Zanskar is where the word "trekking" carries all its meaning. Long hiking days, loneliness, amazing landscapes, and also unforgetable encounters with the local community, exceptional fauna and flora, and everything else that is expected while trekking the Himalayas : Glaciers, high peaks, raging rivers, canyons and so on.
You will cross 8 passes during the trek and will have to cross many wild rivers in the bottom of the valleys. You will surely meet herds of yaks, these mythical animals who share their lives with the locals.
Your guide will help you identifying the flora and surely observe some wild mammals like the Ibex, the Blue Sheep, the Tibetan Wild Ass, and perhaps some endangered species like the Snow Leopard.
The magnificence of the Zanskar valley
Traditional Ladakhi houses on the trek
Padum, "capital" of the Zanskar region
There are many stupas on the trek in Zanskar
And many Gompas !
Trek in Zanskar
EnquireOn this page
A fabulous itinerary that avoids the new road
Zanskar trek features
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.
Zanskar trek map
Trek itinerary in short
The trek starts from an unusual village : Kanji. This is to avoid the more classic start of the Zanskar trek which suffers now from new road constructions. This involve to go through a quite challenging pass, the Nyugutse La. Then, we reach again the classic itinerary, visiting some of the most beautiful villages of Ladakh : Photoksar, Lingshed and Hanumil. Please note that a road connects now the Spangtang campsite to Lingshed.
Zanskar trek, best time to go
Best time to trek in Zanskar is from May to September.
You can also consider January and February for the famous Chadar trek on the frozen Zanskar river or for observation of the Snow Leopard.
You can also consider January and February for the famous Chadar trek on the frozen Zanskar river or for observation of the Snow Leopard.
-
Jan
-
Feb
-
Mar
-
Apr
-
May
-
Jun
-
Jul
-
Aug
-
Sep
-
Oct
-
Nov
-
Dec
Our Zanskar trek itinerary
| Features | Description |
|---|---|
|
No walk under tents or in a homestay |
Our taxi takes you in the morning from your hotel or guesthouse. We drive towards Lamayuru. |
| Features | Description |
|---|---|
|
4 to 5 hours +880m / -600m under tents |
The trek starts ! |
| Features | Description |
|---|---|
|
6 hours +900m / -450m under tents |
A quite strenuous day today ! |
| Features | Description |
|---|---|
|
4 to 5 hours +400m / -650m in a homestay |
The day starts with a short descent to the river Yapo La where we meet the new road (that looks more like a passable track) coming from Wangla. |
| Features | Description |
|---|---|
|
4 to 5 hours +450m / -130m under tents |
We start with the small pass Boumitse La (4400m) that we reach in 90 minutes. |
| Features | Description |
|---|---|
|
6 hours +850m / -1050m under tents |
We continue climbing to the Singge La (4973m), the pass of the Lion, on a gentle slope. The pass offers us again a memorable time with its amazing view of the surrounding peaks. |
| Features | Description |
|---|---|
|
6 hours +810m / -930m in a homestay |
We start the day with a climb to Margum La (4420 m). |
| Features | Description |
|---|---|
|
4 hours +560m / -340m under tents |
Today, no more roads, we need to reach the campsite (4017 m) located just below the Hanuma La that we will cross on the next day. |
| Features | Description |
|---|---|
|
5-6 hours +840m / -1180m under tents |
A longer day today, so we start early. |
| Features | Description |
|---|---|
|
5 hours +730m / -845m under tents |
Shortly after Snertse, there is an amazing view of the Parfi pass and the entire valley of the Oma Chu that flows into the Zanskar river. |
| Features | Description |
|---|---|
|
5 hours +540m / -480m in a guesthouse |
On the last day of the trek we will follow the Zanskar river up to Padum. |
Zanskar trek photos
Spangtang Chen
The valley next to the Nyugutse La.
Towards Sirsir La
Via the beautiful valley of the Yapo La.
Singe La
The Singe La seen from Sirsir La with Photoksar in between.
Photoksar Gompa
Himalayan Ecotourism helps in the restoration of the Gompa.
Homestay in Zanskar
Enjoy the incredible warmth of the Ladakhi, Himalayan people.
Photoksar
At 4200 m height and located in an unbelievable mountain environment.
Irrigated fields
The people of Zanskar can only grow wheat, barley and a few vegetables.
Stargazing in Zanskar
Are you astronomy enthusiasts ? Let's know, we will plan the trip accordingly.
Children of Zanskar
At Himalayan Ecotourism we are reinventing the village life in Zanskar for a sustainable future.
Other treks in Ladakh
Markha valley treks
One of the most beautiful valley of Ladakh. Several options at a moderate difficulty.
Zanskar
Photoksar
Photoksar location
Photoksar, at 4,200m, is one of Ladakh's highest settlements. It is located in the Wanla district of Sham, lower Ladakh, and is on the traditional summer road that connects the main Indus valley with the trans-Sengge La group of settlements through Lamayuru.Villagers on the opposite side of the Sengge La pass, and monks at Lingshed, the tiny Gelukpa monastery in the vicinity, still travel via Photoksar on their journey to Leh. A passable track goes now to Photoksar and Lingshed from Wangla.
The homes are distributed around an area of reasonably level terrain split into farms irrigated by water channelled from the river, like in other Ladakhi settlements. This is sustained by snow sheets and melting glaciers.
The bulk of the cottages are crowded on the brink of a steep ravine above the main river, wherein the women must carry their household's water up perilous slopes in the winter. There is a distinct collection of houses at Machu, 45 minutes walk down the valley, although these are recognised as part of the hamlet for all intents and purposes.
Livelihood of the villagers in Photoksar
Barley is the sole crop that thrives at this elevation. Peas are used as winter fodder for cattle and are dried and processed into coarse flour, which is combined with barley flour to make paba, the locals' heavy but healthy main diet. In the winter, this is typically served with preserved radishes and turnips or dried lettuce, whereas in the summer, it is served with yoghurt or fresh vegetables. This diet is complemented with stews cooked from wheat flour brought from Wanla at the end of the route, as well as meat from their sheep, goats, and yaks.Photoksar is fortunate to have access to extensive tracts of fine pasture high in the mountains, where yaks are managed during the summer by herdsmen living in small stone huts who come to the town with butter and cheese on a regular basis. These yaks, coupled with the village's flocks of sheep and goats, offer butter and milk, as well as wool and meat, which is made into jackets, blankets, mats, ropes, and saddle bags.
The nutrition is quite poor, and the locals recall severe food crises in the past due to late snows or strong rains that ruined their crops. Food handouts distributed by the Indian government have significantly increased food security. A third of the barley harvest may now be saved for the production of chang, the native barley beer that is enjoyed in great amounts on all social occasions.
Most households still rely on their land and cattle for sustenance and paid labour options are limited. Some young men join the army and may send money home. There still is one carpenter in the hamlet, and some of the young folks are finishing school and looking for positions in Leh as teachers, medical assistants, or in business endeavours. Otherwise, the major source of revenue is the selling of livestock. Villagers come to Wanla on a regular basis to receive their rations of wheat, rice, and kerosene, or to Leh to purchase household items.
Social life in Photoksar
Social activities are a common part of everyday life, when the temperatures drop in the winter -30C or lower and remain below freezing all day. When the sky is clear, the sun still gives warmth, and residents can congregate on their rooftops to celebrate marriages, births, the new year, or one of the numerous religious festivals that occur throughout the year.Their social connections, on the other hand, are concentrated in neighbouring villages in the Wanla region, both along the road and across the Sengge La, where nuptials are performed and familial relationships give an excuse for social trips. The hamlet comprises little over 200 people, organized into twenty-two major families, khangba, and a lot of small khangu.
In around half of the households, all generations reside in the khangba, while in others, the elder generation or two has moved into a smaller, dependent home, the khangu, with younger kids, leaving the eldest son, his wife, and children in the khangba. This practice is widespread in Ladakh and differentiates it from the rest of the Tibetan plateau (Phylactou 1989; Dollfus 1989).
Recognition of Himalayan Ecotourism
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 !
Enquire
Share
Tweet
Hide