Rumtse - Tsomoriri
8 nights - 9 days
This Challenging Trek focuses mainly on life of Nomadic People, Monasteries, Wildlife and some high altitude Lakes of Changthang. The Trek starts from Rumtse (4100m) a village in Eastern part of Ladakh and ends at Tsomoriri Lake, a beautiful High altitude lake in Changthang, which is also the breeding ground to birds like the Bar-necked geese and the Brahminy duck. The barren region is home to numerous species of wildlife including the wild Ass Kiang, Himalayan Marmot, Tibetan Antelope, and Himalayan Ibex. The route traverses across a number of high passes and while the scenery is spectacular the entire route is through vast wilderness and high altitude which requires good acclimatization.
Tour route : Leh - Rumtse - Kyamar - Tisaling - Pangunagu - Nuruchan - Rajungkaru - Gyamalhoma - Korzok - Tsomoriri
Day 01. Drive to Rumtse 4095m
After having break fast drive to Rumtse. En route visit Thiksey and Hemis monasteries. Overnight stay in tented camp at Rumtse.
Day 02. Rumtse to Kyamar 4383m (4/5Hrs)
Walk along the road till you reach a gouvernement tourist bungalow. From there take the right side trail into the valley passing through some abandoned army huts. The trail leads you to a river flowing in from the right side, crossing it and then walking towards left takes you to a stream flowing from right side, which also has to be crossed. After several widening and narrowing of the valley there comes a point where it turns to the north leading to the campsite close to a local nomadic settlement in their traditional tents.
Day 03. Kyamar to Tisaling (4800m) via Kyumur La (4870m) and Mandalchan La (4996m) (5/6Hrs)
After a few minutes walk from the Campsite an easy but long ascent of Kyumur La begins. Colorful wild flowers on the way are visually pleasant in the exhausting climb to the top, where the trail divides into two, one going to the left leading towards Tsokar lake and one on the right takes you to a stream, crossing which another pass to climb is there. It is little hard to trace the path for some distance from where the clear trail leads to the top of Mandalchan la (4996m). The trail goes further up and then steep down to a beautiful valley called Tisaling, which is the campsite for the day.
Day 04. Tisaling to Pangunagu (Tsokar 4398m) via ShibukLa (5016m) (5/6Hrs)
Today you have to cross Shibuk La near the camp site. The top of the pass has a beautiful sight of the Tsokar Lake. An easy descent to the lake takes you to the campsite behind a hill.
Day 05. Pangunagu to Nuruchan 4500m (4/5Hrs)
It is an easy walk along side the lake in vast openness through a road. After some distance you catch the sight of the agricultural fields, where the campsite is located next to the stream.
Day 06. Nuruchan to Rachungkaru (4668m) via Dundunchanla (4712m) (3/4Hrs)
An easy ascent to the pass takes around 1 hour 30 minutes. The trail turns towards north-east just after the pass. The camp site is across the river at the base of the pass.
Day 07. Rachungkaru to Gyamalhoma (4895m) (6/7Hrs)
Start climbing Kyamayur La (5125m) which takes around 2 hrs. The last climb is a tiring one. After the pass the trail leads towards north-east and at the end of the valley trail starts ascending another small pass called Gyama La (5100m), from where you can have views of different mountain peaks. Walk down towards north-east and cross the small river and the Gyama lhoma is reached after another river, crossing which is also a base for Korzok pass.
Day 08: Gyamalhoma to Korzok (Tsomoriri Lake)
Start an easy ascent to the Korzok pass along the stream. It takes around 2 hrs to reach the top from where you can have the wonderful view of the Lake, following which is the steep walk down to the Korzok village. You can also camp at Korzok Phu where nomad camps are located, around one hour before the lake if you have extra days.
Day 09: Tsomoriri to Leh (240 kms)
After the breakfast walk around the Lake and drive to Leh via Mahey Bridge and Chumathang.
