Markha Valley Expedition

Typical itinerary

1. Day 1: Depart the UK

   Depart London Heathrow on a direct overnight flight bound for Delhi.

2. Day 2: Arrive Delhi

   You will arrive into Delhi mid morning and be met by our agents who will transfer you to your hotel. If you wish, you may be able to enjoy an afternoon city tour, before heading back to your hotel for an early night, in readiness for your early morning flight to Leh tomorrow. Early morning transfer to the domestic airport at Delhi.

3. Day 3: Delhi to Leh

   This morning you will have a very early internal flight to Leh, the capital of Ladakh, in the north of the country. This surely is one of the most sensational scheduled flights in the world, taking you right over the top of the Greater Himalaya before dropping in a series of steep turns to land at the small military airport at Leh situated in a fertile valley north of the Indus River at an altitude of 3,505 metres.

4. Day 4: Leh: sightseeing tour

   After a relaxing morning you will have a half-day sightseeing tour including Shankar Gompa, Shanti Stupa and the stunning 16th Century Royal Palace. You should take it easy today and enjoy the tour around town. Leh is very Tibetan; the national dress, ‘stove-pipe’ hats and felt boots with turned-up toes are much in evidence. The Royal Palace, which dominates the town, is very reminiscent of the Potala in Lhasa and Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, large chortens, prayer flags and mud brick houses with flat roofs are a dramatic culture change from the hot, teeming frenetic rush of Delhi. Don’t try to do too much today, just look around the bazaars and if you’re feeling really keen and strong, walk out to one of the villages just to the north. If you’re lucky, there may even be a polo match for you to watch at the polo ground in the old part of town.

5. Day 5: Leh: rest day / acclimatisation

   Today is a rest day for your to do as you wish, adding to your acclimatisation process. Some groups have taken a short and leisurely stroll up to the Shanti Stupa, while others have hired 4x4 vehicles to drive them to the Khardung Pass (at 5602m it is the second highest driveable road in the world). Otherwise you can just relax and unwind at your accommodation or enjoy some shopping in the local markets. Whatever you choose, it will be essential that you continue to acclimatisation for your main trek which will start tomorrow

6. Day 6: Leh to Skiu

   This morning, after breakfast, you will transfer to Chilling, from where you will start your trek. Chilling is a village renowned for its black smiths and craftsmen who work with metals like copper, tin and silver to make ladles, Chang pots and tea pots etc. From Chilling you will cross the Zanskar river by rope trolley and trek for about 3 to 4 hours to Siku, where you will be camping.

7. Day 7: Skiu to Markha

   Today is a very pleasant walk up one of the loveliest sections of the Markha valley. Woody bushes grow thickly along the river, which is spanned by several bridges over which the trail passes to reach the substantial village of Markha, which has a fascinating monastery, well worth a visit. Along the way you can see ancient chorterns marking the pathway.

8. Day 8: Markha: day trek

   You will camp tonight in the village of Markha again and so today can be spent doing a day-trek into the surrounding area.

9. Day 9: Markha to Tahungtse

   Having had a day off yesterday, you will continue your trek on a trail that continues eastwards climbing steadily up the valley. Coming in from the south is the trail from Rubarung La, one of the routes from Zangla and the Zanskar Valley. From Markha the country changes and the warm, relatively heavily wooded section of the lower Markha is left behind. The camp below the twin villages of Lower and Upper Hankar (the highest village in the Markha valley) is distinctly cooler than at Markha. Between the two villages is a ruined fort, the walls of which climb sharply up a crag to an eyrie of a lookout tower, worth visiting for those with a good head for heights.

10. Day 10: Tahungtse to Nimaling

    From Hankar the trail climbs steadily up the now narrow valley. The Nimaling plain is a broad undulating meadow, sloping upwards to the base of the ice-clad Kangyaze (6553 metres) which dominates the area. Nimaling, with tiny ponds and rivulets flowing all over its meadows, provides pastures in the summer for an astonishing number of animals; yaks, sheep, goats, dzos and horses, not only from Markha, but also from other villages. Himalayan marmots and white-tailed hares are seen in plenty and it is not unusual to spot the occasional blue sheep or wolf.

11. Day 11: Nimaling: rest day

    Spend a day here in this beautiful place exploring the area and having some time to relax and recover from your efforts so far, and doing some washing of your clothes!

12. Day 12: Nimaling to Shang Sumdo

    Today you cross to the north of the Markha, climbing to the Kongmaru La (5030 metres), with its wonderful views from the top. Luckily, this only takes about 2 hours and (unusually for a pass) there are no false ridges! There are snow peaks in every direction and on a clear day the giants of the Karakoram, including K2, can be seen on the north-western horizon. The trail descends steeply to the head of the Martselang valley past the sulphur springs of Chyushkarmo, and follows the Martselang stream to the village of Shang-Sumdo, at the confluence of the Shang Nala and the Martselang and where your trek will finish.

13. Day 13: Shang Sumdo to Leh

    Today you will travel back to Leh, visiting Hemis Gompa en route before transferring back to Leh via Thikse Gompa and Shey Palace. All three are the most famous, colourful monasteries of the Indus valley.

14. Day 14: Leh

    Today is mainly a contingency day that we have built into the itinerary. However, it does also give you the opportunity to further explore this amazing region and some groups have organised their own day trip to the Khardung Pass (at 5602m it is the second highest driveable road in the world).

15. Day 15: Leh to Agra

    Leaving Leh, you will fly to Delhi before driving to Agra, arriving in the late afternoon where you will spend the evening visiting the Agra Fort and have some time for relaxation in the evening (we recommend that you beat the crowds and go to the Taj Mahal tomorrow morning for sunrise).

16. Day 16: Agra to Delhi

    Today you will be perfectly placed to spend most of the day at the Taj Mahal visiting this most spectacular, world famous building. Afterwards, you will head back to Delhi and transferred to your accommodation for the rest of the night.

17. Day 17: Fly back to the UK

    This morning you will transfer to the airport for your daytime flight, back home to the UK.