Kayak Himalaya

Zanskar is tributary to Indus river

The Zanskar Gorge is found in the Zanskar region of Indian-administered Kashmir. Its walls are near vertical cliffs up to 600m high and the Zanskar River (a tributary of the Indus) is only 5m wide in places. In summer it is a spectacular and remote location for rafting. It provides an access route to the Zanskar Valley, but only in winter when the river is frozen but since Indian army digging into the gorge to cut through a road to access in the vally through out the year soon in few years it wont be as nice as it is now.

Zanskar is a subdistrict or tehsil of the Kargil district, which lies in the eastern half of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. The administrative centre is Padum. Zanskar, together with the neighbouring region of Ladakh, was briefly a part of the kingdom of Guge in Western Tibet.

The Zanskar Range is a mountain range in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir that separates Zanskar from Ladakh. Geologically, the Zanskar Range is part of the Tethys Himalaya, an approximately 100-km-wide synclinorium formed by strongly folded and imbricated, weakly metamorphosed sedimentary series. The average height of the Zanskar Range is about 6,000 m (19,700 ft). Its eastern part is known as Rupshu.

Geography

Zanskar covers an area of some 7,000 square kilometres (2,700 square miles), at a height of between 3,500 and 7,000 metres (11,500–23,000 feet). It consists of the country lying along the two main branches of the Zanskar river. The first, the Doda, has its source near the Pensi-la (4,400 m) (14,450 ft) mountain-pass, and then flows south-eastwards along the main valley leading towards Padum, the capital of Zanskar. The second branch is formed by two main tributaries known as Kargyag river, with its source near the Shingo La (5,091 m) (16,703 ft), and Tsarap river, with its source near the Baralacha-La. These two rivers unite below the village of Purne to form the Lungnak river (also known as the Lingti or Tsarap). The Lungnak river then flows north-westwards along a narrow gorge towards Zanskar's central valley (known locally as gzhung khor), where it unites with the Doda river to form the Zanskar river.

The Zanskar river then takes a north-eastern course until it joins the Indus in Ladakh. High mountain ridges lie on both sides of the Doda and Lingti–kargyag valleys, which run north-west to south-east. To the south-west is the Great Himalayan Range which separates Zanskar from the Kisthwar and Chamba basins. To the north-east lies the Zanskar Range, which separates Zanskar from Ladakh. The only outlet for the whole Zanskar hydrographic system is thus the Zanskar river, which cuts a deep and narrow gorge through the Zanskar range.

Climate

Zanskar is a high altitude semi-desert lying on the Northern flank of the Great Himalayan Range. This mountain range acts as a climatic barrier protecting Ladakh and Zanskar from most of the monsoon, resulting in a pleasantly warm and dry climate in the summer. Rain and snowfall during this period are scarce, although recent decades have shown a trend towards increasing precipitation. Several water-driven mills were built during ancient periods of drought at a great distance from the villages, but have been abandoned because running water is now available nearer to the settlements. Zanskari houses, though otherwise well built, are not adapted to the recently increasing rainfall, as their roofs leak, catching their surprised inhabitants unprepared. Most of the precipitation occurs as snowfall during the harsh and extremely long winter period. These winter snowfalls are of vital importance, since they feed the glaciers which melt in the summer and provide most of the irrigation water. Parts of Zanskar valley are considered some of the coldest continually inhabited places in the world.

Flora and fauna

Much of Zanskar's vegetation is found in the lower reaches of the valleys, and consists of alpine and tundra species. Most impressive are the meadows covered with thousands of edelweiss. At the foot of the Gumburanjon mountain blue poppies can be found. Crops including barley, lentils, and potatoes are grown by farmers at the lower elevations, as well as apricot trees. Domesticated animals such as the yak, dzo, sheep, horse, and dog are found in the region.

Among the wildlife that can be found in Zanskar are the marmot, bear, wolf, snow leopard, kiang, bharal, alpine Ibex, wild sheep and goats, and the lammergeier.

Expedition Zanskar canyon

Our 5 days Rafting Expeditions on Zanskar river is one the most spectuler and charming river trip in the world. In early season June and July river flows on ist high levels and section in the canyon is much faster, massive waves, huge eddylines makes the trrip more exciting and challengeing.

The hole trip is 8 days from Leh combining 5 days on river and 3 days of overland safari.

River journey starts from Padam to Alchi 5 days including.

Itinerary :

Day 01 : Enjoy Himalayan views as you fly from Delhi to Leh in the morning. Meet your trip leader at the Leh airport on arrival around 9:AM, and take a 15 minute drive to one of Leh’s finest hotels. Enjoy a welcome drink on arrival, rest of the day walking around Leh, getting acclimatised of 3505mt city of Leh traditional snacks and tea/coffee at 3:30 PM, then a traditional dinner at 7 PM. Over dinner, absorb the first part of a fun and friendly orientation seminar.

Day 02 : A full day for siteseeing , we start after breakfast a drive to Shey Palace and visit Theksey and Hemis few of the most spectuler monestries in Leh and evening exploring the down town Leh and traditional Dinner on roof top reataurent.

Day 03. Today we drive to Kargil 7 hour of 235km , our first day of Overland safari begans and we follow the lower Indus till Lamayuru and will take you to 12198ft high Namika La, a windy yet scenic pass. Roughly 40kms Namika La is Fotu La, the highest point on the Srinagar - Leh highway, (13,479ft), then we reach Mulbek and make a breeak for Lunch and then half way to Kargil overnight in the Hotel.

Day 04 : Today we leave early after breakfast at 8:30AM , follow the Suru River all the way to source and stunning view of Nun Kun mountain massif comprises a pair of Himalayan peaks: Nun, 7,135 m (23,409 ft) and its neighbor peak Kun, 7,077 m (23,218 ft).[2] Nun is the highest peak in the part of the Himalayan range lying on the Indian side of the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. (There are higher peaks in the Indian part of the Karakoram range.) The massif is located near the Suru valley, Kun is located north of Nun and is separated from it by a snowy plateau of about 4 km (2.5 mile) in length. Pinnacle Peak, 6,930 m (22,736 ft), is the third highest summit of the group.

Around 4pm we are nearly reaching Rangdum is in a valley situated 3,657 m (11,998 ft) above the sea level, in an isolated region of the Suru valley . On one side are the colorful hills while on the other side are rocky mountains and glaciers, notably Drang-drung.

Rangdum, with its gompa and the attendant village of Juliodok, is the last inhabited region in the Suru valley; it is also the destination of the nomadic herdspeople called Bakarwals, who trek up every year from the Himalayan foothills near Jammu, bringing their flocks of sheep and goats to grow fat on the rich summer growth of grass. From Rangdum the valley rises to 4400 metres and the Pensi-la, the gateway into Zanskar.Over night Camping.

Day 04 : We leave the campsite after breakfast at 8:30AM and drive into Zanskar valley, today we have a stunning view of the Drang-drung glacier is the largest glacier in Ladakh, situated near the Pensi-la. The Stod River originates from this glacier and driving over the Pensi-la which is known as the Gateway to Zanskar. Pensi La is 4,400 m (14,436 ft) above sea level and connects the Suru Valley region to the Zanskar Valley region. The summit at this end of the Suru Valley, the only peak which can be seen, is 7,012 m (23,005 ft) high, while the mountain to the north is 6,873 m (22,549 ft). The pass is about 25 km from Rangdum Monastery. We will be reaching our next camp site Kursha or Karsha Monastery is a Buddhist monastery . The Doda River flows past the monastery . It was founded by the translator, Phagspa Shesrab the monastery, also known by the name “Karsha Chamspaling’, was founded by Phagspa Shesrab, under the Gelugpa Order or the Yellow Hat Order. Overnight camp.

Day 05 : An early morning to pack up for river trip and to leave our vehical and things we don’t want on the river, after a safety briefing we start our expedition on Stod river and pass the conflunce of Stod and Tsrup Chu, today we float a long section of easy water and reach out camp site Hanimool , the las village before the canyon starts,, Overnight camp.

Day 06 : Today we leave at 9:00 AM,and enter the canyon, a box canyon ist walls are near vertical cliffs up to 600m and amazing site and the only accsess to be there by river, today wee have number of class III, and few IV rapids and a mindblowing water fall comes out from middle of a cliff thats where we Stop for a lunch break., another hour and half raft down to our next camp site Nirakh.

Day 07 : Another day on the canyon with some good rapids and a classic IV rapid called construction rapid the narrowest part of canyon, we will be sneaking through 3 mt wide passege one of the most exciting spot on the river and we continue till the next camp lamaguru .

Day 08 : Today you have good white water and Zansker meets to Indus at Nimo, just around we camp for the night and back in civilization. Over night camp at Nimmo.

Day 09 : Today is our last day of the Rafting expedition , we send all our camp and kitchen support back to Leh fro Nimo and we go down the big water with sfety kayakers and run down till Lardo and see the massive white water of Lower Indus and drive back to Leh . Overnight hotel.

Day 10 : A rest day in Leh , explore the city or go shopping over night hotel.

Day 11: mountain bike/ car ride ride to Khardungla pass and explore Nubra valley. Over night Hotel.

Day 12: Drive/ Mountain bike ride back to Leh over night Hotel.

Day 13: Early morning fligth back to Delhi visit Taj Mahal Over night Hotel./ Those who are for 3 weeks they have a peak to climb and a trip to Tossomorrri lake.

Day 14: Fly back home .