Posted: 21 Oct 2015 11:30 AM PDT

Ladakh is one of the driest regions in the Indian Himalaya. Leh, the capital of Ladakh, experiences an average of only 110mm of rainfall per year and heavy snowfalls are rare as Ladakh's position to the northeast of the Himalaya Range isolates it from the Indian monsoon.
The Markha Valley trek lies in Ladakh – The land of passes. The Markha Valley trek is certainly one of the most diverse trek in the Western Himalayas and the barren landscape of Leh Ladakh and its unique Buddhist culture makes it even more special. It ventures into the two high Himalayas Mountain Passes over 15000 feet. Markha Valley trek trails wind past willow groves, alongside patches of wild roses and through canyons decorated with multi coloured Tibetan prayer flags rising and falling in the breeze. The Markha Valley Trek goes inside Hemis National park and gives an opportunity to meet the nomadic families as they herd their yaks.
The ubiquitous "Chortens"– Stupas, Tibetan multi coloured prayer flags and Monasteries signify the regions immersion in Buddhism. During the Markha valley trek one can connect with Tibet and immerse oneself in Tibetan culture.
Brief Itinerary (Markha Valley Trek)
Day 1 Delhi – Leh. Complete rest for Acclimatization for the Markha Valley Trek.
Day 2 Explore Leh Market & surroundings
Day 3 Drive from Leh to Spituk and trek to Zingchan Village
Day 4 Trek from Zingchen to Ganda La Base
Day 5 Trek from Ganda La base to Skiu via Ganda La
Day 6 Skyu to Markha
Day 7 Markha to Thochuntse
Day 8 Thochuntse to Nimaling
Day 9 Nimaling to Shang Sumdo and drive to Leh
Detailed Itinerary (Markha Valley Trek)
Day 1: Fly from Delhi to Leh
Flights to Leh are almost as spectacular as our Markha Valley trek. The view of the high snow capped peaks is quite simply put mesmerizing. Landing at Leh is an adventure in itself as the airport strip is between mountains on both the sides. Leh airport is around 6 km from Leh city. Check-in to a hotel and get briefed on the day's program. Leh is at an altitude of 10,000 feet so acclimatizing yourself to high altitude is important to enjoy trekking in Ladakh. Rest for the first half of the day and in the evening go for a walk to the Leh market.
Day 2 Explore Leh Market its surroundings
Go out and explore Leh before the start of the Markha valley trek. Try a cup of traditional ladakhi butter tea and ladakhi bread for breakfast. Some of the famous places to visit in Leh are Shanti Stupa, Leh Monastery, Leh Palace etc.
Places around Leh to explore
Thiksey Monastery: Thiksey Gompa is around 22kms from Leh on the Leh Manali road. This has to be one of the most impressive monastery complexes in the Leh vicinity and resembles the Potala Palace of Lhasa, Tibet. This brightly coloured monastery set against the deep blue sky looks spectacular, especially when viewed from a distance in the sun. Thiksey Gompa (Monastery) also has good restaurant that serves authentic Tibetan food.
Shey Palace: The Shey Monastery or Gompa and the Shey Palace complex are structures located on a hillock in Shey, 15 kilometres to the south of Leh on the Leh-Manali road. Shey was the summer capital of Ladakh in the past.
Magnetic hill: They say the magnetic hill has magnetic properties strong enough to pull cars uphill and force passing aircraft to increase their altitude in order to escape magnetic interference. You can go to Magnetic hill and find out for yourself the true story behind this mysterious hill!
Day 3 Drive from Leh to Spituk and trek to Zingchan Village
An early start is imperative for the Markha Valley Trek as there is no shade along the south banks of the Indus River until you enter the Zinchen Gorge. We will depart for Spituk from Leh by jeeps. In Spituk our team will be waiting for us with horses to carry our trekking equipment. The trek will begin along an old kucchha(un-metalled) road into a barren & dried region of Leh Ladakh with wild roses along the trail. After trekking through the parched land 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').
Day 4 Trek from Zingchen to Ganda La Base.
Today we will enter in the Hemis National Park and if we are fortunate you will get a rare sighting of a Ladakhi Ural or Arghali and other wildlife. Hemis National park is home to the lynx, Ladakhi Ural (a type of goat), Arghali (great Tibetan sheep), Bharal (blue sheep), red fox, Tibetan wolf, dhole (wild dog), marmot and mountain hare etc.(link) . After paying the entrance fee, we will climb gradually through a beautiful gorge before reaching the valley leading to the village of Rumbak. At Rumbak we will stop for tea at tea house made of a parachute run by women from the same village. After a cup of warm tea we will continue past the house of Yuruche before reaching our camp at the base of Ganda La (4545m). From our campsite there are spectacular views of Stok Kangri and the whole Stok range.
Day 5 Trek from Ganda La base to Skiu via Ganda La
A big day and if this is your first pass crossing in the Himalaya you will be impressed.From the Ganda La there are views north to the Ladakh Range while to the south the rugged folds of the Zanskar Range extend to the snow-capped peaks of the Himalaya.
After a few stretching exercises and breakfast, we will begin a 2-hour ascent towards Ganda La (4900m). The ubiquitous chorten and Tibetan prayer flags mark the top of the pass, where one may see Blue sheep, Marmots and Arghali roaming the hills around us. Views of the lofty Zanskar Range and the distant Himalaya Range are great as well. After a short rest, we will make a gradual descent to Shingo and break for lunch. We will finish the day by hiking for 2-hours through a spectacular gorge before making camp at Skiu (3300m). There are ruins of an old monastery and a castle which makes a perfect setting for a photography session with deep blue skies and barren landscape of Leh Ladakh in the background.
Day 6 Skyu to Markha
From Skiu we head east up the Markha Valley. After 2km the trail winds high above the riverbed. Floods in 2005 wiped out most of the then existing trails. There are a number of tiring 50m ascents and descents before the trail reaches a side gorge and potential campsite about 3km above Skiu. There is a dhaba selling buckthorn juice and locally made wheat biscuits run by the Women's Association of Ladakh.
En route there is an abundance of willow thickets and poplars where ancient mani walls and chortens line the trail and barren cliffs rise high above the valley.
The trail continues through a series of willow and gorse thickets to a bridge over the Markha River. Trekking along the Markha River we get stunning views of the valley below. We will cross the river at and reach Markha (3800m). Markha is the largest village in the valley, consisting of around 20 houses, an old monastery and a ruined fort. We have an option of staying in a village homestay in Markha or in our tents for the night.
Day 7 Markha to Thochuntse.
The Markha valley trail continues passed old stone-mills, a ruined castle and the auspicious monastery of Techa, which is proudly perched upon a cliff that looms above Markha. 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 mighty Mt. 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 one in the valley), we will continue onward to the lovely green pasture of Thachungste (4100m), where we will camp for the night.
Day 8 Thochuntse to Nimaling
After breakfast we will follow a trail which leads us up to the beautiful plateau of Nimaling, where the people of the Markha Valley bring their herds to graze during the summer months. At 4700m, Nimaling is the highest camp (4600m) on the trek, giving us spectacular views of the huge peak of Kang Yatse to the right.
Day 9 Nimaling to Shang Sumdo and drive to Leh
We will cross Kongmaru La (5200m), the highest pass on the trek, and from there we will have a wonderful view of the Indus Valley and Ladakh Range. The descent is quite steep, but will gradually level out as we enter Shang Gorge, with its fascinating 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).
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