VANAMCOVE 
Ladakh's classic multi-day trek
Why this weekend?
The day-by-day plan
Day 1 · The start
- Spituk gate
- River walk
- First village
- Camp night
Day 2 · The valley
- Markha approach
- Homestay night
- Village walk
- Rest
Day 3 · The gompas
- Trek high
- Gompa visits
- Fields hour
- Camp night
Day 4 · The pass
- Kongmaru climb
- Pass views
- Descent
- Camp night
Day 5 · The finish
- Stok descent
- End village
- Leh return
- Pack
Geography & terrain
Markha Valley lies in the Leh district of Ladakh at about 3,700–5,300 m, 60 km from Leh and 20 km from Spituk — the trekking valley of the region, its villages, the monasteries and the passes set on the Indus's southern tributary.
History & culture
The valley's story runs with the region's high-mountain life — the valley of the old trade routes and the farming villages of the Zanskar edge, with the valley's modern role as the classic Ladakh trek and the home of the homestays and the gompas; the valley's history of the 17th-century monasteries and the high passes' crossings, gives Markha its trek-valley character.
Where to stay
Budget
₹1,000–2,500/night
Mid-range
₹2,500–5,000/night
Comfort
₹5,000+/night
Things to do
- High passes
- Valley villages
- Old gompas
- River trails
- Peak views
Eat & drink
- Skyu
- Thukpa
- Momos
- Gur gur chai
Getting there
- Fly
- Leh (IXL)
- Train
- No rail — road only via Srinagar or Manali routes
- Road from Srinagar
- 434 km / 2 days
- Road from Manali
- 475 km / 2 days
- Getting around
- Taxis and shared cabs; self-drive bikes popular
Budget snapshot
- Total
- ₹23,000–45,000 (5 days)
- Per day · Stay
- ₹1,000–5,000/night
- Per day · Food
- ₹600–1,000
- Per day · Transport
- ₹1,200–1,600
- Per day · Activities
- ₹2,000–2,400
Month by month
- Jan · Snow
- −5–8°C · Snow rain
- Feb · Snow
- −3–10°C · Snow rain
- Mar · Good
- 2–14°C · Light rain
- Apr · Best
- 7–20°C · None rain
- May · Best
- 12–25°C · None rain
- Jun · Good
- 16–30°C · Moderate rain
- Jul · Monsoon
- 18–28°C · Heavy rain
- Aug · Monsoon
- 17–27°C · Heavy rain
- Sep · Best
- 14–26°C · Moderate rain
- Oct · Best
- 8–20°C · None rain
- Nov · Cold
- 2–14°C · None rain
- Dec · Snow
- −2–9°C · Snow rain
Practical info
- Language: Ladakhi / Hindi (English understood in tourist spots)
- Best window: Jun–Sep
- Connectivity: Patchy beyond Leh town — offline maps essential
- UPI/cards widely accepted; keep small cash for hill and market stops
Practical tips
- The season (Jun–Sep) opens the valley
- The trek asks the guide and the permit
- The passes ask the acclimatisation and the warm gear
Frequently asked questions
What is Markha Valley?
The classic trek valley of the Ladakh.
What is there to do?
The trek, the villages and the passes.
How long is the visit?
Five days.
Ladakh's classic multi-day trek
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