Markha Valley Adventure Trek

Duration: 11 nights / 12 days

Destinations Covered: Delhi - Leh - Chilling - Skiu - Markha - Hankar - Nimaling - Sumdo - Martselang - Leh - Delhi

DAY 1: ARRIVAL DELHI
Met on arrival and transfer to the hotel for overnight.

DAY 2: DELHI / LEH
Early morning transfer to the Domestic Airport to board the flight to Leh. The flight will take you over the entire Himalayan range with snow-capped peaks forming a never ending white carpet. Suddenly the snow is left behind and we come over to the barren desert land of Ladakh dotted with tiny secluded villages and picturesque monasteries. Met on Leh Airport and transfer to the hotel. Leh is situated at 3500 mts (11500 feet). Leh Airport is one of the few airports in the world situated at this altitude. Leh is the fertile side valley of the river Indus. In ancient times, it developed as a trading post and market, attracting a large numbers of merchants from Yarkand, Kashgar, Kashmir, Tibet and North India. At present Leh is an important military base and a major tourist centre, the two contributing to the most of the urban ecomony. Rest of the day is free for acclimatization. Overnight at hotel.

DAY 3: LEH
After breakfast proceed for half day morning sightseeing visiting Spituk and Phyang monasteries. Phyang monastery is 20 kms from the Leh town. Phyang is very fertile and one of the largest village in Ladakh. Phyang monastery belongs to the Red Hat Sect of Buddhism. This 16th century old monastery houses hundereds of statues of Buddhist gods and goddesses made of wood and bronze. This monastery also contains the biggest Thangkas, one of which is five storey high. Drive back to Leh, on the way visit Spituk monastery. This monastery belongs to Gelugpa Sect and is the seat of the head lama of Ladakh. Return to Leh. Afternoon free. Overnight at hotel.

DAY 4: LEH / CHILLING / SKIU
In the morning drive to Chilling and cross the river Zanskar, to cross the river we use the ancient pulling system and leave the ponies at Chilling. After crossing the river we follow the trail along the river Markha for 4 hrs. Skiu is situated at an altitude of 3000 mts (9900 feet) on the bank of lower Markha. Overnight in camp.

DAY 5: SKIU / MARKHA
After taking breakfast proceed for 6 to 7 hrs walk. Walk up to one of the loveliest sections of the Markha valley. Woody bushes grow thickly along the river, which is spanned by the several bridges over which the trail marches to Thinlespa, which lies before the Markha village. From here we cross the river Markha. Overnight in Camp.

DAY 6: MARKHA / HANKAR
From Markha the climate changes and the warm, relatively heavily wooded section of the lower and the upper Hankar becomes distinctly cooler than Markha. The trek takes 5 to 6 hrs. Between the villages is a ruined fort, the walls of which climb sharply up a crag to an eerie of a lookout tower- worth visiting for those with an exceptionally good head for heights. Overnight in camp.

DAY 7: HANKAR / NIMALING
Nimaling is situated at 4,878 mts (16,097 feet) and it takes 8 hrs to reach Nimaling. From Hankar the trail climbs steadily up the now narrow valley. Nimaling with tiny ponds and rivulets flowing all over its meadows provides pasturage in the summer for an astonishing number of animals like yaks, dogs, sheeps, goats, horses. Overnight in camp.

DAY 8: NIMALING
The day is at leisure.

DAY 9: NIMALING / SUMDO
Chokdo is situated at 3,927 mts (13, 230 feet) and it will take 7 to 8 hrs to reach there. After crossing the north of Markha, start to climb up to the highest of the three passes - Kangmaru La 5,274 mts (17,409 feet). The trail descends steeply to the head of the Martseland valley past the sulphur springs of the Chushkarmo. Overnight in camp.

DAY 10: SUMDO / MARTSELANG/LEH
Trek for 3 to 4 hrs to descend down along the bank of the Martselang, where it broadens into the valley of the Indus at the village Martselang. Then visit Hemis monastery, it is Ladakh's richest and largest monastery. Built by the King Singe Namagyal, after subduing Baltistan, Puring, Zanskar and Spiti in 1620 AD. The monastery has an excellent library, well preserved wall paintings, figures of Buddha and different kinds of stupas. Drive to Leh. Overnight in hotel.

DAY 11: LEH / DELHI
Departure transfer to the airport to board flight for Delhi. Met on arrival and transfer to the hotel. Afternoon at leasure. Overnight at hotel.

DAY 12: DELHI / OUT
After having breakfast proceed for sightseeing of Delhi. In the evening transfer to International Airport to board the flight back home.

Markha Valley Adventure Trek, Reservation Form

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