Markha Valley & Kang Yatse 2 (6250m)

Arrival in Delhi

Welcome to Delhi! Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. Enjoy some time exploring nearby attractions, such as the vibrant Karol Bagh Market or the stunning Sikh temple, Gurudwara Bangla Sahib. Accommodation: Hotel

Fly to Leh (3,500m)

Your day starts with a spectacular early morning flight to Leh. The rest of the day is focused on acclimatizing to the altitude. In the afternoon, take a leisurely orientation walk around Leh's markets and streets. Accommodation: Hotel Meals: (B)

Excursion to Thikse Monastery and Stok Palace

Today’s sightseeing includes two major monasteries. Starting with a visit to Shey, the former royal palace with its 350-year-old Buddha statue. From Shey we walk to Thikse (1hr 30min) to explore the hilltop monastery. After lunch at Thikse, return to Leh for a trek briefing and gear check. Accommodation: Hotel Meals: (B)

Acclimatisation walk; optional jeep ride to Khardungla Pass

Enjoy an acclimatization walk around Leh Valley, visiting Namgyal Hill, Tsemo Monastery, Sankar, and Shanti Stupa for stunning views of Leh and surrounding villages. Optionally, take a jeep ride to Khardungla Pass (5,602m), one of the world’s highest motorable roads, with the trip taking about 4-5 hours. Accommodation: Hotel Meals: (B)

Drive to Markha Valley

Drive to Markha , we cross Zanskar river at Chilling and follow Markha river till we reach Markha Valley and on the way we meet friendly locals and intricate irrigation systems designed to maximise the barley crop, then spectacular sheer rock walls below high peaks. We camp at approx 3600m outside the village of Markha and if we are lucky, may be offered tea in a typical Ladakhi kitchen. Afternoon acclimatization walk around village. 3-4 hours drive. Accommodation: Tent Meals: (B,L,D)

Hankar - Tahungtse

The valley changes continually and at times forms a steep sided gorge. Stacha Gompa, perched high on a cliff is well worth an hour’s detour. The climb is steep but the monks use this path to collect water! We camp beyond Hankar at Tahungtse (3940m), having first glimpsed the snowy slopes of Kang Yatse ahead. 6-7 hours. Accommodation: Tent Meals: (B,L,D)

Nimaling

Leaving behind valleys and canyons, we enter into high mountain country and climb past surreal rock formations with Kang Yatse looming ever larger in front of us, to camp at the high meadow, Nimaling (4600m). 5 hours. Accommodation: Tent Meals: (B,L,D)

Rest day at Nimaling

A well-deserved rest day at Nimaling, ’the meadow of the sun’, dominated by the twin summits of Kang Yatse. Sheep, goats, cows, yaks and dzos all spend their summers here which provides grazing and keeps them away from the valuable barley crop lower down. Accommodation: Tent Meals: (B,L,D)

Kang Yatse - 2 Base Camp

We climb up to Kang Yatse base camp (5100), and rest and prepare for the summit bid. 3 hours approx. Accommodation: Tent Meals: (B,L,D)

Acclimatisation day at base Camp

Today is reserved for acclimatization to the altitude since we gained quite a bit of height the previous day. We use this time to distribute equipment and gears required for the climb and also to practice basic techniques we will require on our summit push tonight. After breakfast and equipment dis-bursement, we go to a nearby slope for training and to get comfortable with our equipment - snow boots, ice axes and crampons. We will learn techniques and calls of roping up and ascending and descending on a snowy terrain. We end the day early so that we can get optimum rest before our climb tonight. Accommodation: Tent Meals: (B,L,D)

Climb Kang Yatse-2

Kang Yatse-2 (6250m), we start between around 2 AM climbing the slope to the right of Base Camp until we reach the top of the ridge. Although the trail is well marked, the terrain changes here to loose scree and moraine which gets slippery and needs to be traversed with caution. We keep climbing the ridge until reaching the ablation zone of the glacier from the north face of Kang Yatse II. After a short 100m climb up the moraine ridge, we rope up and enter the glacier. We will traverse the north face toward the northwest ridge while steadily climbing upwards. Once we climb around the northwest ridge, we climb straight above a rocky outcropping and follow the ridge to the summit. After spend some time at summit we return to base camp where hot meals will be ready for us. Accommodation: Tent Meals: (B,L,D)

Descend via Kongmaru La

Well acclimatised now, we descend a little towards Nimaling then a rising traverse leads across to the Kongmaru La (5286m) for the final prayer flag strewn pass with great views back towards Dzo Jongo East and West and Regani Malo. The descent is initially steep as we enter a gorge and zigzag down, crossing the river a several times until the angle eases off. We will either camp at Chukdo or continue on to the village of Shang Sumdo. Approx 8 hours to Shang Sumdo. Accommodation: Tent Meals: (B,L,D)

Leh via Hemis

We meet our transport for the short drive to Hemis, one of the most important Gompas in the region. If the road is closed we will need to walk on the jeep track as far as Hemis. There will be time for a look around Hemis Gompa before continuing on to Leh. Accommodation: Hotel in Leh. Meals (B)

Flight to Delhi

A memorable flight across the Himalayas and a dramatic end to our adventures in Ladakh. Accommodation. Hotel. Meals (B)

Depart Delhi

Depart Delhi or extend your trip. Optional extensions include visiting the Taj Mahal or exploring more of Delhi. International flights should ideally depart after 14:00 for possible flight delays from Leh. Meals (B)