MANALI- PARANGLA- TSO MORIRI TREK: SEPTEMBER 2009 3.9-26.9.2009
Day 1:
Arrive
Day 2:
Transfer to Manali by private transport
Day 3: Freeday at Manali
Day 4: Manali to Kaza - 3600 mtrs
Drive by jeep or by bus over the mighty Rohtang pass (3978 mtrs)
and then enter the Lahaul valley to meet the river Chandra. One can see the
beautiful Chandra Bhaga ranges and the Bara Shigri
Glacier in the
Day 5: Kaza -
Kibber - 4205 mtrs
we drive on to Kibber and on the way visit the Kye
monastery. Kibber is the highest village in the world at 4205 mtrs. Pitch camp and visit the village.
Day 6: Kibber
The day is free for acclimatization
Day 7:
Kibber - Thaltak [4560 mtrs
- 6 hours]
This is the first day of the trek. We first descend through the gorge and
arrive at Tumlay, the last village on this trek
route. At the distance of around 500 meters we can see the Parangla
and the snow capped mountains all around. This had been the ancient trade route
between Spiti
and
Day 8: Tumlay - Base of Parangla [5000 mtrs - 6 hours]
The Parangla trail from Spiti
to Rupshu is a trekkers dream. The Parachu valley leads all the way up to the Rupshu's high plains and further up to the famous salt
Day 9: Base
of Parang la over the Parang la [5600 mtrs] to Largyup[4930
mtrs - 6 hours]
Today we enjoy the Great Himalayan Panorama. We descend down the Glacier out of
which the river Parachu originates and camp.
Day 10: Largyup - Umma [
4580 mtrs - 5 hrs]
This almost a level easy walk but have to cross a stream or two.
Day 11: Umma - Rachu Lamo
[ 4470 mtrs - 5 hours]
Today we walk alongside the Parachu River, which
flows all the way to the Tibet frontier near the Chumar
Village and then again enters the Spiti
valley and joins the Spiti
river at Sumdo. We cross some stream along the way
and are rewarded by a most beautiful Camping site.
Day 12: Rachu Lamo - Chhumik
Sharde [4300 mtrs - 5 hours]
We walk along the river Parachu and then towards the
end of the trek cross the river. Camping on the other side of the river gives a
beautiful view of the surroundings.
Day 13: Chhumik Sharde - Tso Moriri [4450 mtrs - 5 hours]
In the morning we walk through the Parachu valley and
then suddenly the valley opens up and the landscape turns green, we enter the
Chang Thang valley, Tibet's 600 miles wide and 15000
feet high northern steppes, inhabited by the Changpas,
the up country pastoral community. The Changpa's have
retained their nomadic glory in spite of harsh weather and continuing hardship.
They live at the higher regions of the Changthan at
height above 4500 meters. Their means of livelihood depend upon their herds of
Yak, sheep, goat and horses with which they migrate from one pastoral land to
another.
Within Changthan they can be spotted by their Ribose
[Black yak hair tents]. Changpas are warm hearted.
They prefer to sleep by the side of their flocks right in the open even in
winters when the temperature is almost 40 degrees minus centigrade to guard
their animals from preying animals. Overnight at Tsomoriri
Day 14: Rest
at Tso-mo-riri
The largest lake in the Rupshu
district - Length 15 miles - Width 5 miles - Depth 248 feet the water is
brackish. On its western shores stands the Korzok
Monastery. The present building was erected around 1850 but the origin of the
shrine goes back to Mon and Dart times possibly during the 9th century A.D.
Full day for rest at Tsomoriri
Day 15: Tso-mo-riri to Kun Motchey [ 4580 meters - 5 hours]
Today after a good days rest the trail goes upwards the Phutse-Pho
river. We have to cross the river twice in the morning as the valley is very
narrow with ragged rocks. Overnight at Kun Motchey
Day 16: Kun Motchey to Lato [ 4690 meters - 5 to 6 hours]
This is a pleasant walk more or less plain.
Day 17: Lato to Zozang [4700 meters - 5
hours]
Zozang is the base of Tela Konla. A most beautiful campsite with
towering mountains all around.
Day 18: Zozang to Pang [4750 meters - 6 hours]
Over the Tela Konda - 4845 mtrs - Gradual ascend up to the col. Fantastic view of the
Pang Plateau [Kyang-Chu-Thang]. Descend to the bank
of the Zara Chhu river.
After a six hours walk and crossing the Zara Chu several times we reach the
camp site at Pang. Overnight at Pang.
Day 19: Pang
- Jispa
Take the bus to Jispa. We drive over the Nakeela pass to enter the Sarchu
Plains and then climb over the Baralacha La and then
descend to Darcha. A few kilometers further up we come
to our hotel at Jispa.
Day 20: Jispa - Manali
After breakfast drive up the Rohtang pass, passing through Keylong,
to reach Manali
by late afternoon. Trek ends.
Day 21: Manali- Delhi transfer by private transport
Day 22: Fly out of