DESCRIPTION ITINERARY GALLERY
DESCRIPTION
Markha Valley – Ladakh’s most popular trek has Mt. Kang Yatze dominating its skyline most of the route. Just a little distance from Kang Yatse is the little known Dzo Jongo. This demanding trip comprises the trek and the twin ascents into 18 days, packing in a powerful punch. Although the climbs don’t require serious climbing skills, it definitely requires some serious endurance and a love for prolonged periods in the outdoors. Nimaling at 4750m from where most of the action commences can get pretty cold and windy. It happens to be the grazing grounds of all the cattle in the Markha Valley and has a big parachute tent shelter in the summers for visiting trekkers. If you have some tough treks behind your back and atleast one small climb, then this is a good trip to up the game further. Brace up for some really demanding days if you are signing up for this one.
QUICK ITINERARY
Day 1:Fly Delhi – Leh (3500m). Rest and Acclimatize
Day 2:Sightseeing around Leh
Day 3: Drive Leh to Chilling and trek to Skiu (3400m)
Day 4: Trek Skiu to Markha (3700m)
Day 5: Trek Markha to Thachungtse (4150m)
Day 6: Trek Thachungtse to Nimaling (4720m)
Day 7: Trek to Kongmaru La (5130m)and back to Nimaling
Day 8: Trek to Kang Yatze Base Camp (5000M)
Day 9: Rest & Acclimatise
Day 10: Climb Kang Yatze II & descend to Base camp
Day 11: Trek to Dzo Jongo Base Camp (5500)
Day 12: A day to practice the use of crampons and ascenders
Day 13:Climb Dzo-Jongo; descend to Base Camp (5500m)
Day 14:Contingency day
Day 15 Trek to Chuskirmo
Day 16:Trek to Shang Sumdo. Drive Shang Sumdo to Leh
Day 17: Fly back to Delhi from Leh
DETAILED ITINERARY
Fly Delhi – Leh (3500m). Rest and AcclimatizeThe flight takes us over the Greater Himalayas and makes an exciting landing at one of the highest airports in the world. Transfer to hotel. Overnight at hotel.
Day 02:Sightseeing around LehVisit the famous monasteries of Shey & Thiksey. Shey used to be the old capital of Ladakh. Thiksey is a beautiful monastery built in the style of the Potala Palace in Tibet. Drive back to hotel for lunch. You can spend time checking out the charming Leh Town and its narrow by-lanes in the evening.
Day 03:Drive Leh to Chilling and trek to Skiu (3400m)The trail goes through a flat and desolate plain along the river Indus till its confluence with the Zanskar where we make a u-turn and enter the Zanskar Valley and drive up along the muddy Zanskar till we reach Chilling. A little ahead of Chilling lies Kaya-Do where we cross the river on a trolley and make our way to the small village of Skiu. Overnight Camp.
Day 04: Trek Skiu to Markha (3700m) The trail to Markha is not too strenuous, rising about 300m across 22km, crossing the Markha river a couple of times. Markha is a substantial village, complete with a derelict fort on the hillside and a small village monastery. Overnight Camp.
Day 05: Trek Markha to Thachungtse (4150m) Kang Yatse (6400m), a magnificent snow-clad mountain commands the views for the next two days. On the walk there are sights of some fascinating geological creations of large boulders balanced precariously on top of consolidated earth spikes. Continue down over a bridge to Thachungtse, a lovely valley to camp in. A popular place to spot herds of blue sheep slide up and down the steep cliffs with incredible agility. Overnight Camp.
Day 06: Trek Thachungtse to Nimaling (4720m) You pass several mani (stones with prayer inscriptions) walls and suddenly come across a small lake. The view is wonderful from here - both of Kang Yatse, whose bulk gets reflected in the still waters of the lake, and also of the Markha Valley which we are now well above. Overnight Camp.
Day 07: Acclimatisation walk to Kongmaru La (5260m) & back to NimalingAfter breakfast we start our acclimatisation walk to Kongmaru La which is a gain of around 540m. The trail is steep uphill till we reach to the ridge from where it's flat to the foot of the pass and then the trail is again steep uphill to the top of the pass. We walk back for lunch at Nimaling. After lunch we will relax and will check our climbing gear.
Day 08: Trek to Kang Yatze Base camp (5150m)It's uphill from Nimaling through the loose rocks till we reach to the point from where we get the views of Kang Yatze base camp. Now the trail ease down a bit with gentle walk till we reach to base camp. Total walking hours from Nimaling should be 2-3hrs.
Day 09: Rest day We get some height gain today and practice walking with snow boots. A mix of snow and ice craft techniques.
Day 10:Climb Kang Yatze II & descend to Base camp Summit Day! We start a little after midnight for our summit attempt of Kang Yatze 2, also popularly referred to as Kang Yatze shoulder. We start of initially on scree and moraine before getting onto snow. It is gradual all the way except for a few parts where we might have to rope up. We should be at the summit by daybreak to catch the sun rise and the glorious view of the Zanskar range and the distant Karakoram. Descend to Base Camp for breakfast. A long day of about 10 hrs.
Day 11: Trek to Dzo Jongo Base Camp (5500)
Day 12: A day to practice the use of crampons and ascenders
Day 13: Climb Dzo-Jongo; descend to Base Camp (5500m)
Day 14:Contingency day A contingency day to account for bad weather, etc.
Day 15:Trek to ChuskirmoWe pack camp and proceed to the grazing grounds of Nimaling. From there it is a gradual ascent to Kongmaru La pass at 5260m with prayer flags fluttering. Beautiful views all round from the pass. We descend steeply at first before it becomes gradually as we reach the stream. A little ahead from there is Chuskirmo with chortens and a small shop.
Day 16: Trek to Shang Sumdo & drive to LehTrek along the Shang River for couple of hours before we reach to Shang Sumdo - road head and then get into vehicles to go to Hemis monastery (optional) or continue directly to Leh. Lunch at the hotel, wash up & spend the afternoon visiting the interesting market in Leh.
Day 17: Fly to Delhi Early morning transfer to the Airport for departure for your flight to Delhi. Trip Ends!.