Day 1 - Arrive Delhi

Arrive in Delhi meet the assistant at the air port and transfer to the hotel, in the afternoon start half day old and new Delhi tour, overnight in hotel.

Day 2 - Fly Leh 3500m

We are up early to board the spectacular flight to Leh, crossing the main Himalayan Barrier to the capital of Ladakh, Tashi Namgyal's 15th century Himalayan capital at 3500m. The clear high air will catch at the throat when we arrive, and now we start the serious business of acclimatization; and eating, as after we settle into our hotel we have a long leisurely breakfast. It will take your body a few days to adjust to this high altitude. It is important to drink plenty of (non-alcoholic) liquids. Overnight in Hotel.

Day 3: City tour.

Morning after the breakfast start the city tour visiting Samkar monastery, Shanti Stupa and Leh palace, lunch in the hotel, in the afternoon explore the Leh market, dinner and overnight in hotel.

Day 4: Full day excursion.

Today we will visit the first palace of the Ladakh, Shey palace which is 17km from Leh, then followed by Thiksay and Himes monastery, evening return to Leh, Dinner and overnight in hotel.

Day 5 - Drive Chilling, trek Skiu 3290m

Early morning we drive to Chilling on the way visit Phyang and Spituk monastery then,We drop again to a hilltop high above the confluence of the Zanskar and the Indus, we travel by cable car, as we help load gear into the pulley car maintained by locals. Then, finally, as our gear transfers to horses, we walk, climbing steadily away from the Zanskar to the 3400m Kuki La. Then our trail leads us for three hours through the village of Kaya, to Skiu, our camp for the first day, dinner and overnight in Tent.

Day 6 - Trek Markha 3670m

Cross the river and trek upto the Markhavillage. It is the longest valley. A beautiful oasisterraced green fields and small irrigation canals. At dusk just as the evening shadows begin to envelop the valley, it is worth walking along the trail where the Skiu Nala meets the Markha to visit a small monastery. This is cared for by an old nun, who comes every morning and evening to light the butter lamps at the altar of Chamba - the Future Buddha. Camp overnight.

Day 8 - Trek Hankar 4110m

This is another day of ambling along the trails used by countless shepherds and traders over the centuries. We cross several calf deep rivers then two hours out of Markha we climb to the old hilltop monastery of Umlung, and tea with our friends, the monks. At one point the trail climbs high away from the river; this is the old trail, but worth climbing to look at the spires that line the valley that lead to the Ruberang La, and the wild Jumlam route to Zanskar. The snow mountain ahead is 6400m Kang Yatze, which we are going to see much more of soon. And then we see the spire at valleys end that marks the strategic junction with the routes to Zanskar and Nimaling, and there is Hankar, marked by a centuries old crumbling fort above.

Day 10 - Trek Mani Chen 4550m

We move from camp well before 8am, as the villagers start to walk to their tasks in the fields. In the chilly shadow as we cross an equally cold river; bring sandals today. The amount of river crossings depends on how much snow there has been this winter. Turning away from the main 'Markha valley trek', we follow the river valley towards our first pass, the Zalung Karpo La. Look out for blue sheep or ibex on the ridgelines.

It will take about five hours walking today, but do take it slowly, and of course, drink lots of water. We should reach camp with plenty of sun to spare, and there are some delightful bathing spots around. Overnight and dinner in tent.

Day 11 - Trek Ruberang 4450m

We have to move early today as we climb , the Zalung Karpo La 5100mt but the descent into the Jumlam (rather then the more popular side, the Karnak) can be tricky, and campsites with water on the other side are hard to find in the autumn, overnight in tent.

Day 12 - Trek Karnak Sumdo 3700m

This is a river day; sparkling water, autumn colours on the riverbanks and high canyon walls in which you can discern imaginary castles from gothic to fairytale. Our river junction camp is wonderful, overnight in camp.

Day 13 - Trek Wangchuk Sumdo 3920m

Early morning after the breakfast start the trek to sumdo, the trail both crosses rivers and side streams and navigates tricky trails to our lunch spot at Tilat Sumdo. After lunch, more wading, and some neck-cricking, incredible arches in the mountainsides. Our camp is on a small plateau at yet another river junction among a grove of trees, with snow peaks in view up valley, overnight in tent.

Day 14 - Trek Chubchak 4470m

 Walk through gorges and seemingly impossible trails, crossing from side to side of the main stream. Camp side will near to a wide pasture with crags soaring up all around; we usually spot bold ibex on the hills above in the early evening, overnight in tent.

Day 15 - Trek Zangla Sumdo 3940m

 Morning trek towards Zangla sumdo, a trail so exposed the utmost care is vital, Snow bridges that we may have to walk under or over, a chorten-topped pass that has unrivalled views, and a steep descent to a wooded riverside camp, Overnight in tent.

Day 16 - Trek Zangla 3430m

The road to zangla is the sheer beauty of the colours in this last section of gorge. Then that great moment when we see what was the kingdom of Zangla spread out on the plateau in front of us, and finally camp in Zangla, one of our favorite spots in Zanskar. Visit the 15th century fort high above the village en route to camp. Alexander Csoma de Koros, the first westerner to make an extensive study of Tibetan, spent a cold 19th century winter here, living on salt tea and tsampa; his rooms have become a shrine for visiting Hungarians. Overnight in tent.

Day 17- Trek Stongde 3600m

Flat, high, wide and hot today, as we walk across half of a kingdom. But only 15 kilometers! We see the hilltop monastery that gives the village its name a good two hours before we arrive in camp. Arrive in Stongde tea at the camp, later climb up the monastery visit and return to the camp, overnight in Camp.

Day 18 - Drive Rangdum

We take three days to drive back to Leh, the first two days are one of the most scenic drives anywhere. Today we make a brief stop at Sani monastery then continue to Rangdum Gompa, which we have a look around. Overnight in camp at Rangdom.

Day 19 - Drive Kargil

We start pre-dawn and we watch the lovely scenery of the Suru valley roll past and then have a vie of Nun 7000m and Kun 7100 peak. By late afternoon we are at our hotel at the old bazaar town of Kargil, a real central Asian town, worth a walk around in the late afternoon. Night in hotel.

Day 20 - Drive Leh

We have breakfastin the hotel then drive to Leh via Mulbekh, which after the destruction of the Buddha at Bamian, Afghanistan, is the oldest standing Buddha. Continue drive reach Lamayuru visit the monastery which is the oldest in Ladakh, overnight in hotel in Leh.

Day 21: Leh/delhi flight