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Markha Valley Trek

Monasteries, Monks, People, Villages.
Duration of Trek: 08 Days 
Best Period: June to September
Highest Point: Kongmaru La (5,100m) 
Focus: Monasteries, Monks, People, Villages. 
Highlight: Markha Valley Trek, Monasteries and Landscape.
Physical Challenge: Moderate

Day 01- Leh/Spituk/Zingchen 5 hours 
After the breakfast drive to Spituk Bridge behind the Spituk monastery, around 7 kms from Leh town. From Spituk bridge starts the trekking along Indus River walking through flat and desolate plane at the foot of the Stok Mountain. Gradually, you will leave the view of busy Leh-Srinagar highway and move towards wilderness of Himalaya.  Soon you arrive at Zingchen through a gorge, which gives you a feeling of complete isolation. Stay overnight in Camp at Zingchen. 

Day 02- Zingchen to Yurutse 4 to 5 hours
Leave Zingchen for Rumbak through a straight forward road; leaving village, you enter Hemis national park for the preservation of Snow leopard, Baharal, marmot, wolf etc. Walk through a narrow trail and valley widens as you arrive Rumbak and camp at Yurutse below Gandala Pass. Overnight in Camp.

Day 03- Yurutse to Skyu 6-7 hours
From Yurutse follow the path along the mountain side, then cross a small valley and follow zig zag steep path. There after cross Gandala pass (4380m). Then walk the long descent towards Shingo for 2 hrs that will lead to the valley of Markha and after few hundred meters you reach Skyu. Overnight halt in tents.

Day 04- Sku to Markha 7-8 hours 
From Skyu, follow a good path on the right bank of Markha where one can find great vegetation. Then cross the right bank of river then the barren plain and arrive at Chaluk. Thereafter, walk along the left bank of river and after another crossing climb towards Markha village. Towards the end of the village there are good camp site near the river. Overnight stay in tents.

Day 05- Markha to Thachungtse 5-6 hours 
Right after breakfast you start trekking in the morning to reach Tchatchutse via Hankar village.  Overnight in tents. 

Day 06- Thachungtse to Nimaling 4-5 hours 
After breakfast start trekking to reach Nimaling. Nimaling (4900 M) has a sweeping pasture where thousands of sheep, goats and yaks graze during the summer months. Rising to the south is 6400 M high Kang Yatse (Nimaling Peak), a lovely mountain, but not an easy one to climb. Overnight in tents.

Day 07- Nimaling to Shang Sumdo 6-7 hours
After breakfast start trekking to reach Kongmaru La (5100 M). The trek to Kongmaru 
la passes through narrow gorges. From the top of the pass, you can have a view of Ladakh ranges and the sight of villages to the north of Indus valley is excellent. Cross the pass and proceed to Shang. Overnight in tents.

Day 08- Shang Sumdo to Hemis to Leh 6 hours
Walk along the stream down to Hemis monastery, which is one of the oldest and richest monasteries in Ladakh.Visit Hemis monastery and drive to Leh, enroute visit Thiksey Monastery, Shey Palace and Stok Palace cum museum.

Tour Ends