Climate protection trekking in the highlands between Himalayas and Karakorum
Ladakh Climate Action Expedition
The Ladakh Climate Action Expedition combines breathtaking trekking through the mountain wilderness of the sunken kingdom of Zanskar with a commitment to a local climate change project. The Climate Action Expeditions have been awarded by the World Climate Forum and are carried out in cooperation with our partner Global Himalayan Expedition.
Offer
Ladakh Climate Expedition, India
Climate protection trekking in the highlands between the Himalayas and Karakorum
Duration: 19 days
Date: Dates for 2024 are in progress
Price: Prices for 2024 are in progress
Key facts
Guided trekking trip through the wild mountains of Zanskar and active participation with climate protection project
Country: India, Ladakh/Zanskar
Level: ●●●○○
Contribution: Joint installation of a water heating system in the project village Shade
Tour guide: Trail Angel and Himalaya expert Günter Mussnig
Included services: among others overnight stays in hotels, homestays & tents with full board on the treck, luggage service, shuttle services & German-speaking tour guide
Breathtaking trekking over the Zanskar mountains in the west of Ladakh to reach a carefully selected project village. During the expedition the village will be electrified and thus an active contribution to climate protection and improvement of the living situation will be made ©Google Maps®/Trail Angels
Climate protection trekking in the highlands between Himalayas and Karakorum
1. The journey
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Character of the journey
The Ladakh Climate Expeditions are unique trekking tours in this form, made possible by the partnership with the extraordinary team of Global Himalayan Expedition (GHE). They combine breathtaking trekking off the beaten track through the fascinating highlands of Ladakh with active involvement in a climate protection project. For each expedition has as its main destination a carefully selected and usually very isolated project village. There, together with the team of GHE, the households of the village are then electrified with the help of solar energy or equipped with heaters for hot water.
What makes the “Climate Action Expeditions” so unique? Until now, anyone who wanted to combine long-distance travel with a clear conscience could only halfway offset their carbon footprint by compensating for the CO2 emitted during the flight. And this was usually done anonymously and soberly via one of the large compensation platforms. With our expeditions you are directly involved. By not only hiking to the location of the carbon offset project, but also actively helping to realize the project, you will gain a much greater understanding of the challenges on the ground and of global climate change itself. Not to mention the inspiring encounters and the joint celebration, where the created work will be duly celebrated.
The Ladakh Climate Expedition 2023 will lead to the legendary former kingdom of Zanskar, in the west of Ladakh. The trekking leads on ancient, but so far hardly hiked by tourists paths, over two more than 5,000m high passes and has the remote project village Shade as a goal. The barren and bizarre mountains of Zanskar and a landscape steeped in deep spiritualism, with grandiose monasteries like the Phugtal Monastery, which resembles an eagle’s nest, make this trekking tour an exclusive “Once in a Lifetime” experience.
Highlights of the journey
Travel itinerary*
| 1. day | Arrival: Flight Delhi – Leh; Arrival in Leh (08/27/2023); Accommodation: Hotel Flight time: 1.5 h |
| 2. day | Acclimation day & Culture: Sightseeing Leh; Accommodation: Hotel |
| 3. day | Transfer: Shuttle Leh – Kanji (3,853 m); Accommodation: Tent Shuttle time: 4 h |
| 4. day | Trekking: Stage 01 Kanji – River Kong Nallah (4,280 m); Accommodation: Tent Walking time: 4-5 h → 12.5 km ↗ 450 m ↘ approx. 100 m |
| 5. day | Trekking: Stage 02 River Kong Nallah (4,280 m) – Junction (4,269 m); Crossing the Kanji La Pass; Accommodation: Tent Walking time: 6-7 h → 11 km ↗ 1,050 m ↘ approx. 1,000 m |
| 6. day | Trekking: Stage 03 Junction – Rangdum (4,060 m); Accommodation: Tent Walking time: 4-5 h → 13.2 km ↘ approx. 200 m ascent |
| 7. day | Transfer: Shuttle Rangdum – Padum (3,669 m); Accommodation: Hotel Shuttle time: 5 h |
| 8. day | Transfer & Trekking: Shuttle Padum – Stongday (3,483 m); Stage 04 Stongday – Stongday Camp Site (3,583 m); Accommodation: Tent Shuttle time: 1.5 h Walking time: 0.5 h → 2 km ↗ approx. 100 m in altitude difference |
| 9. day | Trekking: Stage 05 Stongday Camp Site – Doksa (4,300 m); Accommodation: Tent Walking time: 3-4 h → 6 km ↗ approx. 750 m altitude difference |
| 10. day | Trekking: Stage 06 Doksa – Taktak (4.2667 m); Crossing the Stongde La Pass; Accommodation: Tent Walking time: 6-7 h → 12.5 km ↗ approx. 850 m ↘ approx. 950 m |
| 11. day | Trekking: Stage 07 Taktak – Basecamp (3,900 m); Accommodation: Tent Walking time: 4-5 h → 10.5 km ↘ approx. 400 m ascent |
| 12. day | Trekking: Stage 08 Basecamp – Shade (4,200 m); Accommodation: Tent Walking time: 4-5 h → 9 km ↗ approx. 300 m ascent |
| 13. day | Project Day: Installation of Solar Water Heaters in Village Shade; Accommodation: Tent |
| 14. day | Trekking: Stage 09 Shade – Yougar (3,917 m); Accommodation: Tent or homestay Walking time: 8 h → 21 km ↘ approx. 300 m |
| 15. day | Trekking & Transfer: Leg 10 Yougar – Chha (3,657); Shuttle Chha-Padum; Accommodation: Hotel or guesthouse Walking time: 3 h → 6 km ↘ 250 m altitude difference Shuttle time: 3 h |
| 16. day | Transfer: Shuttle Padum – Kargil; Accommodation: Hotel Shuttle time: 7-8 h |
| 17. day | Transfer: Shuttle Kargil – Leh; Accommodation: Hotel Shuttle time: 5-6 h |
| 18. day | Recovery: Recreation day in Leh; Accommodation: Hotel |
| 19. day | Departure: Return Leh – Delih (09/14/2023) |
*small program changes reserved
Included services
| + | 6 nights in selected mid-range hotels (***/**** national categorisation); double room with breakfast + 12 nights in family-run lodges; double or multi-bed rooms or in two-person tents; each with full board |
| + | 12 nights in family-run lodges; double or multi-bed rooms or in two-person tents; each with full board |
| + | Travel guide by an Austrian trail angel with a proven Himalayan expertise |
| + | Travel guide by a team of experts from GHE (for climate protection project and sustainable tourism) in two-person tents; each with full board |
| + | Tour guide: Austrian trail angel and Himalayan expert |
| + | Tour guide: GHE team of experts (for climate protection project and sustainable tourism) |
| + | Guided by experienced certified guide with knowledge of the area |
| + | One assistant guide |
| + | Kitchen crew |
| + | Horse guide |
| + | Pack animals for luggage transport (incl. “rescue horses”) |
| + | 2 days cultural programme in the Indus Valley around the capital Leh (active acclimatisation) |
| + | All necessary transfers (airport shuttles; cultural programme in the Indus Valley; drive from Leh to the starting and ending point of the trekking and the necessary transfer during the trekking) |
| + | Trekking Permit |
| + | Active project day in the mountain village Shade: construction of hot water treatment plants) |
| + | Contribution for climate neutrality (incl. certificate) |
| + | Detailed tour documents (incl. trekking map) |
| + | Before the trip: Info service by Himalaya experts |
Price: € 3.488,- p. p.
Small group from min. 6 persons to max. 10 persons
Our experts on the Ladakh Climate Action Expedition
2. The pioneers
Meet our pioneers who will accompany you on your trekking trip and provide you with many insights into the region, culture and the exciting project on the Ladakh Climate Action Expedition:
Paras Loomba,
the visionary from GHE
Hailing from the Delhi metropolitan region, Paras spent much of his childhood in Ladakh, where his father was stationed as an officer. The country never left his mind, although his awareness of climate protection was awakened only later, during an Antarctic expedition.
Günter Mussnig,
the trail guru
„I have been traveling the Himalayas since 1992, but it took me until the fall of 2022 to visit the fascinating highlands of Ladakh for the first time. I was immediately taken by the barren mountains, the sublime monasteries and the so hospitable …
But what fascinated me most was the vision and drive of the Global Himalayan Expedition team! Indeed, I would not have expected to find such an innovative idea of climate-neutral travel in the remote highlands between the Himalayas and Karakoram. Indeed, I have experienced a lot on my many expeditions and trekking trips. The Climate Action Expedition in Ladakh is definitely one of my most intense and touching experiences. And I can’t wait to trek across the barren mountains again, with the goal of improving life in one of the mountain villages and actively contributing to climate protection.“
Irfan & Simarpreet ,
the ying and yang of GHE
Irfan Hussein and Simarpreet Kaur are one of the most competent and courteous teams that have ever accompanied a Trail Angels trip. The two GHE experts complement each other almost perfectly: Irfan is a native of Ladakhi and cannot live without mountains. If he is not leading an expedition or trekking tour …
Simarpreet Kaur hails from desert Rajasthan and studied tourism at Delhi University. That’s how she got involved with GHE and is prudently coordinating the various GHE projects, from electrification of hill villages to setting up homestay accommodation. And she always does this with calmness and a broad smile. And she is a source of inspiration and advice during the expeditions especially for the participants of such demanding undertakings.
Travel with an impact for change
3. Our impact
Trail Angels tries to live up to its responsibility as a tour operator for the travel of the future. By opening up breathtaking experiences with handpicked tours and with participation in regional projects and measures for climate protection, we want to trigger the greatest possible impact for a change for the better in the destinations. You can find out more about the Trail Angels’ signature tours here.
And this is how we shape our responsibility in the Ladakh Climate Action Expedition:
1. Trail Angels project
Water heating for the project village Shade:
The special thing about the Ladakh Climate Action Expedition is that your contribution to the climate neutrality of your trip is calculated exactly and this contribution in the form of a concrete climate protection project …
In this Ladakh Climate Action Expedition, solar-powered water heaters will be financed for all households in the remote mountain village of Shade and also installed during the expedition with your help.
This will sustainably improve living conditions in the village, support the urgent protection of the few mountain forests in Ladakh by reducing the need for firewood and significantly reduce CO2 emissions in the village.
2. Sociale inclusion
Promotion of local structures
We work exclusively with carefully selected and vetted local tour providers and place the highest value on social sustainability and inclusion …
- Fair payment & optimal insurance coverage of the trekking crew
- On the trek: accommodation in small family-run lodges or homestays
- Promotion of socially disadvantaged population groups and local value chains
3. Climate protection
Climate-neutral design
In order to live up to our responsibility as a tour operator for truly sustainable travel, our trekking tours are designed to be climate-neutral without exception. How does this work?
- First, in cooperation with our partner “Global Himalayan Expedition”, your personal “carbon footprint” will be calculated during the trekking trip.
- This then results in a certain amount for offsetting the greenhouse gases emitted during the trip. This amount is already included in your travel price.
- Each trekking trip is assigned a specific climate protection project in the respective destination, which is selected and supervised by “Global Himalayan Expedition”. With the implementation of this climate protection project your trekking trip will be compensated and thus climate neutral.
- On selected trekking trips (like the “Climate Expedition in the Ladakh Himalaya”) you will be actively involved in this project, for example by helping with the electrification of a project village.
- If no project can be assigned to the trekking trip, your trip will be compensated via the international compensation platform Atmosfair® according to the “Gold Standard”.
The future of trekking
4. The story
Ladakh is the northernmost and most sparsely populated province (“Union Territory”) of India. The barren highlands are located at the junction of the Himalayas and the Karakoram and at the edge of the almost endless and icy Changthang highlands of Tibet. Its unbroken fascination radiates Ladakh on the one hand with its wild and untamed nature of deep canyons, wide plateaus and ice-armored mountains, which become over 7.000m high. And on the other hand, with its ancient culture, which has developed since the earliest days along the ancient Silk Road and, due to its location, also marks the intersection of three world religions, Buddhism, Islam and Hinduism. As a result, the barren and remote mountainous region has remained a bone of contention in world politics to this day. Although the Ladakh of the present day has become a model for the peaceful coexistence of different cultures.
Although Ladakh lies at the intersection of three world religions, its landscape is characterized by the spiritualism of Buddhism Lamaism. The splendor of its great monasteries is due to Ladakh’s location on the ancient Silk Road. Thiksey Monastery above the Indus Valley ©Matthew Nelson/Trail Angels
The harmony of a barren, untamed nature and an archaic spiritual culture quickly captivates most visitors to Ladakh. Trail Angels explorer lost in thought at the prayer wheels in Likir Monastery ©Matthew Nelson/Trail Angels
This is the future of trekking
For a long time completely isolated and accessible by road only from May to October, it is mainly the construction of the airport in the capital of Ladakh, Leh, that has brought tourism to Ladakh. The vast majority of tourists come to Ladakh during the summer months to admire the nature and culture that is so unusual for the rest of India. At the same time, the streams of visitors are concentrated on the excursion destinations near the well-developed national roads, and the barren mountain ranges between the Himalayas and the Karakoram have remained completely untouched to this day.
After our first Ladakh Climate Action Expedition in the fall of 2022, both the mystical highlands and the idea of climate-neutral travel immediately captivated us. Because that’s the only way the future of trekking, and indeed of long-distance travel as a whole, can look: To make the ecological footprint as small as possible by supporting a concrete climate protection project on site both financially and through active assistance. Because in such a way active climatic protection becomes even high point of the travel experience. And with the team from Global Himalayan Expedition, we have not only found partners, but also the pioneers who will soon make the vision of a sustainable climate-neutral future of travel a reality.
Whoever walks through Ladakh enters a truly different world. A world in which time seems to stand still. Archaic, breathtaking and opening up new perspectives with almost every step. And surprise that in this remote highland, of all places, ways into the future of travel are shown ©Matthew Nelson/Trail Angels
The future of travel is climate neutral and socially inclusive. And this is exactly what the Climate Action Expeditions achieve with the climate protection projects in the selected project villages. Trail Angels explorers with villagers in the project village Burma in the Nubra Valley ©Matthew Nelson/Trail Angels
Travel report from the Ladakh Climate Action Expedition 2022
Climate Expediton Ladakh 2022 – A review
The attempt of a first review of what the Explorer Crew together with the great team of Global Himalayan Expedition have experienced while trekking.
Travelling for a better world
Our vision.
Blog Series 1/3: The Motivation. How we want to change the future of travel.
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