Markha Valley Leh Ladakh (India)
Markha Valley Leh Ladakh (India)
India
The Markha Valley Trek is certainly one of the most varied and beautiful treks in the world. It ventures high into the Himalayas crossing two passes over 15,000 ft (4575 m) as it circles from the edges of the Indus Valley, down into parts of Zanskar, and passes through terrain that changes from incredibly narrow valleys to wide-open vast expanses. It is very interesting place as it is well known for its ancient form of Buddhism that flourishes in the many monasteries. These monasteries dot the landscape perched high atop hills. The trails are decorated by elaborate "chortens"(shrines) and "Mani"(prayer) walls that further exemplify the region's total immersion in Buddhist culture. As you trek to the upper end of the Markha Valley you will be rewarded with spectacular views of jagged snow capped peaks before crossing the 5150m Kongmaru La (Pass) and the famous Hemis Monastery, where we end our trekking. There are also few days to explore the fascinating town of Leh and raft the Indus River.
Tour Package Overview
post breakfast we proceed for the indus valley monastery tour including shey, the ancient capital of ladakh, thiksey an impressive complex rising tier upon tier on a hill above the village and stok palace – the present residence of the royal family. Enjoy packed lunch at sindhughat. overnight at hotel in leh.
Post breakfast we will drive to chilling which will take about 2 hours from Leh. We will start our trek after taking a walk around Chilling which is a very unique village. A gradual ascent followed by a steep climb gets one to the Ganda la (4900m). From here views extend south to the Zanskar range and distant summits of the Himalayan range. This is followed by a long descent to Shingo village. From Shingo the trail heads into a narrow gorge leading towards Skiu. At Skiu there is a confluence of the rivers coming from Markha valley and Shingo. Overnight stay at the camp/homestay in skiu.
From Markha the country changes and the warm, relatively heavily wooded sections of the lower Markha is left behind. One will be required to cross the river several times as there are no bridges here. Hankar, enroute, is the highest village in the Markha valley. Overnight stay in tents/homestay.
Trek starts on a good path with several small inclines and a series of grassy ridges. There are a series of Mani walls (walls carved with Buddhist prayers) and chortens en route. This is one of the most beautiful high valleys in Ladakh and is dominated by the Kangyaze peak. Overnight stay in tents/homestay.
Today you will cross to the north of the Markha, climbing to the top of the highest of the three passes, the 5,306 M Kongmaru La, with its wonderful views from the top. There are snow peaks in every direction and on a clear day the giants of Karakoram, including K2, can be seen on the north-western horizon. The trail descends to the Martselang valley, following the Martselang stream to the village of Sumdo. Overnight stay in tents/homestay.
Today you will make an easy descent along the Martselang to where it broadens into the valley of the Indus at Martselang village. Board the awaiting jeeps. Visit Hemis monastery and after that drive to Leh via Shey and Thiksey monastery. Overnight stay in a hotel/homestay.
COST INCLUDES - Assistance on arrival and departure - All sightseeing in Leh by Non AC vehicle - Drop and pickup for the trek by Non AC vehicle - A Class Hotel accommodation on twin sharing basis in Leh - Tented/Homestay accommodation during treks on twin sharing basis - All meals beginning with lunch on first day till breakfast on last day - Professional and experienced trekking and monastery guide - Cook, porters & other service staff - Ponies - Trekking fees - Monastery entrance fees Camping equipment provided on the trek • 2 Men Expedition Tents • Sleeping bags • Insulated Mattresses • Kitchen Tent • Dining Tent • Toilet tent • Basic Medical kit COST DOES NOT INCLUDE • Airfare • Any meals/services not mentioned above • Any charges for video cameras, still cameras, etc. • Liquor, soft drinks, beverages, etc. • Personal expenses like tips, telephone calls, laundry, etc. • Any costs arising out of unforeseen circumstances like landslides, road blocks, bad weather, etc. • Insurance TRIP LEADERS Our trip leaders have a vast experience of trekking & camping in the Himalayas. They are fluent in English language and are always forthcoming with interesting lore and information on local history, culture and practices. All our trip leaders have knowledge of First-Aid. CAMPING We believe that camping is an art - all about providing a safe and comfortable stay. We maintain very high standards of camping and with constant innovations try to hone our skills. We lay a lot of emphasis on site selection with camping sites on most of the treks being pre-decided and used previously by our team. MEALS ON OUR TREKS On all our treks we provide food that's tasty, hygienic and nutritious. Our chefs are experts at keeping the team's batteries charged with mouth-watering watering multi-cuisine meals, at times under difficult conditions. Cuisine is decided keeping in mind the profile of the group. Also on most of our treks our clients get the option of trying out the local dishes. Trekking Gear The following list only mentions the essential elements. You have to prepare a list of clothes and small personal articles you will need during the trek: • Sleeping bag • Boots • Camp shoes/sneakers / sandals • Socks • Light wind jacket • Down jacket/vest • Fleece jacket/vest • T-shirts • Underwear • Trekking pants • Thermal tops • Thermal bottom • Warm hat • Sun hat/baseball cap • Light gloves • Duffel bag • Sunglasses • Torch/Headlamp • Camera and Film • Books • Lip balm • Sunscreen • Camp towel/towel/sarong • Toiletries • Personal medicines • Money pouch/belt • Bandana/scarf Camera Bring a spare set of batteries or a small solar charger for rechargeable batteries. And LOTS of film, as Ladakh &Zanskar are extremely photogenic! Video camera Either bring extra batteries or a solar charger. What we provide our camping trips are full-service, with tents, sleeping pads, our dining tent, kitchen tent, all supplies and food, ponies and a fantastic staff and guides provided. You just need to bring your personal gear and a good spirit to enjoy the adventure.
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Markha Valley Leh Ladakh (India)
Difficulty level : streneous
Those who visit Ladakh are usually adventure-seekers looking for the next high-altitude thrill, but we wanted to focus more on the zen side of things. Rich in culture, scenery and history, Ladakh is a treasure trove of wonders hidden away in a remote part of the world. After a start in Delhi, we’ll visit mountain villages, valleys, and Hindu and Buddhist temples along the road to Leh. If you’re looking to break a sweat after all, try rafting or hiking amongst other pulse-racing activities, but we totally understand if you’d rather just lay back and let the culture of the region soak right in.
Duration: 7 - 20 days
Best Time: June to September
Highlight: People, Village, Wildlife and High Passes
Physical Challenge: Moderate to challenging
Trekking grade
Moderate: suitable for most hill walkers and generally involving shorter days at moderate altitude, on good paths and tracks. However, a reasonable level of fitness is required as these treks can involve considerable amounts of ascent and descent and the occasional difficult day.
