HIGH MOUNTAIN PASSES AND BUDDHIST MONASTERIES OF NORTHERN INDIA

• Remote and spectacular landscapes
• High mountain pass crossings
• Colorful Buddhist monasteries
• Visit the incredible Taj Mahal

Ladakh truly is a land like no other bounded by two of the world’s mightiest mountain ranges, the Great Himalaya and the Karakoram. Ladakh’s remoteness and awesome high-altitude landscape are just a few of the many attractions to adventure travelers, as Ladakh’s Tibetan-style traditions and lifestyles remain firmly entrenched in day to day life and largely untouched by the western world. Ladakh was a vital link in the ancient Central Asian trade route network. For close to 900 years, Ladakh was an independent kingdom, its dynasties descendent from the king of old Tibet. Its political fortunes ebbed and flowed over the centuries, and the kingdom was at its greatest in the early 17th century under the famous King Sengge Namgyal, whose rule extended across Spiti and western Tibet up to the Mayumla and beyond to the sacred sites of Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar.

Ladakh is a high-altitude desert, sheltered from the rain-bearing clouds of the Indian monsoon by the barrier of the Great Himalaya. It lies at altitudes ranging from about 9,000 feet (2,750m) at Kargil to 25,170 feet (7,672m) at Saser Kangri in the Karakoram. Thus, summer temperatures rarely exceed about 85 degrees but winter temperatures can plummet to -20 degrees in Leh! Trekking in Ladakh is a rewarding experience and made tough mostly due to its high average altitude. The Markha Valley trek is one of the most beautiful in Ladakh. It includes an exciting crossing of the Zanskar River by trolley or jola bridge at the village of Chiling. It leads through several villages in the Sham and Markha valleys and passes by many chortens and mani walls. The beautiful valley of Markha is overshadowed by many spectacular peaks, Stok Kangri (6123m) and Kang Yatse are the most notable. The trekking route crosses the high and wild pass of Kongmaru La (5150m), the highest point on this trek. We also pass through the Hemis National Park, created to preserve the endangered snow leopard and other of the area’s precious wildlife. We end at Hemis, home to the most famous monastery of Ladakh.

The Markha Valley Trek (Camping Trip) is part of our Himalayan Classic Trek Series. Our Classic Treks are led by an experienced, English-speaking Sherpa Guide and full support crew. We are able to arrange this trek starting on any day of the week during the months of June through October for groups of 1 to 10 people. Please contact us with any questions or to receive a detailed day to day Trip Itinerary.

TRIP OUTLINE:
Day 1: Arrive Delhi. Meet & transfer to group hotel.
Day 2: Morning flight to Leh. Afternoon free. Hotel.
Day 3: Sightseeing tour of Leh and the Indus Valley. Hotel.
Day 4: Day hike in the Leh countryside. Visit the Leh Palace. Hotel.
Day 5: Drive to Lato and trek to Rumback. 3-4 hours of trekking. Camp.
Day 6: Trek to the base of the Ganda La Pass. 5-6 hours of trekking. Camp.
Day 7: Trek over the Ganda La Pass at 16,000 feet to Skiu. 6 hour trek. Camp.
Day 8: Trek to Markha Village. 7 hours of trekking. Camp.
Day 9: Trek to Thachungste Village. 7 hours of trekking. Camp.
Day 10: Trek to the high plains of Nimaling. 5 hours of trekking. Camp.
Day 11: Cross the Kongmaru La Pass at 16,730 feet to Chuskyurmo. 7 hour trek. Camp.
Day 12: Trek to Chogdo & visit Hemis Monastery and drive to Leh. 3 hour trek. Hotel.
Day 13: Free day exploring around Leh. Hotel.
Day 14: Fly back to Delhi. Afternoon is free to relax. Hotel.
Day 15: Morning train to Agra. Taj Mahal sightseeing. Drive to Delhi. Day rooms at hotel until departure.