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Markha Valley Trek - Ladakh Himalayas

A feast of scenic and ethnic diversity, the Markha Valley Trek is one of the Ladakh's classic treks, a rugged high-altitude hiking on Stok range. Begin the Trek at the famous trailhead at Hemis Monastery. Along the way we pass prayer flags rippling silently in the fresh wind, and walk into small green valleys, greeted by cheery herders.

We cross three passes including Kongmaru La (5150 Mts.), higher than two others' to reach the Markha valley south of Leh.

Many named & un-named peaks in the altitude range of 5500 Mts. To 6400 Mts. makes the great amphitheater. We start our trek at Martselang & end our trek at the village of Stok.

Day-To-Day Itinerary

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Total no. of days : 17
Best time : Mid June till Mid September

Day 01 Arrive Delhi:

Arrive at New Delhi’s international airport a representative will be waiting for you outside the EXIT gate of arrival terminal, holding a name placard. Met upon arrival and transfer to your hotel for overnight stay. Overnight at Hotel

Day 02 Delhi – Leh (3650 Mts.) (Flight) 9W 609 D: 0540 A: 0655

AM: Departure transfer to New Delhi airport to board Flight 9W 609 at 0540 to Leh. Met upon arrival at Leh airport and transfer to your hotel. Rest of the day at leisure for acclimatization Overnight at Hotel

Day 03 Leh

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AM: Free for acclimatization. PM: Begin your tour with short visits and walks to nearby monasteries and Leh palace. Today you shall walk to Sankar Gompa, an easy couple of kilometres walk north of the town centre, this Gompa belongs to Gelukpa order and has an impressive representation of the Buddhist deity of compassion, Avalokiteshvara (or Chenresig), complete with 1000 arms and 1000 heads. Later on drive to Shanti Stupa, built by a Japanese order whose intention is to spread Buddhism by building temples through out the world. This stupa is located at commanding height and gives great views and excellent orientation of Leh and surroundings. Continue driving to Namgyal Tsemo Hill, built in 1430, contains a fine three storey-high Buddha image, ancient manuscripts and frescos.

Day 04 Leh – Visit to Shey, Thiksey & Hemis

Leh is an excellent base for excursions to several nearby monasteries and other worthwhile points of interest. Morning proceed for a full day sightseeing of Shey, Thiksey and Hemis.

Shey- the fifteenth century summer palace and monastery that belongs to the royal family of Leh. The monastery famous for its 30 feet taal, copper gilt statue of a meditating Sakyamuni, called Shey Thubha (Lord Buddha). The nearby Victory Stupa, Ladakh’s largest, is crowned in pure gold.

Thiksey- Set atop a hill this 800 years old Gompa offers a panoramic view of the fertile Indus Valley. The Gompa has numerous chambers, including one hall with a recently constructed enormous 2 Storey high, painted clay statue of Maitreya in the meditation pose.

Hemis- Built in the 1600s by the King Singe Namgyal, this monastery is an imposing architectural tour de-force – one that hits your suddenly. Prayer flags fluttering from tall pillars in the courtyard wave you forward. Hemis also famous for gold statues, stupas studded with precious stones, and the great collection of Thangkas, including one claimed to be the largest in existence, exhibited once every 11 years

Overnight at Hotel

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Day 05 Leh – Martselang (Drive 1 Hour)

Morning at leisure to do your own things, after a leisurely lunch at your hotel you shall drive to the Trek head at Martselang, where you shall spent your first night in camps.

Overnight in Tents

BEGIN TREKKING

Day 06 Martselang – Chogdo (3956 Meters) (Trek 5-6 Hours)

After a leisurely breakfast at your camps in Martselang you shall start trekking, late in the morning at about 0900 hrs 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.

Overnight in Tents

Day 07 Chogdo – Churkimo (4300 Meters)

(Trek 5-6 Hours): In the beginning the trail shall pass through some spectacular gorges, and then shall rise gradually for a couple hours before it takes a steep ascent to reach the campsite at the base of Kongmaru La. Overnight in Tents

Day 08 Churkimo – Kongmaru La (5150 Meters) – Nimaling (4268 Meters) (Trekking 6-7 Hours)

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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 ridgeline shall offer you great views of Mt. Kang Yatze. Nimaling is also going to be the highest camp on your trek.

Overnight in Tents

Day 09 Nimaling – Hankar – Markha (3650 Meters) (Trekking 5-6 Hours)

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 10 Markha (Rest Day)

Today is going to be the only rest day on this trek, you shall have an opportunity for bathing, washing and exploring the Markha Village. Overnight in Tents

Day 11 Markha – Skiu (3567 Meters) (Trekking 5-6 Hours)

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 12 Skiu – Shingo (3450 Meters) (Trekking 4-5 Hours)

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 13 Shingo – Ganda La (4900 Meters) - Rumbak (Trekking 6-7 Hours)

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 homes and then turn right and continue trekking through the village of Rumbak.

Overnight in Tents

Day 14 Rumbak – Stok La (4700 Meters) – Stok (Trekking 6-7 Hours)

Stok – Leh (Driving, 30 Minutes): 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, follow broad Jeep Able route before arriving at the pick up point at the village of Stok. Board the mechanized transport and arrive at Leh, to check into your hotel, rest of the evening will be at leisure.

Day 15 Leh

Today we shall visit the monasteries of Chemrey and Tak Tak

Tak - Tak: The main shrine here is a cave in which the apostle Padmasambhava is said to have meditated during his epic 8th century journey to Tibet. Blackened over the years by sticky but ter-lamp and incense smoke, the dark and mysterious grotto is now somewhat upstaged by the monastery's more modern wings nearby. As well as some spectacular thirty-year-old wall paintings, the Urgyan Photan Du-khang harbours a collection of multicoloured yak butter candle sculptures made by the head lama

For a glimpse of "State of the art" Buddhist iconography, head to the top of Thak Thok village, where a shiny new temple houses a row of huge gleaming Buddhas, decked out in silk robes and surrounded by garish modern murals.

Chemrey: Clinging like a swallow's nest to the sides of a shaly conical hill, the magnificent Gompa of Chemrey sees very few visitors because of its location - tucked up the side valley that runs from Karu, below Hemis, to the Chang-la pass into Pangong Tso.

Founded in 1664 as a memorial to King Sengge Namgyal, the monastery is staffed by a dwindling community of around twenty Drugpa monks and their young novices. It’s set of ancient Tibetan texts whose title pages are illuminated with opulent gold and silver calligraphy. Upstairs in the revamped Guru-La-Khang, reached via several flights of rickety wooden steps, sits a giant brass statue of Padmasambhava (founder of the Nyingmapa school), swatched in silk brocade and encrusted with semi precious stones. Its murals, painted in the early 1980s, are the work of an artist from Nimmu village

Evening: Special Ladakhi cultural show with Ladakhi Dinner & Chaang, the local brew at the hotel. Overnight at Hotel

Day 16: Leh – Delhi (Flight) 9W 610 (0730-0845)

Departure transfer to board the flight for Delhi, met upon arrival at New Delhi airport and transfer to your hotel. Later proceed for a half day Delhi Sight Seeing. Overnight at Hotel

Day 17 Delhi

In time transfer to International Airport to board the Homeward Flight.

Cost – Markha Valley Trek – 17 days

Hotels envisaged in the cost:

The given cost includes:

• Hotel accommodation in Delhi on twin sharing room plus breakfast basis and at rest of the places on twin sharing full board basis.
• Air-conditioned car for arrival/ departure transfers and sightseeing in Delhi.
• Non air-conditioned jeep for overland safaris, sightseeing, excursion and drip and pick up during the trek in Leh.
• English speaking local guide during the sightseeing in Delhi and local Buddhist English speaking guide in Leh.
• English speaking accompanied escort / trek guide during the trek.
• All trek arrangements on full board basis.
• Services of a cook, camp boy, porters during the trek to carry the camping gear and personal luggage of clients.
• All camping gear including sleeping tents, toilet tents, kitchen tents and dinning tents.
• All trek permits and nature conservation fee.
• Monument and monastery entrances during sightseeing.
• Assistance on arrival and departure.
• All applicable taxes including 4.89% service tax.

The given cost does not include:

• Any air fare and airport tax.
• Any kind of personal, medical and evacuation insurance.
• Expenses of personal nature like table drinks, phone calls, tips, laundry etc.
• Personal clothing, trek gear and sleeping bags.

Note :

• Accommodation will be provided in mentioned hotels or of same category.
• Air fare is subject to change.