Markha Valley Trek 2019

Markha Valley trek is probably the most popular trek in Ladakh due to its diverse topography and natural sites you see on the trails. Another reason for Markha Valley trek’s popularity is the relatively short duration. Markha Valley trek is also known as the “Tea House Trek”.

Highlights

• Trek through beautiful Hemis National Park and cross - Gandala La (15748 ft) and Kongmaru La (17,060 ft)
• Trek in a barren cold desert valley with incredible views of Ladakh and Zanskar range
• No Hidden Charges: All the charges which are key for the trek is included in the listed price. 
• Fixed Departures: All the dates available to book the trek is bookable even for a solo traveller.
• Trekking pole included in the price.

Detailed overview

The Markha Valley Trek starts from Spituk Bridge and the trekking starts along the Indus River with the walk through the detached at the foothill of the Stok.

You can witness the colourful snip ravine walls of Markha valley, enticing view of Ladakh and Zanskar ranges, Kang Yissay and Stok Kangri peak which are 21,000ft and 20,086ft respectively.  

Trekking to the Markha Valley also gives you the opportunity to meet and get to know the experiences of nomadic families who live there and it takes you inside the Hemis National park which turns out to be a completely new experience for the natural beauty lovers. One also gets to explore the Tibetan culture as well.

Markha Valley Trek is a moderate to difficult trek covering the distance of 75 km approximately. Please inform your friends and family that the mobile network may not work due to limited connectivity in Leh and during the trek duration.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Leh

• After your arrival in Leh, you check-in into the hotel/guest-house arranged by your hosts.
• Your first day is for rest & and your body to acclimatize. 

Day 2: Rest & Acclimatization

• Today you will spend in Leh as well for to acclimatize your body for the trek ahead. 
• It is a good opportunity to get out and explore Leh – its market, cuisine and culture.

Day 3: Drive to Spituk, Spituk - Zingchen | Trek to Yurutse - 3 hours - 5 km - 13520 ft

• Today you will start in the morning and drive to Spituk – your starting point of the trek.
• Initially, the path is an old jeep road into an arid and uncovered region, drinking enough water and your sunscreen are going to be absolutely necessary!
• After tedious walk for a few hours, you will enter the lush Zingchen Valley, where the Rumbak River meets the Indus. You will camp further up in the valley.

Day 4: Yurutse - Ganda La - Skiu | 8 hours - 25 km - 16076 ft

• On this day you will reach Hemis National Park and if you are fortunate enough you could see some wildlife.
• Hemis National Park is home to a variety of wildlife from Marmot and Bharal (blue sheep) to Tibetan wolf and snow leopard.
• Marmot is rather easy to spot. You will continue the gradual climb to reach Rumbak village and stay overnight at Skiu.

Day 5: Skiu to Markha | 7-8 hours - 20 km - 12369 ft

• Today you will walk along Markha River and also crossing it on a few occasions. Much of the hike is on level ground.
• During peak season many tea-houses would be open on this route. By late afternoon you reach Markha (3800meters), the largest village in the namesake valley.

Day 6: Markha - Thachungtse | 5-6 Hrs - 13 Kms - 13165 ft

• You will continue on the Markha valley trail passing monastery at Techa and a ruined fort perched above Markha village.
• You will cross many villages along the river one of which is Umlung. Once you cross it you get your fist view of mighty Mt. Kang Yatse (6400m).
• You stop for lunch at Hangkar, the last village in the Markha Valley and carry on to Thachungste (4100m), where you camp.

Day 7: Thachungtse - Nimaling | 4 hours - 7 km - 15518 ft

• On day 7, post-breakfast you start towards Nimaling perched on a lovely plateau, which is a grazing spot for villagers of Markha Valley.
• At 4700 m, Nimaling is the highest camp of the Markha valley trek. Trekkers get spectacular views of Mt. Kang Yatse from here.

Day 8: Nimaling - Shangsumdo via Kongmaru La - Leh I 7 Hrs - 16-18 Kms - 17060 ft

• On the final day of the trek, you cross Kongmaru La (5200 m), the highest pass of the Markha valley trek. The path downhill from here is steep but quite level once you reach Shang Gorge.
• It takes a few river crossing to reach spring of Chuskurmo whose water is used for medicinal purposes by locals. Drive from Sumdo to Leh takes about 2 hours.
• You will reach Leh by the evening and will stay overnight in the guesthouse.

Day 9: Checkout from Leh

• After the goodnight's sleep, the trip ends and you will have to checkout from the guesthouse and head to your onwards destination.