THE PARANG LA TREK (SPITI TO LADAKHI CHANGTHANG)
This remote trail follows the traditional trade
route between the people of Spiti, Changthang
and Tibet. It begins in the high altitude meadows
of Kibber, the breeding ground of the famous
Spiti horses and also called the Snow Leopard
country
The trail descends the Kibber
gorge and then climbs over the Parang la (5600
mts), the source of the Pare Chu river, the
only one of its kind to have its source in India,
flow into Tibet and enter the country again
in Spiti. Across the pass, the trail follows
a broad valley till the confluence of the Pare
Chu with the Phirtse Phu at Norbu Sumdo. A river
crossing here brings one to an almost incredible
change of scenery as we walk towards the Rupshu
plains of Changthang, known for the abundance
of Kiangs (Tibetan Wild Ass). For the last two
days, we camp by spectacular campsites, one
being on the southern edge of the Tso Moriri
(15,000 ft) , a high altitude lake 27 kms long
and nearly 8 kms wide. This lake is also the
breeding ground for the bar-headed geese, black-necked
crane and the Brahminy ducks.
The trail goes along the Tso Moriri
till we reach Karzog, a permanent settlement
of the Changpas (Changthang Nomads) on the banks
of the Tso Moriri. We also visit one of the
Changpa settlements in a bowl high above Karzog,
where they breed Pashmina, one of the trade
items, to over these high passes.
A challenging trek for the
enthusiastic walker in one of the more spectacular
areas of Ladakh recently opened for tourism.
Note
Minimum 04 pax required
for inner line permits.
Average walking time per
day
5 - 6 hours.
Average altitude (all altitudes
are a close approximate) Parang la
18,480 ft.
Tso Moriri
15,000 ft.
Kibber
14,000 ft. 
