Trip Facts

Itinerary

Markha Valley with Stok Khangri (6121m) – Trek No 17

Duration of Trek:11 Days

Best Time: June to October

Highest Point: Stok Khangri (6121m)

Focus: Monasteries, Wildlife and Villages

Highlight: Markha Valley, Villages  and Stok Khangri

Physical Challenge: Moderate overall

Day 01 Arrival Leh

Upon arrival Leh airport, pick-up and transfer to hotel. After tea/coffee rest in hotel to get acclimatization. Evening walking walking tour in Leh bazaar. Overnight at hotel.   

Day 02  Leh to Chilling - Sku (3500 m) in 5 hours:

After Breakfast drive to Chilling. We cross the Zanskar River with a trolley bridge turn wise to join the waiting team on the other side of the river.

Day 03 Skiu - Markha (3850 m) in 7 hours: The trail joins the Markha stream and will follow it for a few days. The day’s trek is relatively easy, but it involves crisscrossing the stream at numerous points depending on the water level. Markha has a monastery and a fort for a local cultural sightseeing.

Day 04 Markha - Hankar (4000 m) in 4 hrs: Many monasteries are spread along our route today. After the Umlung monastery, the valley narrows and we stop to camp at the foot of Kang Yaste (6400 m).

Day 05 Hankar - Nimaling (4650 m) in 4 hrs: Trek in the valley in direction of Zalung Karpo and Rupshu. We pass through Thagshungtse pasture and start our gradual ascent towards the wonderful high valleys of Ladakh.

Day 06 Nimaling - Kongmaru La (5150 m)- Chogdo (4000 m) in 7 hrs: Climb up to the summer pastures of Nimaling, used by the shepherds of Hankar and Markha, then follow the hedge to the top. The Kongmaru La pass commands a beautiful view of the Kang Yatze north face (6400 m), the Ladakh ranges and the Indus valley.

Day 07 Chogdo - Gyuncho La (4600 m) - Camp at 4350 m in 6- 7 hrs: From now on, we will follow a new and rarely travelled route through the valleys to the east of our objective. Today, we turn towards the west into a tributary valley that leads after a long and gradual ascent to the Gyuncho La. We descent a few meters bellow to establish our campsite.

Day 08 Camp at 4350 m - Shang La (4800 m)- Matho Phu (4350 m) in 6 hrs: Today, we will cross many spurs and minor passes with occasional views northwards towards the Indus Valley and the peaks beyond. We climb up to the Shang La and then descend to the Tokpo River. Afterwards we will trek downhill to a nice camping place.

Day 09 Matho Phu - Mato La (4820 m) -Stok Kangri Base Camp (4700 m) in 5 hrs: At the pass, colourful prayer flags flap in the wind, with the Zanskari range in the background. Afterwards, we descend steadily along the Jingchan River. We get great views towards the Stock summit and the Stock Kangri (6121m).

Day 10 Acclimatization day at Base Camp

Day 11 Summit day (Approx. 8-9 hours to base-camp). Our route initially crosses scree and boulder slopes, and then leads to easy angled snow slopes, which require ice axe and crampons. The route is not difficult but at this altitude, it will be strenuous. From the summit of Stok Kangri (6116m), we should see as far as the Karakoram, the Pamirs and Tibet. If it's warm enough we'll rest and recover some energy on top before descending to base-camp.

Day 12  Stok Kangri Base Camp - Leh (5 h walk to Stok). All downhill and through wild gorge scenery. There should be time to visit Stok Palace and museum while we wait for our jeeps. Then an hour's drive across the Indus valley to the comforts of the guesthouse in Leh.

Day 13 Deparrture

Early morning  transfer to Leh airport to catch flight for Delhi. Tour Ends