The picturesque village of Wanla has a skyline that is dominated by a castle that looms over the village. It is here that the well-known Wanla agreement was signed. The castle has been transformed into a monastery now and features beautiful Indian artworks inside, done by Lotsawa Rinchen Zangpo and his team of craftsmen. You will also hear tales of the late minister of Wanla, Wanlai Lonpo, whose spirit is believed to take care of the village till today. Villagers always remember to reserve a special seat for him during festivals and his statue can also be seen in a chapel in the palace. Wanla is also home to sulphur hot springs and they are just a few kilometres away. Villagers believe that if you drink the water of hot springs at certain times of the year, many ailments can be cured.

On day 2, you have to walk for 3 hours after breakfast till you reach the Shilla village. Then, you have to continue along the River Yapola for about 2 hours till you come across the village of Phanjila at 3300 metres. At this village, one trail will take you to the Zanskar valley trekking path and to the Hinju village. You can also enjoy butter tea and refreshing cold drinks at the parachute cafes, which local women run. If you continue walking upwards, you will see that the valley will become more breathtaking. Dense growth of willows and stunning skyline views will greet you. You will then cross the Hinju village at 3750 metres and camp for the night at the base of the next pass.

On day 3, you have to climb to the highest pass and you have to start early after breakfast. The climb to Konzke-La at 4900 metres or 16,080 feet is very challenging, but when you reach the top, you will enjoy amazing views that extend to Prinkiti-La, the earlier pass. There are chances of meeting locals and other trekkers here too. You can say Juley or Hello in Ladakhi to keep the spirit up. In summer, the Hinju village shepherds cross Konzke-La to let their livestock graze in the valley. On your way, you will pass small huts or Pullus where locals make cheese, curd and butter. You might see the cheese spread out to dry on the ground, roof or foothills. The cheese is dried till it becomes small nuggets which can be preserved for years.

The long descent from the top of Konzke-La will take you through pastures, but try and avoid the muddy trails. Also remember to make way for the tourists and ponies coming from the other side. You will then get close to the river, where there are plenty of decent campsites. If you continue along the river’s left bank, you will reach Sumda Chenmo at 3900 metres or 12,795 feet. The village is very self-sufficient in nature and at the camp, you will have juice or tea to feel refreshed. Then, you can explore the surroundings or rest as you please.

You have to start early on day 4, take the path on the right of the river and walk till you reach the Sumda village. Here, you will cross the river. It might interest you to know that Sumda is a major village known for its handloom carpets and brass products. The monastery in this village has a wooden statue of future Buddha or Maitreya, and is renowned in Ladakh. You can talk to the villagers to know more about their lives and visit a local family too. Now, the trail will be on the left side of the river and you will continue till you reach the valley’s end. Then you have to cross the river once more. Then the path will become taxing as you scale the Dungdunchen La, which is 4700 metres or 10,660 feet at the highest point. After crossing Lanak-La, you have to camp. The camp site resembles an oasis and gets water from a spring. Rocks provide shelter here.

Since day 5 will be a long day, you need to start early. The climb from the camp to the third pass will be quite steep. But from the top of the pass, you can view the magnificent Stok Kangri at 6153 metres, Kang Yatse at 6400 metres and the beautiful Zanskar River spanning the valley. The descent from here to Chilling is strenuous as well. Remember to smile, greet and make way for other trekkers coming from the other side. Once you arrive at Chilling, you can take a bath and relax. Though it is at a height of 3250 metres or 10,660 feet, the village is warmer relatively. The villagers are experts at working with silver, copper, tin, and they make beautiful pots too. After dinner, you can rest or chat with the team and prepare for next day.

You have to follow the Zanskar River upstream from Chilling, for half an hour till you reach a bridge. It the bridge is not completed, you will need to use a trolley to cross the river. Your guide will arrange for the trolley. Follow his instructions carefully for your own safety. Never touch the cable when you cross the river and stay away from the rope affixed to the trolley. There will be ponies waiting for you on the other bank. After keeping your heavy luggage with the ponies, start following the trail. You will reach the village Kaya in about 2 to 3 hours. Either enjoy your lunch here by the river side or visit the parachute cafes which the local women run. Sip on refreshing colas if you want. Afterwards, after you go a little beyond the village, turn left to enter a narrow valley. Use an umbrella or sunscreen to prevent sunburns. 3 hours after you leave Kaya, you will come across the village called Shingo. Rest here for a while and walk for half an hour to reach the Shingo camp, which is at the foot of Gandala.

After you start from Shingo in the morning, it will take you 2 hours to climb to the fourth pass called Ganda-La at 4850 metres or 15,910 feet. The climb is gentle. From the summit, you can catch beautiful glimpses of the Zanskar range, Ladakh range, and the Stok Mountain. You will also be able to see the fields of Shingo far down. At the top there is a stupa with prayer flags on it. Enjoy rest here and dig into some light snacks to regain energy. Argali or rNyan, the largest wild sheep in the world can be found here. Descending from the top will be easy and until you reach the valley, you will pass Yurutse, a village with only one house. After you pass the house, follow the left bank till you arrive at the bridge from where you have to cross to the right bank of the river. Then walk along the right side of the river till you catch sight of a parachute café. Turn right from the cafe and after walking upstream for half hour you will come across the Rumabak village. Snow leopard safari is conducted in this village during winter. Your campsite is half an hour away from this village.

After you start early in the morning, climb towards the Stok-la Pass slowly. The valley is gently sloping and breathtaking. But a challenging footpath will come up shortly with sharp zigzags, leading you to the Stok-La at 4800 metres or 15,750 feet. You will get to enjoy an enchanting view of the south face of Stok Peak from the summit. You can enjoy a light snack at the top as well. From Stok-la, a sharp descent will take you to Lchangma, where you can have lunch and get a refreshing cola from a parachute café. Here, you will get to see the river which descends from the Stok-Kangri at 6153 metres. After taking some rest, go down along the left bank of the river till you reach the pastures owned by Stok inhabitants. This pretty village with the Ladakh range in the background makes for some great photos. You will also see barley, wheat, peas and other vegetables being grown on the fields. Then, the path becomes easy. Once you reach the Stok village, you can take a tour of the Stok Palace, which was built in 1814. This palace is inhabited by the present king of Ladakh. There is a museum too which houses rare jewels and ornaments from the royal family, as well as traditional clothing and tangkas. And then, you can go back to Leh from Stok.