Markha Valley Trek
Markha valley to Stok
Briefing of the trek:The Markha Valley epitomizes the best of this scenery. It has giant rock pinnacles, beetling cliffs, narrow defiles, prayer-flagged passes and evidence of a much older civilization, The Markha River also passes to the south of the 6,153 m (20,182 feet) high Stok Kangri mountain. As you trek up the valley, ruins of many forts and castles can be seen. some built in some pretty unlikely places.
Tour timeline:
Pentse-Markha/Thogchungtse/Nimaling/Shangphu/Mathophu/ Mankarmo or changri .
Day 01 : Leh –Pentse – Markha (11,776ft) ( 3 hrs)
Drive to Pentse,will have our pack lunch at Pentse , A very pleasant walk up to Markha village.. Woody bushes grow thickly along the river which is spanned by several bridges over which the trail marches.Camping beyond this small village on the right bank of the river, just before the village of Markha.
Day 02: Markha – Hangker – Thogchungtse (13,078ft) (5/6 hrs)
The trail continues eastwards climbing steadily up the valley through the picturesque village of Markha, which has a fascinating monastery well worth a visit. Coming in from the south is the trail from Rubering La, From Markha the country changes and the warm, relatively heavily wooded section of the lower Markha is left behind. Between the twin villages of Lower and Upper Hankar is a ruined fort, the walls of which climb sharply up a crag to an aerie of a lookout tower – worth visiting for those with a good head for heights. Follow the Nimiling River up the narrow valley to the camp at Thachugtse.
Day 03: Thogchungtse – Nimaling (16,097ft) (3 hrs)
From here the Nimaling plain is a broad undulating meadow which slopes upwards to the base of the ice-clad Kang Yatse which dominates the area. Nimaling with tiny ponds and rivulets flowing all over its meadows provides pasturage in the summer for an astonishing number of animals; yaks, sheep, goats, dzos and horses, not only from the Markha but also from villages all around. Reach camp in the afternoon and have the rest of the day to relax and explore.
Day 04– Nimaling to Shang phu. (5-6 hours)
After breakfast start trekking to reach Kongmaru La (5100 M). The trek to Kongmaru la passes through narrow gorges. From the top of the pass, you can have a view of Ladakh ranges and the sight of villages to the north of Indus valley is excellent. Cross the pass and proceed to Shang. Overnight in tents
Day 05: Shang phu – Matho phu, 4320mt app,( 5/6)hrs
You will leave nice camp and start gradually climbs up the other pass which is known as Shang -la, I am sure you will enjoy the great view of Indus range , Gulab khangri and Stod Khangri which is you are destination to be on the summit, around the camp there is pasture land for pashumana goat and sup herd house. 5/6hrs
Day 06: Matho Phu – Manikharmo ( 5/6) hrs
This morning you can enjoy the sunrise of Stod khangri with the cup of coffee please do not forget us to cook to have a coffee, after the bread fast you will leave to base of summit view same usual,
Day 07: Manikermo – Leh,
Easy walk follow the Stok valley like two hrs and Drive to Leh.( 3/ 4) hrs
Treks ends with sweet memories !
