Detailed itinerary
We plan to follow the itinerary however roads wash
out, or are extended, occasionally people get sick, logistical challenges arise, and so
we adapt as needed.
(Day 0 - arrive Delhi / early Leh arrival)
We spend two nights in Leh, so reasonable acclimatization to the
3480m/11,415ft altitude but if you are new
to altitude or to Leh, perhaps plan to arrive one day early and we will
arrange transfers and hotel and show you around.
Included in all our Ladakh trips are showing you around the bazaar and a couple of half day sightseeing trips, with or
without a cultural guide (your choice) and it is your choice of where to go;
many people joining are previous trekkers so have seen some places previously.
If you are more ambitious we can also help arrange a day or overnight trips to Alchi (~3100m) and Basgo Gompas or further afield Lamayuru (~3500m), a day rafting trip on the Zanskar River or or hammer down the Khardung La on a mountain bike (best a few days into your Leh
sojourn). If you have been working flat out you are welcome to just relax, kick
back and de-stress too, and adjust a little more slowly to the time zone change.
Sophie admires the mural at Basgo - Jamie
Day 1 - meet in Leh 3480m
Phew, after a long series of flights, you are here! Look for a Project Himalaya sign or a simple sign with your
name on it at the airport, and our wonderful drivers Ang Chuk, Pasang or Lobsang himself will pick you up.
Jamie meets you at the hotel on your arrival and we discuss altitude health over
tea/coffee or breakfast and introduce Leh and show you the better places
to eat. Most people crash out for a few hours and spend the day relaxing. Do drink
plenty of fluids which helps the acclimatization process, perhaps pop some vitamins and let your body adjust to the new time zone.
We normally go out to dinner together, let's meet in the peaceful hotel garden at 6:30pm. We eat at some of our favourite clean (very important!) restaurants: Chopsticks, G Kitchen, Tibet Kitchen and Summer Harvest.
Demet pets a gompa snow lion - Jamie
Days 2-3 - Leh 3480m
This is a day for sightseeing and relaxing. For today perhaps the best plan is to visit some of the world's most revered gompas and monasteries a short distance from Leh. Usually we arrange as a morning trip with lunch at Leh (or Thikse with its good restaurant) then
you can relax in the afternoon although we can easily arrange a full day trip.
Choosing where to go is the biggest
challenge, there are so many special places to visit. To the east is Shey, Thikse, Hemis, Chemde, Thagthok, Stakna, Matho and Stok, although don't plan on visiting all of them in one day.
Heading west out of Leh are Spituk, Phyang, Nyemo where the Indus meets the Zanskar River, and further afield are Basgo, Likir and Alchi.
By chance on a sightseeing trip to Matho we watched this - Jamie
Day 4 - drive Skyu, trek Harmochen
We set off after breakfast for two hour drive. Although some treks plan Skyu to Markha village in one day, it is a long way, especially at the beginning of a trek, so we have an easier day to a simple camp in the scrub with good grass for the horses.
Afternoon tea is ready! Our shady Skyu campsite - Jamie
Day 5 - trek Markha 3700m
Today we pass the remains of old hermitage caves high on the opposite cliffs.
Inside are the remains of tiny caves where lamas once sat in meditation, living platforms carved in rock. Look also at the chortens - inside are piles of tiny 'tsatsas', the remains of ashes of the departed
formed into tiny clay figurines. As soon as the valley widens we spot the old fort on
the hill above Markha village, and then, on the other side of the hill is our
camp on the banks of the Markha river. Long ago invaders from what is now Pakistan coveted the high grazing and livestock of Nyimaling, thus the Markha valley was at one time heavily fortified.
After tea we ascend to explore the local
gompa, the inside dark and chang smelling; and check out the ornate carved
silver barley beer holders in front of the village lamas chair. Look, and look
again, the more you look the more you will see.
Fields and villages in the Markha Valley - Jamie
Day 6 - trek Hankar 4000m 14km
Although a shorter walk, it is scenic and there are plenty of places to explore around the village that is split into two. The fort between them is well worth a wander and a ponder although optionally we can and usually do pass through tomorrow.
Two hours beyond Markha we have the chance to climb to the spectacularly set hilltop monastery of Umlung, and it is here that we leave the year-round villages behind. The snow mountain ahead is the real 6400m peak of Kang Yatse, which we are going to see much more of soon. And then we see the spire at valley end that marks the strategic junction with the routes to Zanskar and Nyimaling, and there is Hankar village, marked by a centuries old crumbling fort above. The legend is that the Dogra army that conquered Ladakh in the early 19th century was led this way to their prize, the Indus valley and Leh, by a renegade Zanskari.
Dining on a warm evening under our sunshade - Jamie
Day 7 - trek Tachungtse / Tachutse ~4350m
This is another day of ambling along the trails used by countless shepherds
and traders over the centuries. Leaving, we soon have the option of following the river, or climbing an intially steep and narrow gully that leads to the impressive ruins of Hankar Fort, a must visit site.
Once the cliffs around us change to green hills we cross a bridge to the true
left side of the valley and just beyond is the popular campsite and teashop of
Tachutse. There are more but smaller campsites after a 20 minute climb to a
shallow valley where a herders shelter sits on a moraine ridge above. Let's see
which campsite suits us.
The Hangkar fort is strikingly set - Jamie
Day 8 - trek riverside camp ~4550m
There's a large 600m altitude jump from Tachungtse to Nyimaling however it is usually possible to camp between, close to the river. This is dependent on finding clear water though. This is also a weather day, a day that can be skipped or taken elsewhere if needed.
Day 9 - trek Nyimaling ~4840m
Passing some lakes worth wandering around, we puff a little harder with the altitude. More ascent leads us to the huge Nyimaling plain where villagers from the
Markha Valley graze their sheep in summer and make curd from the milk of their
livestock. We camp in a convenient spot (hence the ~4750m/15,600ft altitude) and
drink in the views - dinner outside?
What a backdrop, heading up to Nyimaling - Jamie
Day 10 - rest-explore Nyimaling ~4840m
We have ascended relatively quickly and here take a break to acclimatize, and
wash clothes and explore this wonderful, panoramic valley.
There is a choice of day trips. The standard exit for a Markha trek is over the Konmaru La (Gongmaru La) and the view is well worth the effort, you can see towards Leh on a good day, as well as up and down the valley we are trekking in. The best though, is the ambitious walk to a glacier lake at the head of the valley, which can also be combined with a climb of the Lalung La, with its incredible rock teeth panorama. We'll talk these options over.
Collecting fuel; the traditional lifestyle is still alive at Nyimaling - Jamie
Day 11 - trek Kang Yatse Base Camp ~4850m
It is only a few hours to camp as we are positioning ourselves for a pass crossing tomorrow. So you can easily explore from Nimaling further and then come to camp.
Alternatively, if there is snow on the pass for tomorrow, we descend down the familiar trail to below Tachungtse and then head up a wilderness side valley to a peaceful camp. While collecting the horses and mules one morning, the horse helper saw a snow leopard here!
Pickaboo! A pika playing for the cameras - Jamie
Day 12 - trek Tikyu
We have a beautiful, satisfying day ahead. Leaving camp we cross a minor ridge to an open grassy valley and skirt around the side of this aiming for the pass above.
There is a surprise at the top, an initially steep descent on loose dirt but just over the small stream the way becomes a real path, and particularly scenic at that. We continue skirting around ridges, gently dropping to the valley base where we camp at the last grassy spot, the best camp for tomorrow.
Blue sheep horns - Jamie
And much better to see blue sheep alive, are these kids or lambs? - Jamie
Day 13 - trek spring 4380m via the Zalung Karpo La ~5200m
We are straight into it, and the top of the high pass comes soon enough, with
a bit of surprise, it is a three way pass with a route dropping into the very remote Rabrang area, an area where we have seen wolves and we have seen snow leopard
scat too.
Descending into the gorges, we camp well down at the grazing area of Tsogra. There is an impressive ancient dzong (fort) on the hillside that once guarded the gorge against invaders.
Wow, the dramatic panorama from the Zalung Karpo La - Jamie
Day 14 - trek Dadgo 4380m
This another delightful day's trekking. Soon the valley tightens, turning into an impressive steep-sided gorge then later the base of the valley opens, even if the walls are still sheer in many places. Passing through one last vertical rock gorge, and gradually gaining height, suddenly the valley expands and we are at Dadgo, a winter nomad camp. The monks at the monastery usually come over for tea (and to collect the camping fees paid by our crew).
The last of the gorges is behind Esther - Jamie
Day 15 - drive Leh
We are remote and climb over the Yar La then descend and drive along and expanding road. Once we meet the resurfaced Leh-Manali highway, we climb over the high Tanglang La. Driving back will take around 6 hours driving time (barring
delays) where we deserve a cold beer and a celebratory meal. Tibet Kitchen or Bon Appetit?
Stakna Gompa, with this view we know we are getting close to Leh - Jamie
Day 16 - trip ends
You are free to take the morning flight to Delhi or bus to Manali for the
long way back, or just enjoy more time in this central Asian town of yore.
Jullay - we hope to see you again soon!
