River rafting in Ladakh is quite unlike anywhere else in the world. It
provides the best opportunity to enjoy and experience the natural beauty of the
spectacular landscape with deep gorges, towering snow-capped peaks, hilltop
monasteries, hillside villages, and glimpses of the unique wildlife.
Ladakh offers a range of rafting options on the Indus and its major
tributaries. The best stretch for professionally guided runs in white water is
on the Indus between Spituk and Nimu or Saspol, which rates 2 to 3 in the
international river grading scale of 1 to 6.
Participants are required to be trained rafters themselves while the
arrangements should be assigned to a dependable professional agency. Adequate
arrangements for rescue coverage is an essential pre-requisite for embarking
upon a white -water expedition on river like the Zanskar.
River Indus flows across high altitude cold deserts mountains of Ladakh in
Indian Himalaya, which offers fascinating day rafting near to Leh and three four
days trip can also be organized in the Indus Valley of Ladakh, starting from
Upshi to Nimoo passing through villages, monasteries and gorges of Phey and
Nimoo.
An ultimate white water rafting can be experienced in 14 days in Zanskar
river expeditions with sight seeing of monasteries, riverside camp from July to
September.
Following options are available on the Indus & Zanaskar river:
- Padum to Nimo:
Grade: IV
Duration: 8-9 days.
This is suitable only for well-organized white-water expeditions, prepared for
about a week of rafting and camping in absolute wilderness. Participants are
required to be trained rafters themselves while the arrangements. Adequate
arrangement for rescue back-up is an essential prerequisite for embarking upon
this white-water expedition.
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- Hemis to Choglamsar:
Grade: II - III
An easy stretch with a few major rapids. This is a one-day stretch. Both these
stretchescan be combined to make a multi day expedition.
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- Phey to Nimo:
Grade: II - III
This is easily the most popular single day stretch because of its proximity
from Leh and the easy but exciting rapids of Grade 2 & 3.
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- Nimo to Alchi:
Grade: IV - V
This stretch is a difficult one as the Zanskar
river joins Indus at Nimo and the the rapids can go upto Grade 5.
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- Day trip Indus
Grade 2 Plus
An easy and beautiful through a remote part of the Indus river, starting from
Phey and finishing at Nimo after the confluence of Indus and Zanskar river.
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-
Day trip Zanskar
Grade 3 Plus
More exciting on the Zanskar river from Chilling finishing at Nimo after the
confluence of Indus and Zanskar river.
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-
3 Day Zanskar & Indus
Grade 4
For those who want the thrill of rafting UNSENSORED. The trip starts with 2 to 3
class on the 1st day with bigger ones to follow on the 2nd day, and many
thrilling rapids of grade on last day. This trip begins in Chilling and Finishes
at Khalsi 88 Km from Leh.
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- 12 Days Zanskar Rafting Expedition
Grade : 4 +
Detailed Itinerary:
- Day 1: Our representative will meet you at Delhi's International
Airport and transfer to the hotel. Rest of your day will consist of
sightseeing, relaxing and an exquisite trip orientation dinner.
- Day 2 : Waking early and departing Delhi on a one hour flight
over the Greater Himalayan range to Leh, a charming mountain town in the
region of Ladakh. Our representative will pick up you from the airport and
transfer to the hotel. Have the rest of the day to check out the
extraordinary market center of Leh, where charismatic shops, restaurants,
and taverns aligns the streets; where people of at least a dozen different
languages and cultures intermingle; and from where one can view spectacular
mountain ranges, the precariously perched Leh Monastery, and a must see
place the famous sunset point Shanti Stupa.
- Day 3: There’s no better place to spend a day acclimatizing to
Himalayan altitude than in Leh. Several local monasteries welcome visitors
to explore their ancient dwellings; cultural expositions are regularly held
in the market and at the Dreamland restaurant the local & Tibetan cuisine is
extraordinary with a nice view of Leh Palace from the trace of the
restaurant . This day is all yours - whether you choose to explore Buddhist
sites, relax in the sun on the hotel deck, or just watch people in the
market.
- Day 4: Today we will drive the Surgren-Leh Road over two mountain
passes, the highest of which, Fotu La, is over 14,000 ft in elevation. Along
the winding course we stop at the Lamayuru monastery, one of the oldest
Gompas in the Himalaya. After eight hours on the road, we reach Kargil where
we check into a nice hotel- have a healthy dinner of Indian cuisine, and
rest up for another day of travel.
-
Day 5: This is one of the most spectacular drives in the
world! Heading out of Kargil, we ascend up the Suru River Valley, passing
through quaint farmlands stretched out beneath colossal glaciated peaks, the
highest of which, Mounts Nun and Kun 7135meters in elevation. Tonight we make
our first camp in a vast meadow, surrounded by dazzling geologic formations,
high in the upper reaches of the Suru drainage. Three miles across the meadow we
can make out the remote Rangdum monastery, perched precariously atop a minute
crag at 4000mts.
-
Day 6: The last leg of our drive takes us over 4400mts foot
Pensi-La Pass, affording breathtaking views of the Zanskar Mountain Range and of
the Zanskar River headwaters. Tonight we set camp at our put-in location on the
river, framed by the massive peaks of the Himalayan Zanskar Range, eat a
spectacular dinner of Indian fare, and rest up for the river portion of our
expedition..
- Days 7-10: We spend these days rafting the Zankar River! This is
one of the most dramatic river canyons in the world. We begin our downstream
journey with small rapids, drifting through spectacular mountain backdrops
and alongside remote Zanskari villages. The whitewater becomes progressively
more difficult as we move downstream. We’ll navigate several narrow Class
III and IV mini gorges; and will scout at least one section aptly named “The
Pinch!“ The scenery is spectacular, with massive cliffs opening up to lush
side valleys, waterfalls streaming directly out of the canyon walls, and
glimpses of glaciated mountaintops in the distance. Each afternoon we’ll set
up camp on the riverbank and work together to create delicious meals. Every
camp allows opportunities for hiking and for further exploration of the
gorge and its many side canyons. We’ll also spend one layover day exploring
Neiraq, an ancient Zanskari village and monastery accessibly only a foot.
- Day 11: Today we encounter the last of the Class III and IV
whitewater, and float past the enormous and dramatic confluence with the
Indus River. We take-out, load up, and drive a short distance and hike up to
the thousands’ year-old Alchi Monastery. After a quick visit we drive back
to Leh (1 hr)). Overnight Hotel.
- Day 12: Transfer to the airport and fly back to Delhi with sweet
memories of Ladakh.
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SAFETY
The company is run by experienced rafting guides, they are well trained on the
hardest rivers in India and Nepal.
We have been running rafting trips in Ladakh and Zanskar for the last 10 years
with a 100% safety record.
EQUIPMENTS
All the gear, such as Helmets and Jackets have been imported, and are the best
used anywhere in the world. We provide Neoprene Wetsuits and shoes to protect
you from cold water