MARKHA VALLEY TREKKING

Morning after a short scenic of an hour flight to Leh from Delhi, on arrival at Leh, Ladakh Kushok Bakula Rimpoche. As you head outside the air terminal, our staff and guide receives you for short drive in the heart of Leh town to your Hotels. Afternoon free at leisure, optional walk to the center of Leh and its market.

At Leh, for acclimatization and for exciting tour at places of interest, Leh has a vast range of main bazaar on the street colorful local fruits and vegetables vendors. The streets are busy with roadside restaurant, cafes and craft shops. The old Leh Palace stands on the top of the high hill overlooking the Leh city and its valley. The white Peace (Shanti) Stupa stands nearby high on hill which is worth a visit for the great views of Leh. The world’s highest Polo ground located beyond the main bus station, rest of the day free at leisure to browse around Leh, Ladakh capital.

Morning after breakfast, a full day tour taking a drive to Hemis, one of the largest and wealthiest monasteries in Ladakh with more than 150 monks; an annual Hemis festival is held. The monastery, stands in a gorge surrounded by mountain scenery, built in 18th Century. On the way back to Leh visit Thiksey Gompa built in 16th Century, situated on a hill top. The monastery enriched with Tibetan-style books, a huge Buddha statue and excellent works of arts.
Last stop on the way back to Leh, tour of ruined Shey Palace once a summer palace of the pre-Tibetan kings. Shey and its fort also known as Lachen Palkar Palace, the massive nine-story stone structure lies at the base of the Tsemo ridge and towers over the old town. Built by King Senge Namgyal during 15th till 17th Centuary in a Tibetan style.
The palace monastery houses a large, bronze, blue haired Buddha statue and then drive to Leh hotel for overnight.

Start the day early morning for exciting drive and tour of Lamayuru and Alchi Gompa. Where drive leads along the Indus River, then crossing Indus River as journey leads past Alchi to Lamayuru, a windblown village with few willow and Populus trees and farmland.
Lamayuru area is famous for its monastery, and moonlike landscape the monastery is ancient, one of the oldest and largest monasteries in Ladakh, stands above the main road. From here drive to Alchi farm village a tour of 10th Century Alchi monastery of great religious and historical interest. After a great drive and tour of famous areas of Ladakh and its old religious and historical monasteries drive back to Leh for overnight.

Morning an exciting drive from Leh towards Zingchen village, as drive heads beyond Leh town suburb. The highway runs along the Indus River then reaching a small settlement of Zinchen at the height of 3, 380 m.
where our pack animals of mules will be waiting to load all the camping gear. Start the walk as path gradually ascends entering a spectacular gorge to the village of Rumbak at 3, 960 m. Walk follows further for an hour then set the camp on a wide field of Yurutse a small place of Yak herder.

After a pleasant overnight at tented camp in Yurutse, morning after a good breakfast, following a high trail with grand views of Stok Khang-Ri looms above ahead. Adventure continues on open mountainscape and then cross the first pass of the trip over Ganda-La. Enjoy the morning views of the snow-capped Stok Khang-Ri range, as walk begins with gradual climb with series of switchbacks we make the final gradual ascent to the Ganda-La at 4, 950 m. From the pass overlooking super endless folds of the Zanskar Range snow-capped summits of the main Himalaya Range before completing the gradual descent to the village of Shingo for overnight camp.

Morning from Shingo the trail leads towards a narrow gorge lined with some willow, poplar trees and wild rose bushes. Which provides a natural canopy along the side of a river. As walk proceeds at the confluence of the stream coming from Shogdo and the Markha Valley. Our route then head up the Markha Valley to Narding, as walk follows for a short while then reaching grassy meadow where our campsite is set at a small settlement of Shara.

From this pleasant camping spot, morning walk leads to gradual climb heading towards Markha Valley past few small settlements on route to Markha, the largest village around the valley. Time permitting visit the ruined old fort above the village, tour of the Gompa that has recently been renovated by funds from trekkers and Hemis monastery.
After a refreshing stop and tour of Markha village, continue trek heading above the valley to cross a river, just before the village of Umlung. As route leads beyond the village the valley opens facing imposing view of Mt. Kang Yatse peak and Kangyaze peaks at 6, 400 m high. Then slowly walk leads to Hankar, the highest village around the Markha Valley for overnight camp.

Morning from Hanker our route diverts from the main trail as climb starts across yak herders pastures at the base of the Zalung-La.
A steep climb to the top of Zalung-La at 5, 190 m high rewards grand views of snow-clad peaks with jagged ridges of the Zaskar Himal Range. From the pass descend towards Hangkar, and then climbs steadily up into a narrow valley, past small spread-out villages to enter Nimoling plain within a wide broad undulating meadow that extends up to the base of the snow-capped peak of Kang Yatse at 6,410 m high that dominates the Nimoling valley, with small glacial ponds and rivulets flowing all over its meadows, where our camp is set for overnight.
A lovely summer pastures area for yaks, sheep, goats, dzo’s and horses, not only from the Markha, but also from villages all around.
Himalayan marmots and white-tailed hare are seen in abundance if lucky on the right season might spot herd of blue sheep and snow wolf.

Start the morning early, to cross the highest pass of the adventure, as day starts towards north of the Markha Valley. Taking a slow stride with steep climb, then reaching Kongmaru-La at 5,216 m / 17, 113 feet high. Enjoy spectacular panorama of snow-capped peaks stretching as far towards east and west horizon. Includes K2 peaks in the far west direction on clear fine day. After a grand views of Karakoram and Zaskar Himal range. A slow descends steeply to the head of the Martselang valley towards Choskirmo a places with natural hot spring to enjoy, after setting the overnight night camp.

After a wonderful time at Choskirmo with refreshing bath in hot spring, morning walk to Sumdo or Shyang-Sumdo. As walk follows through past few nice settlement, facing grand views of snow peaks and then slowly trek reaches at Shyang Phu for overnight camp, near a small village by the river side.

Start the day following a wide trail past number of cattle herder camps, as route leads to climb over a small pass of Shang-La. On top enjoy glorious panorama of the wide Markha valley with distant snow mountain range. After a refreshing stop along with grand views descend to a little settlement of Gangbuche for overnight camp.

Enjoy the morning walk on leaving Chagmachen camp, as route takes you on top Matho-La, the last pass of the adventure. An hour or more of steeper climb to the ridge facing wonderful panorama of surrounding Markha valley with snow mountain range. After an enjoyable vista, downhill to Chagmachen for last overnight camp of the adventure.

Morning after breakfast clear the camp, taking care of garbage leaving the camp site as pristine as it were. After a marvelous time in complete wilderness and achieving our goal and highlight of the adventure with life time experience. Start the morning walk of some hours to Stok village, a gradual walk on the last day trek following a nice level path down the valley then end the day walk on reaching at Stok village. Having rest and bidding farewell to mule and pony drivers, then board in a vehicle for exciting drive of few hour to Leh, for last overnight in Leh and at Ladakh.

Depending upon the flight time, guide and staff transfer you for a short drive to the airport for flight to Delhi after a memorable experience on Markha Valley trekking adventure.