Adventure Planet

Best season

Mid- June to Mid-September

Highlights

A night stay on Houseboats
Shikara ride on lake
A jeep safari to enjoy the beauty of Mountains and a visit to Lamayura
Monasteries
High passes and green valleys
Culture and people
Landscapes and wildlife

Description

A Tour with the combination of a visit to Paradise on earth, a stay on the Houseboats - a novelty of Kashmir, a trip on a shikara to enjoy the lake, a safari on jeep to see the hightest motorable road in the world also known as silkroute, a visit to kargil and Lamayura Budhist town and finally a famous trek in Leh , The Markha Valley Trek in Ladakh is one of the most varied and spectacular treks in this part of the Himalayan region. The two week tour provides a rare insight of the nomads living in the high altitude plateau. This tour is aimed to provide an opportunity to people who are curious to experience the culture and diversity of this region and at the same time eager to explore its hidden natural treasures. This trek finds its trail across high passes full of willow groves and patches of wild roses through pastel canyons, festooned with multi-hued prayer flags undulating in the winds. On this trek you will walk past giant rock pinnacles, beetling cliffs, narrow defiles and scraggy hill top monasteries. The added attractions of course are that you may well spot a good number of wildlife that includes the Himalayan Blue Sheep, The Ibex and if lucky, a rare Snow Leopard. This itinerary offers a diverse landscape and breathtaking views of the Karakoram snow-capped peaks. Well dotted with scattered villages and small but green oasis, the Markha valley trek is something which naturally captivates you with its beauty and barren environment.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Delhi
Garland welcome upon arival at Delhi, followed by airport transfer to hotel for overnight stay.

Day 2: Delhi/Srinagar (-/L/D)
Prepare for morning departure to airport for flight to Srinagar. Once in Srinagar, will proceed to houseboats. In the afternoon, a tour of Sringar town including a visit to Mughal Gardens, Nishat Gardens and a Shikara ride on the lake to enjoy the vie of the mountains. The day will end with an overnight stay in houseboats.

Day 03: Srinagar/Kargil (-/-/D)
Leave Srinagar early in the morning for Kargil by jeeps over Zoji'la pass (3033 m) and Drass, the second coldest inhabited place in the world. A distance of 204 km will be covered in about 9 hours. Dinner followed by an overnight stay in hotel at Kargil.

Day 04: Kargil/Leh (B/-/D)
A very early breakfast followed by departure for Leh. Drive over Fatu-la (13,489 ft.), the highest pass on Srinagar-Leh road. Enroute, there will be a visit to Lamayuru monastery which is the oldest monastery in Ladakh and Mulbekh. The Chamba statue carved out of a single rock about 144 feet high, a distance of 230 km will be covered in about 10 hours. Dinner followed by an overnight stay in a hotel at Leh.

Day 05: Leh to Stok and trek to Kilchay: (B/L/D) (4/5 hrs)
Breakfast at the hotel followed by our trek. We will drive to the small village of Stok, which is also the base trekking point to the Markha Valley. We will cross over the vilage on the higher section keeping on the left bank of the Stok Nallah and continue walking in the south-west direction. We climb uphill and reach Khilchay (4116 m) in the afternoon. Rest of the day is for leisure. Evening and overnight at camp.

Day 06: Khilchay to Yurutse: (B/L/D) (6 hrs)
After breakfast at the camp, we will set out for a long trekking day. We will start early in the morning and begin our ascent over the Stok-La (4900 m). After spending some time there, we will descend into the Rumbak Valley and continue walking along the Jingchan Nallah, before crossing the bridge and arriving at our campsite in Yurutse. The day will be spent exploring the area and visiting a small family. Evening and overnight at camp.

Day 07: Yurutse to Skiu: (B/L/D) (7 hrs)
After breakafst at the camp, we will begin a gradual ascent today that will be closely followed by a steep climb to the mountain pass of Ganda-La (4971m). From the top, we will be greeted by a spectacular view of the snow capped peaks of Stok Kangri and the Zanskar range. After a well spent hour of rest and lunch, we will descend steadily to Shingo, and continue down to our campsite at Skiu. As we enter the village, we will be confronted by a majestic wall of towering rock faces. Evening and overnight at camp.

Day 08: Skiu to Markha: (B/L/D) (6 hrs)
After breakfast at the camp, we will walk along one of the most beautiful sections of the Markha Valley. En-route we will pass several monasteries that are perched high on the hillsides and dotted with chortens (temples) and prayer walls. We will camp in the Markha valley (3793m) for the night.

Day 09: Markha to Hankar: (B/L/D) (7 hrs)
Breakfast at the camp followed by a trek to the distinctly cooler valley of Hankar. You will notice the changes once you leave the Markha Valley and head towards the twin villages of Lower and Upper Hankar. After a well spent day of 7 to 8 hours of trekking, we will arrive at Hankar (3986 m) in the late afternoon. Evening and overnight at camp.

Day 10: Hankar to Nimaling: (B/L/D)
Breakfast at the camp. Our journey today takes us on the trail to the plains of Nimaling, a broad meadow that reaches upwards to the base of Kangyatse peak (6553 m). The Nimaling plains are a great asset to the nomads living in this area as it provides pastures for their animals. Here you can also see the occasional wild sheep or wolf. We will arrive in Nimaling (4878 m) in the afternoon and set our camp in the meadow. The day will be spent exploring the fascinating valley.

Day 11: Nimaling to Shang Sumdo: (B/L/D) (6/8 hrs)
Breakfast at the camp followed by a long day ahead. We will begin our journey in the early morning with a slow ascent to the highest pass on this trek. The imposing Kongmaru-la pass sits pretty at a height of 5346 m, and looks beautiful in the glistening sun. After a good hour or so spent trekking, you will be rewarded with fine views of the Kangyatse peak in the distance. Afterwards, we then begin a steep descend down a slope until we reach the Martslang valley. We will spend some time at the sulphur springs of Chuskyrmo, and then resume our walk into the lovely village of Sumdo (5274 m). We will spend the night there, at the confluence of the Shang River and the Martselang stream.

Day 12: Shang Sumdo to Hemis and drive to Leh: (B/L/D) (3/4 hrs)
After breakfast at the camp, we will begin a leisurely walk congratulating everybody on the completion of the trek and singing melodies of the mountains. We will follow the jeep track along the Martselung stream and continue to the broadening valley of the Indus River. As we arrive in Hemis (3400 m), we will be greeted with a lovely view of the Hemis monastery in the distance. We will spend a little time inside the monastery, before heading back to the comforts of a hotel in Leh. We will arrive at Leh in the late afternoon and transfer to the hotel. In the evening we will be treated to a lavish hotel dinner.

Day 13: Leh to Delhi
Departure transfer to airport for the flight back home.

Day 14: Delhi –Out
Departure transfer to airport for the flight back home.

Includes:

• Accommodatioin in Delhi on bed and breakfast basis only
• Accommodation in a A category Hotel on twin sharing basis as per APAI plan only
• Flight tickets Delhi to Srinagar (kashmir and also Leh to Delhi are included)
• All transfers by non air-con Toyota Qualis Or Xylo
• Non air-con Toyota Qualis or Xylo during the entire duration of the tour as per suggested program.
• Sightseeing of monasteries as per the program
• Services of an English speaking local guide as per the itinerary
• All monastery fees included.
• All Tax & Driver allowance
• Stay on Houseboat in Kashmir including all the meals
• Shikara ride on the lake
• Jeeps from Srinagar to Kargil and Kargil to Leh
• Services of a trained cook on the entire trek
• Services of a helper on the entire trek
• Services of an expert English speaking mountain guide
• All meals as per the day’s schedule
• Mules to carry luggage and equipment
• Camp charges during the entire trek
• “A” Shaped member tents
• All trekking equipment: includes, dining tents, mattresses, kitchen and toilet tents, tables, chairs, cutlery etc

Excludes:

• Any other meals / services not mentioned in the program
• Camera Fees at places of visit
• Any English speaking traveling escort cost
• Porters
• Any tips
• Any expenses of personal nature such as table drinks, laundry, telephone calls, mineral water, tipping, shopping etc
• Sleeping bags, torch/head lamps, enough camera batteries, good trekking boots, slippers, enough medicines, energy bars and drinks, sun creams and lotions, toiletries, jackets and warm trousers etc