The Changthang to Spiti Trail over the Parang - La
Remote trail; traditional trade route between the people of Spiti, Changthang and Tibet; high altitude meadows of Kibber; highest permanently inhabited village in the world; breeding grounds of the famous Spiti horses; called the Snow Leopard country; over the 5600 metre high Parang la the source of the Pare Chu river; 15,000 ft high Tso Moriri a high altitude lake 27 kms long and nearly 8 kms wide; breeding ground for bar-headed geese, black-necked crane and the Brahminy ducks.
Itinerary:
Day 01: Kaza - Dumla - 22kms/4hrs - Drive Kaza - Kibber (18kms) : Kibber village at 4205m, is one of the highest inhabited settlements in India. The famous Ki gompa is just 10 kms away and can be visited before beginning the trek. Kibber to Dumla is an easy walk but take your time, as these Spitian gorges are renowned for being hard-going.
Day 02: Dumla - Thaltak Meadow (7kms/5hrs/4875m/16000ft): Descend to the gorge bed and start the climb towards the pass, a steep walk to Thaltak Meadow where you camp for the night. The scenery is wild and the gorge is deep. Even at this hright the sunlight reflected from the walls of the gorge causes the temperature to soar.
Day 03: Thaltak - Jagtha - Bonrojen (14kms/7hrs/5180m/17000ft.): This is a long and strenuous day walking to Jagtha - 8kms at 15,700 ft. and then 6kms to Bongrojen at 17,000ft.. Make sure to acclimatise well in the previous 2 days.
Day 04: Bongrojen - Dak Karzong (10 kms/5hrs/4940m/16200 ft.): Leave early for the pass. The final 4 kms is a steep 2-hour climb to Parang La at 18,300 ft.. The pass lies on the trade route between Ladkah and the Spiti valley. There are some great views of the Spiti and the Changthang valleys from the pass. Parilungi, a conical peak, is the first Ladakhi peak visible from Spiti. From the pass, w descend to the source of the Pare Chu river. After the pass, the landscap.e changes dramatically from steep gorges to broad plains. Camp at Dak Karzong.
Day 05: Dak Karzong - Datang Yongma (12kms/5hrs/4725m/15500 ft.): The route for the next 3 days is in a fairly open valley with a well-marked trail on the left bank of the Pare Chu. Camp overnight at Datang Yongma.
Day 06: Datang Yongma - Chumik Shilde (16kms/5-6 hrs): The next day, follow the trail to Racholemo (14000 ft.) then Norbu Sumdo (14400 ft.) and across to Chumik Shilde. Start early as the winds can be strong in the afternoons.
Day 07: Chumik Shilde - Tso Moriri (14kms/5hrs/4510m/14800 ft.): Today we walk across the plains to the southern edge of the oval-shaped Tso Moriri at Kiangdom, named after the kiangs (wild Tibetan asses) which roam here freely. The lake breaks into several channels here to create a vast wetland, the breeding ground of several rare species of birds.
Day 08: Tso Moriri - Karzog (15 kms/6-7hrs/4527m/14850 ft.): Today we have several river crossings, the trek is easy. Overnight camp at Sara. Trek time: 5 hours. The last day of the trek passes along the shore of Tso Moriri. The view of the lake with Lungser Kangri (6666m/ 21,871ft.) in the background is unforgettable. The walk is longer than it looks and with the afternoon winds you will be tired when you reach Karzog. Visit the ancient monastery in Karzog, where the Changpas roam the pastures with their flocks of pashmina goats ans still live in yak-skin yurts.
Day 09: Karzok - Leh (213 kms): Drive to Leh via Mahe Bridge. Overnight in Leh.
