A trek to the Changthang plateau

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Discover one of the most beautiful valley of Ladakh going through the Hemis National Park


Have you heard of a trek in the Himalayas that takes you through seven passes, ten river crossings and amazing campsites, all higher than 4500 m ?
Well, if you haven’t yet, Himalayan Ecotourism is pleased to say that we also take you on the Rumtse - TsoMoriri Trek where you can witness the magnificence of all of the above, right in front of your eyes.
You will be in awe of the Himalayan beauty, with added wildlife and jaw-dropping views of the Changthang plateau and wetlands.

This 10-day trek is the perfect fit for adventure seekers and those who want to travel sustainably. Himalayan Ecotourism is known for contributing to a sustainable travel culture by ensuring less crowding and adopting eco-friendly ways of travelling. This is what sets us apart from our fellow industry mates for we obey our slogan "Creating Joy and Sustainability in the Himalayas" very seriously.

We will help you organize every bit of your journey. All you have to do is contact us and we will be at your service.

Rumtse to Tso Moriri trek features

Duration of your trek  

Day-min : The minimum number of days required for the trek (from Leh to Leh)
Day-max : The maximum number of days you can spend on this trek. Prolonged itinerary can be discussed with our team.
AWTD : Average walking time per day (<3 : easy, 3 to 5 : moderate, >5 : strenuous)

Altitudes of your trek  

Min : Minimum altitude of your trek.
Max : Maximum altitude of your trek.
Ascent : The total ascending difference of altitude on the trek.
Descent : The total descending difference of altitude on the trek.

Difficulty of your trek  

Stamina : The physical effort involved during your trek. Rated from 0 (easiest) to 100 (most strenuous). If you have an average fitness you can consider all the treks up to 50. See here for more details
Technical : Difficulty of your trek in terms of exposure to danger and required experience.
  0 to 20 : No difficulties,
  20 to 40 : Walking on good mountain trails,
  40 to 60 : Some walking on difficult mountain trails (steep slopes, rocks, etc.),
  60 to 80: You are exposed to some dangers (void, snow, falling rocks, etc.),
  80 to 100 : Experience required (please inquire).
Overall : Average between Stamina and Technical rating.


Duration

Day-max
10
AWTD
5.5 hours

Altitudes

Min
3340 m
Max
5440 m
Ascent
2770 m
Descent
2390 m

Difficulty

Stamina
65/100
Technical
30/100
Overall
48/100


Rumtse to Tso Moriri trek map

Rumtse to Tso Moriri trek

Rumtse to Tso Moriri trek itinerary

The trek starts from Rutse located on the Manali to Leh highway. You are going to cross 7 passes to reach one of the most beautiful lake of Ladakh.

    Town
    Motorable road
    Trekking trail
    Monastery

    Village
    Camping spot
    Noticeable peak
    Mountain pass



Rumtse to Tso Moriri, best time to go


Best time to trek to Tso Moriri is from May to September In early season you may not be able to cross the high passes because of the snow.
The best trekking season coincides with the time many shepherds go along the same trekking trails. It is also the best time for birdwatchers at both the lakes Tso Kar and Tso Moriri.
  • Jan

  • Feb

  • Mar

  • Apr

  • May

  • Jun

  • Jul

  • Aug

  • Sep

  • Oct

  • Nov

  • Dec


Rumtse to Tso Moriri trek itinerary

Features Description
  No walk

  +0m / -0m

  Homestay

Trekkers will be leaving Leh to reach Rumtse village the same day which is a 76km drive.
The stay will be organized in a homestay in Rumtse village.
Since Rumtse is at a much higher altitude than Leh, trekkers will not be doing any activity on this day in order to acclimatize.

Features Description
  4 to 5 hours

  +390m / -0m

  under tents

Trekkers will start with the trek from Rumtse to reach Kyamar campsite at 5120 m.
The duration of this patch is approximately 5 hours and covers about 13kms.
Trekkers will be walking alongside the Chhaba Chu stream and come across green marshes and a view of the entire valley from three different sides.
The night will be spent under the starry sky in tents.

Features Description
  8 hours

  +810m / -340m

  under tents

This day will involve passing through two high passes - Kyamar La Pass at 5120 m and Mandalchan La Pass at 5200 m.
The duration of trekking can go up to about 8 hours, covering approximately 15kms. The goal for the day would be to reach Tisaling at 5030 m where trekkers will camp overnight.
The final section of the ridge towards Tisaling will treat you with wildflowers spread across and prayer flags to add to the charm.

Features Description
  6 hours

  +250m / -680m

  under tents

On this day, trekkers will gently ascend towards Shibuk La at 5280 m, moving towards the plains of Tso Kar Lake. Trekkers should expect a long descent here.
The night will be spent camping at Tso Kar campsite or Pongunagu at 4600 m. The time taken to reach the campsite will be approximately 6 hours, covering 15kms.
If lucky, trekkers will come across Changpas with their livestock which is a sight in itself. The brackish barren land changes its colors at different times of the day.

Features Description
  5 to 6 hours

  +60m / -0m

  under tents

This day poses fewer challenges in terms of the ascent and the descent.
Trekkers will get to enjoy the long walks on the plains of Tso Kar, providing a very close look of the Tso Kar Lake. The goal is to reach Nuruchen at 4660 m.
The duration to reach Nuruchen is approximately 5-6 hours, covering 16kms.
Trekkers may look out for black necked cranes and Brahminy ducks as it is their breeding ground.

Features Description
  3 to 4 hours

  +290m / -20m

  under tents

Trekkers will be passing through Horlam La Pass followed by an easy day of trekking.
We will then descend to Rachungkharu where trekkers will camp overnight. The duration to reach the campsite will be approximately 3-4 hours.
Trekkers will witness an increasing presence of the Changpas and Tibetan Wild Horses.

Features Description
  6 hours

  +680m / -460m

  under tents

On this day, trekkers will again pass through two major passes - Kyamayuri La Pass at 5420 m and Gyamar La Pass at 5390 m.
The goal would be to reach Gyamalhoma campsite. Trekkers will witness a changing landscape as they approach a higher mountain range.
The time taken to reach the campsite is approximately 6 hours. Trekkers will have an exhilarating experience with river crossing as they dip their feet in deep and icy cold water.

Features Description
  6 hours

  +290m / -890m

  Fixed camp with bathrooms

This final day of the trek is the most spectacular of all. Trekkers will pass through the highest pass of the entire trek - the Yalung Nyau La Pass at 5440 m.
This is the most awaited pass of the trek as we start to see the majestic Tso Moriri Lake. After a long descent from the pass, trekkers will reach Karzok where they will camp overnight.
The approximate duration will be around 6 hours. Along with the best views of the entire trek, you will pass through rocky terrains and will eventually take you to the pastured land of Karzok Phu.




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Difficulty
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Max alt
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Recognition of Himalayan Ecotourism

Himalayan Ecotourism Awards

Our awards

Himalayan Ecotourism is the winner of the To Do award 2022 in the field of "Socially Responsible Tourism".
We are also the Overall Winner of the Indian Responsible Tourism Award 2019 and the Gold winner in the Best Adventure Operator category.
We have been declared winner of the Sustainable Tourism Award 2019 by Skal International and Biosphere.
Our cooperative-based model of social enterprise and our efforts to conserve the Himalayas are the main reasons for winning these awards.
Thank you to all our cooperative members, our customers, our friends and well-wishers !