![img_20190714_161859-01-018932076498448786803 img_20190714_161859-01-018932076498448786803](https://ultrajourneys.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/img_20190714_161859-01-018932076498448786803.jpeg)
Padum to Nerak, July 14-15
After an intense 3 day crossing of the Kang La (5400m) from Lahaul to Zanskar I had indulged in some good food, recharged my powerbank, restocked my ration and slept nicely in an empty shop overnight
![img_20190716_094736-01-01826175340121397608 img_20190716_094736-01-01826175340121397608](https://ultrajourneys.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/img_20190716_094736-01-01826175340121397608.jpeg)
Hanumil to Stayangs, July 15-16
After a failed attempt to reach Nerak village through the Takti La due to high water currents I decided to try my luck on the other side of the Zanskar river to cross over towards Leh
![img_20190718_073007-01-018351826637380046078 (1) img_20190718_073007-01-018351826637380046078 (1)](https://ultrajourneys.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/img_20190718_073007-01-018351826637380046078-1.jpeg)
Stayangs to Kanji, July 17-18
I woke up outside the homestay at Stayangs and joined the three Swiss ladies which I had met the previous evening for breakfast at 6am. Their guide had prepared yummy porridge, a refreshing relief from the standard cuisine.
![img_20190719_191038-01-012877054818306970148 img_20190719_191038-01-012877054818306970148](https://ultrajourneys.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/img_20190719_191038-01-012877054818306970148.jpeg)
Lamayuru to Chilling, July 19-20
I spent the night on a flat rooftop of an empty house at Lamayuru next to the Leh-Srinagar highway. I go back to the dhaba where I charged my power bank overnight
![img_20190721_180545-01-011265767158698597444 img_20190721_180545-01-011265767158698597444](https://ultrajourneys.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/img_20190721_180545-01-011265767158698597444.jpeg)
Markha valley, July 21
I woke up early morning from a good night’s rest on the portico of Kaya gompa, first village in the Markha valley after a two day cross over from Lamayuru
![img_20190722_074018-01-015380341413081652388 img_20190722_074018-01-015380341413081652388](https://ultrajourneys.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/img_20190722_074018-01-015380341413081652388.jpeg)
Hankar to Dad, July 22
After a peaceful night below the stars outside a home stay in Hankar I rise early for the planned crossing of the Zalung Karpo La at 5170m into the next valley towards the nomad village of Dad
![img_20190723_062456-016663634802975349311 img_20190723_062456-016663634802975349311](https://ultrajourneys.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/img_20190723_062456-016663634802975349311.jpeg)
Dad to Debring, July 23
I wake up in the green meadows around the nomadic village of Dad next to a Swiss hiking group. The sunrise is lighting up the surrounding snow peaks
![img_20190724_135343-012645254162300205728 img_20190724_135343-012645254162300205728](https://ultrajourneys.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/img_20190724_135343-012645254162300205728.jpeg)
Debring to Rumtse, July 24
After a good night rest in the open along the Manali Leh highway I grab some breakfast in one of the dhaba tents and pack up a few aloo parottas for the journey ahead to Rumtse across the Shingbuk La 5280m, Mandalchan La 5210m and Kyamar La 5100m.
![img_20190725_131700-01-01780795500353076709 img_20190725_131700-01-01780795500353076709](https://ultrajourneys.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/img_20190725_131700-01-01780795500353076709.jpeg)
Miru to Shang Sumdo, July 25
After a comfy warm night inside the home stay at Rumtse offered freely by the kind lady at the nearby dhaba I ordered 5 aloo parottas for the next pass crossing of the Shapodak la at 4660m to Chogdo
![img_20190727_065914-01-011132867809857487141 img_20190727_065914-01-011132867809857487141](https://ultrajourneys.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/img_20190727_065914-01-011132867809857487141.jpeg)
Shang to Stok base camp, July 27
While walking from Karu to Shang on 26th evening I was lucky to hitch a ride in the car of this Ladakhi family. He was an army officer stationed in the Saichen glacier in Nubra and was on his way home for vacation
![img_20190728_065506-01-016172072817383723381 img_20190728_065506-01-016172072817383723381](https://ultrajourneys.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/img_20190728_065506-01-016172072817383723381.jpeg)
Stok Kangri, Stok La, July 28
The night at the Stok Kangri base camp at 4900m was short (2 hours) and cold due to the ongoing rains. I had snugged myself inside my sleeping bag inside my bivy to stay warm
![img_20190729_173844-01-011155203146595741901 img_20190729_173844-01-011155203146595741901](https://ultrajourneys.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/img_20190729_173844-01-011155203146595741901.jpeg)
Yurutse to Sumda Chungun, July 29
After a very long previous day climbing Stok Kangri and Stok La from midnight till evening I slept off like a baby in a small stupa shelter at Yurutse. Woke up by 7am, packed up and was heading for the Ganda La at 4960m a solid 800m climb
![img_20190730_205703-01-017319054652767268046 img_20190730_205703-01-017319054652767268046](https://ultrajourneys.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/img_20190730_205703-01-017319054652767268046.jpeg)
Sumda Chungchun to Sapta, July 30
After dinner and long evening conversation with two Israeli travelers over must visit hiking destinations in the world at a homestay in Sumda Chungchun, I slept below the open skies near the gompa above the villag
![img_20190731_074601-01-012600143200526554795 img_20190731_074601-01-012600143200526554795](https://ultrajourneys.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/img_20190731_074601-01-012600143200526554795.jpeg)
Sapta to Panjila, July 31
Woke up by the daylight before my 6am alarm in the farmlands of a small hamlet above Sapta. Packed up and was heading for a 500m ascent to the Mangyu La pass at 4130m
![img_20190802_194751-01-015199652860956230912 img_20190802_194751-01-015199652860956230912](https://ultrajourneys.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/img_20190802_194751-01-015199652860956230912.jpeg)
Lamayuru to Shilla, Aug 2
On Aug 2nd my next co-trekker joined me at Leh: Ganapathy. We met up at the German bakery along with Madhumitha, old CTC trekker, whom I met over breakfast after many years and was doing volunteering work at Leh.
![img_20190803_083842-01-012874595230377845199 img_20190803_083842-01-012874595230377845199](https://ultrajourneys.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/img_20190803_083842-01-012874595230377845199.jpeg)
Shilla to Kanji, Aug 3
We woke up around 7am at our secluded paradise at a deserted home near the stream outside Shillakhong. The covered portico kept us dry from the morning drizzle
![img_20190805_140012-01-018743578721304843664 img_20190805_140012-01-018743578721304843664](https://ultrajourneys.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/img_20190805_140012-01-018743578721304843664.jpeg)
Kanji La, Aug 5
he alarm rang at 6am but no response from the hikers tukked inside their warm sleeping bags. Ganapathy wore two jackets, sleeping bag and I had zipped him inside my bivy.
![img_20190806_140409-01-018641921378236857175 img_20190806_140409-01-018641921378236857175](https://ultrajourneys.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/img_20190806_140409-01-018641921378236857175.jpeg)
Pidong La, Aug 6
The alarm rings at 6am. No response. 6:30am alarm. Still no response. Third one at 7am. I slowly wake up from below our tarp shelter on a small platform above the stream
![img_20190807_152927-013557006183935406286 img_20190807_152927-013557006183935406286](https://ultrajourneys.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/img_20190807_152927-013557006183935406286.jpeg)
Dibling to Stayangs, Aug 7
The night at Dibling at 3900m was pleasant and warm. I woke up around 6:30am, packed up and decided to have breakfast after a few hours of walking.
![img_20190808_142509-01-014552068931493103319 img_20190808_142509-01-014552068931493103319](https://ultrajourneys.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/img_20190808_142509-01-014552068931493103319.jpeg)
Stayangs to Nerak, Aug 8
I wake up from a cold, rainy night in the farmlands around Stayangs at 4100m. Loaded with jam-butter spread chapattis I climb up the nearby Kyupka La at 4400m towards my destination of the day: Nerak village.
![img_20190810_074211-01-01374797534070058121 img_20190810_074211-01-01374797534070058121](https://ultrajourneys.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/img_20190810_074211-01-01374797534070058121.jpeg)
Yulchung to Hanumil, Aug 10
Having missed to sync up (as earlier planned) with my co-trekker Palani (we split after Kanji La) at Nerak on Aug 9th I decided to fast forward back to Padum which was our agreed backup plan
![img_20190813_094340-015302053479976931577 img_20190813_094340-015302053479976931577](https://ultrajourneys.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/img_20190813_094340-015302053479976931577.jpeg)
Niala Konste La, Gotunte La, Aug 13
I woke up from a windy and rainy night on a flat space above the Lumen valley. The boulder next to which I slept did not the wind completely so the flappering of my bivy resulted in a disturbed sleep
![img_20190814_171637-01-012889002940071177262 img_20190814_171637-01-012889002940071177262](https://ultrajourneys.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/img_20190814_171637-01-012889002940071177262.jpeg)
Tsarap, Marang La, Aug 14
I spent the night in a shelter at Mune Le, an uninhabited hamlet in ruins along the Tsarap river. It was raining and the water was leaking through the damaged roof during the night
![img_20190815_115514-015525981485800902187 img_20190815_115514-015525981485800902187](https://ultrajourneys.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/img_20190815_115514-015525981485800902187.jpeg)