We Had To Cross This River 20 Times To Find Shelter | Shingri La | Skypacking Zanskar S01E06

In this episode of Skypacking Zanskar, I hike from Shadey towards Shingri La and a natural cave shelter, crossing more than 20 streams and rivers along the way.

This is one of the more demanding days of the journey. The route repeatedly crosses cold, fast-flowing mountain streams before and after climbing towards Shingri La, at around 4,200 metres. With no village or conventional shelter available at the end of the day, we eventually spend the night in a natural cave.

This is what makes travelling through remote Zanskar so different from a conventional trek; the route isn't simply about following a trail from one campsite to another. You have to read the terrain, find safe river crossings, manage changing conditions, and make decisions based on what the landscape gives you.

Route: Shadey → Shingri La → Cave Shelter
Region: Zanskar Valley, Ladakh, India
High point: Shingri La (4,200 m)

Explore the route & download GPX
I've documented my hiking journey in a chronological Hiking Timeline, covering my hikes across the Himalayas and beyond. Where available, you can also download the GPX files directly from the timeline to explore the routes yourself.
https://manav.in/hikes


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