RUPSHU TSO MORI-RI & MENTOK PEAK CLIMB

Morning after a short scenic of an hour flight to Leh from Delhi, on arrival at Leh, Ladakh Kushok Bakula Rimpoche. As you head outside the air terminal, our staff and guide receives you for short drive in the heart of Leh town to your Hotels. Afternoon free at leisure, optional walk to the center of Leh and its market.

At Leh, for acclimatization and for exciting tour at places of interest, Leh has a vast range of main bazaar on the street colorful local fruits and vegetables vendors. The streets are busy with roadside restaurant, cafes and craft shops.
The old Leh Palace stands on the top of the high hill overlooking Leh town and the scenic valley. The white Peace (Shanti) Stupa located on a high hill which is interesting for visit offers grand views of Leh. Witness the world's highest Polo ground, which is close near main bus station, enjoy rest of the day free at leisure to browse around Leh, Ladakh capital. Tour extends to famous Khar Palace, located on a high hill facing view of the Leh town. It is an amusing artistic marvel of Leh. The palace has several miniature statues of Buddha showing various phases of his life.

At Leh for another day, to support acclimatization before heading towards higher terrain, morning after breakfast a full day tour with exciting drive. Enjoy the scenic ride through beautiful countryside and visit Thiksey Gompa built in 16th Century, situated on a hill top. The monastery enriched with Tibetan-style books, a huge Buddha statue and excellent works of arts.
Last stop on the way back to Leh, tour of ruined Shey Palace once a summer palace of the pre-Tibetan kings. Shey and its fort also known as Lachen Palkar Palace, the massive nine-story stone structure lies at the base of the Tsemo ridge and towers over the old town. Built by King Senge Namgyal during 15th till 17th Centuary in a Tibetan style. The great Mahasiddha Staktsang Raspa along with great ancestor Singey Namgyal built this biggest monastery in 16th century.
The palace monastery houses a large, bronze, blue haired Buddha statue and then
visit of Hemis, one of the largest and wealthiest monasteries in Ladakh with more than 150 monks; an annual Hemis festival is held. This monastery, is the oldest monastery of Gelugpa School in Ladakh, the great Lama Paldan Shesrap built it in 14th Century. Here you can see the big statue of the Future Buddha,
After a great day drive to Leh hotel for overnight and preparation for the adventure to Mentok Khang-Ri climb.

Leaving early in the morning, drive up to Markha valley on route Spituk time permitting, visit Spituk Monastery or Pethup Gompa a Buddhist monastery in which is at a distance of 8 km from Leh. The site of Spituk blessed by the Arhat Nyimagung. An 11th Century monastery the monastery of Gelugpa or Yellow Hat of Tibetan Buddhism and is home to 100 monks. On Spituk’s premises, there’s also a museum that has a wide collection of ancient masks, antique arms, other icons and numerous Buddhist religious paintings of ‘Thangkas’.
After an interesting tour of Spituk monastery, drive continues towards a wide valley to Zingchen, a small town where our walk starts heading towards Yurutse.
Where the valley narrows following a trail into a gorge. After few hours reaching
an isolated small village of Yurutse for overnight camp.

Today, a great exciting walk to cross the first pass of the adventure after a pleasant overnight with first overnight in tented camp. Morning walk follows a high route with steep climb of few hours reaching on top Ganda-La Pass.
Enjoy tremendous scenery of surrounding snow-clad peaks includes view of Stok Khang-Ri towards west.
From the pass a short downhill and then on gradual path to Shingo for overnight camp, an isolated and remote settlement on route to Markha valley.

From Shingo scenic walk on winding trails with few ups and down to Skiu, the first village on entering Markha valley, around the high hills of village stands a ruined wind-blown forts. After an interesting stop at Skiu following a high trail of Markha valley to Shara, another small settlement of yak herders for overnight camp.

Another long day walk around Markha valley, as route leads on long winding dusty trail on reaching at Markha village, the largest settlement within Markha valley home to about 20 families. If time permits interested people can visit the monastery above the village with old ruin fort.
From Markha village walk follows to a place called Umlung, located on a high ridge, and then another few hours of good walk reaches at Hankar for overnight camp, close around a small settlement of cattle herder.

From here onward into remote and isolate country far north of Ladakh high valley plains, as route leads towards desolated and scenic landscapes to reach a small place of Tachungtse around cattle herder temporary camp.

After a refreshing stop, continue uphill slow climb to the ridge of Tachungtse
Facing views of Kang Yatse peak towards south west, then down and up to Nimaling for overnight camp. A wide valley close to Kongmaru-La Pass, with grand view of Kang Yatse. A scenic valley with large tented camp of Yak herder, which also serves as tea-house. The local herder bring their cattle for grazing during June to Septmber. For interest people can take a short hike to the base of Kang Yatse glacier a few hours walk from the camp at Nimaling.

From Nimalung head towards west direction close view of Kang Yatse and Kongmaru-La, our route leads further west towards Rupshu valley.
After entering the Markha valley area, then slowly walk leads to a high pass of
Lalung-La, also called Pobe La as well Chatsang La. Quite a long day walk as route leads to a steep up and then heading towards Rupshu valley.
From the pass enjoy dramatic scenery of beautiful landscapes of both ends Markha and Rupshu valleys, and then descend to Chaktsang for overnight camp on a flat field with few temporary shelters of cattle herders.

Morning starts for a long day walk towards scenic country side away from main trail heading towards in the heart of Rupshu valley to Rumtse.
Walk on windswept high barren plateau, with climb to Puze-La Pass, rewards exciting panorama of Zasnkar and Ladakh range of snow peaks.
A slow downhill walk brings you at Rumtse, a small village on a road-side, with few nice lodges. At Rumtse after setting our overnight camp, time permitting visit
Stakna Monastery or Stakna Gompa, a Buddhist monastery of the Drugpa sect in Stakna, situated on the left bank of the Indus River.

The monastery founded in the late 16th Century by a Bhutanese scholar and saint, Chosje Modzin, which was built on top of hill overlooking beautiful view of Changtang and Indus River valley.

Walk along the road till it follows to a bungalow built for visitors, and then taking the right side trail into the valley passing through some deserted army huts.
After a short hour reaching a junction, where the trail leads left to Tso Kar Lake and on the right leads to a stream. Climb to the valley of Kyamar, in early days known as the salt route, it was through this valley that the salt from
Tso Kar Lake was brought to Leh and around the Indus valley.
Enjoy the walk within beautiful harmonious landscapes on reaching at Kyamar for overnight camp before crossing a two high passes next day.

After a pleasant overnight stop around Kyamar valley, morning after a good breakfast, walk leads uphill with steep climb towards the Kyamar-La, facing stunning view of the Changthang Mountain range. From the top descend towards Tiri Doksa, a summer pasture of Yak and cattle herder temporary shelter. Trek continues heading towards Mandalchan-La, another high pass for excellent view of surrounding grand vista, and then downhill to Tishaling for overnight camp in a wide valley.

Another long day trek to Pangonagu, but worth the hard effort, as it leads to
beautiful serene Lake Tso Kar, enclosed by high snow peaks range.
Walk leads towards a high pass at Shibuk-La, facing wonderful views of
Tso Kar Lake with snow mountains that surrounds the scenic valley.
From the pass after a grand vista, downhill to a wide valley then end the long hour’s day trek on reaching at Pangonagu for overnight camping close to the
emerald colored Tso Kar Lake. Around this pure wilderness, chances of spotting
some wild-life like Ibex, wild ass called Kyang in local language of Tibetan origin, with marmots and migratory birds and ducks.

Enjoying marvelous overnight stop at Pangonagu, close to the lake Tso Kar, clearing the camp. Start the adventure, walk today is much pleasant as the path leads along the lake of Tsho Kar, which means a white-lake due to much salt deposit on the shore. Walk to the end of the lake might spot wild mountain animals and birds, then slowly completing the day turning right side to enter a nice small village of Nuruchan for overnight stop.

As easy ascend to the pass takes around i hours 30 minutes, trail turns towards north east just after crossing the pass through the velly. You will cross the Horlamkongka-La, on the way it is possible to see wild animals like ibex, wild ass etc. From here to Rachungkaru to Gyama Barma 5,089 m via Kyamayuri-La 5,416 m. Start climbing Kyamayuri-La pass as soon as you leave the camp, takes around 2 hours on average pace. The last climb is tiring one, after the pass the trail leads towards north east and at the end of the valley trail start ascending another small pass called Gyamai-La 5, 100 m from where you can have view of a group of peaks, walk down towards north east and cross a small river

An easy day trek , By leaving Gyama Barma you will continue your trek , you will get the junction were on route directly go to Korzok Dok, taking other path going to Menthok Khang-Ri. You will find beautiful view of Tsomori-Ri. Then starts ascending up the slope among some of the herbal flowers whose color and the fragrance filled the valley. Then as we go around toward the back of the peak, some rocky path makes difficult for the horses. Overnight camp

From this nice camp at Gyamar, start the morning walk along the eastern shore of
Tsomori-Ri Lake, and then a climb leads you on top of Yalung Nyau-La pass.
Enjoy the spectacular vista of surrounding beautiful valley enclosed by high snow- capped peaks, and then descend to the valley floor. A short climb over Zerlung Merlung ridge then heading towards Korzok village, placed close on the bank of Tsomori-Ri Lake, here witness flocks of ducks and storks around lake side.

An enjoyable and interesting overnight stop at Korzok Dok and the lake, morning walk leads along the west bank of the lake. A pleasant trek on level path facing superb views of the Mentok Himal range with Chamser and Lungser Kang-Ri right across from the lake. We start walking along the Tso Mori-Ri back the way we came and take a small path up to the Base Camp of Mentok Khang-Ri. The route follows to steep climb uphill and around some moraine and glaciated section, then reach a wide plateau, where our base camp is set for the climb of Mentok Khang-Ri Peak.

At Base Camp, preparation for the climb where our expert guide will brief with instruction of the climb in few technical section. Check all the climbing gear, like ice-axe, crampons and Karabiner as well warm and water-proof clothing and climbing boots

To make the climb more success and accessible, where high or advance camp will be set much higher above close beneath Mentok Khang-Ri Peak.
Trek and climb further towards gigantic peak of Mentok Khang-Ri, walking on faint path hardly visited by trekkers or climbers. After some hours of steady walk reaching right beneath the peak to establish our High Camp.
Rest of the day, practice and at leisure where our guide will scout the safer and possible route to the summit of Mentok Khang-Ri Peak.

Starting early morning before dawn to reach the summit, as mid-afternoon can get very windy and freezing cold. Leaving the High Camp climb over moraine and glaciers then on snowy slopes, taking care of slippery edge. Following the lead guide and tackling few technical obstacles, after hours of steady haul with few stops to catch breath. Then finally reach the summit and feel on top of the world for a while, overlooking unparalleled panorama of surrounding snow-capped peaks. Looking down towards beautiful Tso Mori-Ri emerald Lake within vast valley of Rupshu and Changthang.
After a successful climb and triumph, descend with care slowly towards high camp, and continue the tiring walk back at Base Camp for last overnight stop around mountain wilderness.

Clearing the base camp, leaving nothing only your foot prints and then follow the faint path on relatively easy down to the village of Karzok, one of the highest permanent settlements. Located beside scenic Tso Mori-Ri Lake, at
4, 500 m high. On reaching at Korzok for last overnight camp with time to explore
the settlement of Korzok and interact with the local native as well visit its old monastery. An easy day with much down to Tsomori-Ri Lake. Evening you will visit lake and Korzok Monastery. Overnight camp

After a marvelous trek and climb of Mentok Khang-Ri Peak, clear the camp and loading all the baggage and camping gear. An exciting scenic drive takes you across Chantang and Rupshu wide plain following the Indus river for sometimes and then on main highway to Leh. On arrival by late afternoon or evening time check into the hotel for last overnight in Ladakh.

Depending upon the flight time, guide and staff transfer you for a short drive to the airport for flight to Delhi after a memorable adventure and experience on Markha Valley to Rupshu Tso-Moriri Mentok-Khang-Ri Climb and Trekking.