Starting from Srinagar and finishing in Leh (with a lot of road and river adventure in between), takes you through some of the most breathtaking landscape on the planet, from the green hills of Kashmir, high up through the rocky terrain of the forbidden kingdom of Zanskar, rafting down three high altitude rivers of Stod, Zanskar and Indus, and landing up in the ancient Ladakhi capital of Leh.
We start rafting at Remala and heading off on the most exciting part of the trip. For the next seven days we are on the river, negotiating rapids up to grade IV and camping on small riverside campsites in the Zanskar gorge until finally reaching Nimmu the confluence of the Indus and Zanskar rivers before driving to Leh, the magnificent capital of Ladakh.
After breakfast transfer to airport to connect flight for Srinagar. Upon arrival transfer to deluxe houseboat on the Dal Lake. Over a sumptuous dinner and a few drinks you get to meet your fellow expedition members, and we brief you on what to expect from the upcoming adventure. Overnight at delux houseboat.Arrival Transfer from Airport to city. Check in at hotel. Overnight.
Today is the first leg of the drive to our rafting start point, where we drive 220 km. On the way you will pass through the alpine village of Sonamarg, the snow bound pass of Zoji La. the coldest inhabited place on earth Drass. Arrive at the frontier town of Kargil where we check into a small but very comfortable guest house. Overnight at guest house.
Today we leave the Srinagar Leh highway behind us and enter in to the heart of the Zanskar area. A spectacular drive past Panikar and Parkachik, with magnificent views of the Nun and Kun massifs (7000 m), hanging glaciers and large meadows. We stop to make camp in the lush green meadows near the Rangdum monastery. This is our first night in camp. Overnight at camp.
We drive over the Pensi La which at 14,500 ft. is the highest altitude we will reach on the expedition. The pass offers spectacular views of the Zanskar peaks, at the bottom of which lies the Drung Durung glacier that feeds the Stod and Zanskar rivers. We set up camp at Remala, which is the start point of our rafting expedition.Overnight in camp.
After breakfast we will gather around for a detailed safety briefing after which e pack up the camp and load up the rafts. We raft approximately 40 km in 5 hrs which includes a break for lunch and a hot drink.
Today’s rafting section is a scenic run down the Stod River surrounded by 6000 m high peaks and the stark barren landscapes that make Ladakh so unique. The stretch includes a grade II section providing an ideal training ground for first time rafters. The rafting finishes at Karsha early in the afternoon so that we can hike to the ancient Karsha monastery near Padum, the capital of Zanskar, after which we return to camp for a hot dinner and campfire. Overnight in camp.
Breakfast is followed by a scenic run down from Karsha to the small hamlet of Pidmu, getting into camp by mid afternoon. In the early evening trek to the nearby villages of Pidmu and Hanumil and return to camp for dinner. Overnight in camp.
Following the non-stop action of the past week, we take this day off for rest and relaxation, for interacting with the local people in Pidmu hamlet and for short treks around the area. Alternatively we can even raft a short distance to the village of Honyo and set up camp over there for the night and take a short trek up and down the Honyo gorge. Overnight in Camp.
Revitalised after the rest day at Pidmu, today is an action packed day with a series of grade III rapids. The river takes on a different beauty with the walls narrowing in with towering rock sprees on each side, because of which the Zanskar Gorge is often referred to as the “Grand Canyon of India.”.
We stop for the day to pitch camp in a small field below Nyerak village, before walking up to the village to enjoy local hospitality in Ladakhi homes. Today is a good opportunity t o buy local hand woven Tibetan rugs and pullovers. Overnight in Camp.
Each day gets more exciting than the last. Today we raft through a series of grade III rapids and a few grade IV rapids. Rafting through the heart of Zanskar several sections offer non-stop action with continuous rapids, and at one point the entire river squeezes through a gap of 16 feet. Our lunch stop today will be at the base of a breathtaking waterfall that surprisingly gushes out of a small hole in a cliff. The brave-hearted can enjoy a shower in its cold waters.
Raft another couple of hours to the confluence of the Markha and the Zanskar rivers where we will set up camp for the night. Overnight in camp.
Another exciting day of white water rafting on the river, covering 40 kms of grade III rapids. Today you will see the Zanskar gorge gradually open up with more and more villages and hamlets on either side. We will set up camp on a small beach just before the confluence of the Zankar and Indus rivers at Nimmu. Overnight in camp.
Today you raft on the Indus and run parallel to the famous Leh – Kargil highway. After a short but exciting rafting session to Saspol (after here the Indus cuts into another gorge and drops into Pakistan), we bid farewell to our rafts and river guides. We now drive for a short distance (7 km) to the village and monastery of Alchi and then return to Saspol to drive 60 km to Leh, the capital of Ladakh. Night at hotel.
Our return to civilisation is a return to the friendly and charming city of Leh, the capital Ladakh. There is plenty of time to visit nearby monasteries as well as do some last minute shopping. Leh was at one time was a major stop on the Asian “Silk Route”. A stroll along the main bazaar, observing the varied crowd and peering into the curio shops, is an entrancing experience. Chang Gali, behind the main bazaar is less bustling but has intriguing little shops selling curios and jewelry like pearls, turquoise, coral, malachite, lapis and many other kinds of semi-precious stones, as well as curiously carved Yak-horn boxes, quaint brass locks, china or metal bowls etc. Night at hotel.
After breakfast drive to airport to connect flight for Delhi.
Our tents are high comfortable and quality imported weatherproof expedition tents. You will also be provided with your own camping mat and you may prefer to bring your own sleeping bag, although we can also arrange sleeping bags for you on prior request. On the river you will have dry bags, which are attached to the rear of the raft, in which to keep your luggage. All expedition members are equipped with wetsuit, life jacket and helmet.
Your escort stays with you during the whole trip from take-off to landing from your city of departure. There is one rafting guide for each raft, and we also have expedition safety kayakers at a ratio of one safety kayaker for every client raft. It is said that nobody loses weight on an MHE trip and our expedition cooks are there to make sure of that.
The icy Zanskar river originates from the high altitude plateau of Sarchu on the border of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. Originally known as the Tsarap, the river gorges a path out of the rocky mountains of western Himalayas, dropping in a continuous torrent of grade V rapids. The river then eases into the forbidden Kingdom of Zanskar and slowly flows past the capital at Padum. Here it joins with the Stod river which flows down from the Pensi La pass on the road from Kargil to Padum.
It is from this confluence of the Tsarap and Stod rivers that the mighty Zanskar takes birth. This expedition starts on the Stod river and moves in to the Zanskar Gorge. The river expedition takes you through one of the most breathtaking gorges in Asia. The stark, barren and rocky massifs are interspersed with colorful bands of mineral deposits, which run through entire mountainsides giving it a picture book finish.
The waters of Zanskar are cold at 6 – 7 degrees Celsius, making wet suits mandatory. A series of grade III and IV rapids make the Zanskar an ideal way to explore this river.
