Ripchar Valley Trek
Category: Trek
Duration: 11 Days
Location: Ladakh
Season: Monsoon (july - sep)
Grade: Moderate

A very interesting trek beginning at Lamayuru and walking up the less traveled Ripchar valley with its small villages, nomadic settlements and pastures where we see a wide variety of flowers from end of July to end of August and birds too. We cross some high passes with excellent views of the Karakorams and the Zanskar ranges.

Day 01: Fly Delhi-Leh (3500m)
Transfer to Hotel. Rest & Acclimatise.

Day 02: In Leh (3500m)
Visit Leh Palace and the market.

Day 03: Leh to Alchi (3200m) 3-4hrs
Drive to Alchi. Enroute visit Spituk and Phiyang monasteries. Overnight in Alchi at a Guest House.

Day 04: Alchi to Lamayuru (3430m) 3-4hrs
Drive to Lamayuru. Visit monastery and overnight at camp.

Day 05: Trek Lamayuru to Wanla(3200m) over the Prinkiti La (3700m) 4-5hrs
Easy climb to a pretty notch in the ridge, views of the complicated terrain of the Zanskar Mountains, snow clad rock spires and the Konze La in the east, over which the route passes. Continue past the village of Shilla to Wanla.

Day 06: Wanla to Hinju (3750m) 5-6hrs
This pretty village, with its eleventh century gompa high up on a crag, makes a pleasant place to stop. The trek continues up the valley on a nice wide path to the village of Penji from where we leave the main trail and go up the Ripchar Valley to the small hamlet of Hinju.

Day 07: Hinju to base of Konze La (4900m) 4-5hrs
The Ripchar Valley gets more and more beautiful the higher up we walk, with its thick growth of willows and dramatic views back to rock pinnacles on the sky line.

Day 08: Base of Konze La to Lanak (3900m) 4-5hrs
Its a short but steep ascent from the camp to the top of this pass, but rewards with views all the way back to the Prinkiti La. The initially steep descent to the Sumda Valley becomes more gentle towards Lanak. Camp by the river, Sumda Chu.

Day 09: Lanak to Chilling (3250m) over Dungduchun La(4700m) 6-7hrs
The isolated village of Sumda shows few signs of change and the villagers are largely self-sufficient. From the village the path goes over a small pass, Dungduchun La. There are fantastic views from the top. Follow the path and the stream down the valley to Chilling, a fairly large village famous for producing some of the best metalwork in Ladakh.

Day 10: Drive to Leh (3500m) 2-3hrs
A short drive to Leh, Check in the hotel on reaching Leh. Opportunities to shop in the Leh market. Overnight Hotel.

Day 11: Fly Leh-Delhi.
Early morning transfer to Airport for Leh - Delhi flight.