| GRADE |
: |
Rafting Expedition
(Class I-IV Rapids) |
| SEASON |
: |
Aug 23– Sep 4, 2008 |
| NO. OF DAYS |
: |
13 |
| NO. OF DAYS ON RIVER |
: |
7 |
|
ZANSKAR!
Sounds magical, doesn't it? And why not? When the gods
were creating the world they bestowed a landscape so
unique to the region that magical is the only adjective
that qualifies it. Hemmed in from three sides by The
Great Himalayan Range, The Pir Panjal Range and The
Zanskar Range, its scraggy mountains, snow laden peaks,
barren valleys with the cerulean sky tells you the tale
of the hardiness and spirit of the people of the land.
And that's not all; the area has an extraordinary hydroscopic
system with the Zanskar River forming the only out- |
let
by scything through the Zanskar range to form those
towering canyons and deep gorges that are a trademark
of this river. The trip takes you down the extremely
uninhabited, inaccessible and 150 km of the vintage
Zanskar gorge with walls rising thousands of feet above
the fast moving waters to finish on the powerful River
Indus. The river also forms a unique mode of travel,
a waterway by summer and frozen road by winter. But
hold on to your horses! And wait till you get there……
ZANSKAR! The river of dreams awaits you. |
| What
to Expect |
- |
Apart from
the unexpected, the very best of Ladakh & Zanskar |
- |
The
myriad colours on the mountains that keep changing
with the angle of the sun, ancient villages with
their mud houses, the Karsha monastery perched
on a 600 ft vertical mountain face, superb camaraderie
and of course... scintillating White water!!! |
- |
The
rafting starts at Remala on the River Doda with
some Grade II rapids and then we join the River
Tsarapchu to form the Zanskar. By the time we
culminate the trip at Alchi one would have gone
through some great Grade III & IV rapids as
well. |
|
|
|
|
♦ |
DAY-BY-DAY
ITINERARY |
::::: |
|
| Aug 23 |
: |
Leh
|
| Aug
23 |
: |
Leh |
Arrival
in Leh by flight. Check into your
hotel and relax the whole day to
acclimatize to the altitude. In
the evening, venture out for a short
time into the market. Overnight
at the hotel. |
|
|
| Aug
24 |
: |
Leh |
Sightseeing
around Leh. Visit Shey, Thiksey
and Hemis. Overnight at the hotel. |
|
|
| Aug
25 |
: |
Leh – Kargil |
Drive
through Kargil to the through some
amazing mountainscape. The drive
takes us over the Fotu La that is
the pass between the Indus and the
Suru Valleys. En route visit the
Lamayuru Monastery of the "red
sect," one of the oldest in
the valley. Overnight at a hotel
in Kargil.
|
|
|
| Aug
26 |
: |
Kargil
– Rangdom |
Today
we drive from Kargil to Rangdom
through Panikar and Prakachik with
up close and personal views of the
magnificent twin peaks of Nun &
Kun. Overnight in tents.
|
|
|
| Aug
27 |
: |
Rangdom – Remala |
A
6 hrs drive brings us to Remala,
the starting point of this grand
journey. Enroute one crosses the
Pensi La (14500 ft) and get stunning
views of the Zanskar range and the
Durung Durung glacier (the glacier
that feeds the Zanskar). Overnight
in tents. |
|
|
| Aug
28 |
: |
Remala – Zangla |
The
trip starts on one of the tributaries
of the Zanskar (Doda) with Grade
II rapids. The total rafting distance
today will be 30 kms and will take
about 5 hrs. The lone standing Karsha
Gonpa as it looks down the gorge
will be crossed today. Those interested
could trek up to its distant heights
in the evening to attend the incantation
service. Overnight in tents. |
|
|
| Aug
29 |
: |
Zangla – Hanumil |
The
Tsarapchu joins the Doda at Zangla
to form the Zanskar. The stretch
today is about 25 km and takes one
through Grade II & III rapids.
Set up camp late in the after noon
to explore the quaint village of
Hanumil that seems untouched by
the passage of time. Overnight in
tents.
|
|
|
| Aug
30 |
: |
Hanumil – Nyerak |
Today’s
rating section takes you through
some great Grade III rapids as the
river narrows and enters the Zanskar
gorges. Overnight in tents.
|
|
|
| Aug
31 |
: |
Nyerak – Lamaguru |
Today's
35 km stretch takes one through
the heart of the Zanskar Gorge with
some kick ass Grade IV rapids interspersed
between continuous stretches of
Grade III rapids. One of the highlights
of the day is the pit stop for lunch
at a huge waterfall at the confluence
of the Zanskar and the Markha rivers.
The sights and sounds of today's
run on the river remains one of
the highlights of this trip. Overnight
in tents.
|
|
|
| sep
01 |
: |
Lamaguru
/ Rest / Trek |
The
Markha Valley trek is certainly
one of the most varied and beautiful
treks in the world. It ventures
high into the Himalayas crossing
2 passes over 15,000 ft (4575 m)
as it circles from the edges of
the Indus Valley, down into parts
of Zanskar, and passes through terrain
that changes from incredibly narrow
valleys to wide-open vast expanses.
Just relax and explore the resplendent
Markha valley today with day hike
to the villages of Kaya & Skiu.
Overnight in tents.
|
|
|
| sep
02 |
: |
Lamaguru
– Nimu |
It's
the big one today with the Chilling
rapid 40 km of river running that
culminates just short of the confluence
of Indus and Zanskar at Nimu. Overnight
in tents.
|
|
|
| sep
03 |
: |
Nimu – Alchi – Leh |
Today
is an extra day on the River Indus
from Nimu to Alchi with some classic
Grade III & IV rapids to end
the trip on the river. Head back
to Leh for a hot bath and overnight
stay.
|
|
|
| sep
04 |
: |
Leh
– Delhi |
Take
morning flight for Delhi.
|
|
|
 |
| Aug 24 |
: |
Leh |
|
| Aug 25 |
: |
Leh
- Kargil |
|
| Aug 26 |
: |
Kargil
- Rangdom |
|
| Aug 27 |
: |
Rangdom
- Remala |
|
| Aug 28 |
: |
Remala
- Zangla |
|
| Aug 29 |
: |
Zangla
- Hanumil |
|
| Aug 30 |
: |
Hanumil
- Nyerak |
|
| Aug 31 |
: |
Nyerak
- Lamaguru |
|
| sep 01 |
: |
Lamaguru
/ Rest / Trek |
|
| sep 02 |
: |
Lamaguru
- Nimu |
|
| sep 03 |
: |
Nimu
- Alchi - Leh |
|
| sep 04 |
: |
Leh
- Delhi |
|
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| |
 |
|
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Waterfall
during the expedition |
Rafting
on Zanskar |
|
|
|
|
|
Rs. 60,800
per person*
*3.09
% Service Tax extra |
| |
| Cost Includes |
• |
Transport:
All road transfers by a Toyota Qualis/Mahindra
Scorpio including pickup & drop to the airport,
sightseeing trip on Day 2, from Leh to the put
in point and from the pullout point to Leh. |
• |
Accommodation
for in a hotel/guesthouse in Leh, hotel in Kargil,
and in Alpine tents at riverside camps. |
• |
Meals:
All meals beginning with breakfast on Day 1 till
dinner on Day 12 |
• |
Camping equipment
like tents, sleeping bags, mattresses, camping stools,
etc. |
• |
Professional
and experienced guides |
• |
Wetsuits during
the rafting trip |
• |
Experienced chef
and service staff. |
|
| |
| Cost Does Not Include |
• |
Any airfare (Delhi
to Leh fares begin at Rs. 5450 per person) |
• |
Sleeping
bag (can be be hired from us) |
• |
Any meals/services not mentioned
above |
• |
Any charges for video cameras,
still cameras, etc. |
• |
Alcohol, soft drinks, beverages,
etc. |
• |
Personal expenses like tips,
telephone calls, laundry, etc. |
• |
Any costs arising out of unforeseen
circumstances like landslides, road blocks, bad
weather, etc. |
• |
Travel insurance |
|
| |
| Payment Terms & Conditions |
• |
Full payment to be
made in advance at the time of booking the trek |
• |
Payment to be made by Cheque/DD
in favour of GREAT INDIAN OUTDOORS (P) LTD. payable
at New Delhi/Gurgaon |
• |
Payment
for this trip will not be adjusted against any
future trips |
• |
Cancellation policy |
| |
- |
>30 days:
Full refund (after deducting any expenses
that have been incurred for hotel bookings,
transport, etc.) |
- |
21-30
days: 75% of trip cost will be refunded
(after deducting any expenses that have
been incurred for hotel bookings, transport,
etc.) |
- |
14-21
days: 50% of trip cost will be refunded
(after deducting any expenses that have
been incurred for hotel bookings, transport,
etc.) |
- |
<14 days: No refund |
|
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| |
| Disclaimer |
Great Indian Outdoors
(P) Ltd. takes utmost care to ensure safety of its clients.
However in the case of any unforeseen mishaps, Great
Indian Outdoors (P) Ltd. will not be liable for any
injuries caused or for loss of life. All disputes rising
due to the above are subject to the jurisdiction of
the courts in New Delhi/Delhi only. |
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