Trekking in Markha valley
Ladakh, India
August 8 - 22, 2025
14 days
14 days
We hike light, without tents and heavy backpacks
Leh, located at 3500 meters, is the high-attitude capital of the Ladakh (Little Tibet) region.
We will stay in Leh for the first two days to acclimatize and to visit Buddist monasteries in the villages nearby.
For the next seven days we will hike in the incredible landscapes of the Indian Himalayas, with their colorful mountains, snowy peaks, and red rivers. Instead of tents, we stay at homestays with hospitable locals and explore Buddhist culture and life in rural Buddhist communities.
After the trekking part, we go by jeeps to the turquoise lake Tso Pangong, where for two days we chill and relax doing nothing. Except observing the beauty of untouched Himalayan nature.
We will stay in Leh for the first two days to acclimatize and to visit Buddist monasteries in the villages nearby.
For the next seven days we will hike in the incredible landscapes of the Indian Himalayas, with their colorful mountains, snowy peaks, and red rivers. Instead of tents, we stay at homestays with hospitable locals and explore Buddhist culture and life in rural Buddhist communities.
After the trekking part, we go by jeeps to the turquoise lake Tso Pangong, where for two days we chill and relax doing nothing. Except observing the beauty of untouched Himalayan nature.
Tour price - 2150 €
All images were made during my previous visits to Ladakh. ©Tanya Sharapova
- WHAT'S INCLUDED:Accommodations: Hotel in Leh, cottages at Tso Pangong Lake, and homestays during the trek.
Meals: Breakfasts in Leh, welcome dinner in Leh; breakfasts, dinners, and lunch packs during trekking and at Tso Pangong Lake.
Transfers: Meeting and transfers from/to Leh airport.
Transportation: All transfers by private jeeps during the trip.
Group Leader: Tanya Sharapova, photographer and group leader.
Guides: English-speaking Indian guide during the trekking segment and monastery visits.
Luggage: Horses for carrying luggage during the trek.
Permits: Permits to visit restricted areas: Hemis National Park, Markha Valley, and Tso Pangong.
Fees: Entrance fees to all monasteries.
Extras: Special duffle bag and first aid kit. - WHAT'S EXCLUDED ≈ €850:Return flight to Leh via Delhi (from €700)
Indian visa (€25)
Lunches and dinners in Leh (€40)
Tips for the driver and guide (€50)
Travel insurance
WHAT'S INCLUDED:
Accommodations: Hotel in Leh, cottages at Tso Pangong Lake, and homestays during the trek.
Meals: Breakfasts in Leh, welcome dinner in Leh; breakfasts, dinners, and lunch packs during trekking and at Tso Pangong Lake.
Transfers: Meeting and transfers from/to Leh airport.
Transportation: All transfers by private jeeps during the trip.
Group Leader: Tanya Sharapova, photographer and group leader.
Guides: English-speaking Indian guide during the trekking segment and monastery visits.
Luggage: Horses for carrying luggage during the trek.
Permits: Permits to visit restricted areas: Hemis National Park, Markha Valley, and Tso Pangong.
Fees: Entrance fees to all monasteries.
Extras: Special duffle bag and first aid kit.
Accommodations: Hotel in Leh, cottages at Tso Pangong Lake, and homestays during the trek.
Meals: Breakfasts in Leh, welcome dinner in Leh; breakfasts, dinners, and lunch packs during trekking and at Tso Pangong Lake.
Transfers: Meeting and transfers from/to Leh airport.
Transportation: All transfers by private jeeps during the trip.
Group Leader: Tanya Sharapova, photographer and group leader.
Guides: English-speaking Indian guide during the trekking segment and monastery visits.
Luggage: Horses for carrying luggage during the trek.
Permits: Permits to visit restricted areas: Hemis National Park, Markha Valley, and Tso Pangong.
Fees: Entrance fees to all monasteries.
Extras: Special duffle bag and first aid kit.
WHAT'S EXCLUDED ≈ €850 :
Return flight to Leh via Delhi (from €700)
Indian visa (€25)
Lunches and dinners in Leh (€40)
Tips for the driver and guide (€50)
Travel insurance
Return flight to Leh via Delhi (from €700)
Indian visa (€25)
Lunches and dinners in Leh (€40)
Tips for the driver and guide (€50)
Travel insurance
What to expect?
-
Is it tough trekking?This trekking is accessible to any healthy person. It's essential to understand that we are going to the mountains, where some physical effort will be required. Sometimes the route, whether going uphill or crossing a river, can be challenging but definitely doable. Everyone goes at their own pace. If you have any health issues you should let me know in advance. Contraindications include excessive weight and heart problems. -
How many people are in the group?My groups usually consist of 6-10 people, which I find to be the perfect size for creating a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. You'll be surrounded by like-minded individuals, with the flexibility to socialize when you want, or enjoy peaceful, uninterrupted moments with nature when you need personal time. It's all about balance and making the experience truly yours. -
Where will we stay overnight?During the hike, we will stay at lodges officially approved by the Ministry of Tourism for trekkers' accommodations. On the last night of the trek, we will sleep in tents. During the trek, home-cooked meals will be provided by the local families running the lodges. Each day, we will also have a packed lunch for takeaway. Local Tibetan food typically includes rice, noodles, lentils, potatoes, seasonal vegetables, eggs, and bread. In Leh, we will stay at a family-run Tibetan hotel with a garden where they grow their own vegetables and herbs. At the lake, we will stay in cottages. -
What will the weather be like?Expect sunny days with temperatures ranging from +25°C during the day to +5°C in the evening. During the day, you'll be comfortable in T-shirts, while after sunset, you'll cozy up in a warm down jacket, enjoying the cool mountain air. -
Which clothes or equipment should I take with me?You will receive a detailed list of the necessary clothing after you make the prepayment, along with a video where I show what I usually take with me. Special mountaineering equipment is not required. -
The electronic Indian visa can be obtained online at the Indian Visa Application Center's website and will be issued within 72 hours.
DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY:
All images were made during my previous visits to Ladakh. ©Tanya Sharapova
Days 1- 2
Arrival in Leh. We stay in Leh for two days to get our bodies acclimatized to the altitude of 3500 meters. On the first day, we visit Leh Palace and Tibetan bazaars. We will stroll along the narrow streets of the ancient city.
On the second day, we will drive by private jeeps to the Lamayuru monastery, where one hundred fifty Buddhist monks live permanently. We will stay in the monastery for the evening puja - monk's throat singing of Buddhist mantras. Meditating on this sound they believe it embodies emptiness.
On the second day, we will drive by private jeeps to the Lamayuru monastery, where one hundred fifty Buddhist monks live permanently. We will stay in the monastery for the evening puja - monk's throat singing of Buddhist mantras. Meditating on this sound they believe it embodies emptiness.
Day 3
Early in the morning we will jump into our jeeps and drive toward the starting point of our Himalayan trek. A little further than the Rumbak village where we start trekking. After a couple of hours, we will reach our first homestay. It is a cozy house with traditional Tibetan interiors - accurate rows of dishes and cups on shelves. Low tables and carpets instead of chairs. Buddhist flags flutter on the wind outside, cute donkeys with melodic bells on their necks pass by and a nearby river sings its songs - that is the perfect place to fall asleep.
Day 4
We hike from Rumbak village (3960m) to Shingo village (4150m). It will be a long day with the first challenge - climbing Gandala Pass (4900m) and descending towards Shingo village. On the way, we will meet funny Himalayan marmots and will observe beautiful red-colored mountains and snow-white Himalayan peaks. The hiking time is 8 hours.
Day 5
Today we walk from the Shingo village to the Skio village (3435m). It is well deserved easy-walking day only for three hours. So we wake up whenever we want and walk in a super chill mode. In Skio village, there is a small ancient Buddhist temple. The special key from it is kept by one family in the village. Son from this Tibetan family will kindly open the temple for us. Later in the evening, we will walk around the village and later will observe a sky full of stars.
Day 6
Trek from the Skio village (3435m) to the Markha village (3750m). It will be an easy path along the Markha river without steep descends and ascents. Markha village is the main village on the trek and in the valley. Green fields are surrounded by small Tibetanhp houses with scenic Himalayan mountains in the background. After a delicious dinner will walk a bit around the village and surroundings.
Day 7
Today we hike from the Markha village (3750m) to the Khankar village (3980m). And again, we are lucky with quite easy plain paths. Today we will pass sandy castles, and in the Umlung village, we will stop for tea. Don't miss the Buddhist Tacha temple hidden up on the steep hill. Today is the day to spot for the first time mount Kang Yatse (6400m).
Day 8
This day is one of the most picturesque days on the route while we hike from the Khankar village (3980m) to the Nimaling camp (4730m). Tiny Buddhist villages, horsemen and shepherds with goats and sheep pass by us along the way. We will make a radial walk to the mountain lake, where we will have a lunch break. In the Nimaling we will spend the night in tents set up here, especially for trekkers.
Day 9
Today is a tough day - we will cross the Kongmaru La pass (5150m). We will start the hike with a quite steep descent directly from Nimaling camp (4730m) towards the direction of Shang Sumdo (3730m) village. When after two-three hours we will finally climb the pass, we will hang all around Buddhist colorful flags to spread mantras by the strong Kongmaru La winds. The view from the pass is just mind-blowing. We will see from here the giants of the Zanskar and Karakoram including the K2 on the north-western horizon. After we start to descend and cross the Markha river several times to reach the road, where jeeps already wait for us. In two hours we will be in Leh. At the dinner in my favorite restaurant in Leh, we celebrate the end of our trekking and enjoy an evening in the small capital of Ladakh.
Day 10
Today we will explore the city or just relax with a book in the garden of our Tibetan family-run hotel. The only must thing for today is to try tandoori bread in the Muslim part of the city and mango-lassi in the Buddhist one.
Day 11
After a day of idle life in Leh, we are ready for new adventures - a jeep ride to the turquoise mountain lake Tso Pangong (4335m). A huge lake with a length of 147 kilometers is located on the territory of two countries - China and India. We will reach the lake after lunch, check in and go out to explore these scenic high-altitude landscapes.
Day 12
We spend the whole day on the lake - we walk along the endless shore, rest, relax, and enjoy the scenic views all around.
Day 13-14
We will wake up early to see the sunrise at Tso Pangong lake. After breakfast, we will drive back to Leh to spend our last evening there and celebrate the end of the journey. The next day we will fly back home.
Reviews about Travel tours
with Tanya Sharapova:
with Tanya Sharapova:
The beauty that opened up to the eyes was simply endless. Most of the time, I felt like a happy spaniel with a sideways tongue. And we were so lucky with the team - it just happened that all strangers were such a great team - comfortable, supportive, not intrusive, but always walking alongside when needed.
Now I want to trek, see higher mountains, and come to the Himalayas again. Thank you, Tanya Sharapova, for this miracle, the discovery of a new world, the extremely friendly team, and a new feeling about myself. It was one of the most beautiful, divinely beautiful places in the world I've ever seen. It was one of the most remarkable trips in my life.
Wild untouched nature and spectacular mountains, the opportunity to be alone and at the same time in the company of such nice people. Tanya showed us incredible places. Now I can't imagine myself lying on the beach for two weeks, staying in the same hotel, when there are so many fascinating things in the world. I want to have time to see everything!
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