Makha Valley Trek
Makha Valley trek is the most sought after trekking destination for it offers amazing journey through Ladakh region with spell-binding views of High Himalayan and Karakoram Ranges. Along with the insightful cultural exploration in Leh, you get quality time for acclimatization. You can capture magnificent sights of Karakoram ranges and Leh valley from an outstanding vantage point at Kongmaru La pass situated at an elevation of 5,200 meters. The trek journeys through rock pinnacles, beetling cliffs, narrow defiles, willow groves, glaciated passes, chortens and walls festooned with multi-hued prayer flags, quaint villages, irrigated fields of barley and potatoes, yak pastures and nomadic settlements. If nature favors you, you may even get to sightsee exotic fauna like Himalayan Blue Sheep, Ibex and snow leopard. By the end of the trek, you get extensive knowledge on Markha valley and completely fulfilling indelible travel experience.
Outline Itinerary
- Day 1 Arrive Delhi
- Day 2 Sightseeing in Delhi
- Day 3 Fly from Delhi to Leh [3505m]
- Day 4 Sightseeing in Leh
- Day 5 Trek from Zinchen to Kandala Base
- Day 6 Kandala Base - Shingo
- Day 7 Shingo - Skiu
- Day 8 Skiu - Markha [3800 m]
- Day 9 Markha - Thochungtse [4250 m]
- Day 10 Thochungtse - Nimaling [4730 m]
- Day 11 Nimaling - Kongmaru La (Pass) - Shang Sumdo
- Day 12 Shang Sumdo - Martselang - Leh
- Day 13 Fly from Leh to Delhi &
- Day 14 Departure
Detailed Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrive Delhi
Our staff will escort you with warm reception and utmost hospitality from Delhi airport to your hotel in Delhi. After offering you the thorough briefings on your travel plan, you can thereon enjoy your leisure time according to your wish..
- Day 2
Sightseeing in Delhi
The entire day will be exclusively planned to guide you around the major attractions of Delhi. Delhi sightseeing tour begins shortly after breakfast. 17th century Red Fort which was built by the great Mughal Shah Jahan gives you delightful reflection on the India history. On approaching Jama Masjid, you get some insights into Muslim religion, culture and belief. India Gate is another living pride of New Delhi and it is also a reminder of the World War. You will also have a pleasure to visit President House, an official residence of India's President. Thereafter, the journey takes you to Qutab Minar. At the end of the day, you finally head back to your hotel for dinner and overnight stay..
- Day 3
Fly from Delhi to Leh [3505m]
Early in the morning you have to board a flight to Leh, the capital of Ladakh. At an altitude of 3505 meters, Leh lies at the base of Khardung La on the north of the Indus River. Our staff will receive you at the airport and take you to your hotel in Leh..
- Day 4
Sightseeing in Leh
Shortly after breakfast you will begin your guided sightseeing tour in Leh, the cultural heart of Ladakh. Shey, Hemis and Thiskey are the major highlights of the tour. The fertile valley of Leh houses many Buddhist monasteries and historic monuments. While touring around Leh, you will observe that the town resembles Tibetan culture and is distinctively influenced by Buddhism. Leh has several houses with terraced roofs. 16th century Leh Palace built by King Tashi Namgyal is one of the major attractions of Leh. On climbing up the stairs of the palace, you reach an ideal vantage point to sightsee the magnificent view of Leh. On heading 15 km away from Leh, Shey monastery springs into picture. Built amazingly on a hill, this monastery looks scintillating with its two-storey statue of the sitting Buddha adorned in copper and gold. If you turn to the east of Shey gompa, you can see several chortens. Further on, your guide will escort you to Hemis gompa, situated 49 km south of Leh. This is the biggest monastery built in 17th century by Chapgon Gyalshas and being the headquarter of the Red Hat Drukpa order administers all the monasteries of Ladakh. Lamas need to be trained at Hemis monastery prior to working for other monasteries at Leh, Shey and Bazgo. It is believed that this monastery possesses the largest thankas in Ladakh which is displayed once in every 11 years. In June July you can see a very important festival of masked dances at this site. Equally fascinating is Thiskey monastery which rests 19 km away from Leh. It has the biggest library in Ladakh, accommodates 60 Lamas and houses historic statues, stupas and thankas. This monastery is most dotted for its picturesque panorama of verdant Indus Valley. Eventually, after sightseeing you will head back to your hotel and enjoy the high quality service at the hotel. You get to enjoy yet another insightful sightseeing tour around Leh on the second day. Visits to Spituk and Phyang are the two major attractions. On following the trail along the Kargil road 10 km away from Leh, you will come across Spituk monastery. Nestled high on a hill, Spituk monastery overlooks breathtaking view of the Indus. Historic thankas and statues are the prides of this site. There are several statues of Kali at this monastery and once in a year Kali's face is unveiled before her devotees. You can find the reformist Gelugs-pa or Yellow-Hat sect at this monastery. Phyang gompa is another such religious site which represents diversity of India's culture and tradition..
- Day 5
Trek from Zinchen to Kandala Base
Early in the morning shortly after breakfast, you will start trekking from Zinchen towards Kandala base. En route, the trail meanders past pristine village of Rumbak. As you near Yurutse, you have to cross a bridge. You get to halt for lunch and thereafter head further towards Kandala Base where you will camp for the night..
- Day 6
Kandala Base - Shingo
Soon after breakfast you ascend for 3-4 hours to reach atop Kandala Base. After lunch the trail descends and leads to a beautiful village of Shingo. Your tent will be fixed at a superb location. After dinner you can go to your camp tent for a good night sleep..
- Day 7
Shingo - Skiu
The trek that follows after breakfast is very pleasurable and involves easy trail. Amidst the breathtaking gorges and natural vistas set as perfect backdrops, you walk for 3 to 4 hours. Lunch will be served during the trekking. Finally, you arrive at your campsite in Skiu. You have to accommodate yourself for the night in your camp tent after dinner..
- Day 8
Skiu - Markha [3800 m]
The trek continues in the morning immediately after breakfast. The trail runs parallel to Markha River. Lush vegetation, stunning flora and fauna offers you awesome visual treat on the way. You halt for a while to lunch and thereafter head for your destination. 6-7 hours of trekking finally ends in Markha. After dinner you overnight at your camp tent..
- Day 9
Markha - Thochungtse [4250 m]
After enjoying a great breakfast, you walk past Markha towards Thochungtse. Several descents bring you close to a monastery. Further ahead the trail crosses a bridge and enters traditional villages of Humlung and Hankar. You get few minutes of cultural immersion as you talk to local people who you will find very friendly and hospitable. This culturally-stimulating journey progresses towards the destination after lunch. 5-6 hours of trekking finally concludes in Thochungtse. Dinner will be served after setting your camp. Later, you can spend the night in your camp tent.
- Day 10
Thochungtse - Nimaling [4730 m]
You will start trekking shortly after breakfast. Walking away from Thochungtse you follow the trail that ascends to Nimaling. The trail passes by a series of grassy ridges. As you move towards Nimaling, chortens and walls carved with Buddhist prayers become visible. After covering 7 km, you will approach rich pastures of Nimaling. Amid the unsurpassed beauty of Nimaling valley you get to overnight at your camp tent after dinner..
- Day 11
Nimaling - Kongmaru La (Pass) - Shang Sumdo
Leaving behind Nimaling, you start trekking towards Kongmaru La pass. On reaching atop the pass at an elevation of 5,200 meters, you can catch outstanding view of Karakoram ranges and the valley of Leh. Several pristine village settlements can also be sighted. Thereafter, the trail descends further, meets gorges and follows the left bank to Chumiktangmo. After lunch, you continue your journey towards Shang Sumdo where you camp for the night..
- Day 12
Shang Sumdo - Martselang - Leh
After breakfast, the trail descends through rock-strewn route and then crosses the gorge. Further ahead, you enter Martselang village. Our staff will come to receive you in Martselang to escort you to your hotel in Leh..
- Day 13
Fly from Leh to Delhi
Soon after early morning breakfast, you will board a flight back to Delhi where you will be chauffeured to your hotel by our staff..
- Day 14
Departure
You will be driven to the airport in time for your flight back home. We ensure that you will leave Delhi with cherishing memory and an experience of a lifetime..
Warning: count(): Parameter must be an array or an object that implements Countable in /home/customer/www/explorehimalaya.com/public_html/wp-content/themes/ExploreHimalaya/single-packages.php on line 138
Community Service
We work with the motto "Tourism for Development". Explore Himalaya Community Service Project was conceived to empower underprivileged segments of Nepal.
