Markha Valley Trek and Stok Kangri Expedition

After Breakfast visit the Monasteries of Shey, Thiksey and Hemis monastery.

 Shey: It was the ancient capital of Ladakh and even after King Singee Namgyal built the more imposing palace at Leh, the king continued to regard Shey,as their real home.The importance which was attached to Shey – the seat of Ladakh’s heartland – is attested by the enormous number of chortain about the village, particularly around the palace complex and barren plain to the north of the road. 

Thiksey: is one of the largest and most impressive Gompas. There are several temples in this gompa containing images, stupas and exquisite wall paintings. It also houses a two storied statue of Buddha which has the main prayer hall around its shoulder.

Hemis: which is dedicated to Padmasambhava, what a visitor can observes a series of scenes in which the lamas, robed in gowns of rich, brightly colored brocade and sporting masks sometimes bizarrely hideous, parade in so lemon dance and mime around the huge flag pole in the center of the courtyard to the plaintive melody of the Shawn. The moan of the eleven feet horns, the boom of drums and the clash of Cymbals. Hemis was found in the 1630’s by Tsang-ras-pa under the royal patronage of Singee Namgyal, Hemis is the largest and richest of the Ladakh Gompas. It nestles into the mountain  side a little way up a glen in the mountain side a little way up a glen in the mountains of Zanskar range.

Drive from Leh to Rumbak village (2 hrs by taxi), visiting Spituk Monastery on the way near Leh Airport. After the monastery visit, continue driving to the Rumbak camping site, where the Rumbak River meets the Indus, flowing down a mighty canyon. Further into the valley, discover the picturesque village of Rumbak, home to 15 families. In the evening, explore the village surroundings. Overnight at the Rumbak camp.

After breakfast, trek to Ganda La base camp via Yurtse, the only house along this route. It’s a wonderful area for spotting wildlife and high-altitude birds. If you are lucky, you might spot Blue sheep, Himalayan Snowcock, Marmot, Eurasian Lynx, and the Snow leopard. Overnight at camp.

A walk along the mountainside up to the Ganda-La pass, situated at an altitude of 4850 meters, followed by an easy descent towards Shingo village. Overnight at camp in Shingo village.mp.

From Shingo, the trail leads into a narrow gorge heading towards Sku. At Sku, there is a confluence of the rivers coming from Markha Valley and Shingo. Today’s trek involves several river crossings, but it is relatively easy. In the evening, explore Sku village. Overnight at the camp.

Today’s trek is not too long but is an easy walk along the valley towards Sara House with only two river crossings. The colors of the barren mountains of Ladakh are truly spectacular, changing dramatically with the sunrise and sunset. Following the rivers, we may need to cross them at times. Sara is a very beautiful place for camping. Overnight at camp.

After breakfast in the morning, we will proceed towards Markha village. Beyond the settlement of Chalak, there is an impressive line of chortens and a huge mound of goat horns placed on the chortens. Climbing up to a small pass, we descend again to the rivers, and a medieval fort silhouetted on the hillside indicates that we have almost reached Markha village. Overnight at camp.

The most beautiful part of the trek begins today as you enter the upper Markha valley. Spectacular views open up, featuring Kang Yatse, a near-perfect pyramid. Take the trail climbing up from Markha village, alongside the Markha River. Disregard a wooden plank bridge after Markha village and continue walking with the river to your right. About 2 km later, wade through Markha River, requiring at least two crossings today. After the second river crossing, it’s a 2-hour hike up to Umlung, a small settlement. Look for Umlung Gompa and cross from its base to reach Umlung. Climbing up from Umlung offers the first breathtaking view of Mt. Kang Yatse. Two hours of walking along a gorge brings you to the picturesque village of Hankar.

After Hankar village, near the bridge, take the left valley leading to Nimaling, the highest campsite at 4700 meters in the Markha trek. Nimaling serves as a grazing ground where villagers bring their livestock. In the evening, observe the sheep and goats grazing. You can hike up to the base of the Kangyatse glacier in a few hours from Nimaling. Overnight at camp.

Today’s trek promises to be challenging yet filled with pleasant surprises. You start with a short but steep climb to the Kongmaru La, where you’ll be greeted by the spellbinding beauty of the Karakoram Mountain Ranges and the majestic Mt. K2—one of the highest peaks in the world, second only to Mt. Everest. With prayer flags dancing in the chilly wind, the mountains playing hide and seek with the morning sun, and ranges stretching seemingly till eternity, this is a sight etched in your memory forever. After relishing this breathtaking scene, you begin your descent to Chokdo village. Overnight at Chokdo camp.

After a 3-hour taxi ride from Leh, the trek begins at the Stok trekking point, heading towards the Chang Ma Chen camping site, which takes approximately 4-5 hour

Today’s trek is 3-4 hours

The base camp is situated approximately 4 km from the Mankarmo campsite, and a challenging ascent leads through lush greenery and streams. The base camp stands out as one of the most beautiful places, offering breathtaking views and serving as a worthy campsite. It presents a sight of extraordinary beauty with dozens of peaks awaiting exploration, adding a delightful touch of nature’s beauty and adventure in the Himalayas. With the endless beauty of Leh and panoramic views of the snow-capped mountains, the Stok Kangri trekking trail is a magnificent experience in nature. Overnight at the camp.

Depending on weather and snow conditions, we depart early around 1:00 am or 2:00 am, as the night sky is clearer and colder, making the snow firmer for walking. Before starting, we have a cup of coffee and grab our lunch bags. With torches in hand, we walk into the night, guided by the moon’s silvery glow if it’s a full moon night. It’s a strenuous walk, and in the last part, we may use ice axes, crampons, and possibly a rope, depending on snow conditions. As we approach the top, any hardships are forgotten, surrounded by one of the most beautiful sights in the Himalayas, illuminated by the slowly rising morning sun. In good weather conditions, we can see the Saser group in the Karakoram Range, where K2 lies. To bring good fortune, we leave a khatag, a religious scarf, on the mountain top with prayer flags. After leaving the peak, we descend to the base camp, and upon arrival, the only thing on our minds is diving into our sleeping bags for a welcome rest.

Return to Leh from base camp.

Departure to Airport with sweet memories of Ladakh.