Stok Kangri and the Markha Valley Trek
Holiday Itinerary
Day 1: Rendezvous at the group hotel. Complimentary airport transfers are provided. KE Land Only package services begin with lunch after which there is an optional sightseeing tour of the city. Overnight at the group hotel in Delhi.
Day 2: Transfer to the domestic airport. We take the 1 hour flight northwards, across the Himalaya to Leh, where we transfer to the group hotel. Afternoon free.
Day 3: A full day's sightseeing tour. We visit some of the area's most important monasteries, at Shey, Thikse and Hemis.
Day 4: Today we have the option of a whitewater rafting trip on the Indus. Starting at Phey the river runs through an impressive gorge to Nemo. Transfer back to the hotel in Leh.
Day 5: Today, we drive up to the Khardung La (5380m / 17,650ft), one of the world's highest road passes. Great views of the Karakoram peaks, then return to the hotel in Leh.
Day 6: A short drive beside the Indus takes us to its confluence with the Zanskar River which we follow upstream to our first camp at the village of Chilling.
Day 7: Crossing the Zanskar on a box and cable bridge, we meet our crew and trek beside the river to a junction with the Markha River which we follow to Skiu. (3400m / 11,155ft).
Day 8: More river crossings today as we follow the Markha stream passing several ancient ruins to reach our camp at the village of Markha.
Day 9: We pass more impressive monasteries, trekking via the villages of Hangkar and Tahungste to a delightful meadow beside the Nimaling stream. Camp at 4200 metres (13,780 feet).
Day 10: A shorter day today climbing up to the Nimaling Plain. The scenery opens out as we traverse around to the north side of 6400 metre high Kang Yatze. Camp at 4700 metres (15,420 feet).
Day 11: A day for rest and acclimatisation. For the energetic there is the option of a day hike to a view point on the north-west ridge of Kang Yatze. A scecond night at our camp on the Nimaling Plain.
Day 12: Crossing the Kongmaru La (5100m / 16,732ft) we have views of the Karakoram. We then descend via a narrow gorge of contorted rock formations to a camp beside the river.
Day 13: Leaving the Markha Valley trail we head west up a tributary valley to the Gyuncho La and descend to camp at Shang Po (4350m / 14,270ft).
Day 14: Today we cross the Shang La , descending to the Tokpo River and continue trekking generally downhill to Gangpoche (4320m / 14,170ft).
Day 15: We trek to the Mato La and descend into the Stok Valley. From here we have a short trek up valley to our basecamp for Stok Kangri. Camp at 4900 metres (16,075 feet).
Day 16: A rest and acclimatisation day. There are several options for day hikes.
Day 17: We have allowed two days for the ascent. We may choose to set up a high camp at around 5500 metres (18,045 feet), before summitting on the following day.
Day 18: Contingency day or summit from high camp. Summit views include the Karakoram, Tibetan peaks and a bird's eye view of the Indus Valley. Return to basecamp.
Day 19: We descend directly to Stok Village, with its fields of barley and buckwheat. Here we meet our jeeps and transfer to Leh where we check in to the group hotel.
Day 20: Today we take the flight southwards across the main chain of the Indian Himalaya to Delhi. Transfer to the group hotel for some well earned R&R.
Day 21: KE Land Only package services end after breakfast. Complimentary airport transfers are provided.
