Zanskar or Zahar (locally) or Zangskar is a subdistrict or tehsil of the Kargil district of the union territory of Ladakh. The administrative centre is Padum. Zanskar, together with the neighbouring region of Ladakh, was briefly a part of the kingdom of Guge in Western Tibet.
The Zanskar Range is a mountain range in the Indian state of Ladakh that separates Zanskar from Ladakh. Geologically, the Zanskar Range is part of the Tethys Himalaya, an approximately 100-km-wide synclinorium formed by strongly folded and imbricated, weakly metamorphosed sedimentary series. The average height of the Zanskar Range is about 6,000 m (19,700 ft). Its eastern part is known as Rupshu.
Zanskar covers an area of some 7,000 square kilometres (2,700 sq mi), at an elevation of 3,500-7,135 metres (11,500–23,409 feet). It consists of the country lying along the two main branches of the Zanskar River. The first, the Doda, has its source near the Penzi-la (4,400 m) (14,450 ft) mountain-pass, and then flows south-eastwards along the main valley leading towards Padum, the capital of Zanskar.
Shingo La
The second branch is formed by two main tributaries known as Kargyag river, with its source near the Shingo La (5,091 m) (16,703 ft), and Tsarap river, with its source near the Baralacha-La. These two rivers unite below the village of Purney to form the Lungnak river (also known as the Lingti or Tsarap river). The Lungnak river then flows north-westwards along a narrow gorge towards Zanskar's central valley (known locally as jung-khor), where it unites with the Doda river to form the Zanskar river.
For locals and trekkers alike, the Shingo La is technically one of the easiest 5000m passes in Indian Himalaya, involving no glacier trekking nor steep climbs. And from this season you will be able to ride across this mighty pass thanks to Border Road Organisation for making it slightly motorable.
"The Shingo La, the main route into Zanskar from Lahaul, is an unpleasant pass. It isn't particularly high, at just 17,000 feet, but it is squalid and sordid and requires a man of courage to pass."
Zanskar Expedition
Region
Lahul, Laddakh
Duration
7 D
Start Point
Manali
End Point
Leh
Grade
Hard
Altitude
5100M
KMS
1000 km, 200 kms/day
Departure/ Batch
July-Sept
Cost
Pillion
Personal Bike
SUV
RE350
RE Himalayan
Rider+Pillion
*Shared room
Booking Amount
349$/24,999₹
349$/24,999₹
449$/29,999₹
499$/34,999₹
599$/39,999₹
849$/59,999₹
100$
Tour Details:
No. of Travel Days: 6 nights/ 7 Days
Best Season: June – Oct
Max. Altitude: 5100 mAccommodation: Hotels, Village Home Stays and Camps
Transportation: MUVs/Bikes/Fuel
Price Inclusions:
All Transportation
All AccommodationMeals: Breakfast and Dinner
(Please read detailed inclusions in next tab.)
Day 1: Manali – Ride to Tandi
Travellers are requested to arrive a day before to check out local places and get accustomed to climate. We ride to Tandi via Rohtang early morning. Its a short ride but involve 3800M pass with exhilarating views of the Himalayas. And impotant to acclimitize too.
Day 2: Tandi- Darcha
After a short time spent in lovely village of Tandi, we head towards Darcha. We ride slow along the blue waters of chandra river and arrive Darcha early to call it a night to get acclimitize properly. Because we cross over to the mighty 5100M Shingo La tomorrow. and average elevation rise to 3500+ m from then on.
Day 3: Darcha - Singo La - Padum
We enter Zanskar via Shinku La or Shingo La. The roads are tough and altitude high but the view compensates for it all. We spend the night in Cha from where we will go for 3 hour hike next morning to one of the most ashtonishing monastery in Zanskar.
Day 4: Padum - Rangdum
3 hrs Trek to the Phugtal Monastery and then ride to Padum.
Day 5: Rangdum - Kargil
The place where the Kargil war of 1999 was fought.
Day 6: Kargil - Leh
We begin the next day early from Kaza, we drive to Key monastery followed by Kibber, and we drive to Gyate and Tashigang. Lastly, we take a very exciting cable car to go to Chicham. We spend the night at Kibber.
Day 7: Leh
Local sight seeing and Rest.
*Itinerary is subject to change based on road conditions, and weather forecast.