Parang-La Trek

Arrive in Manali and gather at a hotel. Today, you'll meet the rest of your group and prepare for tomorrow's drive to Kaza. You can visit the local marketplace at Manali to shop for any last minute essentials or visit some of the local attractions of the hill-station. Overnight in a hotel at Manali.

Overnight in a hotel at Manali.

Arrive in Manali. You'll be accommodated in a hotel at Manali. Today's meal plan includes dinner only. You can visit any of the restaurants in Manali to have extra meals at your own expense. Meal plans for days when you're not trekking include only breakfast and dinner at the hotel where you'll be spending the night.

Move out from the lush, green valleys of Manali and take the rough and curvy roads leading towards Kaza. You'll drive through the famous Rohtang pass, a popular tourist destination near Manali. On the stretch between Gramphu and Losar, incredible views of the mountains await you. Driving past numerous river streams, you'll reach Kaza by late evening. Overnight in a hotel at Kaza.

Overnight in a hotel at Kaza.

Drive from Manali to Kaza. You can visit local attractions near Kaza that include the Key monastery, the post office at Hikkim and the fossil village of Langza. You'll be accommodated in a hotel at Kaza. Today's meal plan includes breakfast and dinner only.

In the morning, you'll visit the SDM office in Kaza to complete the paperwork and obtain the necessary permits required for the trek. After a lazy afternoon spent sightseeing at local attractions near Kaza, you'll travel to the village of Chicham, one of the highest inhabited villages in the world. Overnight in a home-stay at Chicham.

Overnight in a home-stay at Chicham.

Drive from Kaza to Chicham. All transport will be in a private SUV or a Tempo Traveller, depending on the total group size. You'll be accommodated in a home-stay at Chicham. Today's meal plan includes breakfast and dinner only.

Today, you'll spend the day at Chicham, exploring the small village and its breathtaking surroundings. In preparation for tomorrow's hike, you'll undertake a short day trek to visit the Chicham caves. This little-known destination is a hidden cave, decorated with carvings of ancient artwork on the walls. Return to the village by late afternoon. Overnight in a home-stay at Chicham.

Overnight in a home-stay at Chicham.

Go on a day trek to the Chicham caves. You'll be accommodated in the same home-stay at Chicham. Today's meal plan includes breakfast and dinner only. You can have additional meals in Chicham or other destinations visited for sightseeing at your own expense.

Begin the trek to the Parang-La pass on an arid mountain trail from Chicham through the fields of Dumla. A clearly visible trail takes you to the meadows of Thalthak with splendid views of mountains in the Spiti Valley. Spend the rest of your day at Thalthak on the banks of a river stream. Overnight in tents at Thalthak.

Overnight in tents at Thalthak.

Trek from Chicham to Thalthak. You'll be accompanied by an experienced trek leader and a support staff of helpers, cooks and porters. You'll be accommodated in tents at Thalthak. Today's meal plan includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Prepare for a day of difficult and exhausting trek to Bongrogen, the base-camp for your climb up to Parang-La. You'll cross flowing river streams and begin the trail with a short descent. Soon, the trail reaches a plateau and begins inching up to Bongrogen. Reach the day's camp and spend the evening preparing for tomorrow's climb to Parang-La. Overnight in tents at Bongrogen.

Overnight in tents at Bongrogen.

Trek from Thalthak to Bongrogen. You'll be accommodated in tents at Bongrogen. You'll also be issued a high-quality sleeping bag and mattress to ensure a restful night's sleep. Today's meal plan includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The highlight of your entire trip comes today. Beginning early before dawn, you'll make slow progress on a high-difficulty trail laden with snow. You'll encounter some twisting slopes with decorative player flags as you cross the gigantic Parang-La glacier. After a few hours with spectacular views of the mountain tops, you'll descend from Parang-La and reach Kharsa Gongma. Overnight in tents at Kharsa Gongma.

Overnight in tents at Kharsa Gongma.

Trek from Bongrogen to Kharsa Gongma. You'll be accommodated in tents at Kharsa Gongma. The support staff will also set up a common kitchen/dining tent to prepare and serve meals, plus a common dry-pit style washroom tent at all camping locations. Today's meal plan includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.

As your days of steep ascents and descents are over, today's trail will be at a relatively flat walk alongside the Pare Chu river. Along the way, you'll walk on the Pare Chu river bed and cross multiple small and large river streams that come flowing down and merge into the Pare Chu. Your campsite at Chenpausa is located on a section of lush grassland beside the river. Overnight in tents at Chenpausa.

Overnight in tents at Chenpausa.

Trek from Kharsa Gongma to Chenpausa. You'll be accommodated in tents at Chenpausa. The support staff will also include porters/mules who will carry all of the common camping and technical gear with them, as well a limited weight of your personal luggage. Today's meal plan includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Today's trek to Kyptonasa will lead you through gorgeous meadows that seemingly appear out of nowhere in the landscape of arid and brown mountains. The Pare Chu river feeds often growing expanse of greenery all around it until it merges into another river stream at the confluence called Norbu Sumdo. If the water level is too high here, you'll stay for the night and wait for the morning. Otherwise, you'll cross Norbu Sumdo and enter the Changthang region of Ladakh. Overnight in tents at Kyptonasa.

Overnight in tents at Kyptonasa.

Trek from Chenpausa to Kyptonasa. If the river crossing at Norbu Sumdo is gushing with too much water, then you'll halt at Norbu Sumdo itself for the night. Otherwise, you'll be accommodated in tents at Kyptonasa. Today's meal plan includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Spend a lazy morning and Kyptonasa before heading out towards today's destination of Kiangdom. En route, you may encounter the local Changpa natives that have settled these remote lands. You'll be camping at Kiangdom, located on the southern tip of the Tso Moriri lake. Overnight in tents at Kiangdom.

Overnight in tents at Kiangdom.

Trek from Kyptonasa to Kiangdom. You'll be accommodated in tents at Kiangdom. Today's meal plan includes breakfast, lunch and dinner. Most meals will include vegetarian dishes only since non-vegetarian items are not easily accessible everywhere.

Spend the day at leisure in the campsite at Kiangdom. This day is reserved as a rest day to act as a buffer in case of any unforeseen circumstances. Overnight in tents at Kiangdom.

Overnight in tents at Kiangdom.

Spend the day at Kiangdom. The day is reserved as a buffer day to account for any unforeseen delays in the itinerary. Costs arising due to such a change in the itinerary will be borne by the traveller. You'll be accommodated in the same tents at Kiangdom. Today's meal plan includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Today's short walk alongside the Tso Moriri lake is a pleasant hike with beautiful views of the mountains. Photogenic views of high-rising mountains flanking the lake keep you company as you reach the village of Karzok and conclude the Parang-La trek. In the evening, celebrate the successful end of the trek with some Chhang, a locally-brewed beverage. Overnight in a home-stay at Karzok.

Overnight in a home-stay at Karzok.

Trek from Kiangdom to Karzok. To celebrate a successful trek, make sure to try the Chhang, a locally brewed beer prepared from either barley, millet or rice. You'll be accommodated in a home-stay at Karzok. Today's meal plan includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Board a vehicle and travel from Karzok to Leh. En route, you'll make a short pit stop at Tso Kar, another high-altitude lake in Ladakh. Driving over the Tanglang-La mountain pass, you'll reach Leh by late afternoon. In the summer months, the city of Leh is abuzz with travellers from all over the world. Overnight in a hotel at Leh.

Overnight in a hotel at Leh.

Drive from Karzok to Leh. Visit the local marketplace at Leh in the evening to shop for souvenirs and gifts for loved ones back home. You'll be accommodated in a hotel at Leh. Today's meal plan includes breakfast and dinner only.

In the morning, you'll travel to the Leh airport and head out to your next destination. Your Parang-La trek ends here.

Your trip ends by early morning.

Check-out of the hotel and travel to the Leh Airport. Today's meal plan includes breakfast only.