At
Darcha there are tea stalls, and an adequate campsite. The local bus to Manali departs early in the morning. If
heading north, there are also regular truck convoys, which could provide a lift
to the Indus valley and
Leh . Alternate Trek:
TREKKING FROM DARCHA TO PADUM
Many trekkers follow the above trek from Padum to Darcha in the opposite direction. If one follows this route it is essential that one spend at least a few extra days acclimatising before crossing the Shingo la.
Day 1: Plan to trek from Darcha to Jankar Sumdo. This should take around seven to eight hours. Here one can spend a rest day before making it up to the stone shelter huts at Chumik (4,640m) below the Shingo la on the following stage.
Day 2: The next stage over the Shingo la to Lakong in the upper Zanskar valley taken six to seven hours. The pass crossing is not so arduous when compared with other passes over the main Himalayan range. From camp, there is a gradual ascent for the first 2½ hours to reach the terminal moraine at the base of the pass. The trail then steepens, crossing a rocky slope to the true right of the glacier before rounding a large crevasse to a Chorten in the centre of the valley. This is not the top of the pass. However, most of the climb is over, and a gradual ascent to the pass follows. The pass is marked by a series of cairns and Mani walls draped in prayer flags.
Day 3: The initial descent from the pass is quite steep, and care must be exercised when crossing the snowfield as it is often very icy just beneath the surface. The route heads to the left of the valley across scree slopes before the final descent to the valley floor. After crossing a large side stream there is a choice of campsites on the meadows known locally as Lokong (4,470m). There are no tea stalls, but there are shepherds' huts where one can shelter overnight.
Day 4: From Lakong, it is a further six to seven hours trek to Kargyak. From there on to Padum, allow four stages. The first takes one to Tetha village and the second to Purne and Phugtal monastery. The third stage would see one at Reru and the fourth stage at Padum, with time that day to organise onward transport to Kargil.