One of the most spectacular river journeys in the world. The Tsarap Chu River and Zanskar Gorge is a high altitude self-support kayaking expedition like no other. Situated in Ladakh, India and part of the Tibetan Plateau, it is a region that is steeped in culture, history and stunning mountain scenery and not forgetting fantastic whitewater.
One thing you can be sure with Kayak School Arlberg is that our planning and preparation is meticulous!
Kayaking on and through the Tibetan Plateau
Tour Overview
Before your departure to Leh we have given you invaluable advice about the effects of altitude and how best to prepare for the lack of oxygen.
Once you are there, Stanzin will meet you at Leh airport and take you to a lovely local guest house where you rest for a while and then continue your acclimatisation.
The following 3 days are spent visiting palaces perched on mountainsides, Buddhist gompas, stupas and forts, where Stanzin will give you an amazing insight into the life of Ladakhi people and Tibetan Buddhism. Throughout you will be going for short hikes to gain some altitude in order to sleep better at night and acclimatise.
On one of your acclimatisation days we head to the Indus River and paddle a stretch of the river that gives India its name. It will be your first day kayaking at altitude and will give you a good insight of what is to come on the Tsarap Chu and Zanskar Rivers. In the afternoon is the final preparation for the next days departure to the put-in of the Tsarap Chu River.
A spectacular drive over some of the highest passes in the world awaits. We also keep continuing your acclimatisation program with a short walk to the monument with the dozens of prayer flags sending off their mantras into the thin, clear and crisp air. You may even encounter snow at the pass so you will be happy with the down jacket that was part of the extensive kit list you receive in the pre-expedition pack!
Continuing across the Tibetan Plateau, stopping for lunch at a roadside dhaba we finally reach our put-in at the bottom of the famous Gata Loops close to the tented camp of Sarchu and the state border with Himachal Pradesh.
What follows next is a 4 day expedition kayaking through box canyons, across a turquoise blue lake formed by a massive Himalayan landslide, arriving at the Phugtal Monastery that is perched on the cliffs high above the river. It is one of the most stunning locations we have ever seen and experienced. What makes it even better is that Stanzin will come with you on the short but steep walk up to the monastery and during the guided tour with one of the young monks living and worshiping there, he can explain the history, daily life and of course the mystics and legends that have been a part of this remote monastery.
From Phugtal Monastery down to Padum you will encounter the best 2 days of whitewater on the whole expedition. This lower part of the Tsarap Chu river is pushy, continuous, BIG water that will have you enjoying that Himalayan style kayaking at its very best!
Camping close to Padum it is a short walk into the village where we enjoy some freshly cooked food and we can resupply anything required for kayaking down the Zanskar Gorge.
The next day we leave Padum kayaking to the confluence of the Tsarap Chu and Stod River. Now we are on the famous Zanskar River and within a few hours we enter the Zanskar Gorge.
Few places on earth can match the grandeur and sheer magnitude of kayaking through the Zanskar Gorge. The dark brown river really brings out the colours of the steep sided walls. With the river flowing nicely along, we arrive at Nyerak within a day. From here Stanzin will take you to the place where he grew up for a night to show you the village of Lingshed which is set within some spectacular mountain scenery. It is a short hike to the Lingshed Monastery where he will give you insights to the lives of the Buddhist monks and how they play an important part of the lives and welfare of the local Ladakhi population.
It is another 3 days kayaking through the Zanskar Gorge, camping at some extremely remote and stunning beaches where the colours of the rock walls change throughout the late afternoon and evening. Along the way we stop at a spring that comes gushing out of the cliff walls. It is really a little oasis of green and vegetation in such a harsh, high altitude dry desert region.
At the take-out in Nimmu we celebrate the end of a successful kayaking expedition before we head back to Leh to continue the celebrations.
The final day is spent relaxing, shopping for those presents and mementos before our final dinner together, if you are lucky Stanzin and his family will invite you for some momos!
Practicalities
Instructors / Coaches / Guides
All of our Team, be it: instructors, coaches or guides have recognised qualifications including whitewater safety and rescue. They have a wealth of experience not only here in Austria but around the world. Stanzin will be leading this expedition and we cannot think or know of anyone better! He comes from Ladakh and will show you great lines down the river and cook you wholesome meals by the riverside. In the Zanskar Gorge you leave the kayaks and head up to his village in Lingshed high up in the Zanskar mountains. Stanzin has worked with us in Austria, Slovenia and has also led trips in Uttarakhand on our Himalayan Class 3-4 Trips. For more information about our Instructors / Coaches and Guides check out our Team page.
Ladakh Kayaking Season
There are a few factors to consider when kayaking in Ladakh.
The rivers are all snow and glacier melt so are cold. July is the height of Summer and it will be hot during the day but cool at night, the rivers will be pumping and they tend to be at their highest and half a grade harder during this month. In August the water is still high and it is only towards the end of the month that the rivers start to come down to a medium level. The beginning of September is the best time to kayak the Tsarap Chu and Zanskar Rivers, the river levels are medium and though the passes can have snow on them, on the river it is warmer. Towards the end of September it can be cold at night on the river and in October if you can handle the cold nights and short days the Tsarap Chu becomes a turquoise colour and is a lot lower.
As with anything to do with the climate, things can change and we may experience early snowfall or even a warm spell with clear mountain passes in October!
Group Composition
Our ratios are extremely low, be it in the Kayak School in Austria or on trips and expeditions to India, Peru or Chile. The ratio of the group is no more than 1 guide to 3 guests! We will also not take more than 6 guests on this expedition! This provides you with plenty of whitewater action where you can easily see and follow the line of the guide, which will give you a huge amount of confidence and more time to take in the grandeur of your surroundings. This is why we like to keep our group sizes SMALL!
Our Tsarap Chu and Zanskar Gorge Kayaking Expedition will run with just the minimum of 2 persons!
Experience Required
You should have plenty of experience of kayaking Class 4 whitewater such as (or the equivalent of) the Sanna, Landeck Gorge, Lower Oetz and Giarsun Gorge at good water levels. Your roll should be solid on BIG water. You do not need to have experience kayaking at altitude, though you should be paddle fit and have good stamina as you will be kayaking up to 5 hours a day with equipment in your kayak.
Accommodation
Our hotel accommodation in Leh is handpicked by Stanzin. We know that a nice, clean room with warm bedding is a must, alongside a quiet area that is also within walking distance to the market and sights of Leh. On the river, you will be camping under a big tarp keeping you away from a heavy dew and with the chance to pop your head out to see the stars shining brightly in the clear night sky. In Lingshed it will be a homestay with Stanzin’s family.
Food & Drink
Ladakhi food is simple but very filling. The soups are a great way to warm you up in the evening, the momos are amazing with choices or sauces to dip into. Indian food is also available and of course in Leh there are restaurants serving pizza, pasta and other western style meals.
The hotel in Leh also has a great restaurant and is highly recommended. On the river it is simple, flavoursome and filling food. We ask you to bring ready meal breakfasts to give you a great start for the day ahead, lunch is quick and simple and dinner will be Ladakhi and Indian (not spicy) meals. In Lingshed the meals are Ladakhi such as Thukpa or Skyu.
On the river the water is first collected in a collapsable bucket and then when the sediment has sunk to the bottom we filter the clear water through an MSR Expedition Filter. In Leh there is purified water in the hotel that you can drink and of course you can buy sodas, cola and in some places even beer!
Transport
Throughout the trip we will use private vehicles. During the acclimatisation phase in Leh, around the Indus Valley we have a private vehicle so that you can travel in comfort and stop to take photos of the stunning scenery and architecture. On the road to the Tsarap Chu River we use Stanzin’s jeep as we will be crossing over 5000m passes with kayaks on the roof and all the expedition equipment in the back. At the take-out Stanzin’s jeep will be waiting for everyone to cruise on back to Leh.
We do not take local or chicken buses as we like to say! It is far safer to have a private vehicle where we can dictate the drivers speed, when we want to stop and of course it means we can get as close to the put-in of the river as possible.
Dates & Prices
Tour Dates
We have tours planned on the following dates:
08-21 September 2024 (13 Days)
Tour Price
For an itinerary, price and more information about this Adventure Trip, please send us a message through the contact form and we'll get back to you soon.