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Trekking In Markha Valley |
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A feast of scenic and ethnic
diversity, the Markha Valley Trek is one of the Ladakh's classic
treks, a rugged high-altitude hiking on Stok range. Begin the
Trek at the famous trailhead at Hemis Monastery. Along the way
we pass prayer flags rippling silently in the fresh wind, and
walk into small green valleys, greeted by cheery herders.
We cross three passes including Kongmaru La (5150 Mts.), higher
than two others' to reach the Markha valley south of Leh.
Many named & un-named peaks in the altitude range of 5500
Mts. To 6400 Mts. makes the great amphitheater. We start our
trek at Martselang & end our trek at the village of Stok.
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 Detailed
Itinerary |
Day-To-Day
Itinerary |
 Day
01 : Arrive Delhi |
| Arrive at New Delhi’s
international airport a Mountain Trails World Travel representative will
be waiting for you outside the EXIT gate of arrival terminal,
holding a Mountain Trails placard. Met upon arrival and transfer to your
hotel for overnight stay. Overnight at Hotel |
| Day
02 : Delhi |
Morning visit IMF for briefing. Afternoon
half day city tour of Old and New Delhi. Overnight at hotel. |
| Day
03 : Delhi – Leh (3650 Mts.) By air 9W 609 D: 0540 A:
0655 |
| AM: Departure transfer to New Delhi airport
to board Flight 9W 609 at 0540 to Leh. Met upon arrival at Leh
airport and transfer to your hotel. Rest of the day at leisure
for acclimatization .Overnight at hotel. |
| Day
04 : Leh |
| AM: Free for acclimatization.
PM: Begin your tour with short visits and walks to nearby monasteries
and Leh palace. Today you shall walk to Sankar Gompa, an easy
couple of kilometres walk north of the town centre, this Gompa
belongs to Gelukpa order and has an impressive representation
of the Buddhist deity of compassion, Avalokiteshvara (or Chenresig),
complete with 1000 arms and 1000 heads. Later on drive to Shanti
Stupa, built by a Japanese order whose intention is to spread
Buddhism by building temples through out the world. This stupa
is located at commanding height and gives great views and excellent
orientation of Leh and surroundings. Continue driving to Namgyal
Tsemo Hill, buily in 1430, contains a fine three storey-high
Buddha image, ancient manuscripts and frescos. |
| Day
05 : Leh – Visit to Shey, Thiksey & Hemis |
Leh is an excellent base for excursions
to several nearby monasteries and other worthwhile points
of interest. Morning proceed for a full day sightseeing
of Shey, Thiksey and Hemis.
Shey- the fifteenth century summer palace and monastery
that belongs to the royal family of Leh. The monastery
famous for its 30 feet taal, copper gilt statue of a meditating
Sakyamuni, called Shey Thubha (Lord Buddha). The nearby
Victory Stupa, Ladakh’s largest, is crowned in pure
gold. |
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Thiksey- Set atop a hill this 800 years
old Gompa offers a panoramic view of the fertile Indus Valley.
The Gompa has numerous chambers, including one hall with a
recently constructed enormous 2 Storey high, painted clay
statue of Maitreya in the meditation pose.
Hemis- Built in the 1600s by the King Singe Namgyal, this
monastery is an imposing architectural tour de-force –
one that hits your suddenly. Prayer flags fluttering from
tall pillars in the courtyard wave you forward. Hemis also
famous for gold statues, stupas studded with precious stones,
and the great collection of Thangkas, including one claimed
to be the largest in existence, exhibited once every 11 years.
Overnight at Hotel. |
| Day
06 : Leh – Martselang (Drive 1 Hour) |
| Morning at leisure to do your own things,
after a leisurely lunch at your hotel you shall drive to the
Trek head at Martselang, where you shall spent your first night
in camps. Overnight in Tents |
| Begin
Trekking |
| Day
07 : Martselang – Chogdo (3956 Meters) (Trek 5-6 Hours) |
| After a leisurely breakfast at your
camps in Martselang you shall start trekking, late in
the morning at about 0900 hrs since this is our first
day of trekking, porters and mule mans will do the load
distribution for balanced loading on the mules. Today’s
trek is going to be gentle one. Start trekking, the trail
in the beginning is a jeep able wide trek, as you cross
first village of your trek, the trail becomes thin and
passes through the paddy and wheat fields, after some
time the trail dis- |
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river bed, hopping over the small streams and boulders, you
shall then take a left turn in the river bed and after walking
for about an hour you shall arrive at your campsite for the
evening. |
| Day
08 : Chogdo – Churkimo (4300 Meters) (Trek 5-6 Hours)
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| In the beginning the
trail shall pass through some spectacular gorges, and
then shall rise gradually for a couple hours before it
takes a steep ascent to reach the campsite at the base
of Kongmaru La. Overnight in Tents |
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Day
09 : Churkimo – Kongmaru La (5150 Meters) – Nimaling
(4268 Meters)
(Trekking 6-7 Hours) |
| You shall begin early
today, the trail starts with very gentle rise in the beginning
as you start approaching the foot of the pass gradient
becomes more steep and soon you shall approach one of
the most strenuous part of the trekking as you approach
the top of the pass, the trail becomes steep and turns
into small zigzag stretches. Once you reach the pass the
views of Nimaling plains on the other side of the pass
and Mt. Kang Yatze (6400 Meters) on left hand side are
breathtaking. |
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| Start gradual descend towards the Nimaling
plains and turn left to go further below to the Nimaling pastures,
you shall cross the Markha river today, either over a bridge
made up of wooden planks/log or through knee deep water, you
shall then arrive at one of the biggest grazing grounds of Markha
valley and your campsite for tonight. An evening walk towards
the ridgeline shall offer you great views of Mt. Kang Yatze.
Nimaling is also going to be the highest camp on your trek.
Overnight in Tents. |
| Day
10 : Nimaling – Hankar – Markha (3650 Meters) (Trekking
5-6 Hours) |
| Start walking through the pastures
and cross a small mountain lake, as you start descending
to the village of Hankar, you shall cross the river for
more than one occasion and the trail shall then enter
in the fields of paddy as you approach the Village of
Markha, we shall cross the village and river over a small
village and then arrive at our campsite either at the
banks of the river or amidst the plantations. Overnight
in Tents |
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| Day
11 : Markha (Rest Day) |
| Today is going to be
the only rest day on this trek, you shall have an opportunity
for bathing, washing and exploring the Markha Village.
Overnight in Tents |
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Day
12 : Markha – Skiu (3567 Meters)
(Trekking 5-6 Hours) |
| Today’s trek
is more or less gentle along the river and fields. Arrive
at the campsite just before the village of Skiu. Overnight
in Tents |
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Day
13 : Skiu – Shingo (3450 Meters) (Trekking 4-5 Hours)
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| Day
17 : Leh – Delhi (Flight) 9W 610 (0730-0845) |
| Departure transfer
to board the flight for Delhi, met upon arrival
at New Delhi airport and transfer to your hotel.
Later proceed for a half day Delhi Sight Seeing.
Overnight at Hotel.
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18 : Delhi (Day Excursion to Agra) |
| Full
Day excursion to Agra to see famous Taj Mahal. (Also
serves as a reserve day in case there is a cancellation
of flight on Leh-Delhi route, which happens at times).
Evening return to Delhi and transfer to the International
Airport to board the Homeward Flight. |
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Day
15 : Stok to Shepherd Camp (4800 mt). |
| After breakfast start
trek to Shepherd Camp. Trek through spectacular gorge
surrounded by rocky pinnacles all over. Camp near the
Shepard Camp. |
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16 : Shepard Camp-Base Camp (5100mt) – Trek 3-4
hrs |
| Morning start trekking to
reach the base camp of Mt Stok Kangari. Arrive at
camp and spend afternoon and evening at leisure. |
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| Day
17 : Summit Attempt |
| Early morning
summit attempt and return to Shepherd Camp. |
Day
18 : Shepherd Camp-Stok and drive to
Leh |
| Trek down to
Stok village and thereafter drive to Leh. Afternoon
free to rest and relax. Overnight at hotel. |
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| Day
19 : Leh |
| Day free to rest and
relax or explore the down town. Overnight at Hotel |
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20 : Leh – Delhi (Flight) 9W 610 (0730-0845) |
| Departure transfer to board the
flight for Delhi, met upon arrival at New Delhi airport
and transfer to your hotel. Afternoon visit IMF for de-briefing.
Overnight at hotel. |
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21 : Delhi (Day Excursion to Agra) |
| Full Day excursion to Agra
to see famous Taj Mahal. (Also serves as a reserve day in case
there is a cancellation of flight on Leh-Delhi route, which
happens at times). Evening return to Delhi and transfer to the
International Airport to board the Homeward Flight. |
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