In the last few years we have seen an incredible rise in adventure
travel all in India. With better
accessibility to these isolated frontiers, increase in spending power of the
25-35 age group and affordable outdoor gear & equipment, more and more are
now heading to the mountains for the vacations. Ladakh is unquestionably an adventure land of India with
its vast highlands, stunning lakes and amazing walking trails and peaks. ‘The
Land of High Passes’ is a definite on any adventure seeker’s bucket list. But
the question always arises when you’re starting out on your Ladakh adventure,
which trek to do first? So here we jot down some treks and non-technical climbs
which you can use as something of a ladder. This will list a few treks with the
first one the easiest and the last the toughest of the lot.
Note: Please keep in mind that as Leh is situated at 3500m. We suggest that at least 2 days are kept aside to acclimatize at that altitude before heading out for any outdoor activity. All these are high altitude
treks and require a certain level of fitness to make the holiday enjoyable. An
easy to moderate trek requires a month of cardio, core and breathing exercises.
You should train for at least 2-3 months before going on a tough trek or
attempting to climb a high altitude peak.
This is a fantastic introductory
trek to start of your adventure in Ladakh. This
offbeat trail starts off in the
moon landscape of Lamayuru Monastery and ends at the confluence of Indus and
Zanskar at Chilling. Opt for this moderate trek to enjoy the basic luxuries
while you trek in remote mountains. Your guides will assist you as you walk
through the moon landscape, monasteries and quaint villages on this ancient
trade route. It will include your personal chef and kitchen team, mess tent and
private group toilet. Client tents are big enough for you to stand in and give
you ample space and comfort while camping above 4000m. Be warned, you still
have to walk at least 4-5 hours a day, so a good fitness level will surely help
you.
Challenge: Trekking in 4500m+
altitude
Highest point: 4820m
Trekking days: 5-6
Grade : Easy
Markha Valley trek is one of the most popular
trails in Ladakh as you can stay in home stays in villages that dot the valley. There
are a couple of different entry points to the valley depending on the number of
days that you have and how difficult you want to it to be. You could start the
trek at Chilling which means that the only high pass you will have to cross is
Kongmoru La (5260m) at the end of the trek. But you could start the trek at
Zingchen and also add Ganda La (4900m) which has a pretty steep ascent. Whichever trail you choose, Markha Valley
trek, with its colorful mountains and quaint villages, is a fantastic trek and
not to be missed.
