ECOLOGICALLY SUSTAINABLE, SMALL GROUP, LOW IMPACT TREKKING COMPANY IN INDIA
We Only Organize Lesser Done, Uncrowded, Customizable & Personalized, Small Group Private Trekking Tours In The Himalayas

Markha Valley Trek

Walking down the lanes into the roots of India and the Indus Valley Civilization

...Read Elaborate Description
  • 📅
    Duration
    9 days 8 nights
  • 🔼
    Altitude:
    5130m
  • 🛑
    Grade:
    Moderate+
  • 👍
    Best Time:
    Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
  • 🌞
    Temperatures:
    -5 to 6 on higher camps
  • 🚩
    Starts From:
    Leh
  • 🛪 
    Airport:
    Leh, Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport ( IXL)
  • 🚉
    Railway:
    Katra, (KEA), Jammu Tawi ( JAT)

Key Geographical Highlights

2 Popular Peaks:
Kang Yatse 1 ( 6400m ), Kang Yatse 2 ( 6200m )
2 High Passes:
Kongmaru La - 5130m ( 5130m ), Ganda La ( 4970m )
2 Rivers:
Markha River, Zanskar
1 Villages:
Leh
1 National Parks Or Forest Reserve:
Hemis National Park
Route MapFrequently Asked Questionsaltitude profileknow gradesReach Lehfind other treks

Daywise Itinerary For Markha Valley Trek

(click to read detailed route briefing, elevation graph, altitude time info and photos from the day)

  • ▼ Day 1Arrival DayLeh 3500m

    Arrive In Leh
    Overnight In: Leh (3500m )
    Accommodation: Hotel
    Meals Included: None
    Cost Of Transport Included: NO

    On reaching Leh, our team will meet you at the airport and drive to our hotel. All of a sudden when you land in Leh and breathe in the cool dry air of Ladakh, your body won't conform to the newly changed environment, that too in only a couple of hours. Not just the dry and cold wind. The Sun at the same time is very scorchy and hard. All of these are very new for your body and you need to give your body time to cope up.

    Staying hydrated is the key to a successful trek in Ladakh. Drink enough water from the previous night itself, and not after landing on Ladakh. Likewise, have a Vaseline convenient to apply to your nostrils to keep it moist, else you will feel the air is excessively dry and cold making it difficult to inhale comfortably.

    We rest for the rest of the day and meet up only in the evening for light Snacks and a formal Team Introduction where we share some important information on the trek preparation and planning.

    Day 1
    220 - Delhi
    Day 1
    3500 - Leh


    2hrs.

    • day1 photo - leh city
    • day1 photo - leh cityscape
  • ▼ Day 2Acclimatization DayLeh 3500m

    Walk To Tsemo Monastery. Return To Leh. Explore Shanti Stupa & Nearby. - 4 - 5 Hrs.
    Overnight In: Leh (3500m )
    Accommodation: Hotel
    Meals Included: Morning tea, Breakfast

    Today we spend our day visiting places around Leh and acclimatizing further. Leh is at a very high altitude and this day is very important for us. We visit places like Leh Palace, Chemo Monastery, Shanti Stupa, etc. Each of these places can be hiked to and it's the best for us to do, if we are not feeling exhausted. If we do, we need to take some light walks in the town itself for some window shopping. Leh has some good shops selling trekking gear. So you can do some last moment purchases. In the evening we will visit the monastery of Shanti Stupa to seek some peaceful aura around it.

    Tomorrow we start the trek. Hence we recheck that we are all set for it. Do the last moment purchases, repack our bag according to the trek requirement, have dinner and sleep early.

    Day 2
    3500 - Leh
    Day 2
    3600 - Tsemo Monastery
    Day 2
    3500 - Leh
    Day 2
    3600 - Shanti Stupa
    Day 2
    3500 - Leh


    4 - 5hrs.

    • day2 photo - acclimatization in leh
    • day2 photo - acclimatization trek to tsemo monastery
    • day2 photo - leh city from leh palace
    • day2 photo - tsemo monastery in leh
  • ▼ Day 3Trekking DaySkiu 3400m

    From Leh (3500m ) To Skiu (3400m ), Via - Chilling (3200m ) - 5 - 6 Hrs.
    Overnight In: Skiu (3400m )
    Accommodation: Camping
    Meals Included: Morning Tea, Breakfast, Lunch, Evening Tea Snacks, Soup, Dinner, Dessert, Hot Drinks

    Today morning, after breakfast, we drive to Chilling the road-head for our trek to the Markha Valley. The bridge to cross the river is broken by the recent flood and hence you get to cross the river in an interesting rope trolley. I bet if you have not done it before, the adventure begins right away!

    All your trek stuff and equipment are transferred in a similar fashion. Once you cross the river, the horses are loaded, and then we are set to start our trek to Markha Valley. Today, we camp at Skiu – A 3-hour easy trek on a mostly flat trail with occasional short ascends and descend.

    The trek route is very interesting and the landscape is very fascinating and unique. The sudden appearance of few green patches on the otherwise barren, creamy mountain adds a unique contrast to the scenery. Sightings of a few wild animals and locals enhance the day. Our campsite is defined and we after some 3- 4 hours, we reach our campsite.

    Day 3
    3500 - Leh
    Day 3
    3200 - Chilling
    Day 3
    3400 - Skiu


    5 - 6hrs.

    • day3 photo - the pulley bridge crossing zanskar river in chilling
    • day3 photo - towards skiu on markha trek
    • day3 photo - very old mane near skiu on markha trek
    • day3 photo - start of the markha trek towards skiu
    • day3 photo - small old chortens near skiu on markha trek
  • ▼ Day 4Trekking DayMarkha 3700m

    From Skiu (3400m ) To Markha (3700m ) - 5 - 6 Hrs.
    Overnight In: Markha (3700m )
    Accommodation: Camping
    Meals Included: Morning Tea, Breakfast, Lunch, Evening Tea Snacks, Soup, Dinner, Dessert, Hot Drinks

    Waking up to a wonderful morning in Skiu, today we trek to the village of Markha. An easy trek with almost a flat walks on most parts of the trail, with occasional short ascents and descends like yesterdays. The beauty of this tree is that the daily walks aren't difficult, but the beauty is uncomparable.

    The views throughout are breathtaking. Watch out for the different and unique rockscapes and structures of the mountains formed by wind and water erosion. With our previous experiences, we tried to tickle our imagination with the illusions created by these unique structures and strongly supported our conclusions of what they looked like -  ‘trunks of many elephant’, ‘doorway to a very old tomb’, 'dinosaurs', etc. It's an interesting game to play which keeps us engaged with the mountains continuously and it goes unrealized when we reach our campsite.

    Markha is a very beautiful campsite. The campsite is designated on a flat meadow with the stream flowing by. Do take time out in the evening to visit an old monastery nearby.

    Day 4
    3400 - Skiu
    Day 4
    3700 - Markha


    5 - 6hrs.

    • day4 photo - approaching markha
    • day4 photo - leaving from skiu to markha
    • day4 photo - seabuck bush seen on markha trek
    • day4 photo - walking the beautiful rever bed towards markha
    • day4 photo - flat green campsite of markha
  • ▼ Day 5Trekking DayHankar 3980m

    From Markha (3700m ) To Hankar (3980m ) - 4 - 5 Hrs.
    Overnight In: Hankar (3980m )
    Accommodation: Camping
    Meals Included: Morning Tea, Breakfast, Lunch, Evening Tea Snacks, Soup, Dinner, Dessert, Hot Drinks

    The trek to Hankar from Markha is a very beautiful trail. It's a short and simple one, and we have kept it so to enable you to spend some good time in this prosperous valley of Greens with the snow-covered peak of Kang Yaste hovering over it from the top. It's just a beautiful place to be in, and just passing by will not do justice to it. Spend a night here, talk to the local herders and farmers. Know more about them. All of these make your journey memorable, not just the photos. It's the last village on this route before we venture into the wildlands of the snow leopard ad ibexes.

    Day 5
    3700 - Markha
    Day 5
    3980 - Hankar


    4 - 5hrs.

    • day5 photo - some amazing rockscape towards hankar
    • day5 photo - the beautiful village of hankar on markha trek
    • day5 photo - wonderful rockscape on markha trek
    • day5 photo - various rock forms of ladakh near hankar
  • ▼ Day 6Trekking DayNimaling 4730m

    From Hankar (3980m ) To Nimaling (4730m ), Via - Thochungtse (4200m ) - 5 - 6 Hrs.
    Overnight In: Nimaling (4730m )
    Accommodation: Camping
    Meals Included: Morning Tea, Breakfast, Lunch, Evening Tea Snacks, Soup, Dinner, Dessert, Hot Drinks

    After spending a peaceful night in the village of Hankar, today we will head to the lush green, high-altitude pasture land of Nimaling. The terrain changes immediately after crossing Hankar with no mentionable greens to be seen further. The route is jaw-dropping with unique structures of the mountains and the rocks. Here it is very easy to spot blue sheep and ibex, snow leopards too !!

    A walk of some 2 - 3 hours brings us to a small grassy plain which is the designated campsite of Thochungtse. After taking some rest here, we head towards Nimaling.

    After crossing Thochungtse, we climb a mountain hump straight ahead of us. At that altitude, it does take some time, but once done, enjoy up-close views of Kang Yatse. An elegant-looking, huge mountain massif, overwhelming us with its presence. We reach a small lake where we rest and watch the reflection of Kang Yatse on the water surface. It is from here, the route splits and one goes to Kang Yatse base camp and the other one descends to Nimaling - a vast plateau encircled by tall mountains all over. From here, it's just a matter of about 30 minutes to reach Nimaling.

    Day 6
    3980 - Hankar
    Day 6
    4200 - Thochungtse
    Day 6
    4730 - Nimaling


    5 - 6hrs.

    • day6 photo - approaching thochungtse from hankar
    • day6 photo - campsite of thochungtse
    • day6 photo - reflection of kang yatse in a lake towards nimaling
    • day6 photo - unique sculptures of ladakh
    • day6 photo - fresh snowfall in nimaling on markha trek
  • ▼ Day 7Exploration DayNimaling 4730m

    Excursion to Kang Yatse BC & Nearby.. Return To Nimaling - 5 - 6 Hrs. 4 Kms
    Overnight In: Nimaling (4730m )
    Accommodation: Camping
    Meals Included: Morning Tea, Breakfast, Lunch, Evening Tea Snacks, Soup, Dinner, Dessert, Hot Drinks

    A rest day on this wonderful land. We use it to the fullest by exploring it deeper. We have the option to go till Kang Yatse Glacier, climb up nearby tops, etc. Its a vast lush green pasture green land. Just doing nothing here also is worthy enough.

    Day 7
    4730 - Nimaling
    Day 7
    4730 - Nimaling
    Day 7
    5000 - Kang Yatse BC
    Day 7
    4730 - Nimaling


    4Km, 5 - 6hrs.

    • day7 photo - high altitude pasture land of nimaling
    • day7 photo - kang yatse on markha trek
    • day7 photo - nimaling on markha trek
  • ▼ Day 8Trekking DayLeh 3500m

    From Nimaling (4780m ) To Leh (3500m ), Via - Kongmaru La (5130m ), Chuskirmo (4140m ) - 6 - 7 Hrs.
    Overnight In: Leh (3500m )
    Accommodation: Hotel
    Meals Included: Morning Tea, Breakfast, Lunch, Evening Tea Snacks, Soup, Dinner, Dessert, Hot Drinks

    One of the most beautiful days of the trek. This is the beauty of the Markha Valley Trek - 6 days into the trek, and it still does not stop getting beautiful and imposing. Today we negotiate the Kongmaru La (Gongmaru La) – 5130m, a high pass with wonderful views all around. Climbing through multiple switchbacks takes us to the summit of Kongmaru La in an hour or a little more, marked with lots of prayer flags furling with the wind. Spend some good time here to relish the views all around. Well, we do get mobile network here, so you can now call your beloved family members.

    After crossing the pass, it’s a steep descend down the beautiful Markha gorge. The views and the trail pass down following the narrow Markha gorge and is unbelievable unless you trek it. A sharp descend from the pass top gets us to Lartsa. From there, a trek of some 3 - 4 hours will bring you to the campsite of Chuskirmo. After a light refreshment here, we move further for about an hour to finish our trek. Our vehicle waits for us to take us to Leh.

    Day 8
    4780 - Nimaling
    Day 8
    5130 - Kongmaru La
    Day 8
    4140 - Chuskirmo
    Day 8
    3500 - Leh


    6 - 7hrs.

    • day8 photo - kongmaru la from nimaling
    • day8 photo - kongmarula 5130 meters
    • day8 photo - enroute chuskyirmo from kongmarula
    • day8 photo - blue sheep in chuskyirmo
    • day8 photo - the markha gorge
  • ▼ Day 9Departure DayDelhi 300m

    From Leh (3500m ) To Delhi (300m ) - 1 Hrs. 1 Kms
    Accommodation: None
    Meals Included: Morning tea, Breakfast
    Cost Of Transport Included: YES

    Departure from Leh for onward journey

    Day 9
    3500 - Leh
    Day 9
    300 - Delhi


    1Km, 1hrs.

from Rs. 35000 to Rs. 110000/-
+5% GST PER PERSON
Batch Size:
25-40 <10

inclusions & exclusions
cost terms
cancellation policy

Fixed Departure Dates

There are no scheduled dates. Please request a customized service by clicking below

 +91 8017216725

 +91 9434062849

 Write To Us

 WhatsApp Us

Review Widget

For regular updates, follow us

FacebookInstagramYouTubeYouTubeYouTube
  • leh city
  • leh cityscape
  • acclimatization in leh
  • acclimatization trek to tsemo monastery
  • leh city from leh palace
  • tsemo monastery in leh
  • the pulley bridge crossing zanskar river in chilling
  • towards skiu on markha trek
  • very old mane near skiu on markha trek
  • start of the markha trek towards skiu
  • small old chortens near skiu on markha trek
  • approaching markha
  • leaving from skiu to markha
  • seabuck bush seen on markha trek
  • walking the beautiful rever bed towards markha
  • flat green campsite of markha
  • some amazing rockscape towards hankar
  • the beautiful village of hankar on markha trek
  • wonderful rockscape on markha trek
  • various rock forms of ladakh near hankar
  • approaching thochungtse from hankar
  • campsite of thochungtse
  • reflection of kang yatse in a lake towards nimaling
  • unique sculptures of ladakh
  • fresh snowfall in nimaling on markha trek
  • high altitude pasture land of nimaling
  • kang yatse on markha trek
  • nimaling on markha trek
  • kongmaru la from nimaling
  • kongmarula 5130 meters
  • enroute chuskyirmo from kongmarula
  • blue sheep in chuskyirmo
  • the markha gorge
Wednesday, November 27, 2024 2:40:56 AM Categories:
Copyright For All Contents Reserved For Himalayan High

Celebrating 10+ Years of Himalayan Excellence

Over 10000+ Successful Summits with a remarkable 85% summit success ratio and 0% casualties.

Suman Chowdhury Montu Kumar Stanzin Clement Raju

Making Life Extra-Adventurous, We Create Experiences For Our Living

We are Incredible India and Indian Mountaineering Foundation approved proficient adventure tour operator and mountaineering experts serving exclusively in the Himalayas of India, Nepal, and Bhutan. We operate in the altitude range from 4000 to 7500 meters and support mountaineers from all around the globe, and of all grade in achieving their dream

We pledge to realize our client''s mountain goals by all means and effort. From the moment you start communicating with us, we start building your experience right away by crafting an authentic, raw and immersive travel experiences in the Himalayan, blending uncompromized safety standards with deeper knowledge of the terrain, locality, sprituality, and professional skills which have been roughened and shaped by loads of successes and failures in the Himalayas. We maintain a harmonious balance between luxury and comfort on the treks, Our entire team from top to bottom, is very friendly, highly flexible, and, most importantly are genuinely committed towards your goals and will leave no stones unturned to realize the success on the summit.

Since our inception, we have been devotionally committed to responsible tourism with strict adherence to eco-friendly and low-impact trekking practices. While there are a lot of companies boasting of being the largest, crowdiest, cheapest or oldest in the Country, we in Himalayan High take immense pride in being one of the smallest, yet the strongest and most trustworthy service provider in the Indian Himalayas. Our professionalism, mountaineering expertise, morality, work ethics and business conduct talk for itself as we are a growing business without putting any effort towards glamorous marketting because thats not where our audiences are, and thats not what our clients seek as well!

Our pioneering SMALL GROUP Policy, coupled with a trekker to guide ratio of 1:2, provides us unparalleled flexibility and strength which stands as the bedrock of our exceptional success on the summits in the field of mountaineering. With us, you are in the absolute right hands to build your experience. Its not just because we are professionals doing our duty, but because most of our initial efforts are put towards understanding you and your requirements first, and not to draw you towards a rigid travel plan and ride you through. Our reviews boasts of the same.

Come, join us to gift yourself a life-changing experience in the mighty Himalayas. We believe, if a person is not changed from inside after visiting the Himalayas, he actually didn't visit at all!

Atithi Devo Bhava!

We are proudly recognized by

incredible india recognition indian mountaineering foundation recognition adventure Tour operator association of india recognition west bengal tourism development recognition

Our Minimum Guaranteed Promises
And Unique Value Proposition

Commitment Towards Exceeding Expectations, Satisfied Customers and Happy Ecology


  • Objective Oriented - Safety First

    With an unwavering focus on the objectives of the trek, we plan the best for summit success while always prioritizing safety, and have a proven track record of keeping our this promise intact right from inception till date

  • Intimate & Immersive Journeys

    Committed to organizing lesser-done, un-crowded, less than 10 members trekking groups, ensuring an intimate and immersive trekking experience. Personalized plan make our treks dynamic, flexible, and successful

  • Professionals On The Job

    Our highly trained leaders are sons of the land and are professionals at their job. They possess extensive Himalayan experience and expertise, prioritizing trail safety and adeptly managing diverse trekking scenarios

  • Expert High Altitude Care

    Our high altitude expertise ensure impeccable medical safety, resulting in zero injuries or fatalities in our expedition history right from inception, reflecting our knowledge & commitment to a set protocols, alertness, and mountain discipline.

  • Superior Sleep Comfort

    We arrange a cozy camping experience with double foam waterproof mattresses, down sleeping bag inners, sub-zero outer sleeping bags, air pillows, and double-layered all-weather tents for superior insulation and comfort during your trek

  • Eco-friendly Hygienic Toilets

    We prioritize eco-friendly, hygienic camp toilets, minimizing environmental impact and prioritizing trekker comfort and well-being. Our human waste management in the Himalayas ensures a leave-no-trace approach strengthening sustainibility

  • Tailored & Flexible Arrangements

    Our team is dedicated to meeting your unique and demanding requirements, offering flexibility, customization, and personalization throughout the journey ensuring creation of lifelong memories and friendly bond

  • Hygienic Dining & High Altitude Menu

    Enjoy a cozy dining experience in our mess tent, furnished with camping tables, stools, solar lanterns and buffet meals perfectly suited for high altitudes. Indulge in a variety of local delicacies and comforting meals that are easily digestible, fulfilling, and energizing

  • Unmedicated Natural Acclimatization

    We focus only on natural acclimatization for success on the mountains and our belief in our bodily capacities has given us tremendous success. Disregarding means of chemical acclimatization with use of diamox and other shortcut medicines, we rather take pride in achieving success in the purest form

  • Safe Water - Safe Trek

    We take enough caution to prioritize your health by serving natural stream water that is filtered, boiled, and treated with water purifiers before it is provided to you. We also suggest our clients take double precautions at their end too, answering our diverse sensitivity to the water

  • Best Guide-to-Trekker Ratio 1:2

    We provide the industry's best guide-to-trekker ratio of 1:2 for all semi-technical and technical climbs, ensuring personalized attention and support throughout your journey. This results in exceptional trial support and response to emergencies or crisis situations

  • Emmergency & Rescue Planning

    We take a lot of care for managing emergencies and evacuation on the trek and take all required steps firstly to prevent, and then to respond to it on uneventful situations. Small things like taking extra resources, monitoring daily health, etc are a part of it.

  • Leave No Trace Policy

    We implement a comprehensive waste management process from procurement to disposal. Our commitment extends beyond social media posts, ensuring proper waste disposal without leaving a trace. It starts from what we buy, to what we carry on the trek to what we bring back.

  • Low Impact on Ecology

    Our commitment to smaller group sizes, eco-friendly methodologies, waste management practices, zero tolerance for fixed camps, and utilizing natural resources in the required quantity minimize our impact on the ecology, allowing for sustainable and responsible treks.

  • Boosting Microeconomy

    As part of our commitment to supporting local communities, we hire local resources and make all non-equipment and trek leader-related purchases locally. By doing so, we contribute to the growth of the microeconomy in the regions we operate. We wish to do more of it in the future.

Chasing Dreams And Creating Lifetime Memories

For 10+ years

Sign Up For Newsletter

Subscribe to the weekly newsletter for all the latest updates
© All Rights Reserved, 2014 - 2024

HIMALAYAN HIGH ALTITUDE TREKS AND EXPEDITIONS (OPC) PRIVATE LIMITED

Climbing Higher Peaks, Exploring Deeper Valleys

We are ecologically sustainable and low-impact trekking company in India working in the range of 3500 to 7500 meters only. We only organize lesser done, uncrowded, customizable & personalized, small-group private trekking tours in the himalayas of India, Nepal and Bhutan

 +91 8017216725

 +91 9434062849


 Write To Us

 WhatsApp Us

We are proudly recognized by

incredible india recognition indian mountaineering foundation recognition adventure Tour operator association of india recognition west bengal tourism development recognition

For regular updates, follow us

Facebook Instagram YouTube YouTube YouTube
Review Widget

Atithi Devo Bhava!

X