Arrive & Acclimatize in Leh:
- Upon your Arrival at the Leh Airport, TravelKosh representatives meet you and assist with hotel transfer
- You will be spending the rest of the day and overnight getting your body acclimatized to the high altitude
- Visit Shanti Stupa and experience the sunset from Shanti Stupa
- Overnight in Leh
Briefing session; excursion to Indus valley
- Briefing session about high altitude travelling by the local team
- Visit Thiksey Monastery and Shey Palace
- Hike around Leh town and finish at Leh Palace
- Overnight in Leh
Drive from Leh to Lamayuru
- Briefing session about high altitude travelling by the local team
- Visit Magnetic Hill and Patthar Sahib
- Visit Sangam - the confluence of the Indus & the Zanskar Rivers
- Visit Alchi Monastery
- Visit Lamayuru
- Overnight at Lamayuru
Lamayuru to Prinkti La to Wanla to Uleytokpo
- Visit the well-known monastery of Lamayuru just above the village
- Cross the Prinkti La pass and walk through the small village of Shilla before reaching Wanla
- Visit Wanla village, interact and learn about their local culture
- Drive back to Uleytokpo and overnight stay.
Drive from Uleytokpo to Leh
- Visit nearby villages to Uleytokpo.
- Visit Alchi Monastery
- Visit Likir Monastery
- Visit Basgo fort
- River Rafting at Sangam
- Overnight in Leh
Drive from Leh to Nubra; cross Khardung La,
- Cross one of the highest motorable roads in the world, Khardung La (Altitude 18,380 ft).
- Stop for a few minutes to click photographs on the Khardungla pass.
- Test your ATV riding skills on white sand dunes at Nubra valley.
- Ride the Bactrian Double Humped Camel through the white sands dunes of the Nubra valley
- Overnight at Hunder
Excursion trip to Turtuk village, Explore Balti culture
- See the border between India and POK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir) from Zerothang
- Take a walk in the village & experience the Balti culture
- Learn about the cultivation of apples, grapes and dry fruits such as walnuts, apricots to name a few
- Visit well-maintained ancient Buddhist monasteries in Turtuk
- Cycling around Hunder village
- Overnight in Hunder
Drive from Nubra to Pangong
- Visit Diskit Monastery
- Travel along the Shyok River and encounter some small nomadic villages
- Walk on the banks of Pangong Lake located at an altitude of 15,000 ft.
- Overnight at Mann Village, Pangong
Ride from Pangong to Leh; cross Chang La
- Cross Chang La (17,590 ft)
- Visit Hemis Monastery
- Overnight at Leh
Leisure/ rest day
- Take a guided heritage tour of the Leh market
- Visit Leh Palace
- Shop for Souvenirs
- Try the local Ladakhi cuisines
- Overnight in Leh
Departure
- Today will be your departure day. You will be transferred to the taxi stand/airport by the local team for your onward journey.
Guidelines Do’s & Don'ts
- Give your body enough time to adjust to the high altitude/acclimation.
- Avoid sleeping during the day & get enough sleep at night.
- Avoid frequent smoking or drinking alcohol.
- Respect and greet the locals with Jullay (pronounced joo-lay which means Hello).
- Wear respectable outfits during your visit to sacred sites/ Monasteries.
- Kindly read the Monastery guidelines before entering a monastery.
- Ladakhi people will always be ready to help you. So, it's advisable to travel with a smile and greet Jullay.
Save the Himalayas: Follow the leave no trace policy
Majestic Ladakh proudly supports the ‘Leave no trace policy’ for our majestic Himalayas. We request you to follow the below guidelines and help us in preserving the splendid natural beauty of our country:
- Carry personal water bottles throughout the tour as locals will be always happy to provide water to refill & basically free of cost at restaurants and hotels.
- Advisable to carry a water bottle with a filter as you can refill it while travelling to any part of Ladakh.
- DZOMSA stalls are also available for refilling water bottles at just ₹7 per litre.
- Use reusable shopping bags in Leh market as plastics are totally banned in Ladakh as they are harmful to our environment.
- Do not litter. Bring back your own trash.
- Let nature’s sounds prevail; avoid loud voices and noises.
Safety during the Trek:
- Our Trek Leaders are advanced mountaineering course qualified and are trained in rescue procedures from leading mountaineering institutes and certified first-aid responders.
- Local guides who will accompany the group are certified first-aid responders and the support staff are trained in 1st Aid.
- The expedition team carries Oxygen cylinders which can be used if any medical emergency arises.
Recommended stay & food options available
- During the Markha Valley trek, you will be staying in Moving camps.
- On a full-service moving camp, the support staff erects and dismantles the tents at different places selected for an overnight stay. Apart from the basic facilities such as hot water to drink, the staff also carries oxygen cylinders in case of a medical emergency at high altitudes. As the camp does not carry drinking water you will be camping close to the river/ stream where fresh running water is available for cooking.
- There will be toilet, shower and dining tentr.
- Stay in Leh and other cities:- Twin-sharing rooms are provided with breakfast
- Single rooms can be requested for a supplement and are subject to availability
In a moving camp the breakfast, lunch and dinner will be prepared by the cook travelling with the group. Meals options are mentioned below:
- Breakfast - porridge, cereals, eggs and toast with plenty of tea, coffee or hot chocolate
- Lunch - a picnic lunch with soup, various kinds of local bread, cheese, eggs, tinned fish, meat and fruit as per the availability.
- Afternoon snack - tea and biscuits on arrival at camp
- Dinner - usually soup, pasta, rice or potato-based main course with fresh vegetables, followed by dessert, tea, coffee or hot chocolate.
Weather in Ladakh
Generally the weather is good in Ladakh during the Summer, with warm to very hot sunny days (temperatures can reach up to 30ºC/35ºC), and cool to cold nights depending on the altitude.
- There is, however, always the possibility of rain, and snow at higher altitudes, and you should be prepared for this. Ladakh, though technically part of the Tibetan Plateau and classified as a high altitude desert, can and does occasionally experience the effects of the Indian monsoon.
What is AMS?
Acute mountain sickness (AMS), is the negative health effect of high altitude, caused by rapid exposure to low amounts of oxygen at high elevation. Symptoms may include headaches, vomiting, tiredness, trouble sleeping, and dizziness.
How to avoid AMS?
- Give your body enough time to adjust to the high altitude/acclimation
- Get enough sleep and eat healthy food
- Avoid smoking or drinking alcohol
If you suffer from any respiratory or health-related issues, please let the tour guide know before the start of the tour.
How is the mobile connectivity in Ladakh?
Only Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh registered pre-paid sims are serviceable in Ladakh. The following services providers/services are active in Ladakh:
- Airtel: Postpaid service
- Jio: Postpaid & pre on post-service
- BSNL: Postpaid service
You can buy and activate a new sim in Leh.
What things should I carry for the trip?
Following are the list of essentials that you should carry:
- Medicines such as Diamox, Aspirin/ Disprin, Candy bars
- Warm clothes and Thermals
- Sunglasses, sunhat & sunscreen
- Torch and power banks
- Water-bottles
- Backpack for Extra Luggage
- Warmer layers for the late August/September trips
- Soft kitbag for camping - please note that this trip is camping. A large, hard, wheeled suitcase is not recommended for camping. We suggest you bring a Sift kit bag.
How are the restaurants in Leh?
You can find plenty of restaurants in Leh serving Ladakhi, Indian, Kashmiri, Tibetan, Korean, Italian and continental food. There are always plenty of choices for both vegetarians and meat-eaters. Please keep about £70-100 (US $110-160) for food.
Do try the Ladakhi cuisine like vegetable momos or thukpa during your time in Leh!
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