Markha Valley Trek

Places Covered: Leh – Spituk – Zinchen – Kandala Base – Shingo – Skiu – Markha – Thochungtse – Nimaling – Kongmaru La Pass – Shang Sumdo – Martselang
Duration: 11 Nights / 12 Days
Best Season: May to September
Grade: Strenuous
Altitude: 5030 mtrs

This trek has been, one of the most favorite trek among trekkers for a long time because of Beautiful Valley of Markha overshadowed by Kanyatse and other groups of Peaks. The numerous small villages, shepherds camps and passes are main feature of this trek. The trek begins from Spituk monastery or Stok village passing through Stok La and Gandala Pass, which takes you across Markha valley. At last it crosses Kongmaru Pass and finishes wonderful trek at the famous Hemis monastery.
 

Itinerary:

1st Day: DELHI TO LEH. Arrival at Leh and transfer to hotel, afternoon relax for acclimatization, overnight at hotel.

2nd Day: LEH. Morning after breakfast short walk for acclimatization to Shanti Stupa, Sankar monastery and Leh palace, on returning hot buffet lunch at hotel. Afternoon relax and be prepared for the expedition, dinner and overnight at hotel.

3rd Day: LEH TO SPITUK TO ZINCHEN. Morning after breakfast drive by motor car for Spituk Trekking point, from there we start the trek till Zinchen which is about 4 to 5 hrs trek through the beautiful landscapes, packed lunch enroute, on arrival at camp refreshment will be served. Dinner and overnight at camp.

4th Day: ZINCHEN TO KANDALA BASE. After breakfast trek begins for Kandala base, pass the village of Rumbak, cross the river and (bridge) arrive in Yurutse, a very traditional house. Have packed lunch enroute, keep going further ahead and reach the base of the Kandala pass.

5th Day: KANDALA BASE TO SHINGO. Morning after early breakfast, start moving towards the top of the Kandala pass, which will hardly take 3 to 4 hrs to reach on top. Packed lunch enroute. Easy descent towards village Shingo that will take another couple of hrs. On arrival at the camp refreshment will be served. Dinner and overnight at the camp.

6th Day: SHINGO TO SKIU. After breakfast trek begins for Skiu, which is really easy walking through the splendid gorges, it will hardly take 3 to 4 hrs to reach the campsite. Packed lunch at campsite, on arrival refreshment will be served. Dinner and overnight at camp.

7th Day: SKIU TO MARKHA. After breakfast start walking from an interesting path on the right bank of the river Markha. A great deal of vegetation, one can come across varieties of wild mountain flowers and animals. Packed lunch enroute. Arrive at Markha campsite after an interesting walk of 6 to 7 hrs, on arrival refreshment will be served. Dinner and overnight at the camp.

8th Day: MARKHA TO THOCHUNGTSE. After breakfast begin trek for Thochungtse which is about 5 to 6 hrs walking distance, you can come across a beautiful monastery on the top of the mountain, today one has to cross the river three times, which is really a exciting experience. One can also see the beautiful villages of Humlung and Hankar. Packed lunch enroute; on arrival at the camp refreshments will be served. Dinner and overnight stay at the camp.

9th Day: THOCHUNGTSE TO NIMALING. Today is basically the shortest day of the trek, so after late breakfast trek begins for Nimaling pasture, it will take hardly couple of hrs to reach at campsite. Nimaling is one of the most beautiful high valleys in Ladakh (4,700mtres), dominated by the gorgious peak Kangyatse (6,400mtres). Hot lunch at the campsite.
After lunch one can visit the nomads living there with the animals (yaks, sheep’s and horses). Dinner and overnight stay at the camp.

10th Day: NIMALING TO KONGMARU LA PASS TO SHANG SUMDO. After early breakfast start walking for the Kongmaru la (5,200mtres). To reach on the top it will take 2 to 3 hrs time. On reaching the top one can see the mindblowing view of Karakoram ranges and the valley of Leh and other villages. Start the descent down towards the gorges and keep walking on the left bank to Chumiktangmo. Packed lunch enroute, arrive at the camp after 8 to 9 hrs walking. On arrival refreshments will be served. Dinner and overnight stay at camp.

11th Day: SHANG SUMDO TO MARTSELANG TO LEH. Continuing our descent, we pass some of the highest located houses in the valley before descending into another section of rocky gorge. Along the way we pass through the village of Martsylang, it’s just about 3-4hrs walk, car will pickup the group at Martselang and transfer to hotel at Leh for overnight stay.

12th Day: LEH TO DELHI. Morning transfer to the airport to board the flight to Delhi.