Trekking in Markha Valley Ladakh Himalayas

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After the spectacular flight over the Himalaya to Leh we spend several days for essential acclimatization with sightseeing at Buddhist monasteries. The trek starts at the village of Spituk and after crossing the Ganda La we descend into the Markha Valley. We continue to the beautiful Nimaling plains dominated by the impressive Kang Yatze peak. From here we cross the Kongmaru La with superb views south to Zanskar and north to the Karakoram range. We descend from the pass through a steep canyon with wonderful coloured rock and then drive back to Leh.

Destination: Ladakh (India)
Trek Grade: Gentle
Duration: 14 Nights/ 15 Days.
Minimum Group Size: 2 people
Cost: -2010 US $ 1095/- Per Person on Twin Sharing Basis.
DAY 1: ARRIVAL DELHI.
On arrival in Delhi you will be transferred to your hotel for immediate occupancy for rest of the time.

DAY 2: DELHI-LEH (3520M) :
An early morning transfer to domestic airport for the flight Leh. This surely is one of the most sensational scheduled flights in the world, taking you right over the Greater Himalaya. Upon arrival, you will be met and driven through Leh to check in at your hotel. Leh is
11,500ft/3,505m above sea level and therefore we recommend that the rest of the day is spent resting - to help you adjust to the altitude. Overnight at hotel or guest house.

DAY 3: LEH
After breakfast commence full day monastery visit, as Shanti Stupa, Sankar Gompa, Tsemo Castle and Spituk, Rest of the time local market. Overnight at hotel.

DAY 4: LEH-SHEY-THIKSEY-HEMIS-MARTHSELANG (3650M):
After an early breakfast drive to Marthselang en route visit the most famous monasteries as Shey Palace, Thiksey & Hemis Monasteries. Later continue drive to Marthselang, overnight at camp.

DAY 5: MARTSELANG-CHOGDO-CHUKIRMO (4230M) 6-7 HRS TREK:
After a leisurely breakfast at your camps in Martselang you shall start trekking, since this is our first day of trekking, porters and mule mans will do the load distribution for balanced loading on the mules. Today’s trek is going to be gentle one. Start trekking, the trail in the beginning is a jeep able wide trek, as you cross first village of your trek, the trail becomes thin and passes through the paddy and wheat fields, after some time the trail disappears and you shall be walking in the river bed, hopping over the small streams and boulders, you shall then take a left turn in the river bed and after walking for about an hour you shall arrive at your campsite for the evening.

DAY 6: CHUKIRMO-NIMALING OVER KONGMARU-LA (5120M) 7-8 HRS TREK:
You shall begin early today, the trail starts with very gentle rise in the beginning as you start approaching the foot of the pass gradient becomes more steep and soon you shall approach one of the most strenuous part of the trekking as you approach the top of the pass, the trail becomes steep and turns into small zigzag stretches. Once you reach the pass the views of Nimaling plains on the other side of the pass and Mt. Kang Yatze (6400 Meters) on left hand side are breathtaking. Start gradual descend towards the Nimaling plains and turn left to go further below to the Nimaling pastures, you shall cross the Markha river today, either over a bridge made up of wooden planks/log or through knee deep water, you shall then arrive at one of the biggest grazing grounds of Markha valley and your campsite for tonight. An evening walk towards the ridge line shall offer you great views of Mt. Kang Yatze. Nimaling is also going to be the highest camp on your trek.

DAY 7: NIMALING-HANKAR-MARKHA (3650 M) 5-6 HRS TREK:
Start walking through the pastures and cross a small mountain lake, as you start descending to the village of Hankar, you shall cross the river for more than one occasion and the trail shall then enter in the fields of paddy as you approach the Village of Markha, we shall cross the village and river over a small village and then arrive at our campsite either at the banks of the river or amidst the plantations. Overnight in Tents

DAY 8: MARKHA-SKIU (3567 M) 5-6 HRS TREK:
Today’s trek is more or less gentle along the river and fields. Arrive at the campsite just before the village of Skiu. Overnight in Tents

DAY 9: SKIU – SHINGO (3450 M) 4-5 HRS TREK:
Start trekking and pass the Skiu village you shall turn right as the trail bifurcates for Chilling another head for exiting this valley, start gentle ascend through the shrubs and small trees and cross the village of Shingo to arrive at the campsite. Views of Ganda La (4900 Meters) are constant from our campsite. Overnight in Tents

DAY 10: SHINGO-OVER GANDA-AL (4900M) YURUTSE (4100M) 6-7 HRS TREK:
Start a gradual ascent to the top of the pass today’s prime hurdle, reach at the top to have views of Mt. Kantaka on your right hand side, descend to the valley pass a few herder the camping site just before the Yurutse village. Overnight at camp.

DAY 11: YURUTSE-RUMBAK VILLAGE-B.C. OF STOK-LA (4200M) 5-6 HRS TREK:
After breakfast commence trek to Stok Base, en route visit the Rumbak Village. visit some local houses. Further trekking to Base of Stok La. Overnight at camp.

DAY 12: B.C. STOK LA-OVER PASS (4780M)-STOK VILLAGE (3580M) 7-8 HRS TREK:
You shall start early as the trail rises gradually in the beginning and then turns in to similar zigzag fashion as it was on the approach of Kongmaru La & Ganda La. Arrive at the top and then descend to the valley turn left along the river, on arrival at Stok village pitch the tent for overnight.

DAY 13: STOK VILLAGE-LEH : (DRIVE)
After breakfast visit the Stok Museum cum monastery. later drive to Leh, 1 hrs. On arrival check in hotel for overnight. Rest of the time visit local market.

DAY 14: LEH:
After breakafast commence monasteries sightseeing, visit Alchi, Likir, Phyang and Spituk. Overnight at hotel.

DAY 15: LEH-DEHLI :
Early in the morning transfer to Leh airport board flight to Delhi ETD 0700 hrs. Upon arrival meet to our representative, drive to your hotel, Full day local sightseeing of Delhi visit Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Gandhi Memorial and Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple. After fare well dinner transfer to International airport. End the services.

Price Includes :
*05 Nights Hotel on Bed & Breakfast Basis / 09 Nights Two Men Mountain Tent with all meals.
*Hotel/ Tent on Twin Sharing Basis
*While in Delhi A/C transportation. Leh-Ladakh Non A/C local Jeeps. (04 Pax in a Jeep)
*Local English Speaking Guide Delhi Sightseeing/ E.S. Leh -Ladakh Local Guide cum Trek Manager for entire trip.
*Mule or Donkey carrying camping gear during the trek (Maximum 20km per clients, personal baggage)/ Camping staff as cook, assistance, and camp boy.

Price Does Not Includes :
*Any personal clothing such as sleeping bags, warm cloths etc.
*Any Local or International airfare or airport tax
*All presently applicable taxes
*Expense of Personal Expense.
*Monument entrance
*Any Tip, any other expense not mentioned in the price includes.
*Any insurance or claim due to natural calamities such as land slide, road blockage etc.

MARKHA VALLEY TREKKING OPTION TWO ::

DETAILED ITINERARY

The most popular in Ladakh, this trek traverses mountain passes to isolated villages and monastic settlements in the fantastically lit lunar landscape of the Markha Valley. The trail climbs past ancient monasteries to the pastel alpine meadows of Nimaling in the shadow of Kangyatze Peak. From here we ascend to the Kongmaru La (5,150 meters, the highest point on the trek) with its impressive views of the Karakorums and K2. The trail ends at Hemis where we spend the night and visit the monastery. We meet our vehicles in the morning for the ride back to Leh.

DAY 01:
Spituk - Zingchen (4-5 hours) In the early morning hours we will go by jeep to Spituk, where horses will be waiting to carry our equipment. The trek will begin along an old jeep road into a parched and exposed region, so water and sunscreen are absolutely vital! After plodding through the shattered land we will enter the lush Zingchen Valley, where the Rumbak River flows into the mighty Indus. Further into the valley lies our campsite, in the two-house hamlet of Zingchen (meaning 'big field').

DAY 02:
Zingchen - Ganda La base (3-4 hours) Today we will enter Hemis National Park where we may be fortunate to glimpse wildlife. The National park homes snow leopard, lynx, Ladakhi Urial (a type of goat), arghali (great Tibetan sheep), Bharal (blue sheep), red fox, Tibetan wolf, dhole (wild dog), marmot and mountain hare. After paying the entrance fee, we will climb gradually through a beautiful gorge before reaching the valley leading to the village of Rumbak. Here we will stop at a tented teahouse run by women from the village. After a cup of warm tea we will continue past the house of Yuruche before reaching camp at the base of Ganda La (4545m). From our campsite there are spectacular views of Stok Kangri and the whole Stok range.

DAY 03:
Ganda La base - Skiu via Ganda La 6-7 hours After a light breakfast, we will begin our 2-hour ascent towards Ganda La (4900m). The usual chorten and prayer flags mark the top of the pass, where one may see blue sheep, marmots and arghali roaming the hills around. Views of the lofty Zanskar Range and the distant Himalaya Range are great as well. After a short rest, we will make a gradual descent to Shingo and break for lunch. We will finish the day by hiking for 2-hours through a spectacular gorge before making camp at Skiu (3300m). Within this idyllic village lies an old monastery and ruins of an old castle, once a rest stop for the Royal family on their way to Srinagar.

DAY 04:
Skiu - Markha (7-8 hours) Following the Markha River, we will hike through the lovely valley on a fairly level path. The trail crosses the river at various points, and passes winter settlements that contain Lhatos (religious shrines for local deities) and Mani walls (stones inscribed with Buddhist prayers). During peak season a number of tented teahouses will be open for refreshment. Markha (3800m) is the largest village in the valley, consisting of around 20 houses, an old monastery and a ruined fort.

DAY 05:
Markha - Thachungtse (5-6 hours) The Markha valley trail continues pass old stone-mills, a ruined castle and the auspicious monastery of Techa, which proudly perches upon a cliff that looms above Markha. The path then intersects the river several times before cutting through the last hamlets in the valley. After leaving the village of Umlung, we will be afforded our first view of mighty Mt. Kang Yatse (6400m), which will stay in sight until we cross Kongmaru La. After we break for lunch in the village of Hangkar (the last one in the valley), we will continue onward to the lovely green pasture of Thachungste (4100m), where we will make camp.


DAY 06:
Thachungtse - Nimaling 4 hours Today the trail will lead us up to the beautiful plateau of Nimaling, where the people of the Markha Valley bring their herds to graze during the summer months. At 4700m, Nimaling is the highest camp (4600m) on the trek, giving us spectacular views of the huge peak of Kang Yatse to the right.

DAY 07:
Nimaling - Shangsumdo via Kongmaru La (7 hours) After a hearty breakfast, we will cross Kongmaru La (5200m), the highest pass on the trek, and from here we will have a wonderful view of the Indus Valley and Ladakh Range. The descent is quite steep, but will gradually level out as we enter Shang Gorge, with its fascinating rock formations. More river crossings bar our way before we arrive at the sour-spring of Chuskurmo (used in traditional medicine by the Amchi doctors). Camp overnight in Shang Sumdo.

DAY 08:
Shangsumdo - Leh via Martselang We will enjoy a pleasant 2-hour walk along a jeep road to Martselang, where the jeep will pick us up. On the way to Leh, it will be possible to visit some of the great monasteries of Ladakh such as Thikse, Hemis and Shey.