Itinerary -
Day 01: Delhi - Leh (Complete Rest in Leh for acclimatization)
Board the morning flight to Leh. Upon arrival our representative will meet and transfer you to a hotel. Relax and let go of the tiredness of journey. The cold desert of Leh is located at an altitude of 3505 meters/ 1149 feet and its climate is completely different from that of the Delhi plains. Therefore, it is recommended to get acclimatized to the local climate before undertaking any physical activity.
Post lunch, enjoy a short stroll around the main bazaar. You can visit the cafés and handicraft shops. Return to the hotel, relax, have dinner and enjoy a comfortable overnight stay.
Day 02: Leh – Nimmo (3 km/3-4 hrs ride) (Biking trip starts from here)
Early in the morning after breakfast, our biking experts will makes you familiarize with the bikes. Thereafter the expedition will begin, and you will be riding towards Nimmo, followed by an overnight stay in the camp.
Day 03: Nimmo – Alchi (38 km/4 hrs)
At Nimo, post breakfast we will head towards Alchi. En-route, we will be paying a visit to Basgo, which is famous for its statue of Budha. Later in the journey visit the Likir Monastery and get a glimpse of the beautiful culture of Ladakh. Overnight stay in the camp.
Day 04: Alchi – Lamayuru (58 km/4-5 hrs)
Get up early in the morning and after breakfast, ride towards Lamayuru. Upon arrival visit the Lamayuru monastery. Established in the 10th century, the monastery was founded by Rinchen Zangpo. A ride to the Lamayuru Monastery will be very interesting and beautiful, as it is located amid majestic mountains. It is believed to be the oldest Gompa in central Ladakh.
After the daylong journey, enjoy an overnight stay in the camp.
Day 05: Lamayuru – Leh (140 km by car)
In the morning we will be visiting the Lamayuru Monastery to participate in the religious ceremony held in the morning. It's a very soothing and spiritual experience to be there among these warm and friendly monks. Overnight stay at the hotel in Leh.
Day 06: Leh - The Khardung La Pass (41 km/5580 mts) - Leh
We will set off for the Khardung - La Pass early in the morning. Reaching an elevation of 6000 feet via 26 miles of biking is certainly not a piece of cake; it’s the ultimate challenge. The view from the top of the Pass is stunning. The scenery stretches from the Indus valley in the South, over the endless peaks and ridges of the Zanskar range, to the giants of the Saser Massif in the North.
Later, we will transfer you to a hotel or guest house; have dinner, followed by an overnight stay.
Day 07: Rafting from Chilling to Nimo in Zanskar river (Level 3 plus), Duration: approx 2 1/2 hrs
After breakfast drive to Chilling, the starting point of the rafting expedition. Raft from Chilling to Nimo on the Zanskar River.
Located near the confluence of the Indus and Zanskar River, Nimo is a small village. After rafting, have a hot lunch at the camp and then we will head back to Leh. Overnight stay at guest house in Leh.
Day 08: Leh - Delhi
Early in the morning, we transfer you to the airport for your flight to Delhi.
Trip Ends With Sweet Memories !!!
Ladakh, the land of high mountain passes, brings back home some memorable moments of one’s lifetime, which are filled with thrilling mountain activities, bounteous scenic beauty and indigenous culture of the Indo-Tibetans. Further, it draws the mind of travellers who are seeking for some adventure while on their tour to Ladakh. River Rafting in Ladakh is one such adventurous activity that swings the mood of rafters while coursing down the untamed rivers, which are having rapids ranging from grade 1 to grade 4. Running down the valley, cutting through gorges and combating several obstacles makes river rafting in Ladakh one of the challenging water sports in India. The undulated terrain of the Ladakh region is crisscrossed by many rivers, namely the Indus River, Zanskar River, Nubra River, Shyok River, Suru River, Doda River, Tsarap River and Markha River. Out of these, river rafting in Ladakh is popular in the Indus and Zanskar River. Along with the river rafting expedition one can even experience camping in Ladakh and also go for short hikes to the remote villages and ancient monasteries.
Flashing back to the history of river rafting in Ladakh, it was an early mode of transportation to carry passengers and goods from one place to another. In the late 20th century, rafting was introduced as one of the adventure water sports in India and thereafter it started to develop along with the advancement of Ladakh tourism.
rafting-in-ladakhThe Indus and Zanskar River, which are the two major rivers in the Ladakh region, are popular for river rafting in Ladakh from the month of June to late August. The rivers have rapids mostly ranging from grade I to III and few ranging from grade IV to V. The stretch from Phey to Nimmo that passes through astoundingly beautiful mountains mostly consists of rapids ranging from grade I to II. Nimmo is the point of confluence of the River Indus and Zanskar. Stretches from Phey to Saspol and Kharu to Spituk, which are the shortest routes, are ideal for beginners and amateurs as these stretches mostly consists of rapids ranging from grade I and II. Further, the stretch from Upshi to Kharu is also recommended for beginners but the stretch also consist few grade III rapids. Nonetheless, the stretch from Saspol to Khaltsey is ideal for experienced rafters as the route consist of rapids ranging from grade III to IV.
Another stretch that is from Chilling to Nimmo on the Zanskar River is perfect for experts to combat against rapids ranging up to grade IV. Further, river rafting in Ladakh coursing down the Indus and Zanskar River allows one to camp at villages like Nimmo and Phey. On the other hand, the Zanskar River Rafting Expedition swirls down from Rangdum to Lamaguru, which is approximately 180 kilometers and passes through Remala, Karsha, Pidmo and Nyerak cutting through the extremely desolate, remote and sheer Zanskar gorge.
While on a river rafting tour in Ladakh, one can also visit ancient monasteries like the Alchi Monastery, Hemis Monastery, Shey Monastery, Thiksey Monastery and Stok Palace and Museum. Further, one can also enjoy the spectacular scenery, with massive cliffs opening up to the lush green valleys, waterfalls streaming directly out of the canyon walls and glimpses of hulking high peaks in the backdrop while drifting down the river.
River Rafting in Ladakh being one of the adventurous water sports involves some amount of risk and thus certain measures has to be taken before one goes for it. The basic training is given by the guides who are experienced rafters. Further, following the rafting rulebook properly one can also combat easily on certain situations, especially if the raft overturns and one falls overboard. If one is an amateur it is recommended to take an experienced rafter or a guide along and also to follow the signals given by the guide while rafting down the course.
River Rafting & Mountain Biking in Ladakh
Mountain Biking and River Rafting are the kind of activities any adventure freak would like to try his hand at. And the best place for doing enjoying these activities is Ladakh. Wrapped in the white canvas of snow, Ladakh is nothing short of a paradise for adventure lovers. On one hand the high altitude and rugged terrains test one’s stamina and physical prowess while on the other hand the rowdy rapids of Zanskar River test one’s acumen and ability to overcome fear.
The routes for mountain biking are open from the end of March till the first week of December, as the summer months are comparatively dry in Ladakh. The biking expedition sees the participation of many enthusiastic bikers trying to prove their mettle. As far as rafting on the Zanskar River is concerned, the best time is July to September. The Zanskar River is called the Grand Canyon of Asia and thus, one needs to have the stomach for facing its rapids.