Ladakh is a plateau surrounded by high mountains in the western part of the Himalayas, up the Indus river. Ladach is known as the land of passes or a small Tibet. Nowadays, after the events in the best known part of Chinese Tibet, Ladakh is very often described as the last true Tibet. People there have freedom of religion and temples there are in much better condition than anywhere else.
In ancient times, the silk route that linked India with Tibet went through this place. There were also Buddhist monks who settled down and built on the slopes buddhist monasteries. Till the end of X century Ladakh was a part of Tibet, then it became a separate principality (Njarama dynasty). In XIV century it was under Mughals reign, then under English reign. When India became independent in 1947 Ladakh became its part.
Because of harsh living conditions this place was never densly populated, there is 1 inhabitant per square kilometre. The weather In Ladakh is always good for tourists, because the monsoon, which we can face near Delhi, doesn’t reach there. Medium rain falls are comparable to Sahara desert. These conditions created a severe beauty and a special desert like charakter of this land. Majority of its inhabitants built houses which don’t take possibility of raining into account, which can be seen n their construction. Due to the great heights (over 3500 above the sea level) we shouldn’t expect the heat there. Average temperature during the day in August/September can be about 15-20 C degrees. It can also be windy.

COSTS:

10 000 pln

Price without the flight 8000 pln

The price includes:
The organisation of expedition, flight to Delhi and back, return ticket for flight Leh-Delhi, transport at place of destination (bus and off-road car Delhi-Leh), travelling at place of destination; off road car and public transport, sightseeing, Nubra valley, accomodation- Leh Nubra and Delhi in a small hotel, food: down the mountain 2 meals a day, food during trekking (self prepared), trekking to Kang Yatse 7 days and donkeys/horses for transport, trip to Nubra Valley (including permission), participation in folk performances, renting tents, trekking insurance and health insurance, Basic training and club’s fee.

The price doesn’t include:
Visas; optional trips (Pangong Lake), sightseeing and transport to monastries, possible trips from Delhi (Agra, Armitsar), camel rides, excess luggage on a plane (20kg) and in the mountains(20kg).

APPLICATIONS:

1.To confirm your application please, send 3200pln for ticket and insurance into the following account: Stowarzyszenie „Annapurna Klub„ Santander Bank 34 1090 1652 0000 0000 6404 1166 with annotation Ladakh- flight ticket. Please confirm your payment via e-mail or post.
2.Please, send us your name surname, date and place of birth, address via e-ail or post.

ITINERARY:

Day1 Flight Warsaw – Delhi, night journey Delhi – Manali.
Day 2,3 4 Manali and journey Manali – Leh – 2 days of travelling along one of the greatest view trails in the Word. It’s worth to go through this adventure due to its landscapes and possibility of acclimatisation, it is also a great introduction to the atmosphere of this part of Himalayas. On our way we go through some highest passable passes in the world Rohtang La (3 978 m), Baralacha La (4 892 m), Lachulung La (5 059) i Taglang La (5 325 m npm). We sleep in tents.
Day 5 Sightseeing in Leh – the capital of western Tibet, palace of royal family of the independent Kingom of Ladakh built in XVII-XIX century, now ruined, claimed to be a miniature of the famous Potala palace in Tibet. There are much more monuments worth visiting such as Sunni mosque, Shanti Stupa. Nowadays the city is ready to welcome tourists, there are many hotels, restaurants, souvenirs shops or folk festivals. At the same time it is still a place where local people can lead a peaceful life.
Day 6,7 A trip to Nubra Valley – one of the most amazing places in Ladakh, open for tourists in 1994. The valley is situated at 3050 meters above the sea level, at Shyok and Nubra rivers. This created an amazing territory and climate so different from the one in Karakorum. As it is so close to rivers this area is rural, which contrasts with others regions of Ladakh which are more like deserts. Higher slopes of the mountains are like deserts too, but in a different way. There is a normal desert with dunes, and of course, there is a possibility to have a camel ride. We enter Nubra Valey through Khardung La pass (5 359 m over sea level), the highest pass in Ladakh and one of the highest that can be driven through by car. The valley is one of places which link Ladakh with Pakistane – through a famous Siachan glacier and with China through Karakorum and Saser passes. In Nubra we visit (At least): Diskit – with its dramatically located on a mountain slope monastery, Hunder- Nubra’s capital with Chamba monastery, monastery In Sumur and Panamik with its hot springs.
Day 8 Leh – a day to rest, we get ready for trekking and , optionally, visit one of monasteries in western part of Indus valley.

Day 9 Travel from Leh to Shang Sumdo, we visit a monastery in Hemis – the best known and biggest monastery in Ladakh. Trekking starts In Martselang (3 600 m), an entering point to the National Park of Hemis. From this place we trek to Shang Sumdo (3700m)where we spend a night. It takes about 2,5h.
Day10 Trekking Shang Sumdo – Lartsa, one of the most beautiful days of trekking, we are going to cross picturesque gorge of Shang river with its rich rock formations that show geological past .We cross the river a few times before we finally get to our bivoac place at the height of 4600m.
Day 11 Lartsa – Base camp through Gongmaru La 5200 m. This day is important when it comes to acclimatisation. The way takes 3 hours and is full of wonderful views on Kang Yatse mountain, Zanskaru and Karakorum. We descent through Nimaling rural areas, where yaks and goats from the villages in Markha valley are grazed. From Nimaling we get to Base Camp at the height of 5100m.
Day 12 Day for acclimatisation in Kang Yatse Base Camp – a trip to summits around it, resting.
Day13 Base Camp – Kang Yatse (6 400 m) – descent to Base Camp. Our main summit ascent starts at 2 at night. When we reach it we can admire a fascinating scenery of Zanskar and Karakorum mountains which surround us. Next we can see another summit popular with trekkers – Kangri slope, 300m lower and less beautiful while ascending it.
Day 14,15 descent to Leh: Base camp – Shang Sumdo – Martselang – Leh, it can take1,5-2 days
Day 16 Historical and cultural trip through Indus valley; Shey and Stok palaces, Thiksey monasteries, Spituk. In Shey which used to be a capital of Ladakh we can see the palace of tke kings of Ladakh from times when it wasn’t a part of Tibet. Thanks to its location we can admire wonderful views on Indus valley and desert stupe. One of the temples in this palace hides a huge figure of Buddha sculpted in copper and covered with gold. In Shey we can also see a very small but historically important mosque, built by one of islamic biggest authorities- Shah-e-Hamdan. Palace and monastery in Stok are located on a moraine which spreads along the valley of Indus. They were founded in XIV century. The museum in palace is known for its collection of Tibetan paintings – thangka and the biggest collection of buddhist writings. Thiksey monastery is one of the biggest and most impressive works of architecture in Indus valley. Its famous for wonderfull wall paintings that show Buddha. Spituk monastery is closest to Leh. From its Wells we can admire a western part of Indus valley. Many paintings of Buddha and thangka paintings are from XV century.
Day 17 Last day in Leh – folk performance, preparation for travel, some additional sightseeing.
Day 18 Flight Leh – Delhi, it takes place a bit earlier due to the risk of bad weather when there can be problems with flying over the Himalayas.
Day 19, 20 Visiting Delhi, possible sightseeing in Agra or Armitsar.
Day 21 Flight to Warsaw
India is a country different in cultural aspects, we suggest you being careful while travelling there. On the other hand Ladakh is claimed to be one of the safest places in India, and our expedition is lead by a person who has graet experience in travelling there. It’s worth to read some currect news in Ministry of Foreign Affairs before you set out and to be careful with food.
The whole stay in Ladakh is at the height above 3500m , the acclimatisation will take place slowly, it will start when we get to Leh and during our trip to Nubra (high passes), before we start trekking.
Those who have problems with staying at heights, suffering from blood circulation diseases, lungs diseases and pregnant women are not allowed to participate in the expedition.
Trekking is not technically difficult, but the area is dry, so we must carry water for the whole day of walking. Although ascending Kang Yatse is classified as trekking, it finishes with a steep part, in snow. That’s why we will need crampons, sticks, we may also need an ice axe.

NEEDED EQUIPMENT:

It’s worth to take a cover for our rucksacks (because of dust and transport).
Documents: passport with a visa, copy of passport and visa.
Shoes: trekking shoes; warm and endure, one size too big, sandals or light shoes,
Socks: 2-3 pairs of warm socks, other socks (letting the skin breathe, a lot of pairs)
Trousers: one pair of light trousers, one pair of polar trousers, polar100, long johns (thermal, letting the skin breath), one pair of wind and waterproof trousers (with membrane e.g. goretex)
T-shirts; short sleeved (breathable cotton), long sleeved with a turtle neck (some thermal and breathable e.g. polar 100 and some light as underwear)
Outer polar jackets – e.g. softshell and thermal polar (1-2 pairs)
Jacket with wind and water proof membrane
Gloves- light polar gloves, 2-3 pairs, one pair protecting from wind (over mitts or skiing gloves)
Hats; one warm and one against the sun
Equipment:
Big rucksack(70l.), small rucksack (30-40l.), telescopic sticks (optonally ice axe), crampons adjusted to boots, 2 loops made of 50cm and 80cm tapes, line (rappel), carabiner, harness, firt aid kit, NRC foil, head lamp with spare batteries, sunglasses, optionally chemical warming agents
Bivoac and similar: down filled sleeping bag or with synthetic filling, warm, sheet for the nights we spend in normal accomodation, foam pad, articles of toilet, sun cream with high uv filter (at least 30), toilet paper, vacuum flask (0,7l), mess tin and cuttlery, cooker.