Passing through beautiful Markha valley, overshadowed by Kangyatse and Stok Kangri, this is one of the most exciting treks in Ladakh region. En route you pass by numerous small villages, monasteries, green oasis and shepherds camps
Trek Region: Ladakh – Indian Himalayas.
Best Season for trekking : June to September
Total Duration: 15 Days
Trekking days: 9
Trek grade: Moderate
Max altitude: 5100 m
Detailed Itinerary: –
Day 01: Arrive Delhi – Met on arrival at Delhi and transferred to your hotel for overnight stay.
Day 02: Delhi – Leh – Early in the morning, you will be transferred to airport to board your flight to Leh. Passing over many Himalayan mountain ranges, this Trans Himalayan flight is one of the most spectacular and breathtaking flights in the world. You are advised to take rest during the day for high altitude acclimatization. In the afternoon, proceed for short sightseeing of Shankar monastery and Shanti Stupa. Walk back to your hotel through busy and colourful Leh Bazar.
Day 03: Leh – Enjoy full day sightseeing of monasteries of Indus valley. Visit Hemis Monastery – built on a hillside surrounded by spectacular mountains, Hemis is the biggest and the most important monastery in Ladakh. This wealthiest monastery contains gold statues and stupas decorated with precious stones and many priceless old Thankas. Also visit Thiksey Gompa – one of the most imposing monasteries belonging to the 15th century, the monastery belongs to Gelugpa order (Yellow sect). Before returning to your hotel, visit the beautiful Shey Monastery – a former Royal Palace. There is a 17.5 m / 58 ft high blue haired Maitreya Buddha of copper, brass gilded and studded with precious gemstones.
Day 04: Leh – Spituk – Jingchen (Trek starts. Night stay in tented camps)- Drive to Spituk in the morning. Spituk is one of the starting points for Markha Valley trek. Here you will meet your trekking crew and horsemen. Visit Spituk Monastery and start your first day trek to Jingchen. It is important that you take today slowly in order that you acclimatise well. Cross the bridge over the Indus River and continue along an undulating path following the left hand bank of the Indus until it meets with the Jingchan River.
Day 05: Jingchen – Rumbak – Initially follow the river which flows from Stok Kangri (6121 m / 20082 ft) then trek gradually up to the camp near Rumbak. Rumbak is situated about 1 km below Ganda La Pass (4820 m / 15814 ft).
Day 06: Rumbak Ganda La – Shingo – Follow a good path along the right hand side of the valley, through Yurutse (4180 m / 13710 ft) then take the right hand fork in the path and ascend up to yak pastures where there are Buddhist chortens (shrines). Trek steeply up to Ganda La Pass (4800 m / 15748 ft). If conditions permit, you may wish to climb higher from the pass. There is then a long, easy descent down to Shingo where you will camp for the night.
Day 07: Shingo – Skiu – Trek south through a narrow gorge. You will have to cross the same river several times for about 2 hrs until you reach the Markha River. This confluence is marked by Skiu Gompa (3380 m / 11090 ft). Start heading east along the river for about 1km until you reach Skiu village where you will camp for the night.
Day 08: Skiu – Markha – Continue to follow the river along the stunning valley to Markha. You will pass through the little settlement of Chaluk (3620 m / 11875 ft) before descending into the valley floor. Ascend briefly up to the pretty town of Markha where there is an impressive Gompa and derelict fort. Camp here near the river.
Day 09: Markha – Nimaling – Leave the campsite at Markha and head up to the main valley. You will have to cross the river a number of times. Pass the monastery of Humlung (3850 m / 12630 ft) which you could stop to visit and also look out for Kang Yatse Peak (6400 m / 21000 ft). Pass through the Hankar settlement (3980 m / 13057 ft) which is one of the highest settlements in the Markha Valley. The valley will start to narrow and increase in altitude before one final river crossing taking you to the pastures at Nimaling where you will spend the night.
Day 10: Nimaling – Rest day to aid acclimatisation before crossing the second pass. Mt Kang Yatse dominates the background of this beautiful pasture of Nimaling.
Day 11: Nimaling – Kangmaru La – Churikimo – Trek over Gongmaru La Pass at 5100 m / 16730 ft. The pass will be marked by numerous prayer flags and you will be able to look onto the spectacular views of the Ladakh and Zanskar Ranges to the north and south. Descend down on other side of the pass into the Indus Valley. The trek descends steeply through a narrow gorge before opening near a hot spring at Churikimo – our camp site for today.
Day 12: Churikomo – Hemis – Leh – There is a clear track which you can follow along the valley and over a bridge into Shang Sumdo village (3450 m / 11318 ft). Drive back to Leh for a well deserved rest!
Day 13: Leh – Day at leisure. You can spend the day exploring Leh town
Day 14: Delhi – Leh – Early morning, you will be transferred to airport to board your return flight to Delhi. Met on arrival and transferred to your hotel for overnight stay. Remainder of the day at leisure. (Optional: You can visit monuments of Delhi in the afternoon on direct payment)
Day 15: Depart Delhi – Transfer to airport in time for your departure for onward destination.
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