Summary

Pilgrimage to Ladakh – Northern Himalayas of India

Prices From USD$ $2,798.00
1st Departure 06.01.2009
Provider Soul Adventures
Destination Himalayan Region
Duration 13 days
Challenge Moderate
Avg Rating Not Rated

This Soul Adventure is for someone who seeks adventure, spirit and community and wants to experience the indigenous cultures influenced by Tibetan Buddhism. Our journey takes us to Northern India and the majestic Himalayan Range.

The simple daily experience of this journey provides the opportunity to feel the core of your being and to contemplate the question: Who Am I?

Just as a white summer-cloud, in harmony with heaven and earth, freely floats in the blue sky from horizon to horizon, following the breath of the atmosphere – in the same way the pilgrim abandons himself to the breath of the greater life that wells up from the depth of this being and leads him beyond the farthest horizons to an aim which is already present within him, though yet hidden from his sight.

- Lama Anagarika Govinda, The Way Of The White Clouds

Arrival into the extreme heat of Delhi is in stark contrast to the spring of Leh where we begin our trek.

The Markha Valley Trek Situated on the western end of the Himalayas, Ladakh has four major mountain ranges - the great Himalayan, Zanskar, Ladakh and the Karakoram, passing through it. A maze of enormously high snow capped peaks and the largest glaciers outside the polar region dominate the terrain where valley heights range from a mere 8000 ft. to 15,000 ft. while passes of up to 20,000 ft. and peaks reaching above 25,000 ft. can be seen all around. The world’s largest glacier outside the polar region, Siechen is here.

The major waterway of Ladakh is the Indus, which enters India from Tibet at Ldemchok. Starting near Mt. Kailash, the Indus according to Mythology, sprouts from the mouth of a loin, and is therefore known as Senge Khababs. Summer temperatures rarely exceed 80F in the shade, while in winter they may plummet to minus 4F even in Leh. Surprisingly though, the thin air makes the heat of the sun even more intense than at lower altitudes. It is said that only in Ladakh a man sitting with his feet in the shade suffers from sunstroke and frostbite at the same time!

The Markha Valley Trek is certainly one of the most varied and beautiful treks in the world. It ventures high into the Himalayas crossing two passes over 15,000 ft (4575m) as it circles from the edges of the Indus Valley, down into parts of Zanskar, and passes through terrain that changes from incredibly narrow valleys to wide-open and vast expanses! It is made all the more interesting by the ancient form of Buddhism that flourishes in the many monasteries that dot the landscape perched high atop the hills. The trails are decorated by elaborate “chortens” (shrines) and “mani” (prayer) walls, which further exemplify the region’s total immersion in Buddhist culture. As we trek to the upper end of the Markha Valley we are rewarded with spectacular views of jagged snow capped peaks before crossing the 16,730 ft (5100m) Gongmaru Pass and descending to the famous Hemis Monastery, where we end our trek.

COST INCLUDES:


COST DOES NOT INCLUDE:

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive in Delhi, India
Transfer to 5 Star Hotel Vasant Continental
Upon arrival to Delhi International Airport, you will be greeted outside the customs and immigrations area.  From there, you will be transferred to the Hotel Vasant 5 start.


Day 2

Fly from Delhi to Leh, Explore Leh, Hotel Omasilla
An early morning transfer to the domestic airport for the 5:40am flight to Leh. If the weather is clear, there should be magnificent views of the Himalaya and Karakoram. Upon arrival, transfer to the peaceful surroundings of the Hotel Omasila.  The remainder of the day is free for rest, to explore the surrounding area, and to acclimatize.  Leh is the capital of Ladakh and was once a stop on the Asian “Silk Route”.  You may wish to stroll in the Leh bazaar, where there are many shops selling locally producted Ladakhi, Tibetan, and Kashmiri goods.


Day 3

Tour of Ladakh’s Monasteries, Hotel Omasilla
Ladakh’s monasteries have played a pioneering role in preserving the ancient Buddhist culture and spreading the message of peace and non-violence in this trans-Himalayan region.  They once were the center of all cultural, social and religious activity, and the wealth of rich art and culture remaining in these Gompas are witness to the material richness of Tibetan Buddhism.

Today we’ll visit the monasteries of Shey, Thiksey, and Stakna returning to Leh in the late afternoon.  Shey, the former palace of Upper Ladakh, is situated at the top of a hill and commands a breathtaking view of the Indus River.  The palace contains a massive statue of the Sakyamuni Buddha – the biggest of its kind in Ladakh.

We’ll also visit famous Thiksey monastery, said to be a blessed site and the most well know “Gelugpa”, or yellow sect, Gompa of all.  The oldest portion of the building is reputed to date back to the 11th century, and a breathtaking view from the top enables us to see the palaces and monasteries of Leh.  Our final stop is Staknasetting on a 60 meter high isolated rock in the center of the Indus valley.  It was repainted in 1982 and is now one of the most colorful and bright Gompa’s in Ladakh.

After a day of exploration, we will return to the hotel for dinner and reflect on our initial experiences of Leh and the Ladakhi culture. This evening we’ll prepare for our trek that begins tomorrow.


Day 4

Chilling (10,660ft) to Skiu (10,880ft), Camping
Today we begin the trek!  Enjoy a warm breakfast as we gather our gear and then we head out for a 2 hour drive through the lush green valleys of Leh to Chilling. This village is known for producing some of the finest metalwork in all of Ladakh.  We will cross the Zanskar on the cable car and meet our pack horses and crew.  An easy 3 ½ hour walk past the village of Kaya will bring us to our first night’s rest in the village of Skiu.



Day 5

Skiu (10,880ft) to Markha (12,140ft), Camping
Today is a long but relatively level trekking day ascending only 1000 ft over 10 miles.  We will pass through Chaluk and Tunespa with wonderful views down the valley.  Approaching Markha we will get our first glimpse of the snow-capped slopes of Kang Yaze - Nimaling (21,000 ft).  This magnificent mountain commands the view for the next two days.  Arrival into the village of Markha begins our 2 night rest stop!   Trek time: 6 Hrs; 10 miles



Day 6

Rest Day at Markha
Sleep-in, explore, interact with local villagers over a cup of tea & visit the monastery.   The Markha School provides an opportunity to interact with the students and gain an understanding of the education system of Ladakh.  Enjoy the remainder of the day to rest up for Gongmaru La Pass.



Day 7

Markha (12,140ft) to Thachungtse (13,620ft), Camping
The trail splits and we continue on the left side of the valley.  A large rock spire marks the head of the Zhumlan Valley, the start of the most demanding part of the trek that ends in Zanskar.  We will visit Hankar  Yogma village & Monastery.  A short climb up to the Umlung Gompa will provide an epic view of the valley floor before arriving into camp.



Day 8

Thachungtse (13,620ft) to Nimaling (15,490ft), Camping
Just beyond Thachungtse, the broad valley narrows as we gain elevation. The river is seen from afar as we pass by a small lake and cross the green pastures to Nimaling. This one of the most beautiful high valleys of Ladakh!



Day 9

Nimaling (15,490ft) to Chuskurmo (13,350ft), Camping
Today we reward our efforts to the days prior by reaching our highest point of the trek.  We climb along the mountainside then zigzag up to the GONGMARU LA at the height of 16,730 ft.  From the pass you will see the amazing Zanskar Range and the vertical ice wall of the North Face of Kang Yaz.  A couple of easy stream crossings and then we arrive into our basecamp at Chuskurmo.



Day 10

Chuskurmo (13,350ft) to Shang Sumdo (12,010ft), Camping
Travel along the riverbed and pass a series of Chortens on your way to Shang Sumdo.  An easy descent will bring us into our camp at Shang Sumdo.  Our campsite is beautifully situated in front of farmhouses with a series of irrigation channels flowing around the grassy site. The village gompa is a short 20 minute walk up the valley. Trek Time:  3.5Hrs; 5 miles



Day 11

Shang Sumdo (12,010ft) to Martselang (12,139), Hotel Omasilla
From Shang Sumdo it is an easy walk to the end of the trek.  Upon arrival into Martselang we will take a short drive to the Hemis Monastery before our drive back to Leh.  HEMIS MONASTERY, located 40 km from Leh, is the wealthiest, most well-known and biggest Gompa of Ladakh. Its popularity stems from the annual festival held here in the summer. The festival is in honor of Guru Padma Sambhav’s birth anniversary. It is home to the largest Thangkha in Ladakh, which is unfurled once in 12 years.

Hemis was built in 1630 during the reign of Sengge Namgyal, an illustrious ruler of Ladakh. It flourished under the Namgyal dynasty as the royalty favored the Drugpa sect, which managed the monastery. The Monastery is divided into two, the assembly hall on the right and the main temple on the left. The hall Dukhang also known as the “green room” is used by local dancers during the festival. The temple is known as Tshogkhang. The varandahs have a surfeit of frescoes, among them the Buddhist ‘Wheel of Life’ (Kalachakra) and the lords of the four quarters, besides the prayer wheel.  Trek time 3 Hrs; 6 miles



Day 12

Explore Leh, Hotel Vasant Continental
Sleep-in, relax, visit the market and witness the advancement of spring of the Leh countryside.  The evening brings us together for our final dinner – reflections of our journey shared amongst our new friends.



Day 13

Leh to Delhi, Airport Transfer, Trip Conclusion
We take an early morning flight to Delhi. Upon arrival to Delhi we transfer to Hotel Vasant Continental 5*. Enjoy a cool swim at the pool or explore the streets of Delhi. Transfer to the airport for those departing to the U.S. late that evening / very early morning.


Gear List

Travel Information

Is This Trip For You?

This Soul Adventure is for someone who seeks adventure, spirit and community and wants to experience the indigenous cultures influenced by Tibetan Buddhism. Our days will consist of a minimum of 5 miles and a maximum of 11 miles with significant gains in altitude most days – making our journey long but rewarding. A deep level of support and connection naturally flows amongst our trekking team as we move through the challenges of the trek. Regular aerobic exercise and long hikes are necessary to prepare for this terrain. Adjusting to the altitude should not be a problem as we will have several days of acclimatization in Leh with the actual trek being a gradual ascent leading to the big passes.


Food

All meals are included. Daily dinner in our dining tent provides us an intimate gathering place to reflect on each day’s journey.


Money

You may want to consider bringing native currency for the following expenses not included in your trip costs:

  • Any expense of personal nature; laundry, telephone calls, internet, alcohol, etc.
  • Any expenses due to unforeseen circumstances like roadblock, landslide, flight cancellation etc.
  • Optional Tipping of leader, guides, and local staff


Destination Location

Our journey takes us to Northern India and the majestic Himalayan Range. Arrival into the extreme heat of Delhi is in stark contrast to the spring of Leh where we begin our trek. Several days of acclimatization will prepare us for our trek to the Markha Valley. Our adventure will challenge each of us mentally, physically and spiritually as we gain altitude and travel over two passes of just under 17,000 ft. The terrain is moderate by Himalayan standards, but challenging to those of us venturing to these heights for the first time. Trekkers committed to this journey will be rewarded with awe-inspiring scenery, interaction with the local Ladakhi people who have farmed this harsh land for centuries, and insight into the depth of soul as each of us comes face to face with our inner being and sense of purpose in this lifetime.


Travel Companions

Single Travelers:

Accommodations (hotels and tents) are based on double occupancy. If you prefer single accommodations, you are required to pay the single supplement fee listed above. If you are traveling alone and wish to share accommodations, we will assign you a roommate of the same gender. If there is no one with whom you can share, you are required to pay a ‘forced’ single supplement fee.


Guide(s)

You will be guided by English-speaking Guides throughout the Trek and aided by a Trekking Support Team of Guides, Cooks, Pack Animals and Porters


Transportation

Mules/Porters will be traveling ahead of us carrying the bulk of our gear – setting our cozy basecamp and welcoming us with afternoon tea.


Accommodations

Accommodations are hotels and tents. Accommodation in Delhi Vasant Continental 5* & Hotel Omasila A Class in Leh