Markha Valley Trek From Zingchen Markha Valley Trek From Zingchen
This is Ladakh’s most popular trek attracting about 60% of all trekkers. Its length, accessibility and variation of landscape have ensured its classical status. It can be walked anytime from mi June to mid-October providing there isn’t too much snow on the passes. You have to cross high passes to gain access into the Markha valley. Please allow enough time in your itinerary to acclimatize before each pass. beginning in Spituk helps because the altitude gain is not so rapid and after crossing the Gandala you descend to the lower end of the Markha valley. The scenery is stunning and very varied, you pass close to two of the most regularly climbed peaks in Ladakh. Stok Kangri and Kang Yatse and there is a good chance of seeing interesting wildlife.
- Distance: 3hrs
- Elevation: 3380m/11090ft
- The trek usually starts from Spituk but now there is a road to Zingchen so we recommend one should start the trek from Zingchen to make it interesting.
- Walking on the main road can be sometimes no fun. The taxi from Leh will drive up to Zingchen to the drop point.
- The trail swings to the south-west following the Indus into a narrow valley.
- The stretch of the river is popular for rafting and its can be exciting to watch the rafts shoot the rapids below from dry ground.
- From Zingchen the trail is straight forward following the Zingchen Nala up stream.
- The drive from Leh to Zingchen is 2hrs by jeep.
- Distance: 7hrs
- Pass: Gandala Pass 4850m/15,910ft
- Elevation: 4120m/13,520 ft/4850m/15,910ft
- Shingo: 4150m/13,620ft.
- Follow the stream up left valley, you can see the great view back to stok la.
- A clear path soon appears which takes you west toward the Ganda La.
- From the pass one can see the Zanskar range to the west. The fields of shingo also can be seen far down in the valley.
- Descent to shingo.
- Distance:4hrs
- Pass: Gandala Pass
- Elevation: 4150m/13,260ft/3400m/11,160ftft
- Follow the interwining streams below the hamlet, crossing and re crossing downstream through the willow grove.
- Continue down the gorge for 2 and half hour crossing the stream on stepping stones several times.
- In Skiu there is an interesting gompa on top of the cliff on the right.
- Distance: 22km
- Elevation: 3400m/11,160ft/3700m/12,140ft
- The trail to Markha is not too strenuous rising above 300m.
- From Markha after an hour you start walking though thorny scrubs for a short term, you will need to cross the river.
- Approaching Markha you get the first glimpse of the snow-covered slopes of Kang Yatse/ Nimaling(6400m/21,000ft).
- Distance: 6hrs
- Elevation:3700m/12,140ft/4150m/13,620ft.
- The path keeps close to the river until reaching a wooden bridge crossing the river, don’t cross the bridge but continue up the short slope.
- A large rock spire marks the entrance to this valley. This is the beginning of the Jhunglam trek, an extremely demanding route into Zanskar.
- Approaching Umlung village keep the fields on your right. It’s a wonderful level from here to Hankar with the towering peak of Kang Yatse standing over the valley.
- Thathungtse is a lovely camp site, you can cool off from the day trek in the icy stream.
- Distance: 4-5hrs.
- Elevation.4150m/13,620ft /4720m/15,490ft
- The trail continues to climb above Thathungtse and keep the mountain on your right always, the trail rises gently past lots of mani walls and then descends slowly to the high-altitude valley of Nimaling.
- The beautiful eroded rock spikes down to the left. You pass several mani walls, in summer there is a tent for refreshment
- This large flat-bottomed valley has a semi-permanent population of villagers who come up from the Markha valley to graze their livestock.
- Distance: 6hrs
- Elevation:4720m/15,490ft/5100m/16,730ft
- The Gongmaru la pass lies on the east side of the valley opposite kang- Yatse.as you climb the last short and steep slope to the top of the pass there are good views over the Zanskar Range and of the vertical ice walls of north face of Kang-Yatse peak.
- The trail climbs steeply from behind a small group of shepherd’s huts.
- From the pass descent to Chogdo, a tiring descent. Below the trail follows the stream as best as it can.
- Distance: 6hrs
- Elevation:4070m/13,350ft/3660m/12,010ft
- Walk in the river bed until you are almost past the neat village of Chogdo.
- The village gompa is up the valley to the north west some 20 mints walk away.
- Leaving shang-sumdo by Jeep for Leh, there is a road that connect shang-sumdo to the main Leh Manali high way.
- From shag-Sumdo it takes around 2 hours to get back to Leh.