Traverse Planning – Ladakh-Zanskar, Aug-Sep 2025

June 8, 2025

Introduction

Hi Peter, my name is Mattia, from Italy. I’ve been following you from a very long time now and I have to say that you’ve been a great source of inspiration for me. after many years of hiking and trekking in the alps I got the chance to test my attitude to elevation and long distance trekking in Dolpo region in 2023, with a guided tour, needless to say that it was an amazing experience. I now feel it’s it time to move another step forward, I want to start to experience the greatness of Himalaya by trekking solo. therefore I’m planning to visit Ladakh region in aug-sept-oct 2025. As far as I understood you provide support on planning long distance trekking in the Himalaya, correct? Can’t wait to hear from you. Thanks so much. Mattia

Planning

Part 1 – Ladakh / Zanskar

We planned a beautiful interior traverse for Mattia starting from Chilling, Ladakh in the Zanskar river valley to Kanji, crossing over the Zanskar range to Lingshet monastery into Padum (Zanskar valley) and then continuing into the Hemis National Park via Zangla – Shade- Phugtal to Sarchu in Lahaul. The entire traverse is mapped in Open Street Maps. Download GPX here and load in nakarte.me for an interactive map.

Sections

(each section requires independent food supply)

  • Acclimatization (night halts): Keylong (3100m), Leh (3400), local hike/camp (4000m) – 3-4 days
  • Chilling – (Sumda Chenmo) – Panjila – 2-3 days (trial run – see if all is fine)
  • Short-cut: (Survey trail) Hinju – Budho La – Sumdo – Hanupatta
  • Dirt road section: (hitch a ride) Panjila – Hanupatta – base of Snyutse La
  • Optional: SirSir La – Photoksar (10km one way) – 1 day
  • Base of Snyutse La – Kanji – 2 days
  • Short-cut: Dumbur-Kanji La base
  • Kanji – (Dibling) – Lingshet – 4-5 days
  • Optional (in between): Rangdum gompa (15km one way) – 1 day
  • Lingshet – Zangla – 2 days
  • Zangla – (Shade) – Tok Phu – 2-3 days
  • Optional: Tok Phu – Phuktal (15km one way) – 1 day
  • Phuktal – Sarchu – 3-4 days
  • Total – 16-20 days

Logistics

  • Food supply: Chilling, Panjila, Photoksar, Kanji, Lingshet, Hanamur, Zangla, Phuktal, Sarchu, Photoksar
  • Mountain passes: Dungduchen La (4590m), Konke La (4904m), Snyutse La (5120m), Yogma La (4710m), Kanji La (5250m), Pigdong La (5020m), Barmai La (4680m), Chapskang La (4170m), Hannumula (4720m), Purfi La (3910m), Ningri La (5150m), Lar La (4660m), Gautang La (4870m), Nialo Konste La (4750m), Gotunte La (5130m), Punshum La (4300m), Chhohoama La, Umlung La, Umlung La, Laol La (4380m)
  • Valleys: Zanskar river, Chenmo Tokpo, Ripchar Tokpo, Wanla Tokpo, Spangthang Tokpo, Shilakong Tokpo, Dumbur Lungpa, Kanji Rong, Phu Lungpa, Hemar Nala, Kanji Nala, Ringdom Nala, Spangbrok Nala, Borong Nala, Dauri Nala, Oma Tokpo, Lingshet Tokpo, Lalang Tokpo, Lingche Tokpo, Zingchan Tokpo, Zanskar river, Zumlung Nala, Niri Chu , Tsarap Chu, Zara Chu, Tsarap Chu
  • Stream crossings: Kanji-Ringdom Nala (ford, cross in morning), Oma Tokpo (two bridges), Niri Chu (bridge), Zara Chu (bridge)
  • Remote hamlets: Sumda Chenmo, Hinju, Hanupatta, Photoksar, Shilakong (animal herder), Dumbur, Dibling, Lingshet, Hanumar, Pidmo, Zangla, Ningri (yak grazing summer dwelling), Shade, Phuktal
  • Abandoned: Manechan, Debring, Tantak, Honia, Kormoch, Mone Leh, Satak
  • Monasteries: Kanji gompa, Photoksar gompa, Rangdum gompa, Lingshet gompa, Tantak gompa, Phuktal gompa
  • Possible exit points: Panjilla, Kanji, Rangdum, Lingshet, Padum, Phugtal, Sarchu
  • Gears – 7.3kg including larger backpack + camera + air mattress
  • Network – postpaid Jio SIM Leh
  • Cash – withdraw sufficient cash in Leh (no ATMs on way, except Padum)
  • Offline maps – OSM, Contours, Survey

Section 1 – Chilling – Panjila

  • Zanskar river – Chilling (food) – Dungdungchen La
  • Chenmo Tokpo – Sumda Chenmo – Konke La
  • Ripchar Tokpo – Hinju (homestay) – Wanla Tokpo – Panjila
  • Shortcut: (Survey trail) Hinju (pack up food) – Budho La – Sumdo – directly to Hanupatta / Photoksar

Section 2 – Panjila – Photoksar

  • Wanla Tokpo – Panjila (food) – Spangthang Tokpo – Hanupatta – base of Snyutse La
  • Optional: Sir Sir La – Photoksar (food) (10km one way)
  • Note: Machu Tokpo stream trail (Askut) goes through gorge which is flooded in August

Section 3 – Photoksar – Kanji

  • Spangthang Tokpo – Snyutse La
  • Shilakong Tokpo – Yogma La
  • Alternative: (Survey trail): Gongma La
  • Dumbur Lungpa – Dumbur – Kanji Rong – Kanji (food)
  • Optional: Damskan Gompa
  • Note: The Wanla-Shillakong stream trail (SW) goes through gorge which is flooded in August
  • Shortcut: (Survey trail, skips Kanji food point) Dumbur – Chomo Nadi – Pass – Damdamchan Nala – Kwangdo (directly to Kanji La)

Section 4 – Kanji – Rangdum

  • Optional: (Survey trail) Lachuche Lungpa – Lachuche (deserted dwelling) – Gompa
  • Kanji Rong – Kanji (food) – Phu Lungpa – Hemar Nala – Kanji La
  • Kanji Nala – Ringdom Nala intersection (ford stream in morning – reduced glacial melt water)
  • Optional: Rangum gompa (food, 15km one way)

Section 5 – Rangdum – Lingshet

  • Ringdom Nala – Spangbrok Nala – Bridge over side stream from Spangbrok glacier – Pigdong La
  • Borong Nala – Debring (deserted) – Dibling – Dauri Nala – Oma Tokpo (two bridge crossings) – Barmai La
  • Lingshet Tokpo – Lingshet (food, rood connection to Photoksar, Padum)

Section 6 – Lingshet – Zangla

  • Lingshet Tokpo – Lingshet (food) – Chapskang La
  • Lalang Tokpo – Haluma La
  • Lingche Tokpo – Zingchan Tokpo – Parfi La
  • Zanskar river – Hanamur (food) – Pidmo – Zangla (food)

Section 7 – Zangla – Shade

  • Zanskar river – Zangla – Zumlung Nala – Ningri La
  • Niri Chu – Ningri (yak grazing summer dwelling) – Lar La – Gautang La – Shade (homestay)

Section 8 – Shade to Phuktal Gompa (optional)

  • Shade (homestay) – Niri Chu – Tantak (deserted) – Tok Phu
  • Optional: Tsarap Chu – Phuktal (food) – Yugar (15km one way)

Section 9 – Phuktal Gompa – Sarchu

  • Tsarap Chu – Phuktal (food) – Niri Chu – Tok Phu – Nialo Konste La – Gotunta La – Nyatsang Tso
  • Tsarap Chu – Kormoch (deserted) – Zara Chu (bridge) – Mone Leh (deserted)
  • Tsarap Chu – Satak (deserted) – Punshum La – Chhohama La – Umlung La – Umlung La – Laol La
  • Optional: 2 bridges across Tsarap Chu to explore dwellings on opposite side
  • Tsarap Chu – Gata Loops (Manali-Leh highway) – Sarchu (food)

Part 2 – Himachal