the canyon rivers are running high you can do many river crossing in one day. Clothing: Waterproof jacket and trousers (Gore-tex or similar). For use if it rains or snows during the trek. Trekking trousers. Minimum two pairs of trousers. Long sleeve shirts (not cotton). Minimum two shirts.

27 Micro fleece. Mid to heavyweight fleece. Sleeveless/ gilet or body warmer type fleece. This will help keep your core warm while not bulking when layering up. Gilet fleece can be used in combination with base layers, other fleeces and down jacket to provide maximum warmth and insulation. Thermals or baselayer for top & bottom (merino wool or synthetic). Fleece pants. To be worn around camp or added as an additional layer when the temperatures start to drop higher up. Medium weight down jacket (eg. Nuptse jacket by The North Face). Handwear: Fleece gloves. Warms mittens and/or gloves. Headwear: Wool or fleece hat. Sun hat. Bandana or scarf. (eg. Buff Headwear check out This is essential to bring on trek in Ladakh in order to cover one s mouth as it can be dusty on the trail especially if there is high wind. Headtorch. Bring extra batteries. Sunglasses. The lenses need to be Category 4 rated and should have side protection or wraparound design to prevent light getting through to your eyes that could cause sun blindness. Personal Equipment: Sleeping bag. Maximum overnight lows will be around -10 Celsius. Sleeping mat (eg. Thermarest). On trek we provide everyone with one foam mat however some clients prefer two layers for maximum insulation and comfort.

28 Daypack. Recommended size is 40 litres or larger as you need to have enough space to carry water bottles, camera, lunch and extra clothing for days crossing the high passes. It is also a good idea to bring a pack cover to keep the contents dry. Stuff sacks for keeping your gear dry and organised. Or even better are folddrybags such as from Exped. Two water bottles (Nalgene wide mouth bottles are the best). Pee bottle. Highly recommended as means you do not have to get up to find toilet tent at night! For men you can use an old water bottle for women take a look at SheWee at Sunscreen and lip-salve with a high SPF. As the environment in Ladakh is dry and arid we recommend bringing skin moisturiser and lip balm for use in the evenings. Insect repellent. Water purification tablets (Pristine, Biox Acqua or Acqa Mira). You will be provided with boiled water at camp however if you refill water bottle at a water tap or steam during the day you should use water purifiers. Favourite snack food. Trekking poles (Black Diamond with Flick Lock are best). Two trekking poles are required for river crossings. Umbrella (good for shade and also if it rains). Camera with spare batteries and memory cards. Insurance certificate. Earplugs (optional). Wet wipes (optional). Hand sanitizer (optional).

29 Travelling: A large waterproof kitbag (100 Litre size) for your personal gear on the trek (carried by a pack animal). Bring a small combination padlock to secure the bag. Travel clothes. You will need casual clothing for air travel days and time spent in Delhi and Leh. Toiletry bag include toilet paper, soap, towel, toothbrush, etc. Personal first aid kit: Note: we provide a comprehensive group first aid kit but please bring personal medications and other items you might use regularly such as: Any personal medications. Blister treatment (Compeed patches are the best). Rehydration powder e.g. Dioralyte. Analgesics (paracetamol, ibuprofen and aspirin). Plasters and zinc oxide tape. Throat lozenges. Diamox (helps with acclimatisation).