Rumtse to Tso Moriri Trek: 12-Day Ladakh Changthang Adventure

Today, you will visit some ancient monasteries in this region, for which you need to drive about 90 kilometres. Shey Palace is located about 15 km from Leh. Shey Palace is a historic Buddhist monastery in Ladakh’s Leh district. The Shey Palace was founded at the beginning of the 17th century AD by Deldan Namgyal and was once the summer capital of the Ladakh kingdom. It is renowned for its beautiful architecture that showcases a blend of Tibetan and Indian styles. The palace (inside the Dresthang Gompa) also houses a 12-meter-high statue of Shakyamuni Buddha made of gilded copper, considered the largest in the region. There are lots of Stupas and Gonpas built around the palace. The Shey Palace monastery is a popular tourist destination that attracts all kinds of visitors who come here to experience its stunning beauty and learn about the rich cultural heritage of Ladakh.

Thiksey Monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery near Shey Palace, about 17 km from Leh. The monastery is on top of a hill and offers stunning scenery of the surrounding mountains. It is one of the largest monasteries in Ladakh and is home to a community of monks who follow the Gelugpa tradition of Buddhism. The monastery complex houses several temples, prayer halls, and other buildings, including a nunnery. The monastery’s main prayer hall contains a 15-meter-high statue of Maitreya Buddha, the giant statue in Ladakh. The monastery also hosts an annual festival called the Gustor Festival, celebrated with great pomp and show. The festival involves the performance of sacred dances by the monks and attracts many tourists worldwide.

Hemis Monastery, located about 45 km south of Leh, is a Himalayan Buddhist monastery in the Hemis region of Ladakh. The Hemis Monastery is founded in a lovely mountain valley, surrounded by streams and fronted by long Mani walls. It was established in the 11th century and is considered Ladakh’s largest and wealthiest monastery. The monastery is known for its stunning architecture, beautiful frescoes, and rich collection of ancient relics, including thangkas, murals, and statues. Being a Drukpa-order Buddhist monastery, Hemis Monastery is also famous for its annual Hemis Festival, celebrating the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism. The festival is a colourful and vibrant event that attracts thousands of visitors from all over the World. Overnight at Leh.

Have breakfast and take a scenic two-hour drive to Rumste village, located on the Leh-Manali Highway, just after the Tanglangla Pass. This pretty village has several ancient stupas and small monasteries here and there. Your kitchen team and horsemen will welcome you to Rumste, the starting point of the trek. Leave the vehicle; your guide will introduce you to the rest of the staff and start trekking towards Kymar, a distance of 3 hours walk/11 kilometres. The trail leads through a beautiful pasture valley, where the Changpas (the Ladakhi Nomadas) let their goats and Yaks graze. In olden times, this route was used by the Changpas to trade the salt they obtained from Tsokar to the other regions of Ladakh. Tsokar is also known as Salt Lake. When you trek along this Salt Lake route, you will see mind-blowing landscapes that will make you more enthusiastic about this trip. Overnight in a tented camp.

Leisurely wake up, breakfast and start the trek. After walking for half an hour, you will arrive at the Kyamar la Pass at 5180 metres. Still, the ascent is easy. The Kyamar La Summit offers breathtaking views of the snow-capped Ladakh Range, including the famed Mt. Kang Yatse. Descending from the pass, you will reach another pass called Mandalchan la at 4996 metres, and the trek ends in Tisaling for an overnight camp. The total distance is 14 kilometres, but it takes 6 hours to walk.

Breakfast and start trekking towards Pangunugu. The next attraction of the day is the Shibuk la Pass, which offers grand panoramic views, including Tsokar Lake. This lake was a salt reservoir in bygone days, but with modernization, the locals have started using iodined packaged salt. The Tsokar Lake lies near a small village inhabited by Changpas (nomads). In summer, the village gets empty as most people move around with their sheep and yaks, grazing from one meadow to another and completing a circuit back to this village at the start of the winter. The village contains a small monastery as well. Many migrating birds flock here, making it a lovely place to camp. Stay overnight in a tented camp. The distance is 15 kilometres, and it takes 6 hours to walk.

Breakfast and start the trek, which is comparatively longer, 18 kilometres, but easier and takes only 5 hours. Leisurely breakfast is followed by Sightseeing and bird-watching around the lovely Tsokar Lake. The trek goes along the lake, and when the trail ends, the trail forks right and arrives at the Nuruchan Valley. Stay overnight in a tented camp.

Breakfast and enjoy another smooth day trek. The distance is longer, 20 kilometres, but it takes only 5 hours to walk. Agradual climb for an hour and a half takes you to the Dundun La Pass, offering a wide array of wildflowers on the way up. From the pass, the trail descends equally beautifully along a stream to Rachung Karu.

Today, we cross two high Himalayan passes; the distance is 16 kilometres, but it takes 7 hours to cover. Breakfast and gradually climb towards the Kyamauri la at 5430 metres. Your effort gets rewarded with grand views of the Himalayan Range. After the pass, the trail crosses a couple of streams, reaches Gyama Barma La at 5190 metres, and continuously descends to Gyama. Stay overnight in a Tented Camp.

Another short distance and longer day trek; the distance is 16 kilometres and takes 7 hours! Breakfast and start the trek towards the Yalung Nayalu pass. The trail brings across some streams on and to the pass, offering stunning views of the western Tibetan Mountains. From the pass, the trail descends steeply to Korzok, on the bank of the beautiful Tsomoriri Lake. You will enjoy a lovely overnight in a guest house on the bank of Tso Moriri Lake. In the evening, visit the Korzok monastery and the village.

This morning is another special day, farewell to the team and horsemen. Have breakfast, and say bye to your Ladakhi friends who accompanied you for this trek as your trekking staff. The staff will load your kit bags in the vehicle, say bye, and drive for 225km back to Leh. On the way, stop for a look or a bath at the hot spring in Chumathang, one of the famous hot springs among the Ladakhis. The locals believe bathing in such springs to heal the joints and backaches. You will reach Leh by evening, and your guide will drop you off at your hotel.

A taxi will drop you at the airport according to your flight timings. Bid farewell.