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Highest
Altitude: 5, 090m
Duration: 7 Days
Alternate Trek: Dracha To Padum
A series of
prayer flags marks the Shingo La. It is set beneath an impressive
backdrop of 6,000m snow-capped peaks defining both the main
Himlayas and the Baralacha Range.
Alternate
Trek:
TREKKING FROM DARCHA TO PADUM
Many trekkers follow the above trek from Padum to Darcha in the
opposite direction. If one follows this route it is essential that
one spend at least a few extra days acclimatising before crossing
the Shingo la.
 Day
1:
Plan to trek from Darcha to Jankar Sumdo. This should take
around seven to eight hours. Here one can spend a rest day before
making it up to the stone shelter huts at Chumik (4,640m) below
the Shingo la on the following stage.
Day 2:
The next stage over the Shingo la to Lakong in the upper
Zanskar valley taken six to seven hours. The pass crossing is not
so arduous when compared with other passes over the main Himalayan
range. From camp, there is a gradual ascent for the first 2½ hours
to reach the terminal moraine at the base of the pass. The trail
then steepens, crossing a rocky slope to the true right of the
glacier before rounding a large crevasse to a Chorten in the
centre of the valley. This is not the top of the pass. However,
most of the climb is over, and a gradual ascent to the pass
follows. The pass is marked by a series of cairns and Mani walls
draped in prayer flags.
Day 3:
The initial descent from the pass is quite steep, and care
must be exercised when crossing the snowfield as it is often very
icy just beneath the surface. The route heads to the left of the
valley across scree slopes before the final descent to the valley
floor. After crossing a large side stream there is a choice of
campsites on the meadows known locally as Lokong (4,470m). There
are no tea stalls, but there are shepherds' huts where one can
shelter overnight.
Day 4:
From Lakong, it is a further six to seven hours trek to
Kargyak. From there on to Padum, allow four stages. The first
takes one to Tetha village and the second to Purne and Phugtal
monastery. The third stage would see one at Reru and the fourth
stage at Padum, with time that day to organise onward transport to
Kargil.
GETTING
AWAY
At Darcha
there are tea stalls, and an adequate campsite. The local bus to
Manali departs early in the morning. If heading north, there are
also regular truck convoys, which could provide a lift to the
Indus valley and Leh.
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