Brief Description
The Lamayuru to Chilling Treks is a stunning adventure that takes you from the moonlike landscapes and famous monastery of Lamayuru to the village of Chilling across 3 high altitude passes. You get to experience classic Ladakhi villages, green barley and apricot fields, rural passes and breathtaking vistas of the Stok, Zanskar and Karakoram mountain ranges. This trek is ideal for nature lovers and spiritual seekers. Perfect for beginners and experienced trekkers alike, the Lamayuru to Chilling trek is a less frequented path over Prinkti La, Kongskil La and Dung Dung Chan La. We will end the trek at Chilling and drive past Sangam where you get to see the confluence of Indus and Zanskar Rivers. FOr those who wish to take it up a notch can choose our add-on of White Water Rafting on the Zanskar River from Chilling to Nimoo covering a distance of 30 km in about 3 hours of rafting over grade 3 rapids, at an additional cost. The best time for this trek is between the months of May to September. Stay on this page for more information on the Lamayuru to Chilling Trek.
Itinerary
Itinerary
Show complete Itinerary
Arrive at Leh (3500 M)
Arrive at Leh in the morning. This day will be used for rest and acclimatisation.
Acclimatization in Leh
Explore the cultural and natural beauty of Leh. This will make you familiar with the town and also help in acclimatize to the weather. Leh is the center point of Ladakh and also a major town from where all expeditions begin. It is also a culturally rich place. There are dozens of monasteries and ancient temples that you can go around. They are located in and around the town. Enjoy the local cuisines which are a major attraction for travellers.
Leh to Lamayuru - 100 km Drive. Lamayuru to Wanla (3146 M) - 9 km trek
Today we will take a beautiful drive to Lamayuru famous for its monastery and moonlike landscape. Spend some time exploring the monastery and start the trek to Wanla. We cross a small pass named Prinkti La and move past Shilla village to reach Wanla.
Wanla to Hinju (3785 M) - 16 km
Today we trek along the river through green fields past Ladakhi villages and arrive at Hinju.
Hinju to Sumda Doksa (4422 M) via Kongskil La (4948 M) - 11 km
Today we cross Kongskil La, the highest pass of this trek that offers stunning views of Stok and Karakoram mountain ranges. We descend down loose scree that is a bit tricky to negotiate and trek down to Sumda Doksa.
Sumda Doksa to Base of Dung Dung Chan La (4428 M) - 16 km
We will trek past the village of Sumda Chenmo after a few river crossings and ascend to the base of Dung Dung Chan La. You will stumble across many rare wildflowers on the way.
Base of Dung Dung Chan La to Chilling (3195 M) via Dung Dung Chan La (4593 M) - 10 km
We climb the Dung Dung Chan La which offers views of the Zanskar valley. We then descend to the village of Chilling where our vehicles will be waiting to drive you to Leh.
Depart from Leh
Frequently Asked Questions
Pick your question
Mandatory documents: What are the mandatory documents required for the expedition?
ID Proof (Soft Copy to be sent to us in Advance & original to be carried), Medical Certificate (Soft Copy to be sent to us & original to be carried) and Photocopy of ID Proof are the mandatory documents required for the expedition.
Transport: In case we opt for the transport with you, where will you pick us from and where will you drop?
You will be picked up from and dropped to your guesthouse/hotel in Leh.
Transport: What time will we reach the end point on last day of the trek?
Expect to reach Leh late in the evening, post 1700 - 1800 Hrs. Make sure your bookings from this point to your respective destinations are late in the night or for the next day.
Miscellaneous : Is there an option to offload my backpack?
If you want to offload your rucksack, you will have to make a request for offloading a few days prior to the trek through an email so that arrangement can be made in advance. You will be charged per day for offloading your rucksack. In case you decide to offload on the spot, you may have to pay a higher price than usual. However, offloading your rucksack is not recommended since it is not a safe practice.
Miscellaneous : Who will lead us on the trek?
A team of participants will be led by a course certified trek leader and a local guide. All participants are requested to abide by what their leader says. There will also be a team of kitchen staff and porters on the trek. We maintain a 1:8 ratio of trek leader and participants. All our trek leaders and staff have certified training in first-aid and rescue operation.
Miscellaneous : Is the trekking pole necessary?
Yes, the trekking pole is necessary. If you don’t want to buy one, you can rent it from us on minimal daily basis charges. You can request the renting link from us.
Miscellaneous : Are there any local stores/shops from where I can shop trekking necessities?
Yes, there are stores and shops in Leh from where you can buy necessary stuff. Though it is recommended that you come prepared with all the stuff. Please do not leave anything for last minute buying.
Miscellaneous : Is it safe for solo woman traveller to trek in Fixed departures?
Yes, it is absolutely safe for a solo woman to travel in fix departures. Women on the trek will be sharing a tent with each other. In case you are the only woman on the trek, you will be given a separate tent.
Miscellaneous : Will you give certificates on completion of trek?
Yes, e-certificates will be given at the end of each trek provided that you completed it. It will bear your name, the trek, and the maximum altitude you achieved on the trek.
Weather conditions: What will the temperatures be like during this trek?
During the day the temperatures will be pleasant between 20 and 30-degree Celsius. However, at night the temperature drops between 0 to 10-degree celsius.
Weather conditions: When will there be snow on this trek?
There might be snow at the mountain pass you cross during this trek.
Equipment and facilities: What kind of tents and sleeping bags will be provided to us?
We provide 4 seasons tents by Gipfel for higher altitudes which can easily withstand heavy snowfall and storms. They are spacious enough to accommodate 3 people at once with a vestibule to place the backpacks. Our sleeping bags are made up of Heatseeker Pro synthetic insulation that can provide you comfort in -10 degrees Celsius. We also use additional fleece liners to have thermal efficiency even in the extreme temperatures of -17 degrees Celsius. If you carry your own sleeping bag, you will get a cashback reward provided that you inform us as soon as you have booked your trek.
Equipment and facilities: Are there any washroom/toilet facilities on the trek?
Toilet tents will be provided to you on the trek. These are portable toilets tents where a deep pit will be dug. A shovel will be provided inside the tent to cover the waste after you have made your business. You can take a toilet roll inside. Make sure you dig used toilet paper along with the waste. Though water is recommended in place of toilet paper. Please refrain from using wet wipes as they are non-biodegradable. There will be no facility for bathing on the trek. Go through our blog section for tips on how to maintain personal hygiene on treks.
Equipment and facilities: If we trek in snow, what equipment will you provide?
You will be provided with the good quality of gaiters and microspikes from us depending upon the situation of the snow. Our trek leaders will also be carrying ropes and ice axe.
Equipment and facilities: What kind of food will be provided for the trek?
Vegetarian food will be served throughout the trek. The only non-vegetarian item served on our treks are eggs. Our kitchen staff follows a proper menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner which has been designed in order to fulfill the nutritional requirements of the participants. There will be milk, poha, eggs, muesli/corn flakes, bread, and butter served for breakfast. Rice or simple roti sabzi will be packed for lunch. In dinner, you will have dal, egg curry or any other vegetarian dish along with rice, roti, and a dessert item. Packed lunch will be provided to you on the days you are trekking. You are requested to carry your own tiffin box and a mug to consume food. The meals consumed on the journey and arrival day are not included in our cost.
Equipment and facilities: What equipment can I rent from you?
You can rent following items from us- Trekking Pole, Trekking Shoes, Fleece Jacket, Rucksack
Accommodation: What will be the accommodation type in this trek?
At Leh, trekkers stay at a guest house. During the trek, accommodation will be in tents on a twin sharing basis.
Age limit: What is the minimum & maximum age limit?
The minimum age limit is 13 years. However, minors aged between 13 to 17 should be accompanied by their parents or guardians. If you are above the age of 60, kindly carry a medical certificate from your doctor that deem you fit for adventure activities like trekking.
Nearby attraction: What are the nearby attractions that I can explore?
There are so many enchanting places to visit in Leh-Ladakh. During your acclimatization period, you can roam around the town and visit the monasteries; Diskit Gompa, and Lamayuru Monastery. Drive up to the Magnetic Hill and experience the crazy magnetic phenomenon on the hill. The picturesque Nubra Valley will take your breath away. The green oasis villages, the monasteries, the ruined palaces- Turtuk and Bordang; there is a whole different culture in this place. It is 150 km away from Leh. you can take a shared taxi to this route. How can you leave Ladakh without seeing Pangong Lake, the sapphire blue lake. You can also visit Gurdwara Pathar Sahib and Leh Royal Palace.
Connectivity: How to Reach the base of the trek & how to go back from the end point?
The trek begins from Leh in Ladakh. The best travel option around Leh is by air.
By air: Jet Airways, GoAir, and Air India provide daily flights from New Delhi to Leh. It is recommended that you make your flight bookings well in advance not only to save on the price but also for a confirmed seat. You can also take an alternate flight route to Srinagar. Fly to Srinagar from Delhi and then drive to Leh from Srinagar. The 10-hour road journey from Srinagar to Leh can be covered by hiring a shared taxi which will cost you around INR 3000-4000. The drive route from Srinagar to Leh is scenic. For coming back, you can either take a direct flight from Leh to New Delhi. Or take the same route via Srinagar. Flights from Srinagar to Delhi are cheaper than Leh-Delhi.
By road: You can take the route from Manali to Leh. Travel from Delhi to Manali by a HRTC Volvo bus. From Manali get a seat in a shared taxi (INR 2500-3500). If you are on a tight budget, There is also a bus from New Delhi to Leh (via Manali) with one side fare of INR 1365. The bus journey begins at 2:30 pm from Delhi ISBT reaching Keylong next day at 1:30 pm. After an overnight halt at Keylong, it reaches Leh the next day. The another route to Leh can be taken through Srinagar. There are shared taxis from Srinagar to Leh available at cost of INR 3000-4000. If you are an ardent biker, you wouldn’t mind taking a bike trip from Delhi to Leh and back.
Connectivity: What is the cellular network connectivity for this trek?
BSNL has the best connectivity in Leh-Ladakh region followed by Airtel. However, all the mobile networks like Idea and Vodafone also work in Leh. Please note that only postpaid numbers work in J&K state, prepaid connections will cease to work as soon as you enter Ladakh region. On & Off network coverage is available throughout this trek (BSNL mostly).
Packing List: What to pack
Click here for text packing list.
Packing List: How should I pack my rucksack?
Packing List: How should I select my trekking shoe?
Best Season: What are the best months to visit this trek?
The best months to do this trek are from May to September when the weather is pleasant.
About the activity: Why should I go for this trek?
Lamayuru to Chilling Trek
Taking you from the moonland of Lamayuru famous for its spectacular landscape and monastery, the Lamayuru to Chilling trek takes you across three stunning passes through traditional villages, barley and apricot fields with amazing views of Stok and Karakoram mountain ranges. This trek is a moderate level trek to an altitude of 4900m.Eligibility: Requisite skills
- Know campsite basics like how to use a sleeping bag, sleeping tet, toilet tent.
- Ascending & Descending technique for mountain trails.
- Basic mountain mannerisms.
Eligibility: Fitness benchmark
- Jog/Run for 4 Kms in 35-40 mins or Walk continuously for 8 Kms (with 3-4 small breaks) on plain terrain (slight incline is better)
- Hold your breath for 25-30 seconds
Eligibility: Experience required
You must have done a small trek of 2-3 days before and hiked to an altitude of more than 3000 meters.
Eligibility: Is this trek good for me?
Lamayuru to Chilling Trek is a moderate level trek i.e. it requires more strength and endurance than easy level treks. It is recommended that you first gain an experience of trekking to altitudes higher than 3000 meters, and then move one level up with this trek. However, if you are a beginner but committed to preparing, then you need at least 2-3 months to prepare physically & mentally for this trek. For details on trek difficulty level, please read on Bikat Rating Scale.
Why Bikat
Why Bikat
Learning Experience
- We are an Adventure Learning Organisation first.
- We want you to not just complete a trek safely but also pick up some basic trekking knowledge and skills along the way.
- To achieve this we have integrated learning modules into our itineraries.
- These modules will help you build the necessary skills to progress from trekking to mountaineering over time.
Loyality Programs
Our community is an integral part of us and we take pride in our trekkers and climbers. When you complete at least three days on any trek or expedition with us, you become eligible for our membership and referral programs.
- Currently we have three levels:
- Basic Membership
- Summiteer Membership
- Leader Membership
Personalized Attention
- Our group sizes on treks don’t exceed 15 members in order to maintain a healthy Participants : Leader Ratio of 8:1.
- Over time we have found this number to be optimum when it comes to ensuring personalised attention to every member of our group.
- On mountaineering expeditions this number is even smaller. Our group sizes are capped at 12 members ensuring a Participants : HAP Ratio of 2:1.
Best Expedition Leaders
- Our Expedition leaders are advanced mountaineering course qualified, specially trained in rescue procedures from NIM and certified first-aid responders.
- Even our local guides are certified first-aid responders.
Eco-friendly Practices
- Group sizes are capped at 15 people.
- Batch sizes are capped at 250 people per trail per season.
- We follow a rolling campsite model.
- We are constantly exploring and introducing new trails to reduce the burden on existing ones.
Safety
For us, a successful summit is not about reaching the highest point of a mountain but about making it safely back to base.
- To ensure this:
- Every region of ours is mapped with an emergency evacuation plan.
- The equipment we use is UIAA certified.
- Our trek leaders are AMC certified with specialisation in rescue procedures.
- Our support staffs are trained in first aid as well.
Reviews
What's Included
Whats Included
- Food as per menu on the trek
- Forest Permits/Camping Charges, if any (upto the amount charged for Indian nationals)
- Tents/Home Stay, Sleeping bags, Sleeping mats
- Safety Equipment includes static rescue rope, seat harness, carabiners, pulleys
- Trek guide, cook, helpers, and porters for carrying common supplies
- Mountaineering course certified Trek Leader with Wilderness Emergency Responder & Rescue. course from NIM Uttarkashi
- Hotel stay in Leh on Day 1, Day 2 & Day 7
Whats Not Included?
- Portage of personal bags during the trek
- Cost of any kind of Travel Insurance.
- Any Expense of personal nature.
- Meals during road journeys
- Any Expense not specified in the inclusions list.
Cancellation Policy
Cash Refund
Cancellations up to 30 days prior to departure date
5% Deduction
Between 30 days to 15 days prior to departure
50%
deduction
Less than 15 days of departure
No Cash Refund
Voucher Refund
Cancellations up to 5 days prior to departure date
No Deduction
Cancellations less than 5 days prior to departure
No Refund
Please note
- Cash refund is applicable only in case of bookings made without using any promotional offer code or vouchers.
- This is only a brief of cancellation terms. For finer details please refer Detailed Cancellation Policy.
Blog Posts
How to Choose the perfect pair of Trekking Shoes?
Sarthak Madan 21 May 2021
<p><span style="color: #000000;">Your choice of trekking shoes can make your trek a blissful or blister-full experience based on how well it fits you. A good pair of trekking shoes is the most essential piece of equipment you will use while hiking.&n
Read More
