NUBRA AND SHYOK VALLEY Nubra Valley in Ladakh
HIGHLIGHTS Nubra Valley trek lies to the north of Leh and was once the gateway to the Silk Route. The valley has vast alluvial plains and bacterian camels, which roam the sandy banks of the Shyok River. This trek visits one of the least visited areas in Ladakh in an unspoilt landscape with stunning views of Karakoram ranges especially from the summit of Lasermo la pass at 5,400m. The flight from Delhi to Leh provides spectacular views of the Himalayas before the descent in to Leh. REASONS TO CHOOSE THE MOUNTAIN COMPANY 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. Highly experience local guides will help Alan lead this expedition. We use comfortable twin share tents. A dining tent and toilet tents are also provided. We bring a comprehensive first aid kit from UK (Life Systems Mountain Leader) plus high altitude medicine, antibiotics and other medicines. There will also be a portable altitude chamber (PAC or Gamow bag). Everyone s blood oxygen saturation and heart rate is measured twice daily using a pulse oxymeter in order to monitor how the group is adjusting to the altitude.
NUBRA AND SHYOK VALLEY TREK Total number of days 14 days Grade & days trekking Accommodation Moderate, 9 trekking days 5 nights hotel, 8 nights camping 2015 price from Leh 1,750 (US$2,795) - not including Leh flights Minimum group size 6 Dates August 2 nd to 15 th 2015 July 31 st to August 13 th 2016 THE FOLLOWING IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF THE TRIP All transfers including airport collections. Morning acclimatisation walk in Leh followed by visits to key sights in the city. Twin share room at Hotel Pangong (or equivalent) in Leh and Karma Inn in Hundar. 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. Financial protection insurance with International Passenger Protection.
Pre departure support and advice from The Mountain Company by email, 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 POA 150 (US$250) 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. THE FOLLOWING IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF THE TRIP International flight to/from Delhi. Internal flight to/from Leh and Delhi. We can book Leh flights for you however we will invoice this as an extra cost. Travel & trekking insurance (eg. Snowcard). India visa for 30 days - UK 40. 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.
YOUR COMPLETE FINANCIAL PROTECTION In accordance with "The Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992" all passengers booking with The Mountain Trekking Company Ltd ( The Mountain Company ) are fully protected for the initial deposit and subsequently the balance of all monies paid to us, including repatriation if required, arising from cancellation or curtailment of your travel arrangements due to the insolvency of The Mountain Company. For further information about our financial protection insurance with International Passenger Protection please see Appendix 2. PARTICIPATION STATEMENT 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. Lack of acclimatisation to high altitudes could also be a risk factor. Our itineraries allow optimum time for acclimatising although it is possible that some individuals might be slow acclimatisers. The majority of our trips visit remote areas where you are away from normal emergency services and medical facilities. In case of a serious injury requiring hospitalisation, it has to be accepted by you, 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.
INTRODUCTION Our Nubra and Shyok Valleys trek lies to the north of Leh in Ladakh (Northern India). Shyok river meets the Nubra river to form a large valley that separates the Ladakh and Karakoram Ranges. To the north of Nubra valley is the Siachen Glacier and to the north west Sasser Pass and the famous Karakoram Pass that connect Nubra with Xinjiang in China. Previously there was much trade passing through the area to East Turkestan and Central Asia as part of the Silk Route. Shyok valley has vast alluvial plains with bacterian camels roaming around the sand dunes grazing the seabuckthorn bushes. This is a circuit trek in one of the least visited areas of Ladakh with unspoilt landscape and stunning views of the Karakoram mountains especially from the summit of Lasermo la pass at 5,400m. This trip starts in Delhi followed by the dramatic flight to Leh. After a few days acclimatising we drive on the highest road in the world over Khardung La into Nubra Valley. Later on we will stop at Diskit village to visit their monastery one of the oldest in the Nubra Valley. We spend two nights at Hundar village to help with our acclimatisation and also hopefully we will get the chance to ride a Bactrian camel in the sand dunes of this valley. We have designed our itinerary for plenty of time for the necessary acclimatisation to high altitude to maximise your chances of successful crossing Lasermo La back to Leh. Before crossing Lasermo la we leave the main valley to trek up a remote side valley to Sniu Sumdo campsite where we spend two nights. For the next day there is a good day walk from this campsite to some glacial lakes surrounded by impressive peaks such as Sahib Chasa, Leona Peak and Sniu Kangri. The crossing of Lasermo la pass is a good walk with superb views over to the Karakoram, Zanskar and Ladakh range of mountains. We end the trek at Phyiang and after visiting their monastery we drive back to Leh to complete the circuit. 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. Fly to Leh (3,500m). Transfer to Delhi domestic airport for an early morning flight to Leh. The rest of the day it is best to relax and keep hydrated in order to gradually adapt to the high altitude of Leh. Overnight at Hotel Pangong or Omashila (B). Day 2. Acclimatisation morning walk in Leh with a local guide. 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. In the morning we will organise a walk to the small fort and monastery complex of Namgyal Tsemo (mid-16th century) which overlooks Leh. The complex is believed to be the earliest royal residence in Leh. The morning walk will also visit Leh Palace built in the 1630s by Sengge Namgyal. After lunch we will visit the gleaming white Shanti Stupa ( Peace Pagoda ) which is situated on a hilltop to the west of the city. Overnight at Hotel Pangong or Omashila (B). Day 3. Drive to Hundar (3,020m). Our route to access the Nubra and Shyok Valleys is to travel over the Khardung La from Leh. The Khardung La (5,395m) is the highest driveable road in the world. We will have obtained our Inner Line Permit to enter Nubra Valley and these will be inspected as we leave Leh. After passing Diskit we then continue into the Shyok Valley to Hundar, one of the few areas in the world where grazing bactrian camels are seen. Diskit Monastery also known as Deskit Gompa or Diskit Gompa is the oldest and largest Buddhist monastery (gompa) in the Nubra Valley of Ladakh, northern India. It belongs to the Gelugpa (Yellow Hat) sect of Tibetan Buddhism. It was founded by Changzem Tserab Zangpo, a disciple of Tsong Khapa, founder of Gelugpa, in the 14th century. It is a sub-gompa of the Thikse gompa. The Nubra Valley is about 150 km north of Leh, the capital town of Ladakh, India. Local scholars say that its original name was Ldumra (the valley of flowers). The
Shyok River meets the Nubra or Siachan River to form a large valley that separates the Ladakh and the Karakoram Ranges. The average altitude of the valley is about 3,050m above sea level. The rest of the day is for acclimatisation and exploration of the settlement and surrounding area. Overnight at Karma Inn (B,L,D). Day 4. Acclimatisation and exploration day in Hundar. Hundar was the capital of the erstwhile Nubra kingdom in the 17th century, and is home to the Chamba Gompa. This is a day to continue with altitude acclimatisation and for further explorations of the area. An optional Bactrian camel ride will most likely be available here. Overnight at Karma Inn (B,L,D). Day 5. Trek to Skarchen (3,800m)- 5 hours walking. We will cross several bridges this morning before entering a gorge where the path is carved out of the steep cliffs on the right. The trail then continues through the barren landscape and climbs above the gorge before arriving at Skarchen. We pass under a huge rock overhang before arriving in Skarchen. Overnight camping (B,L,D). Day 6. Trek to Hundar Dok (4,010m)- 5 hours walking. The trail today uses paths carved out of the rock cliffs in the river valley and from time to time climbs higher above the river. We will pass chortens and cross simple bridges before reaching the wheat fields which mark the approach to Hundar Dok. Overnight camping (B,L,D). Day 7. Trek to Thanglasgo Valley (4,400m)- 6 hours walking. We follow a wide stream up through pastures from where we will see 6,000m peaks in the distance. Overnight camping (B,L,D). Day 8. Trek to Sniu Sumdo (4,400m)- 6 hours walking. We leave the main valley today to trek up a remote Sniu side valley to Sniu Sumdo. Overnight camping (B,L,D). Day 9. Day walk to the glacial lakes (4,500m)- 6 hours walking. Today we trek up the valley to the first glacial lakes. Surrounding peaks include Sahib Chasa, Leona Peak and Sniu Kangri. Overnight camping (B,L,D).
Day 10. Trek to Jhingmoche (4,500m)- 6 hours walking. Returning to the main valley we turn right and climb southwards to towards the Lasermo La crossing. Overnight camping (B,L,D). Day 11. Trek to Lasermo La Base Camp (4,800m)- 6 hours walking. We continue climbing today prior to crossing the Lasdermo La on Day 12. Overnight camping (B,L,D). Day 12. Cross the Lasermo La (5,400m) and trek to Phyiang Sumdo (4,500m)- 6 hours walking. Crossing the pass will take approximately 3 hrs but the views from the summit, weather permitting, should be stunning. Overnight camping (B,L,D). Day 13. Drive to Leh. We will visit Pyiang Gompa on the drive back in to Leh. After arriving back in Leh, the rest of the day is at leisure for final sightseeing, shopping and our farewell dinner. An optional afternoon tour to Hemis and Thiksey Gompas is available on request and this is highly recommended. Overnight at Hotel Pangong or Omashila (B). Day 14. Fly to Delhi. Transfer to Leh airport for you fight to Delhi.
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 work closely with the International Porter Protection Group (www.ippg.net) who we support and we abide by their 5 guidelines for porter protection. We also work with other organisations such as Climate Care (www.climatecare.org), Tourism Concern (www.tourismconcern.org.uk) and Friends of Conservation (www.foc-uk.com) 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. The Mountain Company has joined the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Know Before You Go campaign. The aim is to make sure travellers are properly prepared before travelling overseas. The best way to get the FCO latest advice is to visit their website at: www.fco.gov.uk/travel.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION 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! Drinks lots of water: it is easier for your body to acclimatise when hydrated so drink water and avoid coffee, tea and alcohol. For further information we suggest you take a look at the following websites: Base Camp MD website: http://www.basecampmd.com/expguide/highalt.shtml High Altitude medicine website: http://www.high-altitude-medicine.com Medex Travel at High Altitude: http://www.medex.org.uk/v26%20booklet.pdf BMC website: https://www.thebmc.co.uk/hill-skills-an-introduction-to-altitude ACCOMMODATION IN LEH For our standard treks in Ladakh we use several hotels in Leh depending on availability. They are as follows: 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 http://www.pangongladakh.com
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 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 http://hotelomasila.com/ 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 between 7am and 8am, we start walking. The pace of the trek is leisurely with plenty of time to enjoy the scenery, take photos and explore the local villages. A packed lunch is collected after breakfast. 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 your leader 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 and for lunch and dinner 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 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 late September, with July and August generally recognised as having the best weather. 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 25 C. At higher altitudes temperatures range from about 15 C to -20 C. CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT A list of suggested clothing and equipment for the Nubra Valley Trek 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. 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 http://www.trekhireuk.com/ 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. The rest of your personal equipment packed in a kitbag or backpack 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. 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 Nepal. 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 from UK (Life Systems Mountain Leader) plus high altitude medicine, 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. If you would like help arranging flights then we suggest you get in touch with our partner travel agent, GYT (ATOL registered) operated by Flight Centre UK Limited. GYT are experts in finding the best flight routes and tickets to suit your needs.
When it comes to travel; you can shoot any question to them and they ll be sure to steer you in the right direction. Along with all the advice that GYT can offer; there are a few other reasons to book with them: Unrivalled product knowledge and expertise. Passionate about travel - they will do everything they can to create your perfect travel experience. They promise to offer you the best airfare solution to suit your needs. 24 hour emergency assistance helpline. Access to Travel Butler, a service which offers you support whilst you are travelling by providing: one point of contact and free help and advice on ticket date and reschedule changes (free of charge revalidation where possible). As a specialist division of the Flight Centre Group they are part of a $12billion organisation that offers you security and utilises global buying power to save you money. You can contact The Mountain Company s dedicated travel team at themountaincompany@flightcentre.co.uk or talk to an expert on 0844 4776553. Or try contacting Max Travel (ATOL registered), you can call them at +44 (0)20 7095 0920 or visit their website atwww.maxtravel.co.uk 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. To get an online quote for your personal travel and trekking insurance (UK residents only), take a look at Snowcard's website at http://www.snowcard.co.uk
Please note that The Mountain Company do not act as an agent of Snowcard Insurance and any policy bought via this web link is effected directly with Snowcard Insurance Services Limited. 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
APPENDIX 1 SUGGESTED CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT LIST Footwear: Walking boots. A pair of waterproof boots with good ankle support. Wool and liner socks. Trainers/sneakers or sandals. Can be used around camp in the evenings. Sandals are particularly useful if we have to cross any rivers. Clothing: Waterproof jacket and trousers (Gore-tex or similar). Trekking trousers. Long sleeve expedition shirts (not cotton). Micro fleece. Mid to heavyweight fleece. Sleeveless or body warmer type fleece. Thermals or baselayer for top & bottom (merino wool or synthetic). Fleece pants. 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. Headtorch. Bring extra batteries. Sunglasses. Personal Equipment: Sleeping bag. Sleeping mat (eg. Thermarest). On trek we provide everyone with one foam mat however some clients prefer two layers for maximum insulation and comfort. Backpack large enough to carry water bottles, camera, lunch and extra clothing. Stuff sacks for keeping your gear dry and organised. Two water bottles (Nalgene wide mouth bottles are the best). Sunscreen and lip-salve with a high SPF. Insect repellent. Favourite snack food. Trekking poles. Camera with spare batteries and memory cards. Insurance certificate. Earplugs (optional). Wet wipes (optional). Hand sanitizer (optional). 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).
APPENDIX 2 INTERNATIONAL PASSENGER PROTECTION In accordance with "The Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992" all passengers booking with The Mountain Trekking Company Ltd ( The Mountain Company ) are fully protected for the initial deposit and subsequently the balance of all monies paid to us, including repatriation if required, arising from cancellation or curtailment of your travel arrangements due to the insolvency of The Mountain Company. There is no requirement for Financial Protection of day trips, and none is provided. This insurance is only valid for packages booked that DO NOT include flights. Consumer aware: Your booking is insured by IPP Ltd and its panel of insurers. This insurance is only valid for passengers who book and pay directly with/to The Mountain Company. If you have booked and/ or paid direct to a Travel Agent for a holiday with The Mountain Company please request proof of how the booking is secured as this will not be covered by IPP Ltd in this instance. For further information please go to www.ipplondon.co.uk This Insurance has been arranged by International Passenger Protection Limited and underwritten by Insurers who are members of the Association of British Insurers & Lloyds Syndicates. Claim procedures: download claim form from www.ipplondon.co.uk, any occurrence which may give rise to a claim should be advised within 14 days to: International Passenger Protection Limited, Claims Office, IPP House, 22-26 Station Road, West Wickham, Kent BR4 0PR, United Kingdom. Telephone: +44 (0) 208 7763752. Fax: +44 (0) 208 7763751. In order to deal promptly with any claims hereunder it is essential that you retain all bills, receipts and other documents relating to your travel arrangements. Claims forms must be submitted to IPP within six months of date of insolvency they cannot consider or pay claims received after this date.