Markha Valley Trek, Ladakh

Welcome to India! Upon your arrival at the airport in Delhi, our representative will greet you and escort you to the hotel. After checking into your hotel, spend the rest of your day at your leisure exploring the local area and relaxing in the hotel. Our friendly guide and hotel staff will be on hand should you need restaurant recommendations or general provisions.

Our flight to Leh is a spectacular journey over multiple Himalayan ranges and serves as a fantastic photo opportunity. After you land, check into your hotel and rest. After lunch we will take a walking tour of Leh Bazaar. With trade routes loosely dated as far back as the third century, Leh is an ancient white washed city set between the mighty mountains and the Indus river.

The rest of the day is at your leisure to acclimatise and rest.

After breakfast, you’ll start your tour of Leh and the surrounding areas. We will visit Gompa Soma (an important monastery and integral part of the Leh palace complex) and Moti Market, the old bazaar. After lunch, we’ll hop in a jeep and head to Saboo monastery, located just outside of Leh. Spend the afternoon exploring the monastery, talking to resident monks, and observing the local devotees. On our way back to Leh we will visit the Sankhar Gompa and the Shanti Stupa, constructed by Japan as a symbol of international peace in 1991.

Today we will wake up and set off early to visit the monasteries of Shey, Thikse and Hemis; an hour and a half drive from Leh. Visit the former summer capital of Ladakh, Shey, with its ruined castle, ancient palace, and gompa standing high on a hilltop. Next we will head to the ancient Hemis Monastery, before visiting Thikse monastery, noted for its resemblance to the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet. Return to Leh, the rest of the day is at your leisure.

Leave Leh early in the morning and travel by jeep to Stok, the starting point of your trek. After leaving Stok Village we will follow the left bank of the river for two hours and climb gently before continuing on to a small valley at the foot of Stokla Mountain. Enjoy our first night at camp with a meal cooked by campfire as we gaze at the twinkling night sky.

After breakfast we will prepare to leave this beautiful valley and ascend up to Stokla (4900m) via a steep zigzag path, which takes around 3 hours of continuous walking. After the high pass we will descend to the luscious summer pastures of Stok and follow the river, which originates in the Stok – Kangri massif.

This morning we will follow a path along the mountainside, then cross a small valley before following a steep incline which crosses the Ganda Pass, offering stunning views of the Zanskar Himalayan range. Once we cross the breathtaking high pass we will begin the long descent towards the village of Shingo. After 2 hours of descent through this lunar landscape we will arrive in the valley of Markha and set up camp at Skiu, which is located at the confluence of two rivers.

From Skiu, we will follow a gentle path along the right bank of the Markha river. Today’s easy trek will take in many picturesque grassy meadows before crossing the river and arriving at Chaluk. Walk alongside the beautiful river before climbing up through this peaceful valley towards Markha village where you will camp just beyond the village. Tonight’s camp will be next to the river which is very relaxing.

We will start trekking this morning and head towards the main valley. The path leads us to the Humlung Monastery, where we will stop to admire this ancient shrine. Follow the river and arrive in the small picturesque village of Hankar, the highest village in the Markha valley. After the village, the track crosses a broad valley before becoming narrower and higher. The landscape will also change and become more rugged and barren before we reach tonight’s camping location, Tchatchutse.

Today’s trek starts on a track heading towards a small lake, before crossing lush pastures and heading to Nimaling at 4700m. This is one of the most beautiful high valleys in Ladakh, dominated by the Kang Yaze. As we ascend towards Nimaling see if you can spot one of the many yaks grazing freely on the open plains.

Cross the Markha valley and follow a steep path along the mountainside, which leads towards Kongmarula (5150m). Follow the steep descent into deep gorges before arriving at Chukirmo for a short rest stop. Continue on to the village of Shang, our beautiful campsite for the night. If time permits we will make a late afternoon walk to the monastery an hour away from the village.

The final day of your trek starts from the riverbed, and we will follow a gently rising trail towards Hemis, passing by a series of chortens on our way. Once there, we will visit Hemis Gompa, founded in the1630s. Hemis is one of the largest Gompas of Ladakh and is famous for its festival and is dedicated to Guru Padmasambhava, popularly known as the second Buddha. We will arrive in Leh in time for some last minute shopping and a relaxing evening dinner.

Transfer to the airport for your early morning flight to Delhi. After checking into our hotel, we will leave for a sightseeing tour which includes India Gate, the Laxminarayan temple and one of the many bazaars that make up this thriving metropolis. Tonight we will get together for our farewell dinner and contemplate our amazing journey to Little Tibet.

Transfer to the International Airport for your return flight home. We look forward to seeing you on another Ekno experience soon.