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Ladakh: Markha Valley Trek

 

From: $2,460 per person, double 

10 Days | 9 Nights

Ladakh, the land of many passes’, with its awesome landscapes, breathtaking vistas, villages and charming people, is flanked by two of the world’s mightiest mountain ranges, the Great Himalayas and the Karakoram, the perfect setting for an unforgettable trek.

 

Certified, English speaking trek manager

All land transportaion

Sightseeing by English speaking, Ladakhi guide

All trekking and camping arrangements

All meals

Special visit to SOS Palace, summer residence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Notes:

This trek is 10 days, with arrival in Leh on Day 1 and departure on Day 10 with 6 days of trekking. Average trekking time per day is about 4 – 7 hours. This is a moderate to strenuous grade trek in a high altitude enivornment which requires good trekking stamina. Participants must be physically fit and should feel comfortable tackling full-day outings on consecutive days.

The best time of year to experince the trek is mid June – mid September. 

 

Day 1: Leh

This morning board your flight from Delhi to Leh. On arrival in Leh, you will be met by a Sky Vacations ambassador who will assist you and transfer you to the hotel.  The balance of the day is at at leisure , giving you time to acclimatize to the enviornment. 

Day 2: Leh

After breakfast, you’ll proceed for a visit to Shey Palace and Stok Place.

Shey Palace was built in 1645 by Deldan Namgyal as a summer residence for the kings of Ladakh. It is the oldest palace in Ladakh and above the palace is an even older, ruined fortress.

Stok Palace is the present residence of the royal family of Ladakh. The palace was built in 1825. The palace has an impressive collection of royal costumes, old thankas (tapestries) and even the king’s crown! On the way back to the hotel, we visit the SOS village the home for Tibetan Refugees.

SOS village houses a school, clinic and a craft shop and also has a lovely, two story, golden roof and is the summer residence of His Holiness The Dalai Lama. Enjoy lunch at the hotel followed by a walk up to Shanti Stupa for a panoramic view of Leh town.

Day 3: Leh

Wake up early morning for a visit to Thikse monastery to experience the prayer ceremony.

Thiksey Gompa is the most picturesquely situated monastery in Ladakh perched high on a hill above the Indus River. Its buildings are arranged at various levels, leading up to the private apartments of the incarnate lamas on the summit. 

Return to hotel for breakfast. After breakfast, we drive to Saboo village with a picnic lunch for an acclimatization hike in the area. This afternoon, we return to the hotel for a day to unwind or stroll the area on your own.

Day 4: Leh – Chilling – Skiu

Enjoy an earl breakfast followed by a drive to Chilling with picnic lunch.

Chilling is a small village of craftsmen, who work with metals like copper, tin, silver and make ladles, local liquor pots (tchang), tea pots etc. Upon arrival in Chilling, we cross the Zanskar River over a bridge and continue the drive stopping for en-route for a visit to Kara Monastary, before arriving to Skiu village- the entry point to Markha valley and our first camping site for the night.

Day 5: Skiu – Markha 

This is a beautiful section of the Markha Valley. The day is fairly long but relatively easy, as our trail goes upwards steadily to Markha. En route, we pass a shrine at the meeting of a canyon with the Markha Valley. You see prayer flags at the shrine which are said to protect the spirits of one valley from those of the other. The trail continues steadily upwards to Markha where we will spend the night.

Day 6: Markha – Thachungtse

Today, we start our trek towards Thachungtse, our camping site for the day. It’s an easy walk over a rugged trail carved into the sheer walls of the Markha canyon.

En route we pass Umalung village (4030 m/ 13,220 ft) and a farmers’ village called Hankar (4030 m/ 13,220 ft). As we follow the trail, landscape changes from wooded sections in the lower valley to a starker landscape past Umalung. 

Day 7: Thachungtse – Nimaling

Today our trek to Nimaling includes 2-3 hours of hard trekking through a narrow valley to reach the top, from where we get a 360 degree panoramic view of snow capped peaks. After stopping here for a bit of rest,  we descend into the Nimaling plain, our second last camping site on this trek. The Nimaling plain is a broad undulating meadow with slopes to the base of the ice-clad Kang Yatse peak (20,990 ft).

Nimaling is the grazing ground for animals such as yaks, dzos, sheep, goats and horses from villages all around. Here Himalayan marmots and white-tailed hares can be seen in plenty and occasionally one can spot a blue-sheep or a wolf.

Day 8: Nimaling – Kongmaru La – Churkimo

Today after breakfast, it’s a 2-hr hard trek to Kongmaru La (5275 m/ 17,300 ft), the highest pass on this trek but the view from the top more than makes up for the hard work. After spending some time at the top enjoying the magnificent views, we descend on the other side of the valley to reach Churkimo village, our last camping site on this trek.

Day 9: Churkimo – Shang Sumdo – Leh

Today after breakfast, we continue to follow the trail downhill to Shang village (12,040 ft), which is our finishing point on this trail. On arrival at Shang village we board our waiting vehicle and drive back to Leh. The balance of today is yours to unwind and contemplate your amazing journey. 

Day 10: Leh

Transfer to the airport for your onward flight.

LOCATION NUMBER OF NIGHTS ACCOMMODATION
Leh 4 Ladakh Sarai
On Trek 5 Mobile Camping Sites

 

Prices are land only per person based on double occupancy. Restrictions apply. For our complete terms and conditions, click here.

Certified, English speaking trek manager

All land transportaion 

Sightseeing by English speaking, Ladakhi guide

All trekking and camping arrangements

All meals

Special visit to SOS Palace, summer residence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Note:  

This trek is 10 days, with arrival in Leh on Day 1 and departure on Day 10 with 6 days of trekking. Average trekking time per day is about 4 – 7 hours. This is a moderate to strenuous grade trek in a high altitude enivornment which requires good trekking stamina. Participants must be physically fit and should feel comfortable tackling full-day outings on consecutive days.

 

 

Day 1: Leh

This morning board your flight from Delhi to Leh. On arrival in Leh, you will be met by a Sky Vacations ambassador who will assist you and transfer you to the hotel.  The balance of the day is at at leisure , giving you time to acclimatize to the enviornment. 

Day 2: Leh

After breakfast, you’ll proceed for a visit to Shey Palace and Stok Place.

Shey Palace was built in 1645 by Deldan Namgyal as a summer residence for the kings of Ladakh. It is the oldest palace in Ladakh and above the palace is an even older, ruined fortress.

Stok Palace is the present residence of the royal family of Ladakh. The palace was built in 1825. The palace has an impressive collection of royal costumes, old thankas (tapestries) and even the king’s crown! On the way back to the hotel, we visit the SOS village the home for Tibetan Refugees.

SOS village houses a school, clinic and a craft shop and also has a lovely, two story, golden roof and is the summer residence of His Holiness The Dalai Lama. Enjoy unch at the hotel followed by a walk up to Shanti Stupa for a panoramic view of Leh town.

Day 3: Leh

Wake up early morning for a visit to Thikse monastery to experience the prayer ceremony.

Thiksey Gompa is the most picturesquely situated monastery in Ladakh perched high on a hill above the Indus River. Its buildings are arranged at various levels, leading up to the private apartments of the incarnate lamas on the summit. 

Return to hotel for breakfast. After breakfast, we drive to Saboo village with a picnic lunch for an acclimatization hike in the area. This afternoon, we return to the hotel for a day to unwind or stroll the area on your own.

Day 4: Leh – Chilling – Skiu

Enjoy an earl breakfast followed by a drive to Chilling with picnic lunch.

Chilling is a small village of craftsmen, who work with metals like copper, tin, silver and make ladles, local liquor pots (tchang), tea pots etc. Upon arrival in Chilling, we cross the Zanskar River over a bridge and continue the drive stopping for en-route for a visit to Kara Monastary, before arriving to Skiu village- the entry point to Markha valley and our first camping site for the night.

Day 5: Skiu – Markha 

This is a beautiful section of the Markha Valley. The day is fairly long but relatively easy, as our trail goes upwards steadily to Markha. En route, we pass a shrine at the meeting of a canyon with the Markha Valley. You see prayer flags at the shrine which are said to protect the spirits of one valley from those of the other. The trail continues steadily upwards to Markha where we will spend the night.

Day 6: Markha – Thachungtse

Today, we start our trek towards Thachungtse, our camping site for the day. It’s an easy walk over a rugged trail carved into the sheer walls of the Markha canyon.

En route we pass Umalung village (4030 m/ 13,220 ft) and a farmers’ village called Hankar (4030 m/ 13,220 ft). As we follow the trail, landscape changes from wooded sections in the lower valley to a starker landscape past Umalung. 

Day 7: Thachungtse – Nimaling

Today our trek to Nimaling includes 2-3 hours of hard trekking through a narrow valley to reach the top, from where we get a 360 degree panoramic view of snow capped peaks. After stopping here for a bit of rest,  we descend into the Nimaling plain, our second last camping site on this trek. The Nimaling plain is a broad undulating meadow with slopes to the base of the ice-clad Kang Yatse peak (20,990 ft).

Nimaling is the grazing ground for animals such as yaks, dzos, sheep, goats and horses from villages all around. Here Himalayan marmots and white-tailed hares can be seen in plenty and occasionally one can spot a blue-sheep or a wolf.

Day 8: Nimaling – Kongmaru La – Churkimo

Today after breakfast, it’s a 2-hr hard trek to Kongmaru La (5275 m/ 17,300 ft), the highest pass on this trek but the view from the top more than makes up for the hard work. After spending some time at the top enjoying the magnificent views, we descend on the other side of the valley to reach Churkimo village, our last camping site on this trek.

Day 9: Churkimo – Shang Sumdo – Leh

Today after breakfast, we continue to follow the trail downhill to Shang village (12,040 ft), which is our finishing point on this trail. On arrival at Shang village we board our waiting vehicle and drive back to Leh. The balance of today is yours to unwind and contemplate your amazing journey. 

Day 10: Leh

Transfer to the airport for your onward flight.

Prices are land only per person based on double occupancy. Restrictions apply. For our complete terms and conditions, click here.

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