Markha Valley Trek in Ladakh

Destinations: Ladakh
Trip Duration: 14 Days
Best Time: June to Oct
Grade: Moderate
Altitude: 5150 mts / 16892 ft
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Markha Valley Trek in Ladakh

Day by Day Details Itinerary

DAY 01 : Arrive in Leh.
Morning transfer to domestic airport to catch flight for leh, arrive leh receive by our local representative and drive to hotel. Day free for acclamitization. Night stay at leh.

Day 02:  Sightseeing in Leh
Visit Shey, Thiksay and Hemis monastery with stop over at SOS and Mahabodhi Scholl overnight and dinner in hotel.

Day 03: Excurion to Lamayuru and Alchi
Full day excursion to Alchi and Lamayuru monastery and back to Leh dinner and overnight in hotel.

DAY 04 : DRIVE TO SPITOK, TREK TO ZINCHEN (3,530m) 5-6 hours.
Morning drive to Spituk visit the monastery, Our trek begins from Spitok by crossing a bridge and walking south-west of the River Indus. The trail passes through barren countryside for about 3 hours until the Indus enters a narrow gorge at its confluence with the Zinchen. From here the trail climbs steadily through the Rumbak Valley, which is lined with trees, providing sufficient shade for a rest stop, before we reach the tiny village of Zinchen, which consists of just 4 or 5 houses. Camp overnight.

DAY 05 : TREK TO YURUTSE. (3530-4,180m). 5/6 hrs.
The trail from Zinchen ascends gradually all the way along the Rumbak Nala until you reach Rumbak, the largest village in the Zinchen Valley. If the fields are cultivated you may have to ford the river a few times up to Rumbak junction. We then follow the well-marked trail on the left bank of the Rumbak Nala, passing cultivated fields and scattered houses until we enter a side valley leading to the south. Further trek on along the river until you reach Rumbak where you can see the snow capped peaks of the Stok mountains. Here you take the right fork of the river and continue a gradual ascend towards Yurutse, where the villagers grow Barlay, Potatoes and some green vegetables. Near the village are some impressive purple and green rock formations. Camp overnight.

DAY 06 : TREK TO SHINGO. (4180-4985mt). 6 to 7 hrs.
Today we follow the trail beside the river until the valley widens at Rumbak. After 10 minutes walk from the camp you have to cross the river to the right hand side. Here you can see Golden Eagle nests up in the rocks. We make an early start today to ascend the Gangala pass (4985 mts). You can have a spectacular view of Stok Kangri massif from Gandala top on a clear day. From here descend to Shingo for overnight camping.

DAY 07 : TREK TO SKIU. (4985-3660m). 5-6 hrs.
Immediately after we leave camp, a gradual ascent followed by a steep climb gets us to the Kundu La (4906m). From the pass there is a fabulous view of white-fringed mountains merging into the distant ranges of the Karakoram. The trail descends steadily to the head of the Skiu Valley, where a number of rivulets join to form a small stream. The broad grassy shoulders of the upper valley narrow sharply to the pinched waist at Sumdo, with its few houses and fields at the junction of a small stream with the Skiu Nala. From here the river swoops exuberantly down a tight, narrow gorge, choked with willow and wild roses, and we follow the trail as it leaps from bank to bank all the way to the village of Skiu on the banks of the Lower Markha. You enter the village confronted by towering rock faces. Since Skiu is only at about 3660m and the Markha Valley is quite narrow, the temperature is higher here.

DAY 08 : TREK TO MARKHA (3660-3200 MTS).Cross the river and trek upto the Markha village. It is the longest valley. A beautiful oasisterraced green fields and small irrigation canals. At dusk just as the evening shadows begin to envelop the valley, it is worth walking along the trail where the Skiu Nala meets the Markha to visit a small monastery. This is cared for by an old nun, who comes every morning and evening to light the butter lamps at the altar of Chamba - the Future Buddha. Camp overnight.

DAY 09 : TREK TO THACHUNGTSE. (4100m). 4-5 hrs.A very pleasant walk up one of the loveliest sections of the Markha valley. Woody bushes grow thickly along the river, which is spanned by several bridges over which the trail marches to Thinlespa village and further to Hankar village from where we get a goog view of Gyalpo-Ri peak. The camp is beyond this small village on the bank of the river. Camp overnight.

DAY 10 : TREK TO NIMALING. (3500-4,800m). 3-4 hrs.The trail climbs steadily up the now narrow valley, past villages smaller and seemingly poorer than those in the lower areas. The Nimaling plain is a broad undulating meadow, sloping upwards to the base of the ice-clad Kang Yatse, 21,500ft/6,553m, which dominates the area. Nimaling with tiny ponds and rivulets flowing all over its meadows provides pasturage in the summer for an astonishing number of animals; yaks, sheep, goats, dzos and horses, not only from the Markha, but also from villages all around. Himalayan marmots and white-tailed hares are seen in plenty and it is not unusual to spot the occasional blue sheep or wolf. Camp overnight.

DAY 11 : REST DAY.A chance to relax at Nimaling and enjoy & explore the superb scenery and surroundings. There is the chance to walk to the base camp of Kang Yatze, the highest peak in the Zanskar range, 6,553m. Camp overnight.

DAY 12 : CROSS PASS, TREK TO SHANG. (4800-3600m). 7-8 hrs.Crossing to the north of the Markha, climb to the top of the highest of the three passes the 5,400m Kangmaru La with its wonderful views from the top. Snow peaks in every direction and on a clear day the giants of the Karakoram,  can be seen on the north-western horizon. The trail descends steeply to the head of the Martselang valley past the sulphur springs of Chyushkarmo, and follows the Martselang stream to the village of Sumdo or Shang-Sumdo, at the confluence of the Shang Nala and the Martselang. Camp overnight.

DAY 13 : TREK TO MARTSELANG. DRIVE TO LEH 3-4 hrs trek.
Today you make an easy descent mainly along the left bank of the Martselang to where it broadens into the valley of the Indus at the village of Martselang. Transport will be waiting here for the 2-hr drive to Leh. Overnight at Hotel.

DAY 14 : LEH - DELHI.
Transfer to Leh airport to catch flight for Delhi,

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