Ripchar Valley trek is very fascinating, which commences at the famous Lamayuru monastery.A superb trek which gives you an insight into Ladakhi culture, country and religion. Trek to the less frequented Ripchar valley with extraordinary sites of mountains and valleys. There are number of parallel mountain ranges together with the Great Himalayan Treks. Visit the finest monasteries and villages; cross high passes and pastures. View the Zanskar, Karakoram and Greater Himalayan mountain ranges on this challenging escapade in Ladakh. Trek to the village Hinju, discover the renowned Alchi monastery and the Lamayuru monastery.

[Wanna go on an mesmerizing Lamayuru to Chilling trek in Ladakh]

Further, you will stop by Hinju village, an attractive village, with its eleventh century gompa high up on a crag. Trek for about an hour along the Ripchar valley to reach the small hamlet of Hinju. After a short trek, stop at the Ripchar Valley, which gets more and more stunning with its substantial growth of willows and dramatic views of rock pinnacles on the sky line. A short steep ascents from the camp to the top of this pass. Here you will be rewarded with views all the way back to the Prinkiti La. A descend steep leads to the Sumdo Chenmo. Primarily a steep descent will go down to the Sumda Valley and later becomes gentler towards Lanak.

Also explore an isolated village of Sumda and the villagers are largely self-sufficient. Trail along the pass, which will take you to the small pass, Dungduchun La. Fantastic views can be seen from the top. Pursue the path and the brook down the valley to Chilling. Continue trekking towards Chilling, a fairly large village “ end of our trek.

Major Attractions

Alchi monastery: Alchi monastery was built by the translator Rinchen Zangpo. Around 67 km from west of Leh, Indian essence can be noticed in its paintings and other works.

Lamayuru monastery: Set at a distance around 127 km from west of Leh, this remarkable monastery houses 150 Buddhist monks. It also comprises of an affluent collection of Thankas and wall paintings.

Chilling village: The only village in Ladakh, Chilling offers metal works like: copper, bronze, tin, silver and iron. You may get a chance to visit the local artisans of the village.

How to get there

By Air: Indian Airlines and Jet Airways have regular flights to and fro Leh. Leh airport is linked with important cities like Delhi, Srinagar and Chandigarh.

By Road: Regular state transport bus services run between Srinagar and Leh and Manali and Leh. If you do not prefer traveling by bus, the alternative available is jeeps.

By Rail: Jammu is the closest railway station and is 734 km from Leh. From here Buses take two days to reach Leh.

Best time to visit: Mid June to end of September

Prerequisites/Facts/Suggestion

  • Get acclimatized with the climate first.
  • It is placed at an altitude of 4,950 m in the foothills of Himalayas.
  • Check your equipments.
  • You need to be reasonably fit for this moderate trek.
  • While trekking in this area make sure that you do not dirty the surrounding places. All the waste should be disposed off away from the camping site.

Things to Carry

  • Walking stick
  • Binoculars
  • Sleeping bag
  • Hiking shoes
  • Woolen clothes
  • Water, juices, snacks
  • Electric torch
  • Medical kit
  • A good compass
  • An extra pair of clothes

Other Attractions in the Vicinity

Village of Korzok: A pictorial village is located on the south-west bank of Tso Morari Lake. Korzok has one storied buildings with a solar panel. Main attraction of this village is gompa. There lies a beautiful residence of Lama on the lakeshore.

Dha Hanu: Dha and Hanu are two villages located in the Dha-hanu valley, around 163 km southwest of Leh in Ladakh.

Village of Deskit: Deskit Village is settled in Nubra Valley north of Leh.