About Markha Valley Trek
It is no secret that Kashmir is a popular tourist destination. If you love extensive mountains, lush green meadows, and pristine rivers, Markha Valley is your place to be. It is known as Kashmir’s largest valley and is ideal for exploring the dried out regions of Kashmir. Snow-covered peaks, beautiful hamlets, mane walls, rare canyons, fluttering prayer flags, high passes, and rich wildlife- name it, and Markha Valley has it.
Markha River gives life to this region as it flows alongside the valley. This valley houses several breathtaking monasteries. You can watch the dry mountains of the Ladakh region mixing with the verdant nature of the Himalayan range. It is the perfect blend of Tibetan customs and Himalayan terrain.
Located at an elevation of 17,100 ft, Markha Valley is one of the most popular treks in Ladakh. Markha Valley Trek is more of a rollercoaster ride. What makes it even better? The Markha Valley Trek starts at Leh- the adventure hub. So, you can also look around Leh and explore the monasteries before embarking on your trekking journey.
Besides, the trek offers diverse landscapes and intriguing challenges. It includes steep ascends, a crossing of rivers, bridges, and moving across different topographies. You have to pass through two high passes, Gandala La (4800 m) and Kongmaru La (5150 m), which give you a magnificent view of the Ladakh and Zanskar ranges. Kang Yissay (21,000 ft) and Stok Kangri (20,086 ft) are two of the highest peaks that you have to cover during this trek. There are also many villages and tea houses on the trail, which justifies the name tea house trek, which makes the journey rejuvenating.
If you are in Leh Ladakh, and you can only do one trek, I insist you try out the Markha Valley Trek. It is one of the most authentic treks in the Leh Ladakh region, and the entire Markha Valley Trek route is a treat to the eyes.
About Markha Valley Trek
- Region: Leh Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir
- Markha Valley Trek Altitude: 17,100 ft
- Trekking distance: 65 km
- Trek Duration: 8 Days
- Starting and Ending Point: Leh
- Markha Valley Trek Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
- Min/ Max Temperature:
- Day: 20°C to 30°C
- Night: 7°C
- Nearest Railway Station: Jammu Tawi Railway Station
- Nearest Airport: Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport
- Activities Included: Trekking and Camping.
How To Reach Markha Valley
- By Air:
- By Train:
- New Delhi-Jammu Tawi Rajdhani Express (12425)
- Jammu Mail (14033)
- Jammu Tawi Express (13151)
- By Road:
- Zoji La Pass which connects Srinagar with Ladakh (only accessible from June to October)
- Rohtang Pass which connects Manali with Ladakh ( open from July to September)
Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport, also known as the Leh Airport, is among the world’s highest airports. It is approximately 5 km away from the city life of Leh, and at an elevation of 3256 m. You’ll get flights to Leh daily from Jammu, Srinagar, and Delhi. However, there is strict checking as it is a military airport.
Jammu Tawi Railway Station is 680 km away from Leh, and is the nearest railway station. Many major cities are well-connected to Jammu by railways. Some of the trains that run from Delhi to Jammu are-
Private cabs or state bus services will be your mode of transport from the railway station to your desired location.
Chandigarh (764 km), Kalka (749 km), and Pathankot (746 km) are some of the other nearby railway stations from Leh.
A road trip to Leh Ladakh is an exciting journey. There are two routes that you can avail of-
Tourism of Himachal Pradesh, J&K SRTC, and HRTC operate regular and deluxe buses from Manali to Leh. Both ordinary and luxurious.
Government buses run between Srinagar and Leh, and from Kargil as well. The route from Manali - Leh is a beautiful road of 475 km, so you can hire a cab as well.
BEST TIME TO VISIT Markha Valley
The best time to do the Markha Valley trek is from Mid-May to September but here is the description of Markha Valley in different seasons:
Mid-May to September:
The best time to visit the Markha Valley is from mid-May to September. During this season, the days are vibrant, and the nights are calm. The climate is pleasant and soothing. This place cannot be any more perfect than this time of the year. If you want to take a bike ride to Leh, you can also do that as both the highways remain open.
September to November:
The weather starts getting cold, and the cold breeze starts to flow through the region. It then gets tough to cross the roads, and reach Markha or to camp at such a high altitude. The chilled weather makes the trek cumbersome.
December to February:
After November, snow covers the region. But the winter trek to Markha also fascinates a lot of trekkers. You get to experience the cold weather and the beautiful stretch of the frozen Markha River. In winters, the leaves from trees shed, the river slowly flows, and there is a pretty good chance of coming in close contact with the wildlife of the region.
March to April:
Snow starts to melt, and it gives rise to the flora of this region. The greenery finds its way to make the scenery vibrant with colours. The chilled atmosphere makes the stay soothing and comfy.
MARKHA VALLEY WEATHER AND TEMPERATURE
Mid-May to September:
Markha Valley Trek usually happens from Mid- May till September. The temperature during summers in the desert is too humid for tourists to explore activities, or to go on sightseeing. The average temperature from May to September ranges from 20°C to 30°C during the morning hours, and drops down to 7°C at night.
September to November:
In September the average temperature starts to fall from 15°C to 20°C during the day and 6°C at night. The cold northern breeze reduces the temperature below the freezing point in the night.
December to February:
The winter trek starts in December, and the temperature can drop down to - 20°C. In winters, the region is full of snow, and you can see a different type of beauty when the green scenery turns white.
March to April:
Although March is freezing in the Markha region, April brings the temperature above the freezing point. In April, the average temperature is 10°C to 15°C during the day and 0°C at night.
MARKHA VALLEY TREK DIFFICULTY:
The Markha Valley Trek is known as a moderate to difficult trek. You start from an altitude of 10,490 ft and trek up to 17,100 ft. The biggest threat during any high altitude trek is the low level of oxygen present in the air. Acclimatization becomes an essential part of such treks. You require healthy lungs to survive in such harsh weather conditions.
The level of fitness is also crucial for the Markha Valley Trek. A trekker has to be able to jog 4.5 km in 30 minutes to improve cardiovascular endurance. The route of the trek is also tough and tricky. It consists of a screen, steep descends, and passes of which you need to be careful.
IS THE TREK SAFE?
Being a high altitude trek, the Markha Valley Trek difficulty ranges from moderate to difficult. But when it comes to safety, it is one of the safest treks in Leh Ladakh.
The trail of the Markha Valley Trek has many villages where you can choose to camp during the journey. It is also Ladakh’s one of the most stunning and adventurous treks of all time.
So if you have a time constraint and you still want to experience trekking, Markha Valley Trek route is perfect for you.
- Markha Valley Trek
21999
Day 1: Arrival at Leh
- Altitude: 11,500 ft
- Check-in hotel/ guest house.
- Stay here for the night.
The trek of Markha Valley starts from Leh. You can reach Leh by taking any mode of transportation that you are most comfortable with. The altitude of Leh is 11,500 ft, so you need to acclimatize yourself well. Take sufficient rest in the hotel and avoid roaming around. There are many good pubs and restaurants here, but try to stay away from alcohol and smokes. Have local food, sleep well, double-check your essentials, and embrace the environment.
Day 2: Acclimatisation at Leh
- Exploring nearby tourist destinations and acclimatization.
- Can visit Thiksey, Hemis, Shey, and Sangam monasteries.
- Stay the night in a hotel.
To help you adjust better to the climate of Leh, we have an extra day for acclimatization. You can use this day to explore the various parts of Leh. If Buddhist culture interests you, make sure you visit Thiksey Monastery, Shey Palace, and Thiksey Gompa. Shanti Stupa has an admirable sunset view with its beautiful lighting.
You can also visit Leh bazaar and get souvenirs from different shops. Locals here are friendly, and you can interact freely with them. It is okay to move around, but try to avoid exhaustion. Get back to your hotel by evening and rest well.
Day 3: Leh to Chilling by car, and trek to Skiu
- Altitude: Leh (11,500 ft) - Chilling (10,500 ft) - Skiu (11,150 ft)
- 2-3 hours to drive 65 km from Leh to Chilling. We pass through Magnetic Hill, the meeting point of Indus and Zanskar, and GurudwaraPathar Sahib.
- 9 km trek, 4-5 hours from Chilling to Skiu.
- Accommodation in tents or homestays.
It is from Day 3 that the hiking journey starts. The road today is comfortable and comes with beautiful views of landscapes. We will cross innumerable military camps on our route. Magnet Hill will fall on our left, while Gurudwara Pathar will fall on our right.
Stok Range stays on the right but vanishes when we arrive at Hemis National Park. Sangam- the confluence of the Zanskar and Indus River is also a visual retreat. It is famous for river rafting. The view changes as we take the diversion and head towards Chilling. Hues of purple grey and black mountains, deciduous trees greet us as we enter the valley.
On reaching Chilling, we start walking and take a steep hike through the Zingchen Gorge. We cross paths with the Zanskari River many times on the trail. Skui is at the junction of Shgri Nala and Markha River and is the first trekking site. There are two distinct parts of this village- the upper and the lower. A tiny trudge, an ancient monastery, and remnants of a palace separate them. Markha River falls on the right of Skui. We stay in tents at our campsite for the night.
Day 4: Skui to Sara
- Altitude: Skiu (11,150 ft) - Sara ( 11,490 ft)
- 3-4 hours of trek for 10 km.
- The trail is flat and well marked. We will find many meditation caves, tea shops, and women run cafes at Nagding village.
- Accommodation in tents or homestays.
Markha Valley is home to many wild animals and birds. It is the easiest to spot a Magpie bird here. The trekking trail from Skui to Sara is prominent and well made. Markha River has its source in the Kang Yatse Peaks and continues to accompany us on the trail.
After an hour of trekking, we reach the Women Cafe and rest for a while. We then start walking through a sparse forest till we reach Zanpa Yoakma-the first wooden bridge of the trail. At a distance of half an hour from this bridge, there is a Hajourma cafe. It is a common place to spot animals like deer, black sheep, and mountain goats.
We walk for another 45 minutes until we arrive at Nagding village. According to a popular belief, the caves at Nagding have paintings that date back to the 20th century. The Markha river bank gets wider from here, and we step on the sand.
The magnificent entrance of the Sara village comes at a distance of an hour from Nagging. Skeletons of different animals adorn this gate. The village is more of an open area and has homestays. We grab our lunch, explore the place, and stay the night here.
Day 5: Sara to Markha
- Altitude: Sara (11,490 ft) - Markha (12,200 ft)
- It takes 4-5 hours of trek to cover 10 km.
- The trail is flat and has a minor uphill. There are 2-3 river crossings as well.
- Visit monastery and tourist places in Markha.
- Stay in tents or homestays.
We commence for our trek early in the morning. Chalak village has the first tea house of the day that comes after half an hour of trek. The villagers are friendly and greet visitors with salty chai and bites.
Markha is around two hours from here. There are many stones on the base of white stupas with religious carvings at regular intervals. Avoid touching them as the locals believe the stones to have supernatural powers.
Every turn of Markha Valley has remnants of the palace; do not miss out on that. Small temples with flags make it easy to spot the ruins. To reach the Markha village, we need to cross the stream of the Markha River. Markha village is the largest village and has many houses. It falls about 20 minutes from the stream. We reach the homestay and rest for the day.
Day 6: Markha to Hankar
- Altitude: Markha (12,200 ft) - Hankar (13,100 ft)
- It takes 5-6 hours of trek to cover 11 km.
- Umling village is the last village and has a teahouse.
- First view of Mt Kang Yatse (6400 m) after passing Umling.
- Stay in tents for the night.
The scenic beauty of the trail of Day 6 increases when the landscape merges with water streams and rivers. Some bridges help to cross the water bodies. A little hamlet Umlung falls on the route, and it also has a beautiful monastery.
The first view of Mt Kang Yatze (6400m) is visible after we cross Umlung. We walk further, cross the Markha River a few times, and reach Hankar village. It is the last village and comes with a picturesque view of the Tacha monastery.
Day 7: Hankar to Nimaling
- Altitude: Hankar (13,100 ft) - Nimaling ( 15,400 ft)
- It is an easy trek of 9 km and takes 3-4 hours.
- Nimaling has a mesmerising view of Mt Kang Yatse and Tigu lakes
- Accommodation in tents.
We start in the morning for the easy trek to Nimaling. There is a spot with diversions at a distance of 1km from Hankar. One route leads to Nimaling, while others lead to Zanskar and Rupshu.
We walk till we arrive at a stone bridge after taking the left trail. Several diversions are here, so we need to be careful and attentive. Meadows of Thochuntse become prominent as we continue to trek on this route for about 2 hours.
There are many teahouses and trekking campsites at Thochuntse, but we continue to proceed towards Nimaling. As we keep moving, the view of peaks becomes more visually appealing.
Two twin lakes also accompany us, and we cross streams to reach a large grazing land. We can also spot animals like mountain goats, rabbits, and sheep at Nimling. The campsite of Nimling has wonderful views and occasional snowfall to offer. We stay the night in tents.
Day 8: Trek from Nimaling to Chokdo via Kongmaru La, reach Leh by car
- Altitude: Nimaling (15,400 ft) via Kongmaru La (17,100 ft) -Chokdo (12,100 ft)
- 7-8 hours of trek to cover 16 km.
- Highest point of the trek - Kongmaru La ( 2-3 km hike)
- It offers spectacular views of the Ladakh range and Indus Valley.
- 2 hours drive from Chokdo to Leh.
- Stay in a hotel.
Day 8 will come with a bunch of surprises. It is the last day of the trek, and we will cover the highest pass. The 2-hour climb to Kongmaru La from Nimaling is tiring, but exciting. K2, the world’s second-highest peak is visible from here. Mesmerising views of Karakoram Range and peaks and vibrant prayer flags enhance the beauty of the pass.
We slowly trek down from the pass. The descending trail that leads to Chikirmo village is sharp, small and comes with views of Ladakh range and Indus Valley. We arrive at Chokdo after trekking downhill on rugged terrain. It is the last point of the trek and has many homestays. The downhill road to Leh has Hemis Gompa and monasteries. Our trek ends at Leh.
