Peaks and Passes of the Nubra Va

Peaks and Passes of the Nubra Va Overview

Remote trekking holiday in northern Ladakh including ascents of Samgyal Peak (5814m) and Dawa Peak (5900m)

North of Leh, beyond the Khardung La, the remote valley of Nubra is only now coming to the attention of the world’s adventure travellers. This fascinating region, lying in the shadow of Saser Kangri in the Eastern Karakoram, is a little warmer and more fertile than the Indus Valley and has traditional ‘Silk Road’ trading links across high passes to Xinjiang Province of China. After acclimatising in the vicinity of the Ladakhi capital of Leh, we cross into Nubra where we have the chance to visit the 14th century Diskit Monastery and to explore a spectacular sand-dune landscape home to double-humped Bactrian camels. Then, from Hundar, we trek back southwards across the Ladakh Range, following a seldom-used trail to isolated villages and through rugged gorges to reach the high grazing land in the Palzampiu Valley. Here, we set up our high camp and have 2 days in which to make ascents of the glaciated and non-technical Samgyal Peak (5814m) and Dawa Peak (5900m). Each of these peaks provides unsurpassed views of the Karakoram, Zanskar and Ladakh ranges. Then, returning to the main Thanglasgo Valley, we trek out across the snow-covered Lasermo La (5400m) to Phyiang Monastery and from there return to Leh. Cut off from the outside world by high passes, this is a unique and very special part of the Indian Himalaya and this new trek and climb combination aims to make the most of it.