COUNTRYSIDE ADVENTURE HOLIDAYS

LADAKH EXPLORATORY & RAFTING

Ladakh the magnificent mountain dessert kingdom provides a fitting backdrop for this trip that attempts to do it all. Ladakh is famed for its high passes, brackish water lakes, a stunning lunar landscape, a Buddhist culture warped in time, deep blue endless skies, and a landscape that is larger than life. It is an adventure seekers paradise. Many have said Ladakh is the most beautiful place in the world. And we discover this in our trip. This trip while high on adventure is one that a family can enjoy. We do a spot of sightseeing in Leh and then head out for a few days of trekking and end with a thrilling rafting run on the Indus River. A small but heady dose of adventure.

FACT FILE

About The Tour

Total Duration Tour Starts Style of tour Physical Challenge Max Altitude Best Season Stay (nights) Food

4850 m / 15913 ft June to September Hotel 05; Organized Camping 05 Leh Bed & Breakfast basis; On Trek; All Meals Included. Travel : Transfers and sightseeing in small vehicles

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10 nights / 11 days Ex Leh Treks & Walks

COUNTRYSIDE ADVENTURE HOLIDAYS

Route Map

Altitude Chart

Graph indicates sleeping altitudes & not daily ascents or descents on the tour.

Brief Itinerary
Day 01 Day 02 Day 03 Day 04 Day 05 Day 06 Day 07 Day 08 Day 09 Day 10 Day 11 Map not to scale Leh Leh; Half day sightseeing Leh; Full day sightseeing Drive Leh to Zinchen. Trek to Rumbak Trek from Rumbak to Ganda La Base Trek from Ganda La Base to Shingo Trek from Shingo to Skaya Trek from Skaya to Chilling Raft to Nimo (2 hrs); drive to Leh via Alchi Rest day Final Departure

Do you think comfort and adventure are incompatible? Not at Countryside!

Detail Itinerary Day 01: New Delhi to Leh (3500 m / 11484 ft) We catch the early morning flight to Leh. As we look below we see the plains give way to mountains. The mountains first green then turn to arid and then as we cross the Great Himalayan Range we can see the stretch of the high altitude dessert below us. We get a pick up at the airport and drive to our hotel. The rest of the day is spent in acclimatization walks and an orientation walk in the markets of Leh. We return to the hotel for dinner and stay. Day 02: Leh Half Day Sightseeing We have a late start and relax in the morning. Post lunch we step out for an orientation and acclimatization excursion around Leh. We then visit Leh Palce, Hall of fame and head to Shanti Stupa which is a Buddhist white domed stupa on a hilltop in Changspa. We enjoy the panoramic view of the city at sunset. From here we leave the vehicles and head down to Leh taking some quite back roads and into the Leh market to wander around at leisure. Day 03: Leh Full day sightseeing This day is for taking in the sights of Leh and to use this as an opportunity to acclimitise further. We visit Hemis Monastery, Thikshey Monastery and Stok Palace. Seven or Seventy - we have a trip for you!
Leh Palace

Hemis stands on the western bank of the Indus River. The monastery also boasts of a very rich collection of ancient relics. The Hemis Monastery also serves as the venue of an annual festival, known as the Hemis Festival. Thikshey houses one of the largest Buddhist statues, the 15 meter tall Champa, the Buddha of Future and located strategically, today; Thiksey is one of the most frequently visited and most photogenic monasteries in Ladakh. About a hundred monks live here. The Stok Palace is where the current royal family lives in Stok Palace.

Day 04: Drive Leh to Zinchen. Trek to Rumbak (3800 m/12468 ft; Trek2 to 3 hrs) After breakfast we take a short drive to Zinchen, a small village near Leh. We further walk up to our campsite at Rumbak. Camp overnight. Day 05: Trek from Rumbak to Ganda La Base (4380 m / 14371 ft; 4 hrs) We then follow the main trail on the left of the Rumbak Nala keeping the Rumbak village behind us. We then enter a valley leading to the south & proceed to the village of Yurutse. After and 1 hrs walk. Here we can take some good pictures of the valley and rest for sometime then we proceed in the same valley for about another 1 hrs to first base camp of Ganda La. The climb is long and we seem to be doing a series of climbs ascending gradually. We go littile further 45 mins more walk up hill then we reach another camp of Gandala base, which is 4380 m / 14371 ft. Camp Overnight. Day 06: Trek from Ganda La Base to Shingo (4150 m / 13616 ft; 4 hrs) over Ganda La (4850 m / 15913 ft), Our high point on the trek. From the base we have a gradual ascent before the steep climb to the top of Ganda La. From the pass we get a fabulous view of Mt. Stok Kangri & the Stok La range on the SouthEast, while the Zanskar range is on the West. We descend steadily along the Skiu Nalla to reach a small village called Shingo with a beautiful campsite. Camp overnight. When the going gets tough that is when our guides get going - we try to ensure that you climb that summit, scale that rock-face, cross that bridge.... fulfill your dream, achieve your goal!

Day 09: Raft to Nimo (2 hrs); drive to Leh via Alchi (3500 m / 11484 ft; 3 hrs) After breakfast we do a rafting run down Zanskar River (2 to 2.5 hrs). The exciting rapids make the rafting run interesting. Our run ends at Nimo and we break for lunch. Post lunch we visit Alchi Monastery which is a World Heritage Site also this is the only monastery on flat ground. From here we drive to Leh. Evening is free for rest. Dinner and overnight stay in a hotel. Day 10: Rest day in Leh Day 07: Trek from Shingo to Skaya (3017 m / 9900 ft; 4 5 hrs) We continue to descend the Skiu Nallah. This walk is through a narrow gorge with willows & shrubs of wild roses. We walk all the way crisscrossing the Nallah till we reach the Skiu Village on the banks of the Markha River. We can choose to camp near Skiu Village. Day 08: Trek from Skaya to Chilling (3250 m / 10663 ft; 4 5 hrs) From here the walk is quite easy and its a more relaxed day as we leave the high passes behind and walk along the river to reach Chilling which is the starting point of the rafting run. Camp Overnight. The last day is spent at leisure. We enjoy the many cuisines of Leh and finish our last minute shopping of curios, gifts and handicrafts for friends back home. In the evening we have a farewell dinner and return to the hotel for stay. Day 11: Final Departure Early morning, drive to Leh airport, this time do make sure would have a window seat so that you may enjoy the stunning landscape of Ladakh as you head back to the plains. End of arrangements

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Extending Your Holiday 1. Pangong Visit: We have an option of one day or 01 Night / 02 Days excursion to the worlds highest lake - Pangong - a salt-water lake, its vastness 150 km long and 4 km wide spans two countries, India & China (2/3rd of the lake lies in China). The sun paints its various hues on the canvas of the surrounding mountains as we watch spellbound while walking on the shores of the lake.

2. Nubra Valley: We can make an excursion of 01 Night / 02 Days or 02 Nights / 03 Days excursion to Nubra Valley. We drive towards Khardungla pass (5602m / 18380ft), the worlds highest motor able pass. After a photography session and acclimatization break on the pass we cross it and head towards Nubra. Nubra is sandwiched between the Karakoram Mountains to the north and the Ladakh range to the south lie the Shyok and the Nubra Rivers. The villages of Nubra are scattered along these two valley floors. This is a beautiful region that once formed a part of the Silk route into Afghanistan. Because of the lower altitude a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and grains are grown, creating an impression of abundance. Once in Nubra Valley we visit places like Panamic Lake, Tiger Monastery, White sandunes at Hunder and a beautiful Diskit Monastery. There is an option of driving directly to Pangong from Nubra. 3. Tso Moriri & Tso Kar Lakes: We can choose to make 2 nights / 3 days excursion to visit Tso Moriri & Tso Kar Lakes. Tso Moriri, the largest of the high altitude lakes to be situated entirely within India. Tso Moriri or "Mountain Lake" is situated in the middle of the elevated valley of Rupshu surrounded by 6000 m peaks which completely surrounds the lake. We drive on the dirt road passing Tso Kar. Tsokar means salty lake in local language and salt was extracted from this lake in earlier times, till the end of 1959, for consumption by the local people. If you would like to make any extensions or any other customization, then do contact us. Phone : +91-22-2444-2944 / 1513 | Cell Phone : +91-986-920-1443 | Telefax : +91-22-2446-9093

Cost Per Person (Ex Leh)

CLASSIC PACKAGE Group Size 2 Pax 3 - 5 Pax 6 - 9 Pax > 10 Pax Single Supplement Indian National Foreign National Premium Classic Premium Classic Rs. 46650/- Rs. 42550/- USD 1262 USD 1146 Rs. 39050/- Rs. 34950/- USD 1043 USD 1002 Rs. 35650/- Rs. 30750/- USD 942 USD 924 Rs. 32250/- Rs. 28250/- USD 867 USD 903 Rs. 7950/Rs. 3950/- USD 252 USD 88

Cost Excludes 1. Government Service Tax if applicable. 2. Flight fares from New Delhi to Leh & back. 3. Accommodation & transfers in New Delhi. Countryside can make arrangements for the same. 4. Monument visit fees. 5. Lunch & Dinner in Leh and food during travel between two destinations. 6. Any expenses of personal nature such as mineral water, laundry, liquor, etc. 7. Any kind of insurance, such as accident, theft, medical, evacuation etc. 8. Tips to porters, camping team, driver, guide, etc. 9. Cost incurred due to change / extension in the itinerary due to roadblocks, bad weather condition, flight delays, vehicle breakdowns, etc. 10. Items not specified in the above in Cost Includes.

Cost Includes 1. Accommodation: Leh: In a Grade A hotel on twin sharing basis / Breakfast and Dinner Included. On Trek: In small camping tents on twin sharing basis / All Meals Included 2. Travel: Airport, trek & rafting transfers & sightseeing as per itinerary in small vehicles (4 5 pax per vehicle) 3. Others: Permits fees in Leh Local guide on the trek Local guide during sightseeing in Leh Rafting charges

Sales Office : 35, Vawda Bldg., 245, L. J. Road, Shivaji Park, Dadar (west), Mumbai - 400 028. INDIA

Tour Notes 1. Travel All the Delhi Leh flights are scheduled in the early morning hours hence it is advisable to fly to Delhi a day in advance. 2. Permits & Other Information The permits to visit Nubra Valley and Pangong Lake are processed once you are in Leh; it is mandatory that all the participants carry a valid photo id to issue permits.

General Notes 1. Flights in Leh sector are conditional to weather condition, so it is advised that, you should book your international flight 2-3 days from your expected date of arrival in New Delhi. 2. Please reconfirm your flight timings and tickets at least 24 hrs before the departure with respective airline. 3. Vehicles in Ladakh are not at disposal. Any additional transfers or pick up drops are to be settled at actual. 4. The vehicles in Ladakh are hired from Leh union hence there is a possibility of change of vehicles everyday however we will try for the same vehicles. 5. Delays are expected on account of roadblock & weather conditions. Our effort will be to continue with the trip as per the schedule & make you as comfortable as possible. But in such situations we may have to compromise on the campsite / hotels & adjust to these situations then & there. 6. The itinerary should be viewed as ideal & we may have to make some spot changes due various reasons. 7. The distances & altitude mentioned in the above itinerary are to the best of our knowledge & information; marginal variance in the actual distances & altitudes is possible. 8. We can customize a similar trip to suit your requirements. Our effort is to give a clear idea about various aspects of the trip to avoid any misunderstanding during the tour. We request you to please read the general information and booking conditions. Websites : www.countrysideindia.com | www.freespiritindia.in | www.kidventure.in