Markha Valley Trek

Markha Valley Trek

(Duration 18 days / Grade Moderate)
Best Seson: June-September

Places to Visit: Delhi - Leh -Alchi - Lamayuru - Likir - Kilchay - Yurutse - Skiu - Thinlespa - Hankar - Nimaling - Sumdo - Martselang - Leh - delhi Agra - Delhi.

Day 1. Arrive Delhi

Arrive Delhi. Met upon arrival and transfer to hotel for overnight stay.

Day 2. Delhi - Leh, flight

Transfer to domestic airport in the early hours of morning to board flight for Leh. Arrive Leh and transfer to hotel. At leisure to acclimatize to the rarefied atmosphere of the Ladakh valley. Overnight hotel.

Day 3. Leh

Full day sightseeing of Leh town and surrounding areas in Jeep. Visit Leh Palace, Namgyal Peak, Shanti Pagoda, Stok Palace and Museum and Shankar Gompa. Overnight hotel.

Day 4. Leh - Rafting - Alchi

Enjoy River rafting from Phey to Nimu followed by packed lunch. Drive to Alchi and visit Alchi Monastery. Overnight tented accommodation / hotel on the banks of River Indus in a scenic setting.

Day 5. Alchi - Lamayuru - Likir - Leh

Drive to Lamayuru and Likir Monastery. Drive along the river Indus to Leh town. Overnight hotel.

Day 6. Leh

At leisure in Leh. Option to stay in local house. Religious talks by Lama can be included in the itinerary if requested in advance.By now you are fully acclimatized to the altitude and ready to go on the Markha Valley Trek. This particular outdoors gives the opportunity to explore the heartland of the central Ladakh Valley. It involves crossing of the three passes Stok La (4848 mtrs)., Kagmaru La ( 5247 mtrs.), Gandla (4878 mtrs)., and walking on the banks of the Markha River. The highlight of the trip is the camping at the base of the Kang Yutze Peak on the plains of Nimaling.

Day 7., Leh To Kilchay ( 4116 mtrs.)

Drive to the Stok village trekking point; cross over the village on higher section keeping the left bank of the Stok Nallah walk in the south-west direction. Cross over the flood plains of the Stok valley enter the Gorge and climb the ruins of the Styang-la- Khar fort walking time is one and half hour to two hours. Lunch break in the ruined fortress. Climb uphill the cirque to reach Kilchay travelling time approx. 3 to 4 hours. Overnight at Kilchay.

Day 8. Kilchay - Yurutse ( 3844 mtrs.), approx. 8 hrs. trek

Climb up hill the Stok -La ( 4900 mtrs.), follow the complicated trail winding in knots on the ridge, near the crest. Descend in the Rumbak valley, try skill on the Scree, arrival of Chortens announces the village in vicinity. Lunch break on the Rumbak Nallah. Cross the Rumbak village. Walk in the south -west direction along the Jingchan Nallah cross the bridge to the right side and follow uphill th edry Nallah. Yurutse destination for to night is a small habitation not more than a joint family. Overnight camp at Yurutse.

Day 9. Yurutse - Skiu ( 3300 mtrs.), approx. 8 hrs. trek

Cross the village, and follow the trail in the north direction valley being separated by the purple band or rock. Observe the contrast in the physical features to the Leh town and surroundings. Move in the south-west direction and by the time you ascend to Gandala Pass must have almost gained the height by approx. 900 mtrs. Lunch break at Gandala with magnificent views of the Stok range and the Zanskar range. Descend down hill inside the Shingri Nallah walk in the spectacular gorge with beautiful coloured and the eroded landscapes. Here the vegetation is of willow groves and the Seabuck thorn that caters enough of shade from the Sun. The tiny Skiu village entrance is dominate by the towering rock faces. They are simply awe inspiring in the evening. Visit the Gompa on top of the cliff on western side of the village.

Day 10. Skiu - Thiniespa ( 3536 mtrs.), aprox. 6 hrs. trek

The trail to the Markha River is not too strenuous, for the initial part-then youwalk through the thorny scrubs. Almost traveling after nine kilometers there is a wooden bridge high above the river cross onto the left bank in South direction. Cross the Hamlet that falls on the way after a steep slope, took out for the path that veers out in the South west direction cutting through the crumbly cliffs and then ascend the hilltop to reach the destination for tonight. This Thinlespa, a tiny village with very basic dwellings. Overnight in the Thinlespa.

Day 11. Thinlespa - Hankar ( 3963 mtrs.), aprox. 6-7 hrs. trek

Climbing east, you reach the picturesque Markha village. As you approach the village, you can catch a glimpse of the snow covered slopes of Kang-Yutze(6400 mtrs.) in the distance. The monasteries in the village are definitely worth a visit. There is also the ruined fort whose walls climb sharply up a crag. Lunch break at the track from Rubering La, one of the routes to Zang La. The approach to Hankar is through a wonderful level walk with the towering peak of Kang-Yutze standing over the valley. The ruined outline of the Hankar Gompa is a lovely sight, merging beautifully with rocky ridge on which it sits. Overnight camp in Hankar.

Day 12. Hankar - Nimaling ( 4878 mtrs.) aprox. 8hrs. trek.

Follow the trail to Nimaling which heads up the North bank of Nimaling Chu through a gateway formed by large rock buttresses. Lunch break in the meadows of Nimaling with a beautiful backdrop of the picturesque Kang-Yutze peak. Explore this fascinating valley. It is a beautiful and remote place to camp and spend some time relaxing in the afternoon . Be warned that weather can be quite tricky and you have to be prepared for unseasonal snow in case weather deteriorates. Overnight camp at Nimaling.

Day 13. Nimaling - Sumdo ( 5274 mtrs.), aprox 6 hrs trek.

Cross the Kangmaru La, the highest pass of the trek, on the East Side of thevalley opposite Kang-Yutze. As you climb the last slope to the top, there are good views over the Zanskar range and the vertical ice walls on the North face of Kang-Yutxe. Now you are ready for a steep descends down a difficult slope into the Martselang valley. Lunch break at the Sulfur springs of Chyushkarmo. Follow the Martselang stream into the lovely village of Sumdo. Overnight camp at the confluence of the Shang River and the Martselang stream.

Day 14. Sumdo - Martselang ( 3400 mtrs.) - Leh, aprox 3-4 hrs. trek

Today is easy. Walk along and 8 km stretch, following the Jeep track along the Martselang stream. This broadens into the valley of River Indus at the Martselang village. At the end of tiring but exhilarating 8 days, hot lunch will be served before setting off for Leh town in waiting vehicles. The drive into Leh will be aprox. 2 hours long.

Day 15. Leh -Delhi

Early morning drive to Leh airport for flight to Delhi. Arrive Delhi and transfer to hotel for overnight stay.

Day 16. Delhi - Agra - Delhi

Early morning transfer to railway station to catch the train Shatabdi Express for Agra. Arrive Agra and proceed for morning sightseeing of Fatehpur Sikri the deserted city. Lunch at local resturant. Afternoon sightseeing of the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort. Evening free for visit shops and later transfer to railway station to catch the train for Delhi. Arrive Delhi and transfer to international airport to board flight for onward journey.