Markha Valley Trek
The Markha Valley Trek in Ladakh, India is certainly one of the most eclectic and beautiful treks in the world. The Markha Valley Trek ventures high into the Himalayas in India crossing two passes over 15,000 ft.It circles from the edges of the Indus Valley down into Zanskar and passes through terrain that changes from incredibly narrow valleys to vast expanses in Ladakh giving spectacular view of the Ladakh Himalayas.
The Markha Valley Trek is made all the more interesting by the ancient form of Buddhism that flourishes in the many monasteries that dot the landscape perched high atop hills.
This specially designed hiking and trekking tour to The Markha Valley in Ladakh, Himalayas is a combined effort of a team of certified mountaineers and travel agents in India aiming at making travel economical and affordably cheap for the budget trekker walking in Ladakh as well as maintaining quality at par with the world-class standards. We feel our job, as tour operators and trek guides, is to design treks giving our customers a memorable experience in trekking adventure.
Itinerary (The Markha Valley Trek):
New Delhi - Leh - Spitok - Stok Palace - Tikse Chogdo - Kongmaru La - Nyaraki - Markha - Tunespa - Skiu - Zanskar River - Padum - Leh - New Delhi
Grade: Moderate
Time: June - October
Duration: 17 days
Average Walking time: 5-6 hours per day
Day 1 (New Delhi, India):
The Markha Valley Trek begins. Arrive Delhi. Flight to Leh.
Day 2 (Leh, Ladakh):
On second day Markha Valley Trek, we tour Leh city, including the sixteenth century palace and gompa.
Day 3 (Ladakh):
Tour of Spitok and Phyang gompas.
Day 4 (Stok Palace, Ladakh):
On fourth day of Frozen River / Chadar Ice Trek, we tour Shey and Matho gompas and Stok palace, the home of Ladakhi royalty.
Day 5 (Tikse and Hemis Gompas):
Tour of Tikse and Hemis gompas, two of the wealthiest and most influential institutions in Ladakh. Camp at Hemis.
Day 6 (Chogdo):
Trek from Hemis to the village of Chogdo.
Day 7 (Kongmaru La):
Trek to Kongmaru La base camp.
Day 8 (Nyaraki):
The 8th day of Markha Valley Trek is a rest day for acclimatization.
Day 9 (Kongmaru La):
Trek over Kongmaru La (5150 metres) to the plain of Nimaling, a vast high altitude pasture.
Day 10 (Markha):
Trek through the tiny settlements of Hankar and Umlung to the valley's largest village, Markha.
Day 11 (Tunespa):
Trek to the lovely oasis at Tunespa.
Day 12 (Skiu):
Trek to the village of Skiu and its gompa.
Day 13 (Zanskar River):
Trek to Zanskar river. Take the pulley bridge across before boarding the rafts on the Zanskar river. Ride the river to its confluence with the Indus at Nimu, then board jeeps for the trip to Alchi. Overnight at Alchi village.
Day 14 (Padum):
On fourteenth day of Markha Valley Trek, we tour the remarkably well preserved 11th-century gompa and the famed frescoes within. In the afternoon, we return by jeep to Leh.
Day 15 (Leh, Ladakh):
Rest day in Leh.
Day 16 (New Delhi, India):
Morning flight to Delhi. Check into hotel. Stay overnight at Hotel.
Day 17(New Delhi, India):
Depart New Delhi. Transfer to airport for flight to onwards journey. The Markha Valley Trek concludes.
