Markha Valley & Rupshu Trek
(The harsh and beautiful world of Ladakh's nomadic Chang- pa herdsmen)

Lying between Zanskar and the Tibetan border to the east is the region known as Between Ladakh and Zanskar the journey offers a large diversity of landscapes, from the jagged Dungdungchen La (4700 m) to the green oasis of the Markha valley. The scenery becomes more and more desert like as we go south to the Rupshu. This high altitude cold desert is the western extension of the Tibetan Plateau. Previously closed to visitors, this region offers some of the most amazing scenery to be found in Ladakh. It is a land of monasteries and high passes, dissected by numerous mountain ridges and traversed by a number of ancient trading routes. We will venture in a mineral wilderness where only a few nomads live, totally reliant on their yak and sheep herds for their subsistence. To be invited into their camp for a rest and a cup of salt and butter tea provides an insight into another world.

DAY 1) Arrive Delhi,
Where you will be met and transfered to your hotel.

DAY 2) Delhi - Leh (3500m) by plane
Arrive Leh and drive by jeep to the Ladkahi style hotel. The rest of the day is free to either rest in the shade of the hotel courtyard, or we can take a lazy walk into Leh's colourful bazaar. Overnight at hotel.

DAY 3) Visit Leh
A whole day at leisure in Leh. You can visit some of the most famous and oldest monasteries of Ladakh (15th and 17th century), Thikse, Shey and Hemis and take a walk to the colorful bazaar. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 04: Leh - Spitok - Zinchen (3200 m) in 4 h.
Morning a short drive to Spituk, trek point where the mules will be waiting. After loading the mules begin a short and easy trek to Zinchen.

Day 05: Zinchen -Yurutse (3844 m) in 5 h.
Today again, an easy ascent to hamlet of Yurutse.

Day 06: Yurutse - Ganda La (4900 m) - Skiu (3510 m) in 6/7 h.
A moderate three hours climb up to Gandala pass. Then long descent to Skiu.

Day 07: Skiu - Markha (3850 m) in 7 h.
The trail joins the Markha River and will follow it for a few days. Today the trek is quite easy but numerous times, we will need to cross the river from left to right and back, this depending on the season and weather conditions. We will visit the Makha monastery and fort.

Day 08: Markha - Hankar (4000 m) in 4 h.
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 09: Hankar - Langtang Chu (4250 m) in 6 h.
Soon after Hankar we leave the Marka valley behind us and take south along the Langtang Chu river.

Day 10: Langtang Chu - Yakrupal (4700 m) in 4 h.
We climb up the large valley, and after crossing a stream follow on along a morainic wall.

Day 11: Yakrupal - Zalung Karpo La (5200 m) - Sorra (4200 m) in 5 h.
We carry on upwards until the valley divides and take right. From the pass, we follow a ridge trail leading to another pass, then plunge into the valley

Day 12: Sorra - Dat (4200 m) in 5 h.
We follow gorgeous woody gorges until they widen into a valley. Manis and shortens are spread on the trail leading Sara and Dat rivers. Dat is a green village, where cultivation and vegetation takes every fragment of land.

Day 13: Dat - Yar La (5000 m) - Lungmo Che (4010 m) in 6 h.
An easy climb takes us to the pass, where we enjoy a dramatic vista over the Rupshu. Sometimes some "Khyangs", wild donkeys, go up to the caravans, frightening our ponies.

Day 14: Lungmo Che - Sangtha (4200 m) in 3 h.
Then transfer by jeep to Sarchu. The landscape completely changes into a vast arid plain. Tibetan nomads mainly populate the area. The road to Sarchu winds its way up to the Lachlung La pass (5060 m).

Day 15: Sarchu - Manali (2000 m) by jeep.
This journey is rewarded by magnificent landscapes. The road goes through amazing switch back roads, pass the blue Suraj Tal lake to Darcha and pass through Rohtang Pass (3954m) the last pass of this journey. The landscape is breathtaking. Rohtang Pass is a very wide pass, and is one of the most beautiful passes in the Pir Panjal. The view on both sides is exhilarating.

Day 16: Manali - Delhi (Private vehicle).
Optionally an extra day in Manali can be organized for rest and sightseeing (Old Manali, Hadimba temple and Vashisht village). Surrounded by snowy mountain peaks, Manali is also known as "Queen of Mountains". It is a gloriously colorful market place for the surrounding villages.

DAY 17) Visit - Delhi
The morning is free to relax and then after lunch we leave for a 05 Hours sightseeing tour of Old and New Delhi, Which are completely different in character to one another. We visit the Qutub Minar, Red fort and India Gate.

DAY 18) Transfer to airport and fly back home