HOLIDAY
A fine Peak and superb trekking from Spiti to
Karzok
6085mts/ Grade 1 A
Mentok is the perfect objective for fit trekkers
without climbing experience that want to summit
on their first Himalayan Peak., situated in the
fascinating region of Rupshu. This high and arid
landscape has captured the imagination of travellers
since its opening. The expedition travels through
remote valleys, scattered high villages and past
hilltop monasteries to the base of the mountain.
Destination:Manali-Racholamo-Korzok
Duration: 24 days.
Best Time: July through to Mid September.
Higest Point on Trek: Prang La ( 5490mts).
Mentok Top: 6085mts.
Base Camp at: 5420mts.
Technical Difficulty: Low-angle snow or
straightforward scrambling on rocks. Ropes/crampons
are used required. Previous climbing experience
is not essential.
Fitness:Good basic fitness, Average rucksack
weight 5/6 kg.
To join the Mentokh expedition you need the
following specialist equipment: Ice Axe, Crampons,
Harness, Plastic or Leather Mountaineering Boots,
4 Season Sleeping Bag
Expeditions Itinerary:
Day 1,Upon arrival at Delhi's International
airport, garland welcome and transfer to your
pre- booked hotel. Morning free. Afternoon visit
to the splendid 16th century Mughal City of Shahjahanabad,
visit Red Fort, Silver Market (Chandni Chowk)
and Jama Mosque. O/n hotel.
Day 2, Delhi - Chandigarh- Manali:Early
morning transfer to the railway station for Express
train to Chandigarh. Arrive Chandigarh and continuee
driving about 9/10hrs through the river valleys
and villages to Manali for overnight stay in hotel.
Day 3, Manali: Free morning. Afternoon
sightseeing tour around Manali visit Hidamba Devi
Temple, dedicated to a local deity, set in dense
forests. Later visit Vashesht hot sulphur srpings.
We will also visit the colourful local bazaar.
O/n hotel.
Day 4, Manali - Kaza: Early morning drive
about 10hrs into the remote district of Spiti
valley, crossing over Kunzum La (4551 M), with
spectacular views. We descend into Spiti valley
over a rough road, to our campsite at Kaza. O/n
Tents.
Day 5, Kaza - Tabo - Kaza: After early
breakfast we set off for a full day excursion
of Spiti Valley visiting the millennium Tabo monastery
often known as the "The Ajanta of the Himalayas".
Later retrace to Kaza, en route visit Dhankar
monastery, one of the oldest monastery in the
valley. Arrive at our camp.
Day 6, Kaza - Kibber - Dumla (trek): We
visit Kye monastery in the morning and afternoon
we drive to the village of Kibber (4205 M), from
where we begin our 3 hour easy trek to Dumla,
we camp near the shepherd camp. O/n Tents.
Day 7, Dumla - Thaltak: After breakfast
trek 5 hours to the beautiful meadow of Thaltak
(4790 M). Today we ascend gradually to our overnight
camp. The camp is covered with beautiful wild
flowers, if you are lucky, you may see Bharal
(Blue Sheep) and the legendary Snow Leopard. O/n
Tents.
Day 8, Thaltak - Parang La base : Today
we start another refreshing day of trek to the
base of Parang La, takes about 5hrs. Arrive &
set up your camp for overnight say. This is an
important day to get acclamatized. O/n Tents.
Day 9, Base of Parang - Parang la - Dak Karzong:
We start an early ascent to Parang La(5490
M) - A steep 3 hours trek to the top. Under normal
conditions, we will cross low angle scree and
snow on the Spiti side of the pass. The views
are spectacular from the pass. The Chang Tang
side of the pass is glaciated and we will need
to rope up to safeguard our descent. Below the
pass, as we descend, there is a crevassed region,
which we avoid by way of a detour on the right
hand side to a moraine, which permits a fast descent
to the valley floor. After a 2-hour descent, we
reach the first water on the north side of the
pass-the source of the Pare Chu, we cross the
stream, over a snow bridge. After crossing the
pass, the landscape changes dramatically and we
now find ourselves walking in the broad valley
of the Pare Chu. We camp at Dak Karzong. (4860
M)
Day 10, Dak Karzong - Dating Yokma: After
breakfast, we start our gradual descent, trekking
on the open flood plain of the Pare Chu. This
area supports an abundance of flora & fauna.
After 5 hours trekking we reach our camp at Dating
Yokma. (4640 M)
Day 11, Dating Yokma - Racholamo: We start
our 5 hour trek beside the Pare Chu to our overnight
camp at Racholamo. (4200 M)
Day 12, Racholamo - Chumik Shilde: After
breakfast, we trek about 6 hrs to our camp at
Chumik Shilde (4330M).
Day 13, Chumik Shilde - Kiangdam: Today
we trek through the broad valley until we arrive
at the Southern end of Tso Moriri Lake, where
we camp at Kiangdam (4435 M). The barren hills
support a sparse population of wild life and bird
life.
Day 14, Kingdom - Tsomoriri lake - Korzok:
A long and beautiful walk along the lake,
leads us to the pretty village of Karzok (4572
M), where a dozen or so houses, and a gompa appear
like a mirage among the barren hills. It is the
only permanent settlement in Rupshu. O/n camp.
Day 15, Korzok: A day to explore this beautiful
place and to meet nomadic Chang Pa herds people.
The few barley fields at Karzok must be among
the highest cultivated land in the world. O/n
Camp.
Day 16, Karzok/ Base Camp: After breakfast
we trek gradually to the Base camp of Mentok at
5420mts, about 5/6hrs trek. We fix our camp for
three nights.
Day 17, A rest day and time for final preparations.The
expedition leader checks the route, while pax
do further acclimatasion and do short walks around
the base cap
Day 18, Summit day.Our summit day begins
before dawn, to give us ample time for the climb.
It is most likely that we do not need our crampons
for the most part as we scramble over scree and
boulders, which lead up to the top. Most of the
ridge is like a steep path, so ropes are not usually
necessary, although some scrambling is required.
At an altitude approaching 600mts it is extremely
tiring and anybody who needs a rope will be able
to use one. The summit is a superb reward for
your effort, giving magnificent views in every
direction. we return all the way back to base
camp,. The evening meal will be accompanied by
a wee dram to celebrate the occasion!
Day 19, Base camp-Karzok - Leh: After early
breakfast we trek back to road head at karzok,
where our jeeps will be waiting to drive us Leh
the capital of Ladakh, the drive is long and bumpy
via the beautiful village of Chumathang with the
road snaking its way through gorges between the
Ladakh and Zanskar ranges. In the evening we arrive
at Leh to comforts of Ladakhi style hotel for
3 nights.
Day 20, Leh: Morning is free. Afternoon
visit to Leh Palace, Shankar Gompa and the colorful
Tibetan bazaar, selling exotic jewellery and art.
O/n hotel.
Day 21, Leh; Sightseeing of Hemis, Tiksey
and Shey gompas. Overnight in hotel.
Day 22, Leh - Delhi- Agra: We take one-hour
spectacular flight over the Himalayas to Delhi.
On arrival, we drive about 4 hrs to Agra . Overnight
in hotel.
Day 23, Agra- Delhi: Early morning sunrise
visit to the Taj Mahal ( Love Story in Marble)
also visit to the magnificent Red Fort, return
back to Delhi after having breakfast. Arrive Delhi
where we have 2 rooms for wash and change at airport
hotel Ashok country resort, late night departure
transfer.
Day 24, Delhi - Fly back.
WE WILL PROVIDE: Alpine Style or dome shape
double flap waterproof Tents, with room for your
wet/muddy shoes, has thick waterproof ground sheet,
Toilet Tent, Kitchen Tent, Thick foam mattresses,
all eating and cooking utensils, all food during
trekking, a general medical kit.
