MARKHA VALLEY TREK [4970M] GANDALA PASS

On Arriaval, you will be received by our representative at the Leh Airport and transferred to the Hotel. You need to take complete rest for the first 24 hours to acclimatize to the high altitude. Overnight at Hotel.

After Breakfast you will visit some of the monasteries in the indus Valley along Indus river. Shey palace and Thiksay monastery are the two most popular monasteries of Ladakh. Leh palace and Shanti Stupa. You spend the evening exploring the leh market, as there are couple of good adventure shops as well. Overnight at Hotel.

After an early start from Leh, we will travel by jeep to Spituk, where horses will be waiting to carry
our equipment. The trek will begin along an old jeep road into a parched and exposed region, so
water and sunscreen are absolutely vital! After plodding through the shattered land for 3-hours,
we will enter the lush Zingchen Valley, where the Rumbak River flows into the mighty Indus.
Further into the valley lies our campsite, in the two-house hamlet of Zingchen (meaning ‘big
field’). The rest of the day may be spent relaxing, or even taking a dip in the stream.

Today we will enter Hemis National Park, where we may be fortunate enough to get a glimpse of
wild lives as diverse as the snow leopard, lynx, Ladakhi Urial (a type of goat), arghali (great
Tibetan sheep), blue sheep, red fox, Tibetan wolf, dhole (wild dog), marmot and mountain hare.
After paying the entrance fee, we will climb gradually through a beautiful gorge that will unveil the
imposing Stok Range from time to time.

Before reaching Rumbak, we will stop at a teahouse run by women from the village. After a warm
cup of tea, we will continue through Rumbak, and pass by the house of Yurutse village, before
reaching camp at the base of Ganda La (4545m). From our campsite, we can see a spectacular
view of Stok Kangri and the whole of the Stok range.

After a light breakfast, we will begin our 2-hr ascend to Ganda La; views of the lofty Zanskar and
Stok Ranges will leave you breathless. The usual chorten and prayer flags mark the top of the
pass, where one may see blue sheep and marmots roaming the hills.

After a short rest, we will make a gradual hour-long descent to Shingo and break for lunch. We
will finish the day by hiking through a spectacular gorge before pitching camp at Skiu (3300m).
Within this idyllic village lies an old monastery and ruins of an old castle (once a rest stop for the
Royal family on their way to Srinagar).

Following the Markha River, we will hike through the lovely valley on a fairly level path. The trail
crosses the river at various points, and passes through winter settlements that contain Lhatos
(religious shrines for local deities) and Mani walls (stones inscribed with Buddhist prayers).
During peak season, a number of tented teahouses will be open, providing hearty refreshment.
After cross the river for the last time, we will arrive in Markha, the largest village in the valley,
consisting of around 20 houses, an old monastery and a ruined fort.

Note: Water and sunscreen are essential, since the valley is quite exposed.

The Markha valley trail continues past old stone-mills, a ruined castle and the auspicious
monastery of Techa, which is proudly perched on a towering cliff that looms above Markha, well
worth visiting if we have the energy! The path then intersects the river several times before
cutting through the last hamlets in the valley. After leaving the village of Umlung, we will be
afforded our first view of Kang Yatse (6400m), which will stay in sight until we cross Kongmaru
La.

After we break for lunch in the village of Hangkar (the last in the valley), we will press onward to
the lovely green pasture of Thachungste, where we will camp.

Today the trail will lead us up to the beautiful plateau of Nimaling, where the people of the Markha
Valley brings their herds to graze during the summer months. At 4700m, Nimaling is the highest
camp on the trek, giving us spectacular views of Kang Yatse to the right, the Zangskar Range
and the Markha Valley below.

After a hearty breakfast, we will cross Kongmaru La, the highest pass on the trek. Here we have
a wonderful view of the surrounding mountains and valleys. The 2-hour descend is quite steep,
but will gradually level as we enter Shang Gorge, with its strange and otherworldly rock
formations. More river crossings bar our way before we arrive at the sour-spring of Chuskurmo
(used in traditional medicine by the Amchi doctors).

After a break, we will pass through a couple of villages before reaching Shang Sumdo, where we
will spend our last evening together enjoying the camaraderie and an excellent beer!

Our spirits lifted by a successful trek, we will enjoy a pleasant 2-hr walk along a jeep road to
Martselang, where the jeep will pick us up for Leh. Upon arrival we check in at our pre arranged
hotel for overnight stay.

Excursion to Hemis, Stok Palace Museum.
Or
Excursion to Khardongla (World’s Highest Motorable road)
Today we proceed for monastery tour.
We start with a visit to Famous Hemis Gompa, This is the largest monastic foundation of Drukpa
Kagyu Order of Tibetan Buddhism. Most of the other Drukpa monasteries are the branch
monasteries of Hemis. It was built during early 17th century with the blessing of Lama Stagtsang
Raspa (Shambunatha), by famous Namgyal dynasty king Singee Namgyal..
Later drive to Stok Palace Museum, a museum in the stok palace owned and managed by the
descendants of the royal family of Leh. The museum is beautifully located below Stok Kangri
glaciers overlooking the Indus valley. The museum is house to some of the oldest artefacts and
articles owned by the royal family. The museum gives a sense and peek into the life of bygone
era and the ancient Ladakhi lifestyle.
Or
Khardongla- The World’s highest motorable road (18850 feet)
After finishing the sightseeing tour we drive back to Leh and explore the Leh market for last
minute shopping.

Drop back to the Airport for your onward journey.

End of a memorable tour with India Private Tours