Tso Morari and Lungser Kangri
Holiday Itinerary
Day 1: Rendezvous at the group hotel in Delhi. Complimentary Delhi Airport transfers are provided. KE Land Only package services begin with lunch, dinner and overnight at the group hotel.
Day 2: Transfer to the domestic airport. We take the 1 hour flight northwards, across the Himalaya to Leh, where we transfer to the group hotel. Afternoon free.
Day 3: A full day's sightseeing tour. We will visit one of the area's most important monasteries at Alchi.
Day 4: We further our acclimatisation with a jeep drive up to the 5380 metre (17,650 feet) high Khardung La, one of the world's highest road passes. Great views of the eastern Karakoram. Return to the hotel in Leh.
Day 5: We pay a visit to the monasteries at Thikse and Hemis before continuing our journey to Rumtse (4200m), where we set up camp.
Day 6: We will have a short first day of trekking, through riverside pasture to a camp at the base of the Kyanmer La. Altitude at camp is 4615 metres. 4 - 5 hours
Day 7: A longer day of trekking, crossing the Kyamar La (5130m) and then the Mandalchan La (5216m) to the high grazing area at Tisaling, where we camp (5046m). 6 - 7 hours.
Day 8: Crossing the Shimbuk La (5314m), we descend to the plain and cross this to the east of Tso Kar to reach our camp at the village of Thukje (4576m).
Day 9: Today we follow a jeep road to Jugti. A long day of approximately 5 hours but with the chances of viewing kyangs (wild asses), marrmots, blue sheep, ducks and geese.
Day 10: A gradual climb to the Changpa settlement of Nakpo Gozing (4155m) where we may meet the the nomads of the Changtang as they go about their herding way of life. 5 hours.
Day 11: A fantastic trekking day, beginning with a crossing of the Nakpo Gozing La (5270m). From a little way beyond the pass there are superb views of Lungser Kangri and the lake of Tso Morari. We camp at the village of Chakzang (4850m), another nomadic settlement. 6 - 7 hours.
Day 12: We walk along the jeep road for 1½ - 2 hours before dropping down to the lake and following the shoreline, with excellent views along the way. Approximately 17 km to our camp at Skyurchu (4749m).
Day 13: A short but tough day climbing on trackless hillside. After 4 - 4½ hours we pass through the normal base camp area for Chamser Kangri at 5680 metres and continue for a further 2½ hours, crossing a pass (5930m) to reach our base camp at 5700 metres. 6 - 7 hours.
Day 14: A day for rest and acclimatisation.
Day 15: A steady climb over mixed terrain of grass and scree slope to our high camp at 6200 metres. 4 hours.
Day 16: We make an early start for the long walk to the summit of Lungser Kangri (6666m). The climb is steep to begin with, before we turn south on to the ridge which forms our final summit ascent route. From the summit there are fantastic views of the high plateau of Hanle and of Tso Morari, far below. We make a long descent to base camp. 10 - 12 hours.
Day 17: Contingency day to be used at leaders' discretion. There may be the option to climb Chamser Kangri (6634m) on this day.
Day 18: We descend directly to the road at Skyurchu (4749m). 4 - 5 hours.
Day 19: Drive back to Leh (6 hours) where we spend the night in a hotel.
Day 20: We have an early morning flight to Delhi, where we check in at the group hotel. In the afternoon there is an optional guided tour to the Red Fort and other city highlights. Overnight in Delhi.
Day 21: KE Land Only package services end after breakfast at the hotel. Complimentary airport transfers are provided on this day.
Altitude
This holiday involves going to very high altitude. During the course of your trip you will be spending several nights above 4000 metres and at least one night above 6000 metres. This is not something that you should worry about; the human body is quite capable of adapting to a very wide range of altitudes, but it is important that we follow some simple rules in order to acclimatise successfully. Before coming on this holiday you should read the advice on trekking at high altitude.
