PADUM TO LEH VIA CHA CHA LA
RUBRANG LA & MARKHA VALLEY
7 Days
Trekking in Padum or Padam, the
capital of Zanskar region, opens up several
outlying villages and monasteries, which form the nucleus of the region.
This hard but very rewarding trek takes one from Padum to
Zangla. As on the Padum-Lamayuru Trek and is
only recommended for the second half of August because from Zangla to
Markha many crossings have to be made over large rivers.
Day
1: Padum To Zangla
(Average walking time 7 hours)
There is a choice of routes to Zangla. The first is to go via Karsha
monastery, and then continue down the true left side of the Zanskar valley
to Pishu village, where one crosses the bridge to Zangla. The alternative
route is to cross the bridge over the Tsarap River at Padum, and then
continue down the true right side of the Zanskar valley via the village of
Stongde (also spelt as Stongdey).
Day 2: Zangla To Cha Cha Base
(Average walking time 3 hours)
Day 3: Cha Cha La Base To Camp
(Average walking time 6 hours)
Day 4: Camp To Tilat Sumdo
(Average walking time 6 hours)
Warning:
In some maps and guidebooks there is a trail marked down the Khurna River
from Tilat Sumdo to the Zanskar River and on to the confluence with Markha
valley. This track is probably a late winter or early spring track, which
the locals follow after some sections of the ice on the Zanskar River
begin to melt. There is no summer trail along the Zanskar River between
the Khurna and Markha Rivers.
Day 5: Tilat Sumdo To Base Of Rubrang La
(Average walking time 5 to 6 hours)
Day 6: Rubrang La Base To Markha
(Average walking time 6 hours)
Day 7: Markha To
Leh
(Average walking time 6 hours)
From Markha village, the trek to Leh can be completed in three or four
stage. The options are either: continue down the Markha valley, and then
comes to Gonda la to the Indus valley and Leh; or go up to the valley to
Nimaling, and cross the Kongmaru la to Hemis in the Indus valley.
