| markha valley trek |
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| 14 days |  |
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25 jul - 07 aug 10 |
| 24 jul - 06 aug 11 |
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| insurance from | £43 |
| opt. single supplement | £155 |
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• Ladakh: the extension of the Tibetan plateau into now northern India, Buddhist culture and landscape at its most accessible
• this is its very best trek: fly to Leh bazaar, visit great Ladakhi monasteries, trek to serene villages, snow peaks, polychromatic gorges, wildlife habitats & mysterious ancient ruins
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Running parallel to the Indus, behind the lofty Kangri mountains, the Markha has a remote feel that belies its proximity to the heart of Ladakh, ideal for Buddhist monks in search of seclusion. Dramatic ruined gompas mark the sheer craggy skyline above intimate villages of green fields - a magical place of carved mani stones and white chortens against richly coloured rock: startling reds and vivid greens.
We start in the beautiful metalworking village of Chiling on the Zanskar river; one of many lovely orchard campsites. With time to explore the active monasteries on the way at Skiu and Markha village, we gradually follow the river to its source at the magnificent wide alpine pasture of Nimaling under the snowy peak of Kang Yatze. We spend an extra day here exploring the inviting views over the distant Changtang plateau, then make a slow, steady ascent to the fantastic prayer-flag-festooned Konmaru La. The views here are simply spectacular: high peaks immediately behind us, immense distances across Zanskar even to K2 in the west; to the east the Indus valley stretching away far into Tibet.
Then descending through fantastic polychromatic gorges, the habitat of the agile ibex and blue sheep, we visit the great active monastery at Hemis before the short drive to the Silk Road bazaar town of Leh. |
click here for
full itinerary |
| outline itinerary: |
| days 1/2 |
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arrive delhi, fly to leh |
| days 2-4 |
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leh acclimatisation |
| day 5 |
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drive to chiling |
| days 6-13 |
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trekking, return to leh |
| day 15 |
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fly delhi, depart delhi |
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