Through the arid Markha valley; Zanskar river crossing by a box bridge; old famed monasteries; extensive summer pasture lands of shepherds; high mountain valleys; excellent views of Kang Yatze peak's north face; sweeping views of Ladakh ranges and Indus valley; base of Stok Kangri peak.
Day 01: Delhi Airport :
Arrive Delhi, hotel transfer.
Day 02: Delhi - Leh (3500m), by plane :
Afternoon at leisure in Leh, where we can take a walk to the colourful bazaar.
Day 03: Visit of the high Indus valley's monasteries (car) :
Shey houses the old summer palace of the kings of Ladakh. Its gompa shelters an amazing Buddha, 12 m high. The picturesque Thikse monastery is perched on top of the hill overhanging the Indus And Hemis gompa is one of the largest in Ladakh.
Day 04: Leh - Chiling ( 3850 m) in 3 h (car) :
We drive towards Srinagar and Kashmir to Nimmu, where the Zanskar River meet the Indus. We follow the left bank of the Zanskar River through a gorge to Chilling. This village has gold smiths famous for local golden jewelry.
Day 05: Chilling - Skiu (3500 m) in 5 h :
We cross the Zanskar River by way of a box and cable bridge and meet our trekking team on the opposite riverbank.
Day 06: 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 07: 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 08: Hankar - Nimaling (4650 m) in 4 h :
Trek in valley in direction of the Zalung Karpo and the Rupshu. We go trough Thagshungtse pasture and start our gradual ascent towards the wonderful high valleys of Ladakh.
Day 09: Nimaling - Kongmaru La (5150 m)- Chogdo (4000 m) in 7 h :
Climb to the summer pastures of Nimaling, used by the shepherds of Hankar and Markha, then follow the hedge to the top. The Kongmaru La pass commands a beautiful view of the Kang Yatze north face (6400 m), the Ladakh ranges and the Indus valley.
Day 10: Chogdo - Gyuncho La (4600 m) :
Camp at 4350 m in 6- 7 h. From now on, we will follow a new and rarely traveled route through the valleys to the east of our objective. Today, we turn towards the west into a tributary valley that leads after a long and gradual.
