28th June to 14th July 2025 🇮🇳
A wonderful and adventurous journey through the high mountains of Ladakh in the western Indian Himalaya. Ladakh gives us a contemporary insight into the mysteries of “old Tibet”, with its traditional villages, Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, deep valleys carved by river gorges, high plateaus and Himalayan summits. We are excited to offer our first journey through this wild, timeless landscape.
We’ll be trekking along ancient trading routes, staying with local villagers in a mixture of homestays and nomadic camps, visiting ancient Tibetan Bhuddist monasteries, crossing magnificent passes with beautiful Himalayan panoramas. Within this timeless and beautiful landscape we’ll be immersed in a simple age-old way of life that respects the ancient spirituality of this land. Long days, warm sunshine, incredible mountains, vibrant culture, join us for this summer journey through the Himalaya!
As a supported “fastpack” (see updated definition below!) we’ll carry our own personal gear. Accommodation is a mix between well appointed comfortable lodges and simpler monastery/homestays, and food will be varied and plentiful! We’ll guide you through every step of the way, we’ll organise all transport, food and accommodation, leaving you to focus on your own challenge and your own experience within this shared journey.
This will be a very tangible physical and mental challenge, simply getting from A to B through some of the world’s highest mountains, but in this refuge from your everyday there will also space to reflect. You’ll see things from a different perspective, it will change you!
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Equipment list and joining info
What’s a “skydance“?
Well, this isn’t a race and this isn’t a traditional trek, it lies somewhere between. Outside of a traditional race format, and as a small group, we have total flexibility over our itinerary, and how far or fast we travel each day, and within the constraints of eventually getting from A to B, we have the freedom to explore. It’s likely we’ll compress several “traditional trekking camps” into one day, but at other times we might decide to stay longer in a village to explore for a day off the main route. We won’t be running but we will be moving fast, with some long days once we are acclimatised. Some might call this fastpacking, but this isn’t quite that either. Jamie McGuiness coined the term “Skypacking”, but it’s something a little different to that too.
And so, it seems, the best way to describe this is as a Skydance. This is how Lizzy termed her original attempt at the Great Himalaya Trail back in 2011. Her intention then was to keep as much as possible to the trails through the highest mountains (a pure route), moving fast and light, with minimal support.
The spirit of our journey is the same, to move fast and light through the magnificent Himalayan landscape of Ladakh. Join us for this beautiful fastpacking journey through the Himalayas!
This. Whatever else it becomes, it will be a “beautiful, rough, hard and unforgettable journey”. Not sure yet where this will take me. It is not simply about the physical challenge. This is my ‘kora’, a point to point journey across a country, but circling back to where I start, which is here and now. A journey inward to the core, and a journey outward to the edge of what I know.
Lizzy Hawker, in a facebook post before the start of her 2016 journey along the Great Himalaya Trail crossing Nepal from East to West
You love the mountains and wild places. You’re looking for a beautiful experience and magical journey shared with a small group of like-minded souls. You’re comfortable with doing without luxuries for a while, and you’re excited to have an opportunity to immerse yourself briefly in the traditional culture of some remote and thriving communities. You’re a hiker or a runner or a mountaineer, and to put it simply you love moving on foot through high mountains.
Bring an adventurous spirit, a sense of humour and a willingness to be challenged. This will be a journey of the mind, heart and spirit as well as a journey for your physical body. You’ll experience life from a different perspective. Be prepared to be changed!
Trip leaders
Our journey will be led by Lizzy Hawker. On foot whenever possible, as an elite athlete Lizzy held the world record for 24 hours on the road and won the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc an unprecedented (and unmatched) 5 times. A National Geographic Adventurer of the Year and now race director of the Ultra Tour Monte Rosa her passion for exploring is taking her far beyond competition to high, wild places often alone, and often in Nepal. Lizzy completed the Great Himalaya Trail (GHT) from east to west across Nepal in 2016 and 2017. Lizzy will be happy to guide you through this beautiful landscape of Ladakh, to share her experiences, and to create new memories and new dreams with you on this journey.
Our guide will be Laxman Khatri who has spent some years managing the vipassana meditation centre “Dhamma Pokhara” at Begnas Tal and will be happy to support you in the spiritual part of your journey as well the physical!
The organisers
The journey will be organised through Kora Explore GmbH (organiser of the Ultra Tour Monte Rosa and the Kora Explore training camps / running tours). The team has a wealth of experience in creating beautiful experiences in the high mountains of the Himlalaya and enabling guests to realise their dream journey.
Contact Lizzy directly by email info@koraexplore.com or whatsapp (link below)!
Basic cost: 2450 USD (or equivalent in EUR / CHF / GBP at the time of the tour).
Group size: minimum of 2, maximum of 6-8. This small group size means that we can offer you a beautiful and personal experience.
The basic trip is from Saturday 28th June 2025 (arriving Leh, India) until Monday 14th July (departure from Leh). We have allowed for two full days in Leh after your arrival, this is really important for acclimatisation as Leh is already at an altitude of 3500m and you may already feel the effects of the “thinner air” on arrival. If you have extra time at the end of the trip before you need to leave we will be more than happy to suggest or organise another tour/excursion for you!
Cost includes everything from arrival in Leh until your departure including: 4 nights bed & breakfast accommodation in Leh, all domestic transport (jeep), accommodation and food (lodges, homestays) for 12 nights on the trail, insurance, transport and salary for our guide(s) and any other support.
Cost excludes: International Flights, Medical and Travel Insurance, Indian Visa, Helicopter evacuation (should be covered by individual medical insurance), while on trek; additional meals, alcohol and bottled drinks, meals while in Leh (lunch and dinner).
Arrival: Our journey will start and finish in Leh, the capital of Ladakh, in the north-west of India. There are daily flights from Delhi (~1.5 hours journey time). If you have an international flight or a connecting domestic flight that is not part of a “through” ticket we recommend allowing an extra day in Leh at the end of the trip in case of any problems.
Once you register we’ll send you a full list of gear/equipment that you will need to bring. We will also send you the “joining info” which will explain exactly how everything works once you reach Leh airport, what happens while we are out in the mountains, and any useful tips that we can think of to tell you in advance!
You must have a travel or medical insurance that covers you fully against the costs of helicopter evacuation, hospitalisation, repatriation as required in case of injury or sickness. We will need a copy of your insurance details before you arrive in Leh. Please make sure your policy covers you for trekking up to altitudes of 5600m. Thank you!
Please do also take out a trip cancellation policy in case of injury or illness before our departure. We are keeping costs for you to the minimum which means we have a big loss if one participant is unable to come at short notice. We will ask you for a 400 USD deposit. The balance is due 3 weeks before departure.
Saturday 28th June
Arrival in Leh. We will meet you from the airport and provide transport to your accommodation in Leh. We’ll meet together for a group dinner to welcome you and answer any questions or concerns! We’ll be staying together in a delightful family-run guest house with beautiful garden and lots of space to relax. Lodging: Hotel
Sunday 29th June
We’ll meet after breakfast for a briefing on the adventure ahead and to check kit, answer questions etc. so that we can make sure we carry only (and all) that is necessary for the journey! Following this you are free to enjoy the day! Today is focused on rest and acclimatisation which will give you time to explore Leh itself, including the old city and the main bazaar. There is so much to absorb … thriving cafes and restaurants, timeless alleyways, colourful markets, antique shops, and an intriguing mix of monasteries, mosques and temples. We’ll suggest meeting for a good meal together in the evening. Lodging: Hotel
Monday 30th June
Our second full day in Leh, essential to help with acclimatisation! We’ll have some beautiful options for today including a visit to the ancient Leh Fort (the highest point of the city at 3680m), the 17th century ruins of Leh Palace (newly restored), the Japanese-built Shanti Stupa giving a beautiful view over the fields and villages surrounding the city, as well as some special Tibetan Bhuddist monasteries. Again we’ll meet for a meal together in the evening. Lodging: Hotel
Tuesday 1st July to Saturday 12th July
We’ll be taking a beautiful and diverse route through the Markha Valley including the magnificent Kongmaru (Gongmaru) La (5236m) and the Ganda La (4985m). We’ll have plenty of extra time for exploration and just enjoying the timeless Ladakhi villages and nomadic summer settlements. We will experience the allure of high Himalayan passes, remote villages, high grazing plateaus, traditional monasteries and ancient trade routes. You’ll love this journey in the summer mountains just as much as we do!
Sunday 13th July
We’ll return to Leh, with the afternoon to enjoy wandering through the colourful markets and back streets before enjoying a final evening meal together ! Lodging: Hotel
Sunday 14th July
We’ll take you to the airport for your flight connections to Delhi and beyond. If you have an international flight or a connecting domestic flight that is not part of a “through” ticket we recommend allowing an extra day in Leh at the end of the trip in case of any problems. Alternatively if you would like to extend your stay in Ladakh or India we are happy to give you some suggestions!
