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Markha Valley Trek & Rafting in Zanskar 6N/7D

₹ 16500 /Person
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Dry yet inviting, arid yet rich, cold yet very warm, Ladakh is the land of contradictions! Even the average photographer…

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Trip Code :WT-CODE 2621
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Dry yet inviting, arid yet rich, cold yet very warm, Ladakh is the land of contradictions! Even the average photographer can gain serious Pic Credits here because the grand brown mountains look literally unreal and are extremely picturesque. The best way to explore Ladakh is by entering in the remoteness and feeling it on your own. Markha valley trek is one such trail that offers you the real Ladakh, be it in terms of Flora, Fauna, Culture, Traditions, or Serenity (may also be read as remoteness). My Route Holidays has now crafted an all-new, extremely exciting itinerary to explore Ladakh. This one not just takes you through the amazingly serene and picturesque landscapes of Ladakh through the Markha Valley but also indulges you in the thrills of White water rafting on Zanskar. Rafting on Zanskar is a completely unique experience. The river is mostly muddy and has a strong flow. One of the few rivers in India to have its roots in Karakoram Range and the gorge through which it flows is almost dramatic. Huge walls on either side would escort you, as you raft over the rapids one by one on the river till it merges existence with Indus in Nimmu.

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Itineraries

Day 1

Arrive and rest in Leh

Arrive in Leh and today is for rest & acclimatization. Explore the local market of Leh.

Day 2

Acclimatization in Leh

Stay active and visit one or two monasteries. This should be the second day in Leh for those reaching by flight. The greatest thing about monasteries is that they are always high! You can practice the High Altitude climb and the climb also helps immensely in acclimatizing. Climbing higher and staying lower is the best way to acclimatize. Test your body for the trek that starts tomorrow.

Day 3

Leh to Zingchen (3734 M) - 28 Kms drive; Trek to Ganda La lower base (4363 M) via Yurutse (4172 M) - 10 Kms, 6 to 8 hours

Start the drive early morning and reach Zingchen. The trek starts from a barrier made by the forest department to mark the end of the road for vehicles. One can see the confluence of Stok and Rumbek Nallas. The trail has very gradual incline giving enough opportunity to pick up the breath. One starts on the left of Nalla and continues to walk on the dirt road for around 1 hour. Through this route, one can only see towering brown mountains on either side that have no vegetation whatsoever. After walking for another 1 hour, one can see Bon Buddhist shrine along the trail. The trail inclines a bit from here. Another 30 - 40 mins walk would take you to the Rumbek camping site, where the view opens up significantly. After walking for around 50 - 60 mins, we reach at a confluence of two streams coming from Stok. From here, one can start seeing the Gompas that mark the beginning of the village, Yurutse. Keep walking on the trail for another hour to reach the Ganda La lower Base camp. The camp site is in the middle of a large valley with mountains on 3 sides marking its boundaries. Overnight in tents.

Day 4

Ganda La lower base to Shingo Campsite (4376 M) via Ganda La (4971 M) - 8 km

We start early morning today to cross the pass soon in the morning. Start walking westwards on the clearly demarcated trail towards the Upper Ganda La base. Continuous and steady incline for an hour takes us to the Ganda La Upper base. Continue moving upward from here into the narrow valley in the southwest direction. One can see Stok Kangri through most of the climb today. Walk towards the spur on the south west for around 10 mins to get the first glimpse of Ganda La. An hour walk from here will take you to the top of Ganda La with views of Zanskar range in the South (front) and Stok Kangri at the back. The pass joins Rumbak with Markha Valley. While coming down from the pass, the trail is smooth and straight down the gorge into the Markha valley. Walk to Shingo campsite is all downhill and easy. It should take around 1.5 hours to reach Shingo camping site. Overnight in tents.

Day 5

Shingo Campsite to Chilling (3189 Mts) using Ropeway/Zipline - 16 km

The day is mostly downhill and easy. As we start in the morning, we walk along the same gorge as yesterday that takes us to Shingo village. From the village, start walking alongside the Shingo Nalla. The trail is mostly closed on either side with large brown mountains. The stream would ask you to cross itself multiple times, jumping over the small or big boulders. The trail hardly moves away from the river. As the village Skiu approaches, you can feel the presence of civilization marked by some fields with properly laid boundaries. The walk from Shingo to Skiu should take around 2.5 to 3 hrs. Shingo Nalla meets its big brother Markha Nalla here that flows from east to west. From Kaya, walk for another 6 Kms to reach the ropeway, on the half paved road. After walking for about 2 hours, one can see the confluence of Markha Nalla and Zanskar River. A short hike from here, would take you to the Ropeway point. Crossing the ropeway would sure be a thrilling experience that Cross the Zanskar and move on the other side of the river to Chilling. Overnight in Chilling.

Day 6

Rafting from Chilling (3189 Mts) to Nimmu (3140 Mts) - 28 km; Drive to Leh - 38 km

Today we will be rafting for 28 Kms from Chilling to the confluence of Indus and Zanskar, near Nimmu and then drive to Leh. It is 28km of rafting for around 3 hours that includes a range of rapids including a Class III + rapid, at a point where the river converges to a large extent. Your guide will provide you a rafting helmet, wetsuit and booties before giving you a brief set of instructions on how to oar and safety procedures if you are thrown overboard. The water is cold and silty coming from the glaciers upstream. If you are considering taking a camera its best to bring something waterproof or bring a small dry sack you can stick in your life preserver and make sure its well attached in case you are thrown overboard. The most exciting stretch of rapids is close to the end of the trip just before the bridge that crosses the river. From here we drive to Leh (around 45 - 50 mins) and stay in a hotel.

Day 7

Departure from Leh

Departure from Leh

Camping/Homestay during the trek
Veg Meals as per menu on all trek days
Gaiter, Micro-spikes, and Helmet as required
Trek Permissions Fee, if any (Upto the amount charged for Indian nationals)
First aid medical kit including oxygen cylinder
Experienced Guide and Support staff
Transport from Leh to Road head and return
Equipment needed for rafting
Hotel/Guest House Stays in Leh (Day 1,2 & 6)
Mountaineering course certified Trek Leader with First Aid certification

What’s Not Included?

Meals in Leh
Any kind of personal expenses
Meals during road journeys
Any kind of Insurance
Mules or porter to carry personal luggage
Anything not specifically mentioned under the head Inclusions

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  • start: Thursday October 1, 2020
    end: Saturday October 31, 2020
    Group Size: No Size Limit
    price: ₹ 16500 /Person
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