The day starts early at 5 am with Packed Breakfast and get ready for a lovely drive to to Chopta Valley and Gurudonmgar Lake (17200 ft / 70 kms / 4-5 hrs). This is one journey one cannot forget. The day starts early at 5 am. It is almost dark at t...
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The day starts early at 5 am with Packed Breakfast and get ready for a lovely drive to to Chopta Valley and Gurudonmgar Lake (17200 ft / 70 kms / 4-5 hrs). This is one journey one cannot forget. The day starts early at 5 am. It is almost dark at this point of time. As your journey go upward , the morning sun rays creates spectacular view of the snow peaks, which looks like mountains made of Gold. From Lachen first one travels to Thangu (13000 Ft / 3963 Mts, 30 Kms / 02 to 2.5 Hrs from Lachen), which is a steep ascent. The only halt is at Thangu, for stretching & acclimatization. Here you have family kitchen which can serve you tea, bread butter and maggi on Direct payment. You get to sit around the earthen furnace and experience the mountain lifestyle.
A further drive reaches to the virgin and uninhabited land of Chopta Valley (13500 Ft / 4116 Mts, 4 Kms / 30 to 45 min from Thangu). Many tourists, who are not comfortable with the altitude, limit their tour till Chopta valley, which is with close proximity to Tibet. The valley is rich with Alpine vegetation.
From here till Gurudongmar, is mostly flat land with mountains and army bunkers on all sides. This is a high altitude desert, with hardly any vegetation and is stony and dusty. Your vehicle makes its own way ahead and this is the reason one can get lost very easily. As it is a plateau, it is very cold & windy throughout the year. The advice is that one should not exert much as gasping breath is difficult at this altitude. In winters, Gurudongmar Lake is frozen except one corner which is considered to be very sacred. Army Jawans apart from guarding the border are always ready to help those who are in need.
Later, transfer to Lachung (8000 ft / 2439 mts, 60 kms/ 3-4 hrs). Overnight stay at hotel in Lachung.
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