The Markha Valley Trek
Ladakh, with its awesome landscape and with its colourful people, is an amazing place to visit. This ethereal cold desert, known as ‘The Last Shangri La’ and ‘The Little Tibet’, seldom fails to surprise. Flanked by two of the world’s mightiest mountain ranges, the Great Himalayas and the Karakoram, Ladakh lies athwart two other mountain ranges i.e. the Ladakh range and the Zanskar range
Day 1: Delhi – Leh
Fly to Leh. Leh is the headquarters of the Ladakh region and an interesting town with its colorful people and great food. On arrival at hotel, settle into rooms. Morning at leisure resting. Post lunch guests are advised to stay in the hotel to acclimatize for the trip. Dinner. Retire for the night. Spending the first afternoon at leisure in the hotel is a must.
Day 2: At Leh
Post breakfast, explore Leh Bazaar. Lunch. Post lunch, drive to Shanti Stupa for a bird’s eye view of Leh town and then walk down the steps of the Stupa. Visit Spituk Monastery.
The Spituk Gompa “Exemplary”; located 7 km southwest of Leh, was founded in the 11th century AD, when the monastic community was introduced.
Drive back to Leh. Evening at leisure. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 3: At Leh
Breakfast. Post breakfast we depart for a tour of the famous monasteries of Ladakh ie Hemis, Thiksey and Shey Palace. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 4: Leh-Chilling
Early morning wake up call followed by breakfast. Post breakfast, we drive for about 65 kms to Chilling with packed lunch. Overnight at camp set up at Chilling.
Day 5: Chilling- Skiu trek
Early wake up followed by breakfast. Post breakfast, we walk to Skiu, a village in the Markha valley. We set camp at Skiu for the night. Overnight at ScoutIndia’s camp. 
Day 6: Skiu- Markha village trek
This is a lovely part of the Markha Valley where bushes grow thick along the river. The day is a fairly long one though the trekking is relatively easy. The trail goes steadily upwards to Markha (11,500ft). Overnight at camp set up at Markha village.
Day 7: On Trek
An easy walk over a rugged trail carved into the cliffs and sheer walls of the Markha canyon. En route visit the Umalung village and monastery. Ahead of Markha, landscape changes from the warm, relatively wooded section of the lower valley to starker areas past Umalung. We reach the farming village of Hankar, and carry on further to our camping site for the day. Overnight at camp.
Day 8: On Trek
Today’s trek entails 3-4 hours of hard climbing as the trail goes up a narrow valley past villages that look smaller than those before. Reach our camp site for the day. Overnight at camp.
Day 9 : Trek to Shang, Drive to Leh
Trek to Shang. From Shang, drive back to Leh via Hemis monastery. Overnight at Leh Hotel.
Day 10: At Leh
Early morning flight back to Delhi
For Trekking:-
Good walking shoes (not new)
Small knapsack
Long trousers
Rain gear (Poncho)
Lockable duffel bag
For Camp:-
Torch
Shoes
Track pants & T-shirts
Personal medical kit and toiletries
Warm clothes for evenings, early mornings
Sun shade/ cap
Sun block lotion
Retainers for prescription glasses/ sun glasses
Water bottle
Camera
Musical instrument/ reading/ writing material
Your Spirit of Adventure and sense of humor!
