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Hiking the Markha Valley

November 6, 2022 By Travelsauro 23 Comments

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If you are thinking about going to the Himalayas and don’t know where to start, I recommend you get to the province of Ladakh and enjoy one of the most breathtaking landscapes of this world. I could compare it with that time I hiked to the Annapurna Base Camp in Nepal!

It is possible to do the Markha Valley trek independently, without guides or sophisticated equipment. All towns through which you pass have houses that welcome travelers (homestay), where you can eat, sleep and recharge to continue on your route.

This is the route I took; the technical difficulty is medium and you don’t need to be an expert mountaineer. Obviously you need to be well acclimatized to the altitude and have some level of fitness.

Itinerary of seven days. Markha Valley trek on a budget:

Day 1: Spitok – Rumbak
Day 2: Rumbak – Shingo
Day 3: Shingo – Skyu
Day 4: Skyu – Markha
Day 5: Markha – Hankar
Day 6: Hankar – Nimaling
Day 7: Nimaling – Kongmaru La-Shjang

Map

The logistics of the trek are simple. You will find dozens of places to sleep and drinking water is not a problem (usually boiled and with a burned wood taste).

You’ll need a map of the region that you can find in different libraries in Leh and if possible, don’t go independently to the mountain. Try to put together a group with fellow travelers you met before departing.

If you are alone and don’t dare to do it on your own, you can also get a guide to accompany you for a much better price than hiring a whole tour with an agency.

Day 1: Spitok – Rumbak

There are many buses leaving from Leh to Spitok. From there you can walk to Rumbak or take a taxi from Spitok to Jingchan and avoid the first part where you walk along a rather boring road.

After Jingchan begins the most beautiful path leading to Rumbak, where you can find several shelters. It’s a simple path, keeping the river on one side and crossing the Jingchan pass.

markha valley on a budget ladakh india

markha valley trek on a budget

Day 2: Rumbak – Shingo

It’s one of the most spectacular parts of the hike. We walked through the Ganda pass at approximately 4900 meters. From here, the endless landscape of snowy peaks and huge cliffs of the nearby mountains can be seen. The Stok Kangri, at 6130 meters, watched us carefully as we trekked.

We met some villagers and you can see their clothes finished with Yak hair, and cheeks reddened by the relentless sun. Here we began to see more grazing animals such as horses and some sheep.

markha valley trek on a budget flags india ladakh

markha valley trek on a budget flags ladakh india

Day 3: Shingo -Skyu

This is a day of descent. From the 4120 meters of Shingo to the 3430 meters of Skyu. Take it easy, because it’s still the beginning of the trek and your knees have to go all the way. Upon reaching Skyu, you are at the entrance of the beautiful valley of Markha.

markha valley trek on a budget hike india ladakh

Day 4: Skyu – Markha

This is one of the flatter walks around the trek, but the heat and the distance may make it a bit of a heavy day. On the other hand, the village of Markha is lively with nice people. It’s a good place to talk with local people (which probably will offer you Chang and other drinks), play with the kids, visit the nearby buildings, etc.

markha valley trekon a budget hike ladakh

ladakh woman markha valley trek hike on a budget india

ladakh kids markha valley trek hike

markha valley trek on a budget old woman

markha town india hike

Day 5: Markha-Hankar

From Markha village, you can begin the ascent to Hankar. Here again, we are going to sleep at more than 4,000 meters, but if you’ve hiked up slowly, your body should be acclimated.

The path consists mainly of following the river before getting to the next village, so there are no major complications. Once you get to the village of Hankar, you will see that it is one of the most beautiful in the region and another good place to meet local people.

markha valley trek on a budget hike ladakh india

ladakh old man markha valley trek on a budget hike

ladakh people markha valley trek on a budget

ladakh homestay markha valley trek on a budget

Day 6: Hankar -Nimaling

This is when we start climbing seriously. On this day, we will climb up to 4900 meters and sleep on the primary Nimaling camp, where some tents and plastics enable a fundamental place to overnight. If you didn’t bring enough warm clothes (as was my case), this is where you’ll regret it. The night is really cold, so bring a good sleeping bag.

The scenery here is different, it reminds me of the plains of Mongolia, where horses graze between large expanses of green and yellow (ok, I haven’t been to Mongolia, but I saw some pictures, hehe.)

markha valley trek on a budget people india

nimaling camp markha valley trek on a budget

nimaling camp markha valley trek on a budget

Day 7: Nimaling-Kongmaru La-Shjang

This is the hardest day of the whole trek, crossing the Kongmaru La pass at 5260 meters. However, it is also, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful days. The views from the Kongmaru La into the next valley are spectacular. The mountains are red, but other colors of orange and even green are mixed in the stones. From there, it’s a day of pure descent to reach Shjang.

The bus going back to Leh from Shanjg leaves early in the morning, so you can spend the night and return the next day. You can also try to get a lift to Hemis where there are more bus options.

kongmaru la pass markha valley trek on a budget india

kongmaru la pass markha valley trek
The highest point of the Hike

kongmaru la markha valley trek on a budget

Budget for the Markha Valley trek

ACCOMMODATION:

All the villages mentioned in this itinerary have guest houses, with basic but comfortable rooms and most of the families are very friendly. Homestay: The price per person is about 800 rupees, including food and water.


TRANSPORTATION:

There are several buses from Leh to Spitok. However, part of the trek up to Jingchan is pretty boring, so it’s a good idea to take a taxi to Jingchan and start the trek from there.

To return from Shjang there is no bus until the next morning, but you can get a ride to Hemis where there are more options.


FOOD AND DRINK:

No need to bring food, except for some biscuits, energy bars or whatever. In every house, they will serve you dinner and breakfast plus a small snack for the day. The food is basic but good, usually soup, rice, boiled potatoes and similar things.

You can try the yak milk tea. It’s awful in my opinion, but you are in the Himalayas, so go ahead. The Chang, which is like the local beer, is not going to lack in the houses.


TRAVEL INSURANCE

I highly recommend that you get a good insurance policy before you visit the Markha Valley. Trusted by thousand of adventurers, World Nomads is one of the best and more reliable options (without breaking your bank).

 

WHEN TO GO

The best time to Hike the Markha Valley is from June to September when the paths are clear of snow and the cold isn’t that intense. If you wanna go in another season, you should get a good guide and go very well equipped.

TIPS FOR HIKING THE MARKHA VALLEY

FIND HIKING BUDDIES

Although it’s a route that can be done without guides or agencies, I don’t recommend you going alone to the mountain. You never know what could happen, a fall, a broken leg, got too drunk in some of the villages because you had too much Chang?


GET A MAP IN LEH

Ask for it in bookstores, it shouldn’t cost much. Study it a bit before heading out to the mountains and ask someone who knows the way to explain the itinerary to you.


DRINK LOTS OF WATER

Despite the height, the heat can be strong sometimes.


BEWARE OF ALTITUDE SICKNESS

It’s not an excessively high trek, but if you’re sick, you feel a headache or nausea, climb down, have a rest and you’ll feel better. Detailed info about High Altitude sickness.


WEAR WARM CLOTHES

In general, the houses are well insulated, but the night at the Nimaling Camp, ufffff … that’s cold!! Why did I ignore my mom when she told me to bring more clothes?


ENJOY

This is so far one of the hikes I’ve enjoyed most in my life. The landscapes, the people, the customs, the monasteries, the colours of the rocks and the never-ending mountains, will make you feel close to heaven.

Check out the Ultimate Hiking gear list and don’t forget anything important on your Himalayan expedition!

Do you have any question about Markha valley trek on a budget? Please Contact me!

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means that if you book or buy a service, I’ll earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only link to stuff I love.

Travelsauro
Travelsauro

Hi, I’m Miguel; Adventure traveler, scuba diver and hiking lover. I have been traveling the world for the last 12 years and I hope my experiences, photos and hiking routes inspire you to travel the world too.

HIKING, INDIA

Comments

  1. Silvia says

    December 19, 2015 at 8:29 pm

    Amazing!

    Reply
    • Travelsauro says

      December 19, 2015 at 9:40 pm

      Thanks Silvia!

      Reply
  2. santa says

    August 7, 2016 at 6:58 am

    nice itinerary/pics πŸ™‚
    have planned the exact same route with a friend in a couple of weeks….
    am getting my backpacking sleeping bag to sleep on. and was thinking of carrying my backpacking tent too for emergencies/if-i-dont-get-room-in-season… but, after reading your blogs, looks like i can skip it… even where there are no villages and only tent-camps like nimaling, we can always get acco?
    Santa

    Reply
    • Travelsauro says

      August 7, 2016 at 12:02 pm

      Hi! well… I’m not 100% sure…. but I was there in June which is high season.. and there was no problem for accommodation… it should be allright! even if it’s full… they’ll find a solution! there are a few big tents in nimaling..

      Reply
  3. Ozzy says

    January 12, 2018 at 4:52 am

    nice article Miguel πŸ™‚

    Reply
    • Travelsauro says

      January 12, 2018 at 9:34 am

      Thanks Ozzy!

      Reply
  4. Terrence Wong says

    February 24, 2018 at 1:21 am

    Your journey is very inspiring. Last year December, I was trying to complete the Annapruna circuit, but my friend was having very serious AMS and we had to stop at Manang and flu back to Kathmandu via helicopter.

    Markha Valley definitely will be my bucket list.

    Keep it up, Miguel!

    Reply
    • Travelsauro says

      March 27, 2018 at 1:38 pm

      Hi Terrene, OMG! Sorry to hear that.. I hope your friend is ok. Yes, you should try Markha, it’s amazing!

      Reply
  5. Saurav chaudhary says

    June 12, 2018 at 5:41 am

    As i am planning my first trek ever, this trek seem to be a good opetion.
    I like to do it solo or with just one other person and without any hookups with a travelling agency.

    I need your experienced views on this situation. Should i do it alone?

    This article is awesome. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Travelsauro says

      June 18, 2018 at 12:56 am

      Hi Saurav, you can definitely do it alone (with no agencies) but you need to have some hiking experience, and please don’t go totally alone.. I recommend that you find other travelers. Try to find a hiking buddy at your hostel in Leh. Safe travels.

      Reply
      • Saurav chaudhary says

        June 19, 2018 at 12:01 pm

        Thanks buddy, i appreciate your reply. I would definately consider your openion. Thanks for helping out.

        Cheers.

        Reply
  6. Trang singhal says

    July 7, 2018 at 6:14 am

    Hi, me n my wife are planning Markha valley Trek this September. I have done stock kangri Trek last year (till base camp) with friends. I have two questions
    1. Can we do it without sleeping bag?
    2. As my wife doesn’t have any real trekking experience, can the whole Trek be done in 5 days? Or is there a way to come back to Leh in 5 days?

    Reply
    • Travelsauro says

      July 11, 2018 at 5:10 am

      Hi Trang, technically, you can do it without a sleepig bag because you can get blankets at the homestays and even in Nymaling. However, it gets pretty cold at night.. I highly recommend that you bring a sleeping bag.

      I don’t know about doing a 5-day itinenary, I just know about the one I did which takes 7 days. Sorry about that.

      Safe travels!

      Reply
  7. Goutham says

    April 22, 2019 at 8:12 am

    Hi,

    Great write-up. This blog has definitely been one of the items that motivated me and my friends to plan a trip to Ladakh this June.

    For the Markha Valley trek, we have two options – either to start at Chilling or at Jingchan like you suggested. Starting at Chilling means the gains in altitude would be more gradual as we do not have to cross the Ganda Pass. However, you have mentioned that Ganda Pass is one of the most beautiful parts of the trek.

    I would just like to know your view on whether the gains in altitude in the first 2 days of your hike caused you any issues.
    Thank you!

    Reply
    • Travelsauro says

      May 8, 2019 at 1:42 am

      Hi, well I didn’t have high altitude problems, but I spent a few days walking around Leh before I headed to Markha. I hope you guys don’t have any problems either.

      Reply
  8. Darius says

    April 23, 2019 at 1:02 pm

    Hi Travelsauro πŸ™‚

    It looks like you have just opened to me the gate to heaven πŸ™‚
    Last year I completed Annapurna Base Camp Trek. And now I desire to trek in Markha Valley through homestay. Thanks for sharing your experience. It gives me a burst of energy to move forward with my trip to Kingdom of Ladakh πŸ™‚
    Thanks.

    Reply
    • Travelsauro says

      May 8, 2019 at 1:38 am

      I’m glad my blog helped you! Safe travels mate!

      Reply
  9. Helen McMahon says

    May 25, 2019 at 11:00 am

    Hi, I’m planning on doing this trek in a few weeks time. You don’t mention the river crossings. Are there many and how difficult are they? Cheers, Helen

    Reply
    • Travelsauro says

      June 12, 2019 at 6:07 am

      Hi Helen, how are you? Yes, there are a few river crossing, but they didn’t seem difficult to me. Should be ok. Cheers,

      Reply
  10. Prasad says

    June 14, 2019 at 8:04 am

    Hi Travelsauro,
    There’s so much valuable information that you have provided that is encouraging me to go trekking! I am set to trek from the 7th of July until the 12th. As I am not part of a group, would appreciate if anyone visiting here can let m know if they are on a similar schedule, and if I could join along.
    Thanks & regards
    Prasad

    Reply
    • Raquel Martinez says

      July 2, 2019 at 2:27 am

      Hi Prasad,
      We were planning to do the trek in two days. The 7th is a bit too late for us but we can delay it a bit. Let us know if you are interested. An american girl might join too.

      Thank you Miguel for all the info! It is super useful. Congratulations for the blog!

      Regards,

      Raquel

      Reply
  11. Tom says

    August 1, 2019 at 1:12 pm

    How much food can be bough on the route and for how much? I plan on doing the few 6000ers around the valley and I am wondering how much food should I bring with me. I will have my own tent, sleeping gear and technical stuff but FOOD is the main issue. It is very difficult to carry say 2 weeks worth of food with you. I am hoping I can buy most of my food on the way. Thanks for your help.

    Reply
    • Travelsauro says

      September 21, 2019 at 10:07 am

      Hi Tom! you’ll find homestays in which you can get food every day along that route. I don’t remember the price, but it’s pretty economic. Safe travels,

      Reply

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