Markha Valley Trek & Stok Kangri

Late evening arrival in Delhi. Meet an IHPL representative who helps you with an assisted transfer to your pre-booked hotel for staying overnight.

The 2nd day of the tour is for sightseeing of Old and New Delhi covering the major attractions such as Jama Masjid, Red Fort, Gandhi Memorial, India Gate, Parliament House, Humayun’s Tomb and Qutab Minar Complex. Stay overnight in Delhi.

Today, you get an early morning transfer to the domestic airport to board a flight to Leh (3524 meters). Once you arrive at the Leh airport, get an assisted transfer to your pre-booked hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. Get acclimatized to the high altitudes. The evening is scheduled for a walk in the local market. Overnight in Leh.

Post breakfast on day 4, leave for sightseeing, accompanied by a guide. Today, you cover Sankar Gompa – a Buddhist monastery that is a daughter-establishment of Spituk Monastery, Shanti Stupa – a white-domed Chorten that is not only a religious site but also offers a panoramic view of the surrounding and at last Tsemo Castle, also known as Castle of Namgial Tsemo –  the official residence of King Tashi Nagmial of the 15^th century.  The evening is booked for shopping at the market. Stay overnight.

After breakfast, continue with sightseeing. Visit the well-known Shey and Thiksey monasteries. Shey Monastery was constructed in 1655 and is popular for housing a gilded gold statue of a seated Shakyamuni Buddha. Thiksey monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery of the Yellow Hat sect with a similar architecture as Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet. Stay overnight.

Have breakfast and begin driving toward Hemis (40 kms). Once you arrive, visit the well-known Hemis Monastery – the largest as well as the wealthiest monastery in India. Later, begin driving to Martselang, the base of your trek. Begin your trek to Shang Sumdo (3750 meters). After around 3 hours trek, set up your tents near the village. The rest of the day is free to explore the village, admire the surrounding scenic beauty and interact with the locals. Stay overnight in tents.

Day 7 begins with an easy ascending trek along the left bank of river Martselang Chu from where the road slightly broadens into the Indus valley towards Martselang village. On the way, explore the village and the wild animals. You can also interact with the locals. Arrive at Churkirmo (3400 meters)where the water has high Sulpher concentration. Pitch your tents on the opposite side for an overnight stay.

Have breakfast and begin the trek crossing narrow gorges, after which an upward trek to Kongmaru La (5265 meters)begins. Once you arrive at the pass, enjoy a mesmerizing view of eastern Karakoram and China (towards north). The southern side offers a view of Ladakh and Kang Yatze peak (6400 meters). Later, a descending zig-zag ridge trail starts leaving you at the summer pastures of Nimaling, used by Hankar and Markha shepherds. Set up your tent for staying overnight.

All of day 9 is for a local visit to the fine meadowland and the nearby villages. Observe the daily activities of the locals, visit their traditional houses, explore the nearby area on foot and admire the surrounding local scenery. Stay overnight in camp.

Today, after breakfast, begin a downward trek through the meadows to Thachutse. Trek across river Nimaling. Your trail follows river Markhar, a well-known trekking route. Finally reach Hankar (4000 meters). Treat your eyes to the surrounding picturesque scenery. Enjoy being in the lap of nature. Set up your tents for an overnight stay.

Post breakfast, check-out from the hotel, and transfer to the airport to connect to the flight for Agartalaay. Upon arrival, pick up from the airport and transfer to the hotel. Afternoon visit Ujjayanta Palace, Kunjaban Palace, and Jagannath Temple. The rest of the day is free on your own. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Begin the trek passing lush vegetation alongside the river. The whole trek is filled with several ruined monasteries, some well- maintained Chortens and a well-preserved wolf trap. Wolf traps are formed for trapping wolves that come to the villages for food during the winter because of dearth of prey in the jungle area and resulting hunger. Finally, reach Skiu (3450 meters), a tiny village. Set up your tents here. Indulge in fun activities. Stay overnight.

After breakfast, a criss-cross trek along the Markha River begins. You pass bridges that are built on the most difficult crossing places. The upward way to Shingo is a beautiful one that houses a small group of Stupas. Cross the valley and river with wild rose bushes and willow on either side. Finally reach the base camp of Gandla.  Set-up your tent for an overnight stay.

At Gandla, trek along the colorful prayer flags flapping in the wind, with the backdrop Zanskari range. After some time, descending trek along the Jingchan River begins. This location of the trek offers a great view of the Stok summit as well as the Stok Kangri peak (6121 meters). You finally arrive at Rumbak village, well-known for Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, paintings and dragon dancers. Get a feel of the Buddhist culture by exploring the surroundings on foot and interacting with the locals. Admire the surrounding picturesque scenery. Overnight camp or guesthouse.  

After breakfast on day 16, from Rumbak village, begin an upward trek till you arrive at Stok La (4900m). Enjoy a great view of the Indus valley and the surrounding area. Cross the pass, turn right to arrive at the base camp of Stok La. On arrival, set-up tents here for 3 days. Overnight in tent.

Days 16 to18 are going to be action-packed with treks to various nearby locations. Admire the beautiful scenery spread all around, visit the monasteries and other Buddhist monuments spread all along the destinations. Overnight in tents.

On day 19, begin trekking to Manikarmo. After trekking for around 4 hours, you arrive at the Stok village. Visit the Stok Palace Museum, a popular tourist attraction. Stok Museum, situated inside the Stok Palace, houses artifacts depicting the culture of Leh and Ladakh. Later, begin driving to Leh. On arrival, complete the check-in formalities at your pre-booked hotel for an overnight stay.

Today, get on- time assisted transfer to the airport to board a flight to Delhi. On arrival, get transferred to the hotel for relaxing. In the evening, after dinner, get transferred to the airport.

Get transferred to the airport to board a flight for your onward journey.