India: Trekking in Ladakh

Namaste! Welcome to India. Your trekking adventure kicks off in Delhi – the capital territory of India’s north. Meet your trip leader and new travel buddies at a 6 pm welcome meeting tonight. If you arrive early, there's plenty to do in this wonderfully chaotic city. Maybe wander the streets, sip on your first chai or practice haggling in one of the many markets. Tonight, ask your leader for the best nightlife spots and maybe grab a drink with your group.

Take a flight to Leh this morning – the joint capital of Ladakh, in the Himalayan region, sits framed by the towering peaks of the mountains. When you arrive at the airport, transfer to your hotel, then the rest of your day is free. It might be a good idea to take is easy today as you acclimatise to the altitude (Leh sits at 3500 m above sea level). This afternoon, head out for a gentle orientation walk around the city and its bazaars.

Today after breakfast, you’ll explore Leh’s gorgeous scenery and main sites with your leader. First, head to the Shey Monastery and Palace – this complex, sitting on a high hill, is best known for the one-of-a-kind three-storey statue of Buddha Shakyamuni. Next, you’ll visit the Thiksey Monastery. Also resting on a hill, this site overlooks the Indus Valley with a full view of the Stok Range in the Himalayas. Directly across, you’ll see the Matho Monastery in the village of Matho. Sitting at the mouth of a deep gorge that runs out of the Zanskar Range, this Tibetan Buddhist monastery features red and gold inlays and beautiful views. Later this afternoon, you’re free to wander at your own pace or head back to the hotel and rest.

Today, you’ll hike in and around Leh to continue to acclimatise to the altitude. Time in this city is crucial to properly get used to the high altitude! You’ll set off after breakfast with your leader on a hike around the Leh Valley. Visit the Ruins of Royal Palace – an outstanding example of monumental architecture akin to the Potala of Lhasa, which was built between 1645 and 1695 by the fifth Dalai Lama. Then, visit the Tsemo Monastery for views of Leh and the surrounding villages. From here, continue your walk via Sankar to the recently built Shanti Stupa – this stupa also overlooks Leh and the Stok Range across the valley. If you’re lucky, you might even see the sunset from here!

After breakfast, drive to the small village of Zingchen where your trek begins. Meet your crew, then start the gradual climb to Rumbak. You’ll be walking through epic mountain scenery, blanketed in snow in winter and green grasses in summer. Rare snow leopards live in this area, but the chance of a sighting in summer is very rare. When you arrive near the village, you’ll set up camp for the first time. After setting up and helping out, you’ll visit the village Rumbak and meet some members of the local community. Watch the sun go down and maybe help out with dinner tonight, which you’ll enjoy as a group around the campfire.

From your camp site, you’ll take a short trek this morning to the village of Yurutse in the Rumbak Valley. This remote village is home to only one large house and the family here are considered very hospitable hosts. When you arrive, you’ll set up your tents at the base camp of Ganda La, soaking up the natural landscape and watching the stars as they come out, uninterrupted by light pollution.

Today will be one of the longer hiking days of the trip. After breakfast, you’ll climb the 4900-m-high pass of Ganda La. Take in the amazing view and the clean, clear air. It will then be a long descent to Shingo village. When you arrive in the village, continue through a narrow gorge to Skiu in the Markha Valley. Here, there’s a small monastery, part of which is assumed to be over 1000 years old!

Today is another long trekking day, but on mostly flat trails. Walk through the scenic Markha Valley in the middle of the Hemis National Park and check out the old ruins that are on many hill tops here. These show the former importance of this ancient route and little is known about the origin of these ruins! Most likely, they are from the fortresses of Darden, who colonised the first sedentary inhabitants of Ladakh. If you’re lucky, you might see the wild blue sheep on the slopes here or an eagle circling in the sky. Just before the village of Markha, you’ll cross a stream to reach tonight’s campsite. Then, you can set up and settle in for the night.

Your trek continues up to the valley this morning. After a few hours of taking in the wild landscape, you’ll reach Hankar – the last village in the Markha Valley. When you arrive and if you feel up to it, you can take the short but very steep hike up to the small monastery in Tetsa – the view from the top is breathtaking and you’re well rewarded for the effort! Spend the night in the wilds of Thachungtse at 4200 m.

This morning, you’ll trek to the high plateau of Nimaling. When you arrive, you can take in the flat, green plains of the area, surrounded by the white-capped mountains. Nimaling is known as one of the most beautiful high valleys in Ladakh and the views of the 6400-m-high Kangyatze are simply breathtaking. In the evening, the villagers bring their herds of sheep, goats and yaks to these plains to graze in the summer and you can watch them as the sun begins to set! This is your final night with your crew, so soak it up and celebrate an amazing adventure together.

Today, you’ll tackle Kongmaru La – the second pass on the Markha Valley trek. From the pass, take in the sights of Kangyatze one last time, then descend into the long, narrow gorge for spectacular natural scenery. You’ll arrive in Chokdo, then drive back to Leh through green, fertile lands. Along the way, visit Hemis Gompa – a Himalayan Buddhist monastery believed to be the wealthiest and biggest monastery in the city. Spend the night back in the city, celebrating a long and rewarding trekking adventure.

After a leisurely breakfast this morning, you have a free day in Leh to do some last-minute shopping in the bazaar for any souvenirs or gifts you might like to bring home. Tonight, why not grab dinner with your fellow travellers and swap stories.

Take a morning flight to Delhi today. When you arrive, settle in and relax. This afternoon, you’ll have the option to explore Old Delhi on an Urban Adventures sightseeing tour in the afternoon. Wander around the wonderfully chaotic sights and sounds, then later, why not head out with your group for one final dinner together of delicious, local cuisine.

With no further activities planned after breakfast, your trip comes to an end. If you’d like to extend your time in Delhi, just reach out to your booking agent ahead of time. Maybe consider another trip through India, like the Classic Rajasthan (trip code HHSC), India’s Golden Triangle (trip code HHSN) or Premium India Safari (trip code HHPT).