International River Expeditions

DAY 1, Aug 21 ~ Delhi (656’ elevation)

After you have passed through customs and immigration, you will be met with a driver outside the arrivals with your name on a Wantok Placard are on your own for transport to the hotel.  

No activities are planned for the day.  Ayurvedic, Swedish, Thai etc. are available at the Met as well as facials and all sorts of options to relax and get over jet lag.  There is also a large pool, gym and steam rooms available for use.  

No Meals included today
Metropolitan Hotel or similar

If you’d like to visit the Taj Mahal, you’ll need to arrive on the previous day on Aug 20 and book a hotel room on your own for the extra night.  The Optional Taj Mahal Tour is Aug 21 from 6am-6pm and cost is depending on number of participants (~$150-200/person and includes lunch). 

We recommend you follow standard health precautions and brush your teeth with bottled or filtered water and only eat cooked food or things you can peel.  So no raw vegetables or fruit.  We provide lots of bottled water the entire trip in towns and filtered water on river.  

For those arriving early and want amazing Indian Fusion get a reservation at Indian Accent which is a short 20-minute ride from the hotel.  Book in advance.  You can arrange a taxi with concierge at the hotel.  

Note—Due to the International Date Line it may take two calendar days to travel to Delhi. The date and time of arrival in Delhi varies greatly from carrier to carrier. Most flights arrive in Delhi either very late in the evening (between 10:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m.) or early in the morning (between 2:00 and 3:00 a.m.). We are holding reservations at the hotel in Delhi for the group starting the afternoon of Day 1. If you arrive early in the morning of Day 1, you will need hotel accommodation for the previous night in order to check in immediately.  You should make the necessary room reservation directly at themethotel.com.

DAY 2, Aug 22 ~ Delhi

After an amazing Buffet Breakfast at the Met (they are famous for it!) from 7-8am we will embark on an optional morning city tour, visiting Red Fort, Hanuman temple and Old Delhi for shopping at the Chandani Chowk for traditional Antiques, Crafts and textiles of all types.  We will return to the Met around 12-1pm for lunch on your own.   

No activities are planned for the afternoon.  There is a nice spa on-site offering Aryuvedic, Swedish, Thai and many other styles as well as facials and all sorts of options to relax and get over jet lag.  There is also a large pool, gym and steam rooms and saunas for available for use.  

Welcome Dinner 7pm at Zing Restaurant at the Met with Trip Leader James Ellsworth
Orientation meeting at 8 pm after dinner.  
Breakfast and Dinner…Metropolitan Hotel or similar

Day 3, Aug 23 ~ Leh (11,483’)

After the Met’s amazing Buffet Breakfast at 7-8am we drive to the airport for a morning flight to Leh, the capital of Ladakh.  We check into our hotel, then have rest of the day free to explore the town of Leh.  Lunch is on your own.  You’ll probably want to take it easy after flying in to over 11,000 ft in elevation, but the town beckons too.  Leh is a great place to shop, and tour opportunities include the Shanti stupa, the Leh Palace and the Namgyal Monastery.  

A magnificent white-domed structure, the Shanti Stupa offers spectacular views of the sunset. The stupa looks best at night, when it is beautifully illuminated with glittering lights.  The majestic, nine-story royal palace in Leh, built in the 17th century by King Sengge Namgyal, is modeled after Tibet’s Potala Palace, features robust Tibetan-Ladakhi architecture with small windows, wooden beams, and traditional murals, and offers panoramic views of the town from its hilltop location.  The Namgyal Tsemo Monastery,  is a historic 15th-century Buddhist monastery perched on a hilltop, famous for its towering, three-story gold statue of Maitreya Buddha (Future Buddha) and breathtaking panoramic views of Leh, the Indus Valley, and the surrounding Himalayas, housing ancient manuscripts and frescoes within its simple, traditional Tibetan architecture.

Breakfast & dinner only, Omasila Hotel or similar

DAY 4, Aug 24 ~ Leh and the Indus Valley

We drive upriver along the Indus to Hemis Gompa. The Hemis Monastery on the west banks of the Indus River belongs to the Drugpa order and is perhaps the largest and the richest monastery in central Ladakh.  The monastery treasures a copper-gilt statue of Lord Buddha along with other gold and silver statues.  It has a very impressive history museum with ancient Buddhist Thankas and many spiritual objects dating back 1000 years.  

Then we head back towards Leh, stopping first at Thiksey.  Thiksey monastery is known as one of the most beautiful monasteries of Ladakh region. The monastery is famous for the images of Shakyamuni Buddha, Maitreya Buddha, Dharamkaya, Mahakali and Bhairava.  We’ll have our lunch at a small restaurant across street from the Thiksey monastery before entering.  For those who wish can also return to the hotel after lunch as well.  

Shey, our final stop, is an abandoned palace built in the 17^th century.  It has a huge two-storey high image of Buddha made of copper and gilded with gold – the largest metal statue and the second largest Buddha statue in Ladakh. The lower storey has a library with fine murals.

All meals–Omasila Hotel or similar

DAY 5, Aug 25 ~ Kargil (8,780’)

We drive 5-6 hours through dramatic Himalayan mountains, over high passes like Fotu La and Namika La, through stunning landscapes including Lamayuru’s “Moonland,” ancient monasteries, deep gorges with the Indus River, and reminders of the Kargil War, with good road conditions on the main highway.

All meals—D’zojila Hotel or similar

DAY 6, Aug 26 Remala ~ (11,930’)

Today we’ll take a spectacular 7-8 hour drive past the villages of Panikar and Parkachik, with magnificent views of the Nun and Kun massifs (23,409’ and 23,218’ respectively), hanging glaciers, and large meadows. By the roadside fat and sassy marmots scamper, curious to watch but timid, and dzos (a yak-cow cross) plod decorously. We may visit our friend Fatima at the village of Parkatchik and go inside her house and enjoy our sack lunch near the willow grove.  

Afternoon we visit the Rangdum Gompa (a gompa is a Buddhist monastery and religious center), founded in the early 16th century and currently home to about 30 monks. It is perched picturesquely atop a centrally rising hillock within the arms of a bifurcated mountain stream.  We then continue to Remala, the starting point for the rafting trip on the Doda River, a tributary of the Zanskar.  Our drive takes us over the Pensi La (14,500′), which affords us grand views of the Zanskar peaks and the Darang Durong glacier that feeds the Zanskar River 25 miles below, into which we venture this late afternoon.  We camp next to the river for the night and relax around the campfire in comfortable chairs with arm rests and dining tent in case of wind/rain. Couples get a larger 4-man tent.  All singles are in a 2-man tent at no extra charge.  

All meals—Camp

DAY 7, Aug 27 ~ Karsha and Padum (11,270’)

Without loading all of our gear we will paddle light boats for 2-3 hours down to Karsha (11,470’), where we meet the rest of our expedition crew and gear, and set up camp. We ease into the rhythm of the river with gentle Class II rapids, a good introduction for first-timers. And what scenery:  We’re surrounded by 19,000-foot-high peaks of startling beauty, while closer by the villages, chortens (Buddhist monuments), colorful meadows, and local peoples enthrall!  Later,  we may organize a visit to Padum, historically the main capital of the Zanskar Kingdom.  This might also be the last available wi-fi connection before we head into the river gorge, but it is not always operational.   Another option is to visit the new Dalai Lama summer home just 500 meters downstream from Karsha.  We will then return to camp and have tea and dinner and relax by the campfire.  

All meals–Camp

DAY 8, Aug 28 ~ Honio (11,270’) or similar

In the morning we drive to the foot of Karsha Gompa, a 12th-century monastery clinging to steep cliffs, presided over by a brother of the Dalai Lama, and hike steeply up to the monastery. Three chapels contain numerous statues and other art objects, among which is a set of exquisite silver and copper chortens. Of particular interest is the temple at the top of the gompa, where frescoes believed to be more than 800 years old adorn the damaged walls and there are the mummified remains of the head monk from the 12^th century who is in a continual state of Samadi.  There is a new 50’ buddha statue finished in Aug 2024 to also visit.  Also, the Dalai Lama is in the final stages of building his summer house right next to the village and this should be completed by 2025 and we will surely take a look.  

It’s about a 3-4 hour adventure.  Transportation up to the gompa is available if needed.  Otherwise, it’s about a 45-minute walk uphill with vertical of 500ft. to the base of the monastery.  The hike to the Dalai Lama’s home is just downstream of Karsha and will take an extra hour or so to visit.  Who knows, maybe the Dalai Lama will be there like in 2025.  

After lunch, we leave our camp and the river begins to pick up speed.  Shortly after pushing off the Doda and the Zangspo confluence combine to make the Zanskar River.  After the confluence we enjoy fun Class I/II rapids this afternoon, fine-tuning our paddling skills for the bigger rapids starting tomorrow. The landscapes continue to be otherworldly, it’s as if the Grand Canyon were turned upright at 90 degrees with amazing examples of anticlines and synclines of warped metamorphic rock from the Himalayan uplift which began 40-50 million years ago and continues to this day.  Our camp tonight is called “Jury Camp” as there is an outcrop overlooking camp that looks like 12 heads.  This camp is HUGE with outstanding views.  An optional 3-mile hike from camp to a remote village and visit a Blue Ram mantra shrine, magical waterway and a 30’ Waterfall up the drainage.  

All meals—Camp

DAYS 9-10, Aug 29-30~ The gorge

From our camp it’s not far to the gorge, the highlight of the river trip.  The Zanskar Gorge is steep and deep, complete with towering walls, breathtaking geology, waterfalls, and challenging class III/IV + whitewater.  It is also glacial melt so around 40F so booties are recommended.  Camps are scarce in the gorge but we will plan to camp at Deep Cliff, Red Canyon and with our final night being a traditional homestay at Tsogtsi Village.  

We run more than 50 miles with 30+ thrilling Class III-IV rapids, with a pause to line or ghost boat a new Class V rapid created by debris from road construction in the area which we call Jackhammer and locals call Dislocater.  We will raft Constrictor, Screaming Buddha Left Hand Turn and the last full day on the river has the best action of all with Chilling 1, 2 and 3 and Champion Killer.  

Our last night on the river is at a homestay at Tsogsti village.   We arrive at a river beach camp for lunch.  After lunch we gather our overnight clothes, headlamp and dopp kits and walk 15 minutes to Tsogsti village.  We relax in this village from the past and interact with our hosts and the villagers, many of whom do not speak English.   They will be in the midst of drying apricots which are abundant in the village.  There is also a Blue Ram stupa with 50+ Horns at the top of the village and an ancient cottonwood at the top of the drainage and many other areas to explore.   

The Wantok guides cook dinner and breakfast for us and provide fresh water for us so as not to get sick from the local homestay food.  Tea is safe though.  There are 4 homestays with 2-4 rooms each so we will split up depending on group size.  Rooms are basic but clean, there is no running water and there is no shower and a squat pit toilet, but the experience is once in a lifetime.  You can also choose to camp back at the riverside camp with the Wantok local river guides and just visit the village and return 15 minutes to the river after dinner.  It’s up to you.  

All meals—Camp

DAY 11, Aug 31 ~ Leh (11,483’)

This is our last day on the river.  The rafting pace slows down, but the scenery never stops.  The Zanskar and the Indus Rivers meet at the confluence so our boats will at least taste a few minutes of the waters of the mighty Indus.  We will reach the take-out by 10am and drive one hour to our hotel in Leh.  After a long shower lunch is on your own.  There are many options for dinner within walking distance of the hotel.  There is a great Italian place 5 minutes walking down the street and to the right.  The afternoon is free to relax and/or walk down the main street of Leh or just relax.  Farewell dinner tonight with optional karaoke down the street.  

Breakfast, Dinner–Omasila Hotel or similar

DAY 12, Sep 1 ~ Delhi

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Delhi, where we’ll be met and driven to our hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax and prepare for the journey home, or to depart this evening or night (as many of the flights leave in the middle of the night) or spend a night at the hotel before you fly out.  Rooms will be provided for everyone regardless of your time of departure.  Lunch & dinner are on your own.  Transport to the airport is easily available through Uber at a low cost (currently about $10).  Taxis can be arranged through the hotel as well if you prefer for same price.

Breakfast only–Metropolitan Hotel or similar

DAY 13, Sep 2 ~ Depart

If you didn’t fly out during the night, the Met buffet breakfast is provided.  You’re on your own for transport to the airport for your departure on homeward-bound flights.   This can be arranged for ~700 rupees (about $10) with the concierge.

Breakfast only