Fixed departure 2025

Markha Valley trek complete details.

The Markha Valley Trek: The Journey to the Ladakh’s Scenic Splendour. As for one of the most delightful and fashionable trekking in the Indian Himalayas, The Markha Valley trek is located in the Leh – Ladakh part of north India.

It also known as the Tea House Trek is profound and exciting trek into hills and mountain ranges, isolated villages, thousand years old monasteries and glaciers.

The great trek presents great opportunity to uncover this barren land and also to be familiar with cultural aspects of Ladakh, region

The Trekking Route of Markha Valley

The trek runs through the middle of the utterly beautiful and desolate Markha Valley: small tracts of barren desert, quick flowing streams, tiny villages on what looks like the middle of nowhere, stones strewn along wild mountain paths. This trek is considered moderate to a challenging trek due to the overall trekking along with habitual opposition of the cross country but would suit people having good physical strength and trekking experience and tougher technicality, high passes.

The trek varies from 7 – 9 days and 75- 80kms (46 – 50miles) depending on the path taken. It heads up to the Stok and the Zanskar ranges behind it, and Markha River gurgles in the valley.

Markha Valley Trek overview

1.The  Scenic Beauty and Wilderness:  Providing panoramic vistas of other mountains including Mount Stock Kangri (6,153m. ), and this stage is one of the greatest. It runs high altitude desert plains, hurricane, glorious schemes, flood ravines.

2.The Culture and Local Villages:  Some small engraved villages with no civilisational effect pepper the Markha Valley. This trek is a experience of coming in contact with Ladakh’s warm and friendly people conquer their society and see the monasteries such as Hemis Monastery the biggest and the largest of Ladakh.  

3.The Crossing High Passes: Treks are very demanding and climbing over the high altitude passes is no joke. The only two big passes which the trekkers have to go through are Ganda La Pass (4,800m) and Nimaling La Pass (4,820m) . Both have a excellent view of mountains surrounding and also the valleys.

4. Wildlife and Flora of Ladakh: It’s also a chance to study closer the fauna you may find in these parts of the world, namely Tibetan gazelle, blue sheep, marmots and, as a matter of fact, snow leopard. Vegetation also changes depending on the altitude, beautiful flowers of the alpine are seen in summer while a number of barren rocky lands are higher in altitude.

Markha valley trek itinerary

While there can be variations in the itinerary depending on the operator or the trekker's preferences, here’s a typical 8-day itinerary for the Markha Valley Trek:

Day 1: Arrival in Leh

This day gets you to Ladakh, and more specifically, the capital of the region, Leh. The high altitude (Leh is at the height of 3,500 meters) so it is advisable to take the day and get used to the thin air, before embarking on any sort of a trekking expedition from day 2. The Leh Palace or Shanti Stupa is where one can visit, but one can also find out about the local supermarket or shopping centre.

Day 2: Leh – Chilling (Trek), Chilling – Skiu (Road)

The morning after breakfast the visitor will be driven to Chilling a village on the bank of Zanskar Rivier, the take off point for the trek. After trekking to Skiu we ford the river again, walk through some villages and rocks.

Day 3: Skiu to Markha

Keep walking along the Markha River and stop at an amazing view of the surrounding scenery and the barley fields and unpopulated villages who were once well populated. You will reach a beautiful and quite small village, named Markha at the foot of the mountains at the end of this trek.

Day 4: Markha to Hankar

Greenery beds and majestic mount Stok Kangri looks very near to trekking trail to start trekking towards nomadic village of Hankar. Hankar is an excellent view point, and ideal one night campsite.

Day 5: Hankar to Nimaling

Later, the trek takes you to the Nimaling Plateau who has several view initially that the travellers of the valley have observed. Nimaling Plateau is a high altitude grassland, as well as the start point for most of the team if they are going to climb Stok Kangri.

Day 6: Via Nimaling La Pass, through Nimaling to Shang Sumdo

From here the trek goes further, though Nimaling La Pass, which is one of the highest points the trek can have and then to the Shang Sumdo valley. For sure, this is a long day, but the views you’re rewarded with make it worth it!

Day 7: Shang Sumdo to Leh

: Descend to the village called Chilling on the last and drive back to Leh. After this trek you still have ample leisure to spend the rest of the day visiting around Leh or resting.

Day 8: Departure from Leh

- Either home leaving from Leh or further stay on to explore more of the fantastic cultural and scenic heritage of Ladakh.

Best Time to Trek

Trekking in Markha Valley is very suggested from June-September. This lasts a little longer but both day and night are not too extreme for trekking, about 10°C – 20°C in the day and – 5°C – 5°C at night. This is not a good time to go here in winter because the bottom will sink as the temperature goes down and the snow will cover the pass easily.

What To Take For Markha Valley Trek?

Explanation: 

You will find here everything you need to know about what to bring along on the Markha Valley Trek.

It’s a high altitude trek, so there are some things to expect. Here’s a list of essentials: 

Wig: That’s because it’s rainy cold with extreme cold. Keep warm clothes, jackets and trekking pants on hand for the adventurous (and, riding).

Shopping clothes: Wellington shoes/trampoline boots(ankle support) and flip-flop/casual shoes to wear in camp.

Bags: Complete cold (less than 10°C), good sleeping bag in case required and a light but strong tent to go out camping.

Water and Snacks: Water purification through filter or iodine table has to be done and one must carry along with an energy enhancing repertoire of Snacks etc:, such as trail mix, nuts and energy bar.

Sunscreen and Sunglasses: Trekking is always high altitude so the sun as you will be under it is quite potent so always carry a good sunscreen and UV protection sunglasses.

First Aid Kit: They recommend pain relievers, antiseptic creams, band-aids, altitude sickness tablets like diamox and other personal prescription requirements.

Of the indicated subjects, the difficulty and fitness level of each:

The Markha Valley Trek is a moderate to strenuous trek, with some ascends, alone the passes that are at high altitude & might be challenging and on the rough surfaces. Ganda La and Nimaling La are the two main passes which need some fitness to cross. While these conditions aren’t a menace to the health of the trekkers, it is necessary to get accustomed to the thin air there till you’re on the trek, and hence it is advised that trek instead stays in the town of Leh for 1 or 2 days before beginning the trek.

Conclusion

Such is this valley trek that in a sense makes Markha Valley Trek as one of the remarkable travel attractions around the world for those travellers who are willing to explore the unparalleled natural landscape and the old world culture of Ladakh. This truly physically demanding trail sees you climb mighty ridges and high passes while staying in colourful ethnic towns and visiting Buddhist monasteries. If you are an experienced trekker or tend to be the hopeless romantic lover for the adventurous trails, Markha Valley offers you there a life time opportunity to enjoy one of the most beautiful and isolated valleys in India.

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