You can explore the following treks on your Ladakh trekking tours.

Markha Valley Trek

Markha Valley Trek

This is among the best trekking routes in India. Travellers visiting Ladakh cannot afford to miss an enjoyable experience of the trek. While on your Ladakh trekking tour, you can experience the spectacular gorges and mountains on the way. Wonderful landscapes, jagged Kongmaru La pass and lush oasis of the Markha, all are there to add more joy to your Ladakh trekking. Monasteries and eccentric villages of Ladkah are other noticeable attractions. From June to mid October is the best time for trekking.

Nubra Valley Trek

Situated on the northern area of Leh and encircled by Karakoram Range, the trek beckons tourists with Bactarian Camels with double hump. Samstanling and Diskit monasteries are the other highlights of the place. Pass through Khardung la pass and sand dunes that come in your ways. The valley also serves as the entryway to the Siachen Glacier, which is the largest glacier of the world. If you go on this exciting Nubra Valley trek on your Ladakh adventure travel then from May to October is the best time.

Lamayuru Alchi Trek

Among the popular Ladakh treks, the Lamayuru Alchi trek is of nine days that offers travellers some of the appealing spots on the way. The spots that are covered under Lamayuru Alchi Trek include Leh, Shey, Hemis, Tar, Wanla, Thiksey and Mang Gyu. Besides enjoying the trekking, tourists can also experience the natural beauty and witness the sights of ancient monasteries in Ladakh. Visitors can also get acquainted with the life and culture of the people residing in the remote areas.

Frozen Zanskar Trek

If you are among those thrill-seekers who do not hesitate to take up any challenge, then the Frozen Zanskar Trek is for you. The demanding routes test your stamina. This exciting trek is conducted in the months of January and February. The Frozen Zanskar trek offers tourists the appealing attractions like frozen waterfalls, frozen Zanskar River and caves.

Zanskar Trek

Zanskar Trek Ladakh

Nestled between the Indus Valley and the main apex of Indian Himalaya is the vast area of Zanskar that sprawls over 3000 square miles. Zanskar trek forms an important part of adventure tours in India. This remote area is protected by snowy mountain passes. These deserted valleys are attached across high passes by various pathways, which also give an access to various spectacular villages of the lively Zanskari people.

Trekking in Ladakh is an absolute fun for the adventure-enthusiasts. Explore the interesting Nubra Valley Trek that serves as a popular hotspot for trekkers.

Article Source: http://adventure-tour-india.blogspot.in/2013/05/trekking-in-snow-desert.html

The Chadar Trek
Image: Archit Rakheja

“Chadar” literally means a sheet. And in the case of The Chadar Trek, its a reference to a trek on a sheet of frozen river.

Location: The Zanskar River, Ladakh

Nearest Airport: Leh

Nearest town: Leh

Nearest road-head @ entry point: Chilling

Nearest road-head @ exit point: Chilling

Altitude gain / variation: Your base altitude will stay the same at an approximate 3500mts. Since this is a trek on a frozen river, the variation in the elevation will correspond with that of the river. Needless to say, it is not much and will stay within + 50mts.

Best time to trek: Jan-Feb. Peak winters, when the river stays frozen. Temperature may drop down to -20 Deg C, and be possibly compounded further by wind chill factors.

Recommended Gear: Winter gear complete with down jacket, ski pants, thermal inner-wear (upper & lower), water-proof and insulated gloves, warm hat, crampons and crampon friendly trekking/snow boots.
* This gear is over and above any other standard trekking gear you may want to carry.

Grade: The Chadar Trek is a flat trek that follows the course of the river, on the river. The main objective challenge here is to ‘read and negotiate’ the ice. Trained and experienced guides can help you with that. However, this is not a trek you should do by yourself, unless you are well versed with the nuances of walking on a frozen river.

General Itinerary:

Day 1 – Arrive Leh. Acclimatize

Day 2 – Drive (3hrs) from Leh to Chilling. Trek (2kms/1hr) further on to Tilak Sumdo

Day 3 – Trek (9.5kms/6hrs) from Tilak Sumdo to Shingra Koma

Day 4 – Trek (15kms/8hrs) from Shingra Koma to Tibb

Day 5 – Trek (12kms/7hrs) from Tibb to Nerak

Day 6 – Trek from Nerak to Tibb

Day 7 – Trek from Tibb to Shingra Koma

Day 8 – Trek from Shingra Koma to Tilak Sumdo

Day 9 – Trek from Tilak Sumdo to Chilling. Drive from Chilling to Leh.

* You may revise the itinerary as per your preferences too.

leh ladakh the land of discovery

The throngs of people visiting and worshiping at Swayambutinath, the Monkey Temple.

With only one full day in Kathmandu, we have a busy day planned trying to squeeze in as many sights as possible.  With breakfast in our bellies, a driver hired, and a guidebook in hand, we set out, not knowing exactly what we will encounter.

Katmandu is a sensory overload of sounds and colors with much of this derived from the spiritual nature of its one million residents.    Many of the city’s sights center around Nepal’s unique blending of Hinduism and Buddhism.   This spiritual stew has helped to create a city pulsating with life that embrace Nepal’s spiritual history.  Add to the mix Nepal’s royal past, and Kathmandu becomes a city full of interesting sights.

Our first stop of the day is Swayambutinath, an ancient religious complex situated atop a forested hillside that overlooks the city.  Although it is first and foremost one of the most sacred shrines in Tibetan Buddhism, it is also revered by Hindus.  Because of Hanuman, the Hindu monkey god from the Ramayana (one of India’s great epic poems and a source of Hinduism’s canons), monkeys are considered holy and, consequently, well protected within this site, giving rise to the complex’s other name – the Monkey Temple.

Stupas and prayer flags at the top of Swayambutinath, the Monkey Temple.

Our driver drops us off near the top of this 2000-year-old temple, and, immediately, tens of Rhesus monkeys greet us.  We watch as they dart across pathways, swing from branch to branch, and as “momma” monkeys give piggy-back rides to their offspring.  Although my time in Asia has made seeing monkeys in the “wild” less of a novelty, their entertaining nature never disappoints.   I do try to stay clear of them, however, for they can turn mean in a second and I want no part of that monkey business!

Playful Rhesus monkeys!

What a great momma hug!

We climb to the highest point of the temple, where prayers flags stretch from branch to branch, to eye the city below.  From this vantage point, Kathmandu, framed by the Himalayan foothills,  is transformed into a city of calm and beauty, offering no hints of its crowded, filthy, and chaotic existence – a byproduct of the weight of development and limited infrastructure.

One of our monkey friends enjoying the views of Kathmandu.

The seemingly quiet world of Kathmandu below!

The rest of the complex is a thriving center of worship, study, and commerce.  The devout come here to make their pooja (prayer) and light one of the thousands of yak butter candles that flicker within the temples. Resident monks chant their prayers and business-minded entrepreneurs sell everything from the incense and candles needed to make a pooja; to jewelry, singing bowls, and masks for the throngs of tourists that pass through here.

Nepalese woman selling yak butter candles for worshipers to light while making a pooja (prayer).

Another candle seller.

Trinkets for the tourists!

I often struggle with this very common concept of tourists items being sold within a religious complex, but with the average Nepalese living on less than $2 a day, I really can’t blame them for trying to make a rupee wherever they can.  It is a matter of survival.

Stupas within Swayambutinath, the Monkey Temple.

Another field of stupas!

The center of the complex is punctuated by the giant gilded stupa whose eyes of “wisdom” and “compassion” watch us wherever we go.

This dome was gilded using 20 kg (44 lbs.) of gold! The eyes of Buddha look in all four directions to follow us wherever we go!

As we clamor our way down the 365 steps that lead out of the temple, more monkeys meet us to send us on our way. Seriously, I will never tire of those little guys!

Only 365 steps! At least we are going down them!

Rhesus monkeys sending us on our way!

Near the entrance of Patan Durbar Square.

A tour of Kathmandu isn’t complete without visiting Durbar Square.  But as there are three areas called “Durbar Square”  located within the Kathmandu Valley – all three UNESCO World Heritage Sites – it can become a bit confusing!  The word “durbar”, having it’s roots in Hindi, means a palace court for the king.  Thus a “durbar square”,  is basically gathering place for royalty.  Given this explanation and Nepal’s royal history, having multiple places by the same name begins to make sense.

One of many temples and pagodas in Patan Durbar Square.

The first Durbar Square we encounter is actually 5 kilometers outside Kathmandu in the suburb of Patan.  My Lonely Planet guidebook states it to be “one of the finest collection of temples and palaces in the whole of Nepal”.   Having my trusted book in hand, we set out to explore the mélange of palace buildings, shrines, courtyards, and exquisite carvings that encompass the site, only to discover it a confusing mix of unmarked buildings and roads.  We just can’t seem to get our bearings to ascertain exactly what we are seeing and for a second, and only for a split one at that, wish we had hired a guide.

Another one of the beautiful temples in Patan Durbar Square.

When we travel, we tend to not hire guides for several reasons.  First, most books warn of touts  (especially in developing nations)  posing as guides and we try to avoid being part of that scam. Second, even when we have hired guides, we have not been very successful in finding ones that are added value as they tend to either not seem to not know about the site, or spend most of their time rushing us through at their “lets-just-get-through-this” pace instead of allowing us to experience things at the speed we desire.  Third, through the years, my guidebooks and I have become quite a formidable pair – a combination that tends to suit our travel style best – and it has rarely steered us wrong.  That is, until today.

What exquisite carvings on this door!

Part of the former royal palace that is now a museum.

Upon entering this Durbar Square at the western gate, where several temples stand, we attempt to take the walking tour laid out in the guidebook, however, we are not having much success.   Although we can find a few of the major buildings, we just can’t seem figure out where things are in relationship to one another amongst this maze of streets.   This changes the nature of our discovery but that isn’t all bad. Instead of knowing the historical significance of each building and discovering it in minutia, we are, instead, forced to enjoy this Durbar Square for its aesthetics alone, and I quite enjoy experiencing it through these lenses.

Beautiful carvings!

Lovely carved columns!

We walk with no destination in mind and as we do, are able to observe real Nepalese life. Women take care of their family’s washing needs in one of the sunken tanks at the Sundari Chowk.    Directly opposite, carefree children use the other tank as a combination bathing area and swimming pool.    We watch from the steps of the Bidya temple, sporting beautiful Newari architecture, as local men shoot the breeze with one another.

The women of Patan taking care of the family laundry.

Swimming time!

What decades of wisdom they must possess!

Pooja (prayer) items for the temples.

When we tire of our wanderings,  we climb to a rooftop bar to cool off with a drink and enjoy the activities from a bird’s point of view. It is from here that I realize that our experiences at this Durbar Square has temporarily allowed me to shift from being a tourist into a traveler for I begin to just relish this snapshot in time.   This state, however, isn’t to last long.  Although I could stay here all day, we have three more sights to try to make before day’s end.  As we walk to our car, I slowly make my metamorphosis back into a tourist so we can try to visit all the must-see places before the sun sets.

To be continued……

My dear husband, Mike, and our beautiful daughter, Whitney!

This beautiful woman is the matriarch of the house where we stayed the first night. Every time she looked at us she would just smile and say “Jullay, Jullay”!

With a warm smile, the dark, weathered face welcomes us into her home with one repeated word  “Jullay!  Jullay!”  This act marks the beginning of one of our most unique, yet, incredible Indian experiences – a home stay.  For three nights, the beautiful Ladakhi people share their homes and meals with us, allowing a glimpse into a world so unfamiliar to ours.

Our hostess for night three and her granddaughter.

Over the next few days, “Jullay! Jullay!” becomes part of our vocabulary as it is about the only Bhoti phrase needed when trekking through Ladakh.  Meaning “hello”, “goodbye”, “thanks” and “you’re welcome”, the language reflects the simplicity of the traditional, almost ancient, way of life in the Himalayan hills that are punctuated by fields of mustard and clear glacier-melt streams.

Our home for our second night.

Life here, above 12,000 feet, is a far-cry from our technology-rich ones with conveniences at our doorstep.  With precious few natural resources in the area, villages provide electricity, mostly through solar power, for only a few hours each night.   The simple homes of mud, brick and stone have no running water.  Instead, the villagers use aqueducts to divert streams to just outside their homes for use in their kitchens, and for crop irrigation.  As subsistence farmers, their main activities center on growing their food and preparing for the long winters when they are virtually cut off from the rest of the world.

Our home for night three.

The entrance to home three.

After trekking all day, these homes, where bottomless cups of milk tea and mint tea await, become especially inviting.   It is not the tea, however, that warms our soul, but rather the spirit of these beautiful people who welcome us into their kitchens with our only common language – smiles and the phrase “Jullay” “Jullay”.  Nothing else is needed, however.

The courtyard of our third home. The house is a series of rooms centered around this courtyard.

In a traditional Ladakhi home, the kitchen serves as the common living area, and become a gathering place for everyone in the village.  We sit at low, Chotske tables and watch silently as people come to use the only phone in town…or to get advise after a toddler falls and bumps her head …or to just shoot the breeze. Children play hide-in-seek with us through open windows.  Neighbors clamor to the roofs to catch up on the latest gossip.

A sweet, sweet face.

The neighbor looking in on us!

Peek-a-boo!

As we relax, our guides and hostesses sit on the floor, using tiny tables on legs of no-more-than 3 inches, to chop onions and spinach, or roll out the pasta that will soon become our next meal.  Everything is made from scratch and it’s freshness is apparent in every bite. Although the food is tasty enough, we find it quite bland and are happy when our hosts offer some chutney or chili sauce to spice things up.

Our guide, Ishey, preparing greens!

Our porter, Jigmet, tending the stove at our first home stay

They called this pasta donkey ears for its unique shape.

The most rustic of the stoves, located in the courtyard of our third homestay.

The most elaborate of the kitchens we enjoyed.

The kitchens center around ancient looking stoves, fueled by cow dung and twigs, that are used not only to cook the vegetarian-based meals, but also to provide heat during the harsh winters. Kitchen wares, displayed in a surprisingly orderly fashion, become the only outward sign of material possessions.

Most of the kitchens have a small gas cook top placed on a table.

Now this is what I call a kitchen!

Our sleeping quarters for our first night.

After we have our fill of tea and food, we crawl into bed soon after dark. Our weary, not-as-young-as-we-use-to-be bodies, fall asleep quickly on beds too hard for our backs.  Yet, at that moment they feel just perfect and I am grateful for the bed.  In the mornings, we arise early, and after bidding our precious hosts goodbye with a slew of “Jullay” “Jullay”‘s, begin our trekking day in the arid Ladakhi hills.

Our beds for night two.

Our huge room for night three.

With each step, I search for the beauty in this arid landscape, for Ladakh’s harsh environment doesn’t portray, at first glance, what I normally would consider beautiful.  It is too brown and too sparse of trees for my taste. Yet, our experiences here serve as a reminder that beauty is everywhere, but is sometimes hidden behind a less-than attractive surface.   Ladakh’s beauty lies in the contrasts found between these rugged mountains and the green oases dotting the valleys; amid the white-washed stupas which guard the entrances to the smallest of villages; and among the rhythmic prayer flags flapping against incredibly blue skies.

Yet, it is more than that.  As in most things, the true beauty of a place lies in its people and Ladakh is no different. Just like the environment, most of the faces of the Ladakhi people are worn, weathered and not beautiful when measured by the Western-world benchmark perpetuated by the media where a wrinklle-free existence is ideal. Yet, these people are some of the most beautiful with which I have ever had the privilege to spend time.  Their calm manner, work-ethic, simplistic living, and crooked smiles on faces that display all of life’s challenges,  allow their true beauty to shine.

I suspect that many people don’t understand Mike’s and my determination to take such rustic vacations, and believe me, we would be much more comfortable relaxing on a beach somewhere and to sleep in a proper bed.   By doing so, however, we would miss out on these amazing opportunities which become the core of what makes our time in India extremely special.  It allows us to look beyond India’s dirtiness, crowdedness, busyness, and craziness to discover it’s true beauty hidden behind it’s not-beautiful-at-first-glance exterior and that, I believe, is the biggest gift we can give ourselves.

On our most difficult days, all I need to do is to picture these beautiful, wrinkled faces smiling and welcoming us into their homes with their endless “Jullay” Jullay”s and suddenly everything is right with the world and I know, without a doubt, that we are exactly where are suppose to be.

It should come to no surprise, then, that my innate reaction is to question any activity which will eventually lead to my use of such a seemingly archaic device.  Trekking in Ladakh is one such activity.

While I worried about my ability to trek in the high altitudes of Ladakh, my secondary concern turned to toilets, specifically the Ladakhi ones we would be using during our home stays along the way.  Except for the main town of Leh, most of the villages of Ladakh have no running water as it is definitely a scarcity in this parched land.   No running water equals no flush toilets of any kind – either squatters or Western ones.  What is a gal to do, when considering a four-day trek and holding it in isn’t an option?   Well, you have two choices.  You either choose not to go on the trek, and miss an amazing opportunity, or… you just suck it up, put on your big girl panties, and deal with it!  I chose the latter.

My first introduction to a Ladakhi toilet comes when we stop at a monastery at the commencement of our trek.  Although I don’t relish the thought of my inaugural use of this traditional toilet, I think it as the better option than getting desperate on a trail that possesses little or no vegetation in which to hide behind.

Like most latrines, the toilet is set away from the main building.  As I open the door, I wince in the expectation of what I might find.   Flies…Excrement…Horrendous stench…You name, it!

I expected a ceramic toilet. Instead, this is what I encountered.

Certainly, a new-to-me toilet feature!

Yet, what lies behind the door surprises me.  There aren’t any flies…and, the most surprising…no awful odor.  I enter the dirt-floored room and stop short of the elongated hole in the middle of the floor where the wet dirt surrounding the hole begins.     In one corner, a shovel rests in a heap of dirt.   Although the room emits a slight odor of old dung, it isn’t strong enough to be offensive.  With my quick observations over, I proceed with the task at hand.

The worst part in using a dirt-floored toilet, especially if female, is the dexterity required to do so.  It is a mutli-step process.  Somehow, I must straddle a seemingly-bottomless hole… while pulling down my pants with one hand… while simultaneously hiking up my pants hem so my pants won’t drag through the dirt with my other hand (who’s full use is slightly compromised because it contains the wadded up toilet paper I bought to use, and the plastic bag I have in which to to place the soon-to-be wet paper) ..while proceeding to squat ..while aiming my stream… all while maintaining my balance.    Thank, God, I practice yoga.

Makes sense to me!

With that task completed with no major calamities, we began our hike and in six hours arrive at our lodging for the night – a stay in a family’s home.  I hurry to visit their toilet and, again, find one similar to the last. Fortunately, instructions for the toilet’s appropriate use are posted outside and it is there that I learn the ingeniousness of it all.

This toilet contains a dirt and straw mix!

Ladakhi toilets are one type of dry-composting toilets that do not use water to take the waste somewhere else.  Instead, it allows natural processes to rapidly break down the waste to produce compost that is later used as organic fertilizer to enrich the soil.

The toilet systems are actually two-storied affairs with the toilet on the top layer and the composting unit underneath.  After using the toilet, one is to use the shovel to throw a bit of dirt down the hole, not only to cover the waste to reduce offensive odors, but more importantly, to aid the composting process.  Through the passage of time, the waste breaks down and then is put to use in the fields…which aids in the growing of crops to produce food…which in turn produces human waste….which in turn produces more compost to put on the crops…  And so on.  It is the ultimate circle of life.

The nicest of all the toilets we encountered. The room on the left is a galvanized metal wash room where one can bring their buckets of water to clean their bodies. The room on the left the toilet.

For the next four days, I use the Ladakhi toilets with mixed results.  Sometimes my aim isn’t as accurate as I hope causing a few mishaps, but, for the most part, all goes well.  Certainly, worrying about using these “latrines” wasn’t worth the energy I gave it.

Saying “no” to this trek simply because of the toilets would have been a huge mistake for I would have missed an incredible experience.  I want to live a life with few regrets and to do so I believe I need to live in the  “I will”  instead of the “I won’t”.  Otherwise, my natural instinct to create self-induced limitations might narrow my experiences.  What a shame it would be for me to do that do myself!

So bring it on, you “next-questionable-toilet experience”!   I’m ready for you!  Well…that is….as long as I keep practicing yoga!

These days, most of the reputed travel agencies in the country are available online. You can search for a suitable travel agent in India on internet, select and book your tour package from setting in your room. In search of travel agencies in India it is advisable that you should always look for registered and experienced agencies. To ensure their credibility you can also go through feedback sites as well. Feedback sites are the good way to known about reliable tour planner in the country and avoid low standard and unreliable service providers.

Professional travel agencies in India are the best means of planning holidays in the country. They offer good quality tourist facilities throughout the journey and also take care of your privacy. They will take care all about your hotel bookings, sightseeing of local attractions, pick and drop from railway stations and airports and healthcare facilities if needed. On Demand, your expert India Travel Agent will also offer you personalized services like personal attendants, vehicles on rents, plan adventure tourism activities; night stays in camps, etc.

Different ranges of tour packages are offered by travel agencies in the country. You can also customize their packages according to your budgets and vacations. Large numbers of tourists embark on Kerala tour packages every year from all over the world. It is one of the most popular tour packages in India. People who are found of adventure sports and outdoor activities can also embark on Ladakh trekking tour, one of the most popular trekking destinations in India.

The start of our day’s trek out of Hemis Shukpachu.

I don’t believe the sky can be any bluer than the one greeting us when we begin our third day of trekking through Ladakh’s Himalayan hills. The arid mountains appear even more dramatically jagged when silhouetted against such a magnificent backdrop.

Maybe it is the brilliance of the sky, or me finally adjusting to the altitude, but I am psyched about our day.  My previous struggles of the past few days may not have revealed that hiking is one of my favorite activities, (Really!  It is!  I promise!)  and our opportunity to trek in such a dramatically different environment further invigorates me.

Our day begins with a gradual walk out of picturesque Hemis Shukpachu and up Mebtak La (3820 meters/12,532 feet).  As we climb out of the verdant valley, my ability to finally breathe at an almost-normal rate allows me to wholly escape into Ladakh’s other-worldliness.  Life here is a far cry from my temporary home in Hyderabad, and even further from our permanent one in Texas.  Ladakh’s isolation by both geography and weather, returns us to a simpler time free of technological interruptions, rampant consumerism, and, in the case of the rest of India, incessant horns.

Our approach to Mebtak La (3820 meters/12,532 feet).

After an hour of trekking, we make it to the top of Mebtak La, yet, we don’t linger long for, in the distance, lies our biggest challenge – Lago La (3820 meters/ 12,532 feet).

Descending from Mebtak La.

Both passes are at the same height, yet between them lies a steep valley we must conquer.  Soon after leaving the prayer flags of Mebtak La, we descend along a narrow, zig-zag trail.

Look closely. See those little black specks in the middle of the picture? They are people on the trail. In less than an hour, we, too, will be those specks.

In the distance I spy people, as small as ants, slowly crisscrossing the steep ascent out of the valley and know my time will soon come to do the same.  I pray I can do so without regressing to the breathing dance that carried me through the previous days. I don’t want to be THAT person.   The one who struggles.  The weakest link.

At the base of the ascending trail, I look up and take a deep breath before beginning. Although my ascent is slow, I put one determined foot in front of the other, zig-zagging my way out of the valley.   My breath is labored.  My legs are lead.  Yet, I am determined to not stop.  I don’t want to stop.  Yet…I have to stop.  But…only twice and not for long!  Success is mine!

The long trail up to Lago La (3820 meters/12,532 feet).

Rewarding us after my 45-minute climb, are 360º views of the craggy mountains whose magnificence presence have enveloped us these past few days – the mountains that have made me feel like I was among the walking dead,  but, paradoxically, the most alive.

Our incredible reward at the top of Lago La.

Descending from Lago La.

From the top of the pass, we make an easy descent into Ang, our village home for the night.

Our descending views!

The village of Ang.

Our guide, Ishey, leading us to our home stay.

The path to the home stay wasn’t easy. Here, Mike balances on rocks on our path up a creek. The only way to our bed for the night.

Our path leaving Ang.

Just your typical yellow school bus bouncing along the rocks!

The following morning our short descent takes us to Temisgang, where we end our trekking excursion with a tough climb to the monastery found there.

The Temisgang monastery perched high above the village.

An ancient stupa forest on our path to the monastery.

Golden prayer wheels and prayer chants from the devout greet us.  It is the perfect spiritual end to this soul-searching journey – one, that at many times, had me questioning why on earth we choose such challenging activities, especially while on vacation?   Why are we not just hanging out on a beach somewhere?

A beautiful, golden statue of the Buddha of Compassion, Avalokitesvara.

The answer closest to the surface is easy…because if offers us fantastic opportunities to experience the unimaginable, to peak into worlds we would otherwise never know, and to be active participants in our lives.

I know, without a moment’s hesitation, that if my life had “do-overs” I would do this trek again. That may come as a surprise as trekking at this altitude was, to say the least, quite difficult.  Yet, knowing I want to do things like this…knowing I don’t say “I can’t” …knowing I push myself past my uncomfortableness invigorates me in unimaginable ways.  I know this approach doesn’t work for all, but for me it is a strong driving force in my life.

But, as I imagine for all things, the source of our motivation lies deep within and often takes insightful retrospection to pinpoint.  I believe I know the source of this one.  Watching my mom’s body deteriorate for the last 35 years with horrible, incapacitating Rheumatoid Arthritis and wondering IF or, probably more likely, WHEN it will affect me, keeps me out there…keeps me pushing…keeps me going for as long as this body will let me. For every day that I say “why not?”, for every day that I push myself, and for every day that I experience the unimaginable, my skies are wonderfully blue.

Me, at the top of Lago La.

Mike, at the top of Lago La.

Weathered prayer-flags seen after descending Tsemangche La (pass)

The village of Lang Tang, Ladakh

I like to think of myself as an eternal optimist – the kind that continually looks for the green grass under layers and layers of mud.  That’s how I rock!  It is no wonder, then, that when I wake up on Day 2 of our four-day trek through Ladakh’s Himalayan hills, I truly believe my day will be easier than the one previous. Besides, when arising in an idyllic, mountain-hugged village I can’t imagine having anything but a Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah kind of day.

After a hearty breakfast of chapati, eggs and milk tea, Mike and I lace up our boots to begin our trek out of Yang Tang accompanied by our guide and porter.  At first, the trail leading away from the village looks promising.  As we cross a wooden bridge over a snow-fed steam, I am transported to the summers of my childhood when my family camped in Colorado and New Mexico along similar babbling brooks.  Those magical childhood days still make me smile and at this moment energize me to tackle the obstacles that may cross my path.    That is… until we get to the other side of the stream.

The initial climb out of the stream bed, is, quite frankly,  a minor one, but the devil with whom I have danced the past few days rears its ugly head again, and I begin to struggle.  Evidently, exertion and oxygen are not in tandem in my realm. With the beautiful stream behind me, I breathlessly look up to discover a seemingly-endless zig-zag trail rising before me.   I resign myself to another difficult day.  Yeah!  Yeah!  Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Whatever!

The beginning of the climb up to Tsemangche La (pass).

Our day’s challenge is to make it to the top of Tsemangche La (pass) at 3750 meters (12,303 feet) and back down to the village of Hemis Shukpachu, an 8-kilometer journey.  On the surface this shouldn’t be difficult, but today, like yesterday, it seems to be a daunting task…at least for me.  For Mike, as well as our guides, it seems so easy and this further frustrates me.   As much as I want to get back to my happy place, my struggles in breathing and this ridiculous climb tamper any attempt to do so.  I revert to my hiking dance.  One. Two. Three.  Hike. Stop. Breathe. One. Two. Three…..

And up…up…up we go!

About halfway up the pass, when I quiet my mind long enough to pay attention to reality and not my own self-wallowing perception of it, I notice that I am not stopping as often to catch my breath as I did the day before.  My step to rest ratio has risen to fifty and sometimes it is as high as one hundred.  Could it be that I am actually, FINALLY, acclimatizing to this oxygen-depleting environment?  Is there joy in “them there hills”?

We trek on and, as we climb higher, I slowly emerge back to my Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah place. Life is better there. The sky bluer.  The contrast between village green and mountain brown brighter.  My heart lighter.  Mister Bluebird is on my shoulder pulling me up this steep climb.

We finally reach the top of the pass where we can see both ends of our day’s trek. From this vantage point,Yang Tang and Hemis Shukpachu seem so ridiculously close to one another that my struggles seem even more absurd.  As I catch my breath while resting at the base of a string of prayer flags,  I ponder the source of my trekking difficulties.  Maybe it is the altitude?  Maybe it is my attitude?  I suspect it is a combination of both!

At the to of Tsemangche La (pass) with our guide and porter.

What I confidently know, however, is that far below me, the verdant village of Hemis Shukpachu beckons me to explore its beauty and I am ready to continue on.  As we kick the dust down the silty trail that leads us into the village, I can’t help to feel blessed to be here and to have the opportunity to have an experience  like this – no matter how demanding!  My, oh my, what a wonderful day!

The trail down to Hemis Shukpachu.

Hemis Shukpachu in the distance.

The views from Hemis Shukpachu

Mike and me at the top of the pass!

India Trekking Holiday

Himalayan foothills in India are apt places for trekking lovers. With extremely rich flora and fauna, the mountainous regions of Himalayas attract all adventure and fun lovers and blow their mind entirely.

Famous Ladakh Trekking Tour in India

Ladakh in India is surrounded by great Himalayas and offer several adventure sports for fun loving tourists. The enchanting serene landscapes in the region attract you with the mesmerizing beauty. Various trekkers across the globe visit this place to perform all their dream activities, such as mountain trekking, Para gliding, skiing and so on.

Best time to visit Ladakh: Mid June to mid October

Following are the popular treks in Ladakh:

1. Zanskar Trek

The enthralling Zanskar trek offers good opportunity for trekkers across the globe. The high trekking Alps, which is 7000 m high thrill all trekkers. The trek has really beautiful floral plantation. In case you are performing trekking for the first time, enjoy each and every bit of your Ladakh tour under expert guidance of professional trekkers. Trekkers can add thrill to their tour by climbing high Alps, which are as high as 7000 m in this region.

2. Kargil Trek

Next in best trekking destinations in Ladakh is the popular Kargil trek. It has extremely fascinating routes, which take you to the scenic beauty of snow covered Himalayan Mountain Range.

3. Indus Valley Trek

Trekking in a Valley region is a fin filled activity and lifetime opportunity. Squeezed between Ladakh range and Zanskar range, Indus Valley offers wonderful trekking experience.

Nepal Trekking Tour

Yet another best Asian trekking spot lies in Nepal. Nepal Trekking is performed by thousands of worldwide tourists every year. Prefer going through a trekking tour operator rather than managing everything on your own. With a complete Nepal tour package in your hand, you do not have to worry about anything. All you need to do is fun!

Most popular trekking destinations in Nepal:

1. Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek
2. Mount Everest Trek
3. Annapurna region Trek
4. Kanchenjunga region Trek
5. Langtang Trek

It is recommended to plan trekking tour after thorough search among various travel agencies online. Ensure that the package you buy offers all facilities ranging from pick and drop, food and resorts, trekking equipment, etc. Plan a trip with full energy and also make sure that you are medically fit.

India Trekking Holiday

Himalayan foothills in India are apt places for trekking lovers. With extremely rich flora and fauna, the mountainous regions of Himalayas attract all adventure and fun lovers and blow their mind entirely.

Famous Ladakh Trekking Tour in India

Ladakh in India is surrounded by great Himalayas and offer several adventure sports for fun loving tourists. The enchanting serene landscapes in the region attract you with the mesmerizing beauty. Various trekkers across the globe visit this place to perform all their dream activities, such as mountain trekking, Para gliding, skiing and so on.

Best time to visit Ladakh: Mid June to mid October

Following are the popular treks in Ladakh:

1.       Zanskar Trek

The enthralling Zanskar trek offers good opportunity for trekkers across the globe. The high trekking Alps, which is 7000 m high thrill all trekkers. The trek has really beautiful floral plantation. In case you are performing trekking for the first time, enjoy each and every bit of your Ladakh tour under expert guidance of professional trekkers. Trekkers can add thrill to their tour by climbing high Alps, which are as high as 7000 m in this region.

2.       Kargil Trek

Next in best trekking destinations in Ladakh is the popular Kargil trek. It has extremely fascinating routes, which take you to the scenic beauty of snow covered Himalayan Mountain Range.

3.       Indus Valley Trek

Trekking in a Valley region is a fin filled activity and lifetime opportunity. Squeezed between Ladakh range and Zanskar range, Indus Valley offers wonderful trekking experience.

Nepal Trekking Tour

Yet another best Asian trekking spot lies in Nepal. Nepal Trekking is performed by thousands of worldwide tourists every year. Prefer going through a trekking tour operator rather than managing everything on your own. With a complete Nepal tour package in your hand, you do not have to worry about anything. All you need to do is fun!

Most popular trekking destinations in Nepal:

1.       Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek

2.       Mount Everest Trek

3.       Annapurna region Trek

4.       Kanchenjunga region Trek

5.       Langtang Trek

It is recommended to plan trekking tour after thorough search among various travel agencies online. Ensure that the package you buy offers all facilities ranging from pick and drop, food and resorts, trekking equipment, etc. Plan a trip with full energy and also make sure that you are medically fit.

Ladakh is an exotic region located in northernmost Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir. It is internationally famous for adventure tourism in India. It provides ample opportunities for adventure tourism including trekking, hiking, river rafting, mountaineering, etc. One of the most preferred ways to explore Ladakh and most popular adventure sports in the region is certainly trekking. It is home to some of the best and most challenging trekking trails in the world. It is trekkers’ paradise. It attracts trekkers from all over the world and provides them a wonderful opportunity to explore the most exotic landscape of the region.

Have a look at some of the most popular trekking destination options available in Ladakh, the land of High Passes.

Zanskar Trekking

Zanskar Trek is the most popular trekking option in Ladakh. It expands over an area of 7000 square meters with high altitude between 3500 meters and 7000 meters. It is renowned for a gorgeous valley that is located amidst the Zanskar Mountain and the Great Himalayas range. Trekking in this region provides trekkers a wonderful opportunity to see and explore the superb beauty of valleys and hills. Trekkers also have opportunity to meet local people and observe their lifestyle and culture. Previously foreign travelers were not allowed in this region. But now-a-days a huge crowed of trekkers & travelers can be seen trekking in this fascinating region. Trekking in Zanskar region can be only enjoyed during summer season. It remains out of touch from other places in other seasons.

Nubra Valley Trek

Nubra Valley is very popular among trekkers and high-end adventure seekers. It is one of the most popular destinations in Ladakh. It attracts trekkers and tourists from all over the world and provides them ample opportunities for tourism and trek in the landscape that is blessed with fantastic beauty of nature. Due to serene environment the region offers solace to peace seekers. It is said that Ladakh tourism is incomplete without a visit to Nubra Valley. During Nubra valley Trekking in Ladakh trekkers can explore the gorgeous valley that is famed as the Valley of Flowers. Trekkers can also see some of the most popular monasteries of the region during their treks.

Markha Valley Trek

Another most popular and challenging trek option in Ladakh is Markha Valley trek. The gorgeous valley of Markha is approximately a 14 kilometers long narrow stretch along the shore of the fantastic Markha River. The whole valley is gifted with super beauty of nature and amazing serenity. Thus Markha Valley Trek in Ladakh will surely fascinate you and give you opportunity to explore the some of the superb places of Ladakh. During trekking in this region you will have a wonderful opportunity to stay in camps at night enjoying the moon view.

Thus, it is but obvious that during your Ladakh Trekking tour you are going to explore best of Ladakh. You shall treasure a unique, exiting and delightful experience to cherish forever.