No of Days

08 Days

Higest Point

Kyamry Pass At 5000 Metres

Grade

Challenging Because Of High Altitude

Attraction

Tsomoriri Lake And Tsokhar Lake

If you are someone who wishes to learn about the lifestyle of Changpas or Ladakhi nomads, this trek is perfect for you. As a nomadic ethnic group based in Ladakh, the life of Changpas revolves around the rearing of animals. From yaks and Pashmina goats to sheep and horses, they rear different animals to make a livelihood. They usually live in a small herd, and move from one place to another so that any particular pasture is not over-grazed by the animals. The Changpas live in a unique tent made of yak wool and it is known as Rebo. You might find it tough to understand the architecture of a Rebo at first. But if you are lucky, you might get to see a Rebo while trekking. Currently, even the remote border areas of Ladakh are getting modernised and the younger crowd is settling down in villages and Leh. Hence, this ethnic group is slowly becoming endangered. Though Changpas have a hard life rearing and herding different animals, their songs are full of sweetness and they sing those while grazing animals or at social gatherings.

Jabro is the dance form that is popular with them and it is often performed to songs played on a musical instrument shaped like sitar. Their socio-cultural traditions are unique as well. Changpas mainly survive on meat, milk and butter. The Yak cheese they make is very well-known and people all over the world enjoy it. This trek will take you along a lively green and craggy mountain trail, and offer breathtaking views of the Changthang plateau. You will also see Tsokar and Tsomoriri, two famed lakes, during this trek. Tsokar is smaller than the beautiful turquoise TsomoRiri Lake, and gets flushed in front of the village of Korzok. Korzok is visited by nomads living in nearby areas and is their headquarters as well. It is well-known for its charming monastery and the few nomadic families who live here have access to telephone and a simple community health centre. Since Tsomoriri is quite close to the part of China occupied by Tibet, there is an army camp here.

Trekking Map of Rumtse Tsomoriri

Rumtse Tsomoriri - Trip Detail

01

Day
Leh –Rumstse - Kymar (4000 metres), 5 hours
- On day 1, you have to drive to the village of Rumste right after breakfast. It lies on the Leh -Manali Highway. This pretty village has a number of ancient stupas and small monasteries here and there. When you drive from Manali, this is the first village you will see on Leh- Manali Highway, right after Tanglangla Pass. Your team and horsemen will be waiting for you at Rumste, which is where the trek begins. Once you meet everyone and receive all necessary equipment, you will start trekking towards Kymar at a slow pace. On your trail, you will chance upon a beautiful pasture valley where the Changpas let their goats and yaks graze. In olden times, this route was used by the Changpas to trade the salt they obtained from Tsokar to the other regions of Ladakh. Tsokar is also known as Salt Lake. When you trek along this Salt Lake route, you will see mind-blowing landscapes that will make you more enthusiastic about this trip. You will halt for the night at Kyamr then.
02

Day
Kyamar –Kumur La -Tisaling
- After walking for half an hour on day 2, you will arrive at the Kumur la Pass at 4770 metres, and the ascent is easy here. At the summit, unbelievable views of the snow-capped Ladakh Range will greet you. You will also catch a glimpse of the famed Mt. Kangyatse. When you descend from the top, you will reach another pass called Mandalchan la at 4996 metres. Your trekking for the day will end at Tisaling, and you will spend the night at a camp here.
03

Day
Tisaling –Pangunagu via Shibuk La
- On day 3, after finishing breakfast, you have to trek towards Pangunagu. On your way, you should stop at the Shibuk la Pass to soak in the panoramic views of the beautiful Tsokar Lake. This lake was a salt reservoir in bygone days but with modernisation, the local people have started using packaged salt. Tsokar Lake is also close to a small village inhabited by the nomads or Changpas. In summer, the village is almost deserted as most people move around with their sheep and yaks to let them graze. But in winter, everyone returns to the village to stay protected from the harsh weather. The village has a small monastery as well. Many migrating birds flock here and if you are a bird-watcher, you will love the spot. At night, you will camp at Panguagu.
04

Day
Pangunagu –Nuruchan
- Day 4 will start with a nice breakfast followed by sightseeing and bird-watching around the lovely Tsokar Lake. Your trek will begin along the lake and when the trail ends, you have to take a right and arrive at the Nuruchan Valley. You will also camp here for the night.
05

Day
Nuruchan –Rachungkaru via Dundunchan La
- The 5^th day is all about a smooth climb for one and a half hour that will take you to the Dundunla Pass. You will see a wide array of wild flowers on the way up and you should certainly take pictures. To reach the campsite, you have to go down at a slow pace and follow a sleek path along a stream.
06

Day
Rachungkaru –Gyamalhoma
- Day 6 is the longest day of this trek and right after breakfast, you have to climb towards the Kyamaur la at 5125 metres. The summit will reward you with striking views of the Himalayan Range, shining in the daylight. After you cross a couple of streams, you will reach a pass named Gyama la at 5100 metres. Afterwards, when you reach the campsite, the crew will be ready with hot and tasty noodles for you to snack on.
07

Day
Gyamalhoma –Korzok
- Day 7 will begin with a trek towards the Korzok Pass after you finish breakfast. You have to cross a few streams on the way too. The top of the pass will let you enjoy stunning views of the western Tibetan peaks. The pass then leads to Korzok, which is the sole settlement on the bank of the amazing Tsomoriri Lake. It is here that you will camp for the night. You can visit the Korzok monastery in the evening, take a tour of the village and go around the charming TsomoRiri Lake.
08

Day
Korzok –Leh
- The 8^th day is the day when your trek comes to an end and it’s time to bid farewell to the team and horsemen. You will have to drive for 225km back to Leh from Korzok. On your way back, you can take a look at the hot spring in Chumathang, very famous among Ladakhis. This spring water is believed to heal joint pains and backaches. You will reach Leh by evening and your guide will drop you off at your hotel.

Things you should note before trekking begins:

To avoid accidents or breathing troubles, start slow and first get acclimatised with the altitude and climate.
Carry proper trekking shoes, warm clothes, slippers for crossing rivers, and a walking stick with you.
Take along sunscreen and sunglasses to protect your skin and eyes from the sun.
Always carry water filter and water bottle to stay hydrated.

What is a usual day of trekking like?

After enjoying bed tea in your tent, early in the morning, you have to start packing all your belongings for the trek. Remember to use a light backpack to carry essentials like camera, water bottle, lunch and sunscreen with you. The heavier items will be transported on horseback. You will then have breakfast at the dining tent and get ready for the trek. Your guide will show you the way. You will stop for lunch at noon, at a pleasant spot and you can rest then too. The trek will resume after that and kitchen crew and horsemen will be ahead of you to prepare the campsite. By the time you arrive at your camp, tea, juices and snacks will be ready for your tired soul. Afterwards, you can enjoy your leisure time in any manner you want. At around 7pm, dinner will be ready. After that, your guide will brief you about the schedule and activities of the next day. This is when you should clear any doubts you might have.

The menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner will include dishes of different kinds, ranging from Indian and Chinese to Tibetan, Continental, Ladakhi, and Italian.

Rumtse Tsomoriri - Photo Gallery