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You must make a trip here
to come across with experiences that excite, romanticize and chill
at the same time.
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Markha Valley Trek
Duration - 10 Nights / 11 Days
Destination - Stok - Khilchay - Yurutse - Skiu -
Thinlespa - Hankar - Nimaling - Sumdo - Martselang
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Day 01 : Stok To Khilchay - 6 hours
A 30-minute drive gets you to the roadhead at Stok, where you begin the
trek. The trail passes through the higher section of the village, keeping
to the true left bank of the Stok Nala, heading steadily towards the apex
of the flood plain of the Stok valley. Here the trail enters the gorge
of
the Stok Nala, climbs past the ruins of Styang La Khar fort with an
extensive willow grove at its base and then turns to the right along a
subsidiary valley, climbing a little more steeply to enter a cirque which
shelters the summer shepherd settlement of Kilchay. Camp is set here for
the night.
Day 02 : Kilchay To Yurutse - 8 hours
The initial climb to Stok La is steep and from the top the trail does not
drop but instead winds through a complicated knot of ridges, keeping near
the crest. The descent into the Rumbak valley is steep and dusty but can
be exhilarating for anyone who wishes to indulge in downhill scree
running. The trail, keeping to the true right bank of the Rumbak Nala,
passes through the village of Rumbak and then crossing to the true left
bank, climbs up the valley of a subsidiary stream to the tiny settlement
of Yurutse. Camp is set a little beyond at the foot of the Kundu La.
Day 03 : Yurutse To Skiu - 7 hours
The climb to the Kundu La is not as steep as that of the previous day's
to Stok La, but it is longer. From the pass, a spectacular panorama of
white fringed mountains, merging into the distant ranges of the Karakoram,
is revealed.
The trail descends steadily to the head of the Skiu valley where a number
of rivulets join to form a small stream. The broad grassy shoulders of the
upper valley narrow sharply to the pinched waist at Sumdo with its few
houses and fields at the junction of a small stream with the Skiu Nala.
From here the river swoops exuberantly down a tight, narrow gorge choked
with willow and wild rose with the trail leaping from bank to bank all the
way to the village of Skiu on the banks of the lower Markha and the
campsite.
At dusk just as the evening shadows begin to envelop the valley it is
worth walking back along the trail where the Skiu Nala meets the Markha,
to visit a small monastery cared for by an old nun who comes every morning
and evening the light the butter lamps at the altar of Chamba - the Future
Buddha. Overnight in camp.
Day 04 : At Skiu
Rest day. The energetic may like to follow the trail from Skiu along the
true right bank of the Markha to its confluence with the Zanskar. However,
it is a long walk each way.
Day 05 : Skiu To Thinlespa - 6 hours
A very pleasant walk up one of the loveliest sections of the Markha
Valley. Woody bushes grow thickly along the river which is a spanned by
several bridges over which the trail marches to Thinlespa. The camp is
beyond this small charming village on the true right bank of the river.
Day 06 : Thinlespa to Hankar - 6 to 7 hours
The trail continues eastwards climbing steadily up the valley through the
picturesque village of Markha and its interesting monastery, which is well
worth visiting. Coming in from the south is the trail from Rubering La,
one of the routes to Zangla. From Markha the country changes and the warm,
relatively heavily wooded section of the lower Markha is left behind. The
camp below the twin villages of Lower and Upper Hankar is distinctly
cooler than at Thinlespa. Between the two villages is a ruined fort, the
walls of which climb sharply up a crag to an erie of a lookout tower -
worth visiting for those with an exceptionally good head for heights.
Day 07 : Hankar to Nimaling - 8 hours
From
Hankar the trail climbs steadily up the now narrow valley, past villages
smaller and seemingly poorer than those of the lower areas. The Nimaling
plain is a broad undulating meadow which slopes upwards to the base of the
ice-clad Kang Yurze which dominates the area. Nimaling with tiny ponds and
rivulets flowing all over its meadows provides pasturage in the summer for
an astonishing number of animals - yaks, dzos, sheep, goats, horses - not
only from the Markha but also from villages all around. Himalayan marmots
and white tailed hares are seen in plenty and it is not unusual to sight
an occasional blue- sheep or wolf. Camp is set by the river.
Day 08 : AT Nimaling
Rest day. An opportunity to relax or wander around the plain. An
alternative is a walk to the base of Kang Yurze.
Day 09 : Nimaling to Sumdo - 7 to 8 hours
Crossing to the north of the Markha, begin the climb up to the highest of
the three passes - Kangmaru La with its wonderful views from the top. The
trail descends steeply to the head of the Martselang valley past the
sulphur springs of Chyushkarmo and follows the Martselang stream to the
village of Shang-Sumdo, at the confluence of the Shang and the Martselang.
Day 10 : Sumdo to Martselang - 3 to 4 hours
An easy descent along the true left bank of the Martselang to where it
broadens into the Indus valley at the village of Martselang. Transport
will be waiting here for the one hour drive back to Leh and overnight at
hotel
Day 11 : Departure Leh
Morning you will be transferred to the airport to board flight for Delhi.
The Himalayas are not mere rocks and snows
but an ubfailing storehouse of adventure and beauty.
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You may not be a pilgrim at first hand but
you'll soon become one as you arrive here!
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Accommodations that come coupled with
galvanising environs for a stay of its kind...
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