Trekking in the Markha Valley

This morning, we fly over the Himalayan range which offers us a breathtaking view of its mountains with gigantic glaciers and dazzling peaks. In contrast, we then perceive the fertile Leh valleys, north of the imposing Indus river (flight subject to weather conditions). Upon arrival, we are transferred to our hotel.

Free day to relax and acclimatize to the altitude (3,500m). In the late afternoon, a stroll through the streets of Leh and its bazars. Formerly, the city was an important commercial hub on the Silk Road from China.

Standing at 9 stories high, the Nyamgal Palace dominates the city, making it a mini-version of the Potala Palace in Lhassa.

Short drive that takes us to Spituk to visit the first Gelugpa Monastery in Ladakh. After this stop, we take a new road that takes us across the Indus towards Zingchen, the starting point of our trek.

As our ponies are loaded with our equipment, we begin our trek in the Zingchen Gorge at the foot of the Stok mountains. The trail is straightforward, as we follow the Zingchen Nala upstream.

Each climb in the valley reveals a magnificent panorama of the surrounding mountains. We cross a stream that carves a path alongside the valley. The valley widens and reveals the snow-capped peaks of the Stok mountains. The presence of prayer flags on a wide pasture marks the junction between the trails leading to the village of Rumbak. We will establish our camp here for the night, offering us an unobstructed view of the surroundings.
Walking Time: 4 Hrs
Distance: 8 Kms

Today, we will have a very short day to allow us to acclimatize to the altitude. We head up the main valley towards a water mill and a small bridge that we cross. The trail has a gentle slope until we reach a junction. We take the road on the right, along the village where the strange house of Yurutse village is located. Leaving the fields behind us, we continue towards Ganda La camp, where we set up our camp next to a small stream below the pass.
Walking Time: 4 Hrs
Distance: 8 Kms

We follow the path at the top of the mountain to the summit of Ganda La (4970m). The trail is clear and winds towards the pass. As we gradually gain altitude, a spectacular view unfolds over the surroundings. We reach the summit of Ganda La adorned with colorful prayer flags. The panorama was worth the effort! We have left behind the Stok mountains, while we now face those of the Zanskar range.
A long but pleasant descent leads us to Shingo. Beyond this hamlet, the trail passes through a magnificent gorge before arriving at Markha River at the village of Skiu.

Today, we have a quite long day, but easy while hiking along the Markha Valley. The trail is not very difficult, which allows us to admire the magnificent landscapes around us. The colors of the Ladakh mountains are truly spectacular. Pastel pink, bronze blue and turquoise green mountains shine in the sun and change color exceptionally as the sun rises and sets. We do not simply follow the river, we also cross it a few times. We have lunch at Sara where we are welcomed inside a tea tent. Beyond the Chalak camp, there is an impressive line of chortens and a huge mound of goat horns placed there to ward off all the evil spirits trying to enter the valley. After climbing to a small pass, we descend back to the river. A medieval fort, silhouetted on the hill, gives us an indication that we have almost reached Markha. Markha is a magnificent little village. We have time to explore the monastery in the afternoon. Our camp is set up on pastures near the village.
Walking Time: 6 Hrs
Distance: 18 Kms

Just beyond Markha, the trail meets the Chacham valley where Umlung Gompa stands out before us. We visit the monastery which is the most important in the valley and is affiliated with Hemis. Continuing up the valley, we cross the village of Umlung to Hankar where there are impressive ruins of a few forts and a small gompa. From Hankar, the trail leaves the main valley and follows the Nimaling stream to Thachungtse, our camping place for the night. If we are lucky, we can catch a glimpse of wild sheep.
Walking Time: 7 Hrs
Distance: 17 Kms

Today, our relatively short hike takes us to Nimaling. The trail climbs steeply to the plateau level until reaching the valley. Facing us, a spectacular view of Kang Yangtse at 6,400m - the highest peak in the valley. There are no permanent settlements in this area, but during the summer months, shepherds come here with their flocks of sheep, goats, and dzos (a hybrid between yak and zebu) to graze in these high altitude pastures. During this period, shepherds live in stone shelters near the grazing areas. We can buy yoghurts or local cheese there.

In the evening, after the animals have descended from the hills, it is quite common to see them wandering around the camp. We arrive at Nimaling around noon. In the afternoon, an optional walk behind the camp towards Kang Yangtse is planned. This walk is very popular with hikers who want to enjoy an impressive view of Kang Yangtse, the highest peak in the Markha valley at 6,400m.
Walking Time: 4 Hrs
Distance: 7 Kms

Our day begins with the ascent of Kongmaru La. This is a fairly long and steep climb via a zigzag trail leading to the summit of the pass (5,265 m). Looking back, we can see Kang Yangtse, Dzo Jongo and Regoni Malari. Ahead of us, we enjoy a magnificent view of the Stok range and the Indus valley. The descent is steep until the entrance of a spectacular gorge. We then make a gradual descent. High up on the barren cliffs, we may spot the blue sheep or bharal that inhabit this region. Passing through Chuskurmo and Chokdo, we continue our long descent towards the village of Shang Sumdo. This day is more difficult than the previous ones as we must climb a pass, followed by a long descent to camp.

We pick up our car which takes us to the Hemis monastery. (Occasionally, the road may be blocked, in which case we walk down the trail to Hemis). Hemis is the largest and richest of all the Ladakhi monasteries. A walk around the dimly lit temples, which contain grotesque masks and statues, immerses us in the history of the region. From there, we return to Leh and arrive at the hotel. Normally, we should arrive in Leh before lunch, after which we are free to explore the city or shop in the bazaars.

Early morning airport transfer to board our flight to Delhi.

Upon arrival in Delhi, we head directly to Agra. After check-in, the evening is free to explore some beautiful bazaars.