Grade:  Strenuous

Day 01 Manali-Kaza - 3600m - 9 Hours.
Depart Manali for the small town of Kaza. On this 9 hour drive we cross two major mountain passes - the Rohtang La - 13050ft / 3978m and the Kunzum La 4551m / 14,970ft. The drive down from the Kunzum presents some great landscape and as we drive through a gorge the sudden appearance of the expansive Spiti River Basin can be an unforgettable experience. We check a comfortable Guest House. Spiti is still relatively remote and accommodation is rustic and simple but clean.
Day 02 Kaza to Kibber 4200m - 1 Hour drive. On to Thaltak -6 Hours.
Leave Kaza early and drive up to Kibber now considered the highest village in the world. It is here that we start our trek. We leave Kibber at around 8 am and begin our trek to the Thaltak grazing grounds. The scenery assumes large proportions as the mountains recede to the background. Camp after a 6-hour walk.
Day 03 Thaltak to Base Camp at Pangrochen 5000m below Parang La. 6 hours.
The trek is uphill all the way and though a bit tiring compensates by way of the grand scenery all around. We camp at Pangrochen with its solitary fresh water spring that sustains the sparse wild life at this altitude.
Day 04 Cross Parang La 5600m to Largyup 4930m. 6 hours
This downhill walk is over the Parang glacier as we finally emerge into shrub land. The steep inclines gradually smoothen out as we reach the campsite at Largyup.
Day 05 Largyup to Tarang Yongma 4580m. 5 Hours
We now walk along the Pare Chu valley and after crossing the river camp near the Tarang Yongma.
Day 06 Tarang Yongma to Norbu Sumdo 4300m 6 Hours.
As we walk along the valley, we cross a stream or two and finally arrive at the green lush oasis of Norbu Sumdo a sight for sore eyes. Camp here in the desert stillness for the night.
Day 07 Norbu Sumdo to Kiangdom south shore Tso Moriri 4450m / 14,432ft. - 5 hours. Todays walk takes us through barren mountains and ridges to the shores of this large 15 by 5 mile salt-water lake high in the western Himalayas and bordering the extensive Great Changthang Desert Plateau. If you're lucky, you can spot a herd of Kyang or Tibetan Wild Ass or the hardy Ibex and you just cannot miss the squeaky marmots that keep pooping up from their burrows. You are sure to see a number of bird species like the bar-necked geese, Brahminy duck and other water fowl sunning themselves on the placid waters of this seemingly never ending body of water. Camp on the shores of the lake.
Day 08 South Shore to Karzok the northern shore.
Walk along the shores to reach this tiny village with a small Gompa and camp nearby.
Day 09 Karzok to Gyama over the Gyamsharma La.
This is a relatively low mountain pass. We cross a number of temporary campsites of the Changpa nomads. Camp overnight.
Day 10 Cross the Kyamamuri La and trek onward to Rajung Karu another small campsite.
Day 11 Trek over the low Harlam Konka mountain ridge and reach Nuruchan a small isolated village in the middle of nowhere.
Day 12 Crossing ridges and hillsides we finally reach the legendary Tso Kar lake. Once famous as a stopover for traders to fill up their caravans with the abundant salt deposits that this lake produces by evaporation, Tso Kar still has small hills of crystallised salt on its shores. Camp near the lake.
Day 13 An almost level walk to the Manali-Leh Highway where a Jeep awaits to take us over the 17,469ft / 4420m high Tanglang La to Leh where we arrive by late evening.