Difficult Treks in Ladakh

Ladakh is known worldwide for its unique terrains and surreal moonscapes. There are a plethora of difficult treks in Ladakh that take you to high-altitude places, justifying its other name- ‘The Land of High Passes’.

If you are a trekking enthusiast and wish to experience some breathtakingly beautiful and distinct landscapes of this destination, brace yourselves. There are several options that can mesmerise you, each one of them being equally alluring. From the popular Chadar Trek and Snow Leopard Trek to the thrilling Juglam trek, Ladakh provides you with some unexpected experiences that stay with you throughout your life. 

Ladakh’s difficult treks demand the enthusiasts to be able to traverse through strenuous trails and steep climbs, sometimes with the help of technical equipment and trekking gears like carabiners and crampons. Therefore, you need to be quite experienced to undertake these treks. Upon these, your physical fitness, mental strength, endurance capacity and stamina need to be very high to be able to complete these journeys.

Thrillophilia can help you with this. We appoint professional and sound trek leaders who can help you out in times of crisis, guiding you through the harsh terrains and educating people about the potential hazards. Our on-ground staff and local guides also provide valuable insights about the region, the people, and their culture throughout the extensive treks.

Difficult Treks in Ladakh

Here are the top difficult treks in Ladakh:

1. Chadar Trek: The Chadar Trek is also known as the ‘Frozen Zanskar River Trek’, and it is a world-famous difficult trek in Ladakh. The trail stretches over 105 km, taking around 9 days to cover. It is recommended to go through thorough medical checkups before undertaking this trek as it requires a high level of physical endurance and mental strength to complete the journey.

2. Snow Leopard Trek: Snow Leopard Trek Located in the Dachigam National Park, the snow-leopard trek goes through the picturesque Rumbak Valley where these majestic creatures can frequently be spotted. It is a 40 km trek that can be covered in 8-9 days, and the maximum elevation reached on this trek is about 4400 m. You can also witness rare animals like blue sheep and brown fox in this rich ecological setting.

3. Darcha Lamayuru Trek: The Darcha Lamayuru Trek offers a beautiful journey to the trekkers, taking them though quaint villages like Hanamur and Pheljila. You have to cross some high passes on this journey as well, like Shingo La (the highest point on the trek at 5062 m) and Singge La. The total distance covered on this trek is approximately 291 km, taking approximately 19-21 days to finish. 

4. Remote Zanskar Trek: This trekking trail leads you across some of the most remote parts of the Zanskar Valley. The route stretches across 87 km, and the maximum elevation reached is 5200 m. You can cover this trail within a span of 16 days, going through passes like Cha Cha La and Kongmaru La. You can also enjoy cultural interactions while going through the villages of Nimaling and Sumdo.

5. Junglam Trek: This 95 km long Jungla trek is known to be a popular one of Ladakh’s difficult treks. It can easily take around 14-15 days to complete this entire journey, crossing the highest point on the trek at Kalung Karpo La (5200 m). You can behold the Rupshu valley and the K2 range on this thrilling adventure to the heartland of Ladakh, and traverse across the Zanskar valley and Indus Valley.

6. Darcha Padum Trek: The Darcha Padum Trek offers a mesmerising trail bordering Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. This trek is also known as the Shingo La trek, which is also the highest point of elevation on the route. It is a 10-12 days long trek, covering almost 127 km on ground. The trails cover a diverse terrain, crossing ridges and gorges formed by Zanskar River, providing an exciting experience to the trekkers.

7. Spiti To Ladakh Trek: Guiding you through the rugged terrains of Spiti to the moonscapes of ladakh, this 140 km long Spiti to Ladakh Trek is a must experience for adventure lovers. This trek is also known as the Parang La trek, and covers the famous Tso Moriri lake on the trail as well. It requires walking for straight 13-15 days to cover the entire trail, and the maximum elevation of the route is 5577 m at Parang La.