Ladakh - Markha Valley Trek

ay 01: Delhi
Arrive Delhi from your home country by midnight. Garland welcome, assistance and transfer directly to domestic airport.

Day 02: Delhi - Leh
Early morning board your domestic flight to Leh. This spectacular one-hour mountain flight over the mighty Himalayas brings you to Leh, capital of the ancient Buddhist kingdom of Ladakh. Arrive and transfer to Ladakhi style hotel. A day of rest to acclimatize to the arid high altitude of Leh (3100 mts). Relax in the hotel gardens or take a leisurely stroll around the colourful bazaar. Overnight at hotel.

Day 03: Leh
After breakfast, a half day trip to the 200 year old Shankar monastery, which contains a plethora of impressive images, wall paintings and sculptures, including a huge statue  of  Aloketesvara-with 1000 arms & heads. Next stop is the Japanese built peace Pagoda (Shanti Stupa).

The winding road leading to it offers enthralling views of the surrounding countryside. Crowned with a massive dome, this stupa is reminiscent of Nalanda and Rajgir stupas. Afternoon, visit a Ladakhi Buddhist family and share a cup of butter tea, tsampa (roasted barley) and tschang (fermented barley beer), and see their the way of living. Overnight at hotel.

Day 04: Leh
After breakfast we set off for a day excursion of Indus valley, visiting Shey Palace- the first capital of ancient Ladakh, following visit the 16th Century Thikse monastery and further visit Hemis monastery- know to be the richest monastic establishment in Ladakh. It has also a monastic school for the young novices. If you wish you can make leisure walk from Shey to Thikse passing through the green fields & Mani walls, takes about an hour. Later on we drive back to Leh alongside Indus river. (packed lunch along). Dinner & overnight in hotel.

Day 05: Leh - Alchi
After breakfast drive to Alchi (about 70kms/02hrs), enroute visit Likir Gompa. Arrive and check into the guest house. After lunch visit Alchi Choskor (Religious Enclave), the 1000 year old gompa was built by a great monk & translator Lotsava Rinchen Zansgpo. The gompa is famous for rare fresco paintings and Kashmiri style woods carvings.  Evening visit the charming Alchi village. Rest of the day free to relax Overnight at Hotel.

Day 06: Alchi - Lamayuru
Today we drive to Lamayuru (about 60kms/02hrs), enroute visit Rizong Gompa. Arrive and set your camp. Afternoon visit “Yangdrung” (Swastika) gompa- known to be the oldest monastery in Ladakh. Rest of the day prepare for your next day trek and also meets your trekking crew. Overnight in Tents.

Day 07: Lamayuru - Phanjila - Wanla (About 06 Hrs Trek)
Beginning of the Trek: After breakfast we trek descending towards the village, cross a stream gentle climb across the mountainside, then a little valley towards the Prinkitila 3750 Mtrs which is crossed after a short climb. Leave towards down a narrow gorge to the village of Shilla. Cross a river on a bridge, then on the right bank to Wanla. Visit the monastery . Overnight in tents.

Day 08: Wanla - Hinju (About 05 Hrs Trek)
After breakfast follow Yapola River on the left for 02/03hrs upto Panji-la after crossing the bridge. Go up the valley, leading off at right angles (north-east), after one hour’s trekking leave the valley on the left, then to Hinju – one hour. Overnight in Tents.

Day 09: Hinju - Konzke-La (4950 M) – Sumda (About 07 Hrs Trek)
After crossing the valley of Hinju, leave one more valley on the left and ascent to the pass. Last ascent is steep. Again from the summit of Konzke-la, long descent to pastures, follow the trial on the left bank along the mountainside. Here path gets lost, rather close to the river. These are circular walls. Before Sumda is a blocked cave, so many good campsites at the edge of the river, but continue along the left bank along the mountainside till Sumda, for overnight the camp. Overnight in Tents.

Day 10: Sumdo - Base of Dundunchan La (About 06 Hrs Trek)
After crossing the valley for about one and half hours path is difficult to follow until reaching rock shelters. Cross the bridge and camp at base of Dundunchen La. Overnight in Tents.

Day 11: Base of Dundunchan La - Chilling (About 07hrs Trek)
After breakfast we ascent to Dundunchan la (4800M – steep climb). After descending the pass southside, slope is steep and continue towards a valley which gets narrower and narrower, in the end it opens out at Chilling.  Upto Chilling, there is no much water. Chilling is a village of craftsmen, here populace work with metals like copper, tin, silver and make ladles, tchang pots, tea pots etc. Overnight in Tents.

Day 12: Chilling - Skiu (About 05 Hrs)
From Chilling follow Zanskar river upstream for about half km then cross the gushing river through the rope bridge (this process may take half of the day), then there is a well-defined path, Skaya is 02 hours from the river crossing. After some distance from Skaya, the trail joins to Skiu, which we will trek about 03 hrs. Overnight in Tents.

Day 13: Skiu - Markha (About 07 Hrs Trek)
A long day walk, crossing back and forward over the Markha Stream, to Markha village (3800 m). There are bridges at many of the more difficult crossing places. The lush vegetation along the riverside is in stark contrast to the dry and barren upper valley slopes. Overnight in tents.

Day 14: Markha - Nimaling (a long day about 09hrs Trek)
Ascent to the main valley on right bank of the river. By passing off Humlung monastery, follow right bank upto Hnakar village with few houses. A little ahead of Hankar, leaving broad valley on the right side, cross bridge, which joins the trail from another route. Now valley narrows and goes higher, cross onto the left bank by a ridge and arrive at Tchantchutse.  Further proceed through the path, which is well marked. River is quite far to the left, walk near a small lake, cross pastures to reach Nimaling (4700 M). It is a most beautiful valley in Ladakh and Kang Yaze (6400 M) peak dominates the valley. Overnight in Tents.

Day 15: Nimaling - Kongmaru La - Shang (About 08 Hrs Trek)
After a zig-zag climb along the mountain side takes you to Kongmaru la (5150 M) in about 02 hrs. The trail from the pass offers fabulous views to the north of the hills of eastern Karakoram and China. On our way down, we walk along a narrow gorge and by afternoon; arrive in Shjang, our stopping place for the night. Overnight at Tents.

Day 16: Shang - Hemis - Leh (Trek About 05 Hrs)
Final day of the trek: 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, before arriving in Hemis for lunchtime. This village, nestled in a gorge, is surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery.  After lunch and rest, explore Hemis Monastery, the biggest and wealthiest in Ladakh. Late afternoon, we return by jeep to our hotel in Leh. Arrive and check into the hotel and relax. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 17: Leh - Delhi
Morning transfer to airport to board flight to Delhi. On arrival, transfer to hotel and relax. Overnight at hotel.

Day 18: Delhi
The day at leisure, late afternoon check out the rooms. Evening transfer to int’l airport to board flight to your home country.