India Zanskar River Rafting Tour

Your Guides

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The best people to immerse you in a destination are the ones who live there, which is why we feature local Adventure Guides on our trips. Here are a few that you might meet on this adventure.

Kevin McDermott

Kevin McDermott-a.k.a. "Thirsty"-has been guiding since he was 17 years old and has been an integral part of MT Sobek's Arctic rivers program for decades. His laid-back manner puts everyone at ease, and he has a wealth of knowledge about Arctic rivers. Although he normally spends his winter months in Colorado's Telluride ski area, he has climbed Denali three times, reaching the summit in 2000. Thirsty is a legend in the MT Sobek circle and endears himself to travelers with his expertise, calm demeanor, and sense of humor.

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                    [Headline] => Arrive in Leh, Ladakh 
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Welcome to Ladakh, India\'s northern region, and its largest town Leh. Known as the \'land of high passes,\' the region is often called \'the Little Tibet\' for its well-preserved Buddhist culture and stunning scenery. Spend your first day enjoying this scenic town nestled in the mountains and acclimatizing to the elevation of 11,483 feet. In the evening, meet your MT Sobek trip leader for an orientation and group welcome dinner.
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                    [Headline] => Explore Ancient Palaces, Buddhist Monasteries, & Markets in Leh 
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After breakfast, explore the sights of Leh. Start at the monumental Leh Palace, a former royal palace built in 1600 that offers impressive views of Leh in the Indian Himalayas. Next, roam monasteries and Tibetan religious structures called gompas, including Shey, Thiksey and Hemis. Wrap up the day at the ancient Leh market, the most colorful place in town, where you can get anything from jewelry to spices. Share your impressions of the day over dinner with your fellow travelers.
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                    [Headline] => Visit Caves & Forts on a Scenic Drive from Leh to Kargil 
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Set out toward the town of Kargil in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Along the way, marvel at the striking painted caves of Saspol, the mud-brick fortress of Basgo, and the Lamayuru monastery, one of Laddakh\'s largest and oldest gompas. Past Nimu, the confluence of the Zanskar with the Indus, travel over the 13,500-foot Fotu La pass, and reach Mulbekh village, famous for its rock-carved Buddha. In Kargil, settle into the hotel, enjoy a shower, and then prepare for the great outdoors.
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                    [Headline] => Journey High into the Himalayas
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Today, enjoy a spectacular drive past the magnificent Panikkar and Parkachik Glaciers that hang off the slopes of the imposing 23,000-foot Nun-Kun massif. Admire Balti settlements surrounded by lush fields filled with crops and fruits. The road swings past the last Muslim settlement of Parkachik, and travels to the 18th-century Buddhist Gelukpa monastery of Rangdum. An optional hike through the huge surrounding meadow can be added should you wish to stretch your legs.
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                    [Headline] => Cross Pensi-la Pass & Descend to the Stod River
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Journey over the 14,000-foot Pensi-la pass, known as the Gateway to Zanskar. Marvel at the imposing Zanskar peaks that tower over the Drang Drung glacier - a long river of ice and the source of the Stod River (a tributary of the Zanskar). Descend down to the Stod, and travel past remote villages and Padum, the capital of Zanskar, to Remala, a pretty beach of sand and pebbles where your rafting trip starts. Enjoy the first night under open skies at your riverside camp.
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                    [Headline] => Paddle from Padum & Hike to Karsha Gompa
                    [ActivityOverview] => 4-5 hours/19 miles rafting and optional hiking
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Rise today to start your rafting adventure! Near the town of Padum, set out to raft among the grandiose 20,000-foot peaks. You will paddle for some four to five hours, and stop midway for a refreshing lunch with hot beverages. This whitewater section features Class II rapids, and is a great warm up and a good introduction for first-timers. In the afternoon, settle into your camp, then consider a long walk around the camp or an optional hike to Karsha Gompa, Zanskar\'s largest Buddhist monastery.
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                    [Headline] => Raft Easy Rapids from Karsha Camp
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Enjoy another day of easy paddling on Class II and Class III rapids, just perfect for mastering your stroke and tuning into the rhythm of the river. After a late morning start, set out to raft 15.5 miles from Karsha Camp to Honyo/Pidmo, a beautiful grassy and flat campsite. As you relax listening to the river in the evening, recharge your body and spirit for another big day of whitewater rafting ahead.
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                    [Headline] => Experience the Zanskar\'s Grand Canyon 
                    [ActivityOverview] => 4-5 hours/15.5 miles rafting
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Today, charge over an exciting Class III whitewater section as you raft towards the remote village of Nyerak (10,780 feet). As you progress, the gorge gets narrower, until it eventually forms a series of rapids just after the last village of Honimul, at the entrance to the canyon. As these cascades churn the turquoise waters of the Zanskar, and mountain walls rise thousands of feet up in the air, you\'ll see why they call this the Grand Canyon of the Himalayas. Enjoy a relaxed evening by the campfire in the gorge just below Nyerak.
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                    [Headline] => Relax, Recharge & Visit the Remote Nyerak Village
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Today is a well-deserved layover day. Take time to relax and soak up the gorgeous mountain scenery from underneath willow trees. You can also choose to hike to the remote Nyerak Village, which can be reached only by rafting expeditions in summer or trekking over a frozen river in winters.
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                    [Headline] => Raft Classic Whitewater in the Zanskar River Gorge
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Get ready for the most exciting rapids so far. Warm up over Class III whitewater as you charge through the very heart of the majestic Zanskar River Gorge. Eventually, the gorge narrows down to a mere 18 feet and the rapids turn to an adrenaline-boasting Class IV. Savor a lunch by a sky-high waterfall, then paddle a bit more to the camp at the confluence of the Zanskar and Markha rivers. Along the way to Lamaguru at 10,465 feet, soak up the extraordinary colors and take in monumental rock formations.
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                    [Headline] => Meet the Fork of the Indus River & Return to Leh 
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Your last day on the Zanskar is the grand finale of your journey! Over the 25 miles between Lamaguru and Nimu villages, enjoy the rush of Class III and Class IV rapids. Just past the village of Chilling, the rapids plunge out of the canyon to meet the Indus River. Where the Zanskar and Indus come together, take a moment to reflect on the past days and plot to take on the Indus next. After a shuttle ride to the hotel in Leh, enjoy a hot shower and one last group meal.
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Say your farewells early in the morning, then take a shuttle to the airport.
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    [ActivityHighlight] => Big-volume, moderate whitewater rafting, with Class III to Class IV rapids, between 15 and 25 miles a day. Riverside hikes are easy to moderate, with some steep and potentially slippery sections. 
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Accommodations

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Comfortable hotels for five nights and riverside camping, with tents and sleeping bags provided, for six nights.

Hotel Leh

Comfortable Hotel

Close to Leh's main market and in an area where shops and restaurants abound, Hotel Leh makes it easy to explore the town. Its classic northern-style exterior with wooden detailing has rooms designed in a traditional local style, with wooden paneling and flooring, comfortable beds and Tibetan décor. There are several open-air terraces, and multiple indoor lounges.

Hotel D’Zojila

Comfortable Hotel

With a motto 'home away from home,' Hotel D'Zojila is a cozy, welcoming hotel in a quieter part of Kargil, located one mile from the main market. Organized in two blocks, its 55 doubles and six single rooms come with en-suite bathrooms with hot and cold water, and most with LCD TVs. Wi-Fi service is available on the property.

MT Sobek – Zanskar River Camp

Wilderness Camping

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