Markha Valley Trek

Information

Distance

113.0 km

Duration

6–8 days

Max elevation

5,260 m

Country

India (IN)

Difficulty

Moderate to strenuous — the main challenge is the extreme altitude when climbing the Kongmaru La pass (5,260 m); no technical climbing techniques required

Best Season

June–September

Permits & Fees

An Inner Line Permit (ILP) is required for both foreign and domestic tourists; the Hemis National Park entry ticket must be purchased in Leh — it can be arranged through a local trek operator

Description

The Markha Valley Trek is one of Ladakh's most celebrated routes, traversing Hemis National Park for approximately 113 km from Spituk near Leh to Hemis. The classic 6–8 day itinerary crosses two major high passes — Ganda La (4,800 m) and Kongmaru La (5,260 m) — alongside remote Tibetan Buddhist villages such as Skiu and Markha that have preserved their heritage for centuries. The high pastures of Nimaling (4,900 m) provide a dramatic overnight stop beneath the flanks of Kang Yatse (6,400 m). Homestay accommodation in local homes makes it one of India's rare tea-house-style treks, set against the strikingly coloured arid mountains of the Indus watershed.

Trail Highlights

The high passes of Ganda La (4,800 m) and Kongmaru La (5,260 m), the vast Nimaling meadows where yaks graze in summer, the remote Tibetan Buddhist villages of Skiu and Markha, views of Kang Yatse (6,400 m), and the experience of staying in local homestays