Wonderful, inspiring and active trip full of challenges. Beautiful scenery, great people, lovely... Marie Josee van Rijn, 2018 See more reviews
I booked this trip through Sawadee (Dutch partner of Exodus) and I would do it again. The trip... Franciska Pouw, 2017 See more reviews
The Markha Valley Trek was a truly memorable experience. The landscape, wildlife and vegetation,... Tony Wright, 2017 See more reviews
A great trek through an amazingly beautiful area with an enormous array of colours and landscapes... Michelle Madrigga, 2016 See more reviews
An outstanding trek in a wonderful arid, mountainous environment where rocks gleam a wide variety... Irene Neilson, 2015 See more reviews
This was a great experience the Markha Valley is truly unique part of the world. We arrived a in... Frank Porter, 2015 See more reviews
A trip of a lifetime! My first time in Asia - a difficult place to get around in. I was attracted... Simon Barber, 2015 See more reviews
Itinerary Include flights Expand all London to London Day 1 Depart London. Flights usually depart London in the evening. Day 2 Arrive Delhi. We arrive in Delhi in the morning and transfer to our hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax and recover from the flight or for individual exploration of Delhi. Rooms in the hotel are usually available after mid day. Those who have made their own flight arrangements will join us at the hotel during the day.Comfortable Hotel Day 3 Fly to Leh (3500m); rest of the day free. A very early start today for the flight to Leh. We often have to leave the hotel at around 2 am and drive to the airport for the very early morning but highly spectacular flight over the Himalaya to Leh. If the weather is good and the flight goes on time we should be in Leh early. The rest of the day is free to relax and acclimatise to the altitude (3,500m). In the morning we rest and catch up on some sleep and in the afternoon there will be a gentle orientation walk of Leh and its bazaars.Standard Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 4 Exploring in and around Leh, visiting the town, palace and monasteries at Shey and Thikse. Today there is a sightseeing tour to two of the major gompas in the area. We first drive to Shey, a former Royal Palace of the Ladakh kings. Inside is a small temple containing a 350 year old copper and gold statue of the Buddha. From Shey we drive (or we can walk across the fields) to Tikse, where we visit the monastery - perched on top of a hill - its red and white buildings can be seen for miles. A recently built temple contains a magnificent image of the Future Buddha. We return to Leh and the rest of the afternoon is free to explore.Standard Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 5 Acclimatisation walk in Leh Valley; optional jeep drive to the Khardung La (which at 5602m, is the highest motorable road in the world). Today we will have an acclimatisation walk round the Leh Valley. Set above Leh on the Namgyal Hill, are the ruins of the Old Royal Palace. From here a winding path takes us to Tsemo Monastery, from where we are rewarded for our efforts by magnificent views of the whole of Leh and its surrounding villages. Descending round the back of the palace we walk via Sankar to the recently built Japanese Peace Pagoda. This huge stupa overlooks Leh and we have stunning views of the town and the Stok range of mountains across the valley. (There is the chance today to make an optional jeep safari to the Khardung Pass; at 5,602m, one of the highest motorable roads in the world.The journey to the top of the pass and back takes roughly 4/5 hours in total and can be booked and paid for locally. Your leader will have details. (If you do the jeep safari this will be in the morning and you can do a walk in the afternoon).Standard Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 6 Short drive to Jinchen; trek to Rumbak. By now we should be well acclimatised, and we take a short drive from Leh to Jinchen. We drive past Spituk, the site of the first Gelugpa Monastery in Ladakh. There should be time to visit the monastery with its commanding views over the Indus Valley. From here a new road takes us across the Indus towards Jinchen. We will drive as far as the road conditions allow and to where our ponies will be waiting. After they are loaded up we start our trek into the Jinchen Gorge at the foot of the Stok Mountains. The trail is straightforward as we follow the Jinchen Nala upstream. The valley closes in around us and spectacular rock formations tower above us. An ever-changing panorama of fantastic coloured mountains surrounds us as we ascend the valley. We may have to cross the river as the stream forces the path closer to the side of the valley. Suddenly the valley widens and reveals the snow-topped peaks of the Stok mountains. Prayer flags on a wide pasture mark the junction with the trail leading to Rumbak village. Tonight's camp is below Rumbak village with stunning views all around - looking left towards Rumbak a fantastic multi-coloured toothy skyline ridge appears in the distance. We can visit the village this afternoon and maybe sample the local delicacy, salty yak buttered tea, in one of the many home stays. Full-service Camping (sleeping altitude 3,880m) Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 7 Pass Yurutse village to reach the base of the Ganda La. A short day today for acclimatisation. We head up the main valley past a watermill and to a bridge, which we cross. The trail ascends the valley gradually and when the valley splits we take the right-hand fork up past the one house village of Yurutse. Leaving the fields behind we ascend towards the Ganda La and camp tonight by a small stream below the pass. In the afternoon there will be an acclimatisation walk on the hills around camp. Full-service Camping (sleeping altitude 4,539m) Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 8 Cross the Ganda La (4970m) to Skiu in the Markha Valley. A long day today as we cross our first pass. The trail is clear as it zigzags towards the pass. As we climb the views become more and more spectacular. Behind us, Stok Kangri dominates the skyline. Finally, we reach the top of the Ganda La (4,970m) decked with colourful prayer flags and the views are worth all the effort. Ahead is the Zanskar Range and behind are the Stok Mountains. Far below in the valley are the fields of Shingo. As we descend keep an eye open for marmots and blue sheep, both of which seem to thrive in these desolate, high altitude spots. The trail to Shingo is easy and in the main season, there is usually a tea tent here, which may sell cold drinks. From Shingo, the trail takes us through a spectacular gorge with beautifully coloured and eroded rocks. We continue down the gorge all the way to the small hamlet of Skiu. As we pass through Skiu we can stop and have a look at the newly restored Women’s Eco Café that Exodus is helping renovate and run in 2017 as part of our Himalayan Community Support. We camp either in Skiu itself or about 20 minutes beyond the village by the river. Full-service Camping (sleeping altitude 3,360m) Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 9 Follow the river to Markha (3750m). A fairly long, but easier walk today, as we trek along the valley to Markha. The terrain along the valley is not demanding so there are plenty of opportunities to admire the magnificent scenery. The colours of the barren mountains of Ladakh are truly spectacular, pastel pinks, blues and greens shine in the brilliant sunshine and change colour dramatically as the sun rises and sets. We follow the river all day today and will have to cross the river a few times and although bridges have been built in some places there will be some river crossings today. We will have lunch in Sara, where there is usually some welcome shade in a tea tent. Beyond the settlement of Chalak, there is an impressive line of chortens and a huge mound of goat horns, which are placed on the chortens to ward off any evil spirits trying to enter the valley. Climbing up to a small col we descend again to the river and a mediaeval fort silhouetted on the hillside tells us that we have almost reached Markha. Just before Markha, we will need to don our river crossing sandals for at least 2 river crossings. Markha is only a small village and there will be time to explore the small monastery in the afternoon. Our camp will be on grazing flats near the village. Full-service Camping (sleeping altitude 3,750m) Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 10 Trek to Thachungste, visiting Tache Gompa perched above us en route. Just beyond Markha, the trail meets the Chacham Valley. We will have one or two river crossings this morning. Just after the river crossings is Tache gompa, set way above us on the cliff face. There is time to visit the monastery, which is the most important in the valley and is affiliated to Hemis. It is a steep 10-minute climb up to the small temple but the stunning views from the top are well worth the effort. Continuing up the valley we walk through Umlung village to Hankar where there are more impressive fort ruins and a small gompa. We have lunch in Hankar at the Eco Cafe that Exodus has helped set up and support as part of our Himalayan Community Support Projects. From Hankar the trail turns off from the main valley, climbs up a small side valley past the ruins of Hankar Fort before dropping down to Upper Hankar. Climbing more we now follow the Nimaling stream to Thachungtse where we camp. We may be lucky and see Blue Sheep (a type of wild goat) high up on the grazing areas above the campsite. Full-service Camping (sleeping altitude 4,250m) Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 11 Climb to the high plateau at Nimaling. A short but quite tough walk today to Nimaling. The trail climbs steeply to a plateau where the valley opens out. Ahead are spectacular views of Kang Yangtse, at 6,400m, the highest peak in the valley. In this area, there is no permanent habitation but during the summer months, the shepherds bring their flocks of sheep, goats and dzos (cow-yak cross breeds) to graze on the high altitude pasture. The shepherds stay in stone shelters close to the grazing area for the whole summer and we can often buy yoghurt or local cheese from them. In the evenings, the animals are brought down from the hills and it is quite usual to have hundreds of them wandering through the campsite. Look after your edibles! We should get to Nimaling by lunchtime and in the afternoon, there is an optional walk up behind camp towards Kang Yangtse. This is well worth doing and highly recommended for the impressive close-up views of Kang Yangste. Full-service Camping (sleeping altitude 4,854m) Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 12 Cross the Gongmaru La (5286m) with views of the high Ladakh Range. A long day as we cross our second, and highest, pass of the trek. Our trail begins today by climbing to the Gongmaru La. It is a fairly long, steep ascent zigzagging to the top of the pass at 5,286m, but the views from the top are worth the effort. Looking back we see Kang Yangtse, Dzo Jongo East and West and Regoni Malari. Ahead there are views of the Stok Range and down to the Indus valley. The descent is steep at first and we then enter a spectacular gorge and descend more gradually now with many small river crossings. High up on the barren cliffs we may spot the elusive Blue Sheep which inhabit this area. Passing through Chuskurmo and Chokdo we continue our long descent crossing the river several times to the village of Shang Sumdo. Today is a hard day due to the crossing of the high pass and the long descent. Full-service Camping (sleeping altitude 3,800m) Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 13 Finish the trek near Hemis; visit the monastery and drive to Leh. Our transport should arrive this morning and we drive to Hemis Monastery. Very occasionally the road gets blocked in which case we walk down the jeep track to Hemis. Hemis was once the largest and richest of all the Ladakhi monasteries. A wander round the dimly lit temples containing grotesque yet beautiful masks and statues will take us back hundreds of years in time. We then drive back to Leh and the comforts of a hot shower at our hotel. We should get to Leh for lunch and the rest of the day is free for last minute sightseeing or shopping in the bazaars. Standard Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 14 Fly to Delhi. We fly from Leh to Delhi. The rest of the day is free for individual sightseeing in Delhi.Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 15 Fly to London. Those on the group flights will be transferred to the airport this morning for your daytime flight back to London; Land Only arrangements will finish after check-out from the hotel. Meals included: Breakfast
Golden Triangle extension Code: XBS A visit to the incredible Taj Mahal and other great Moghul cities close to Delhi is an excellent way to begin or end a visit to Northern India. The five-day Golden Triangle extension can be booked before or after your main itinerary. The Taj Mahal in Agra was built by the Moghul Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1631, and is one of the most beautiful sights on earth. Close by is the imposing Red Fort of Akbar with its beautiful courtyards and palaces and let's not forget the deserted royal city of Fatehpur Sikri. The extension also visits the Pink City of Jaipur, capital of Rajasthan, which is one of the most attractive and colourful cities in India. The detailed itinerary can be found here.
India There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Polio, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Typhoid, Hepatitis A. The risk of malaria is slight but you may wish to consult your GP or travel health clinic for further advice. Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for Dengue, therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. Some of our India trips spend time at altitude. In regions over approx. 2000m, there is low to no risk of mosquito-borne diseases. For trips going to altitudes of over 3000m there is a risk of being affected by Acute Mountain Sickness. Our itineraries are designed to enable everyone to acclimatise to these altitudes, but you should be aware that it is still possible for you to be affected. Please see the TRIP NOTES for further information.
Hotels & Camping In Delhi, we use a comfortable hotel (usually the Hotel Jaypee Siddharth), which has air-conditioned rooms, all en suite. In Leh we stay in a simple hotel but all rooms have en suite facilities. There is intermittent Wi-Fi available in Leh, however, there is no mobile coverage for international phones in Ladakh. The trek itself is on a full-service camping basis, meaning that our camp staff will erect and dismantle the tents for you, cook, and do all of the camp chores for you. You need only carry your day pack. Most of the camping on this trek is wild camping. We stay in two-person tents which have enough room inside for your kitbags. We also have a dining tent complete with table and folding chairs, and at least one toilet tent (usually two) for use during the evenings. No running water is available whilst camping. You will be camping close to a river or stream and the camp staff will provide bowls of warm water (to wash with) whilst trekking. Single rooms and tents can be requested for a supplement (subject to availability). Please enquire at the time of booking.
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Reviewed November 2018 Marie Josee van Rijn Trip: Ladakh: The Markha Valley Himalaya experience Wonderful, inspiring and active trip full of challenges. Beautiful scenery, great people, lovely staff. Truly one of the best experiences in my life. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Climbing over the highest passes, overcoming my fear of descending (I really prefer walkin uphill), letting go of everything that was going on in my life back home, meeting wonderful new people, dealing with altitude and learning the effects it has on your body, meeting monks in Ladakh and visiting the Taj Mahal (I booked the extension Golden triangle). What did you think of your group leader? Ngima was the best! He was so experienced with climbing and the altitude. Also, he was extremely fit. He made sure everyone was doing alright all the time and motivated us to keep on going even if we were having a hard time. He showed genuine interest in all of us and opened up to us during the trip. Tashi was great as well, as was the rest of the staff. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? I was very happy with my walking poles for the descents. Also, bring lots of sunscreen and a hat with a long flap that covers your neck. Exercise enough at home before you start this trip. I was very happy that a came prepared and fit enough. The altitude and the heat during the day already make it hard so having a certain level of fitness really helps you to be able to enjoy this trip instead of having to struggle through it. Bring a set of playing cards and invite the rest of the staff to join you for a game after diner; they love that! Earplugs will come in handy at night as most nights you will here the continuous sounds of the bells on the horses that stay around the tents. Warm clothes are a must, especially a warm hat, fleece and gloves. A washcloth helps you clean up a little bit during the 7 days camping when you get a bowl of warm water and you try to ‘shower’ in your tent ;-).
Reviewed September 2017 Franciska Pouw Trip: Ladakh: The Markha Valley Wonderful Ladakh! I booked this trip through Sawadee (Dutch partner of Exodus) and I would do it again. The trip was very well organised and lead by Valerie Parkinson. Our local trekking guide Wangail also did a really good job in helping us beating the paths and crossing wild rivers and moutain passes. And my fellow travellers were really nice. This trip was amazing! A 'hot' start in Delhi, early morning amazing flight to Leh when you see the Himalaya mountain range when the weather is good. We had really good views! Leh is very pleasant, kind people, beautiful colours, wonderful monasteries in and around Leh. We even visited the highest motorable road in the world (5600); excellent for acclimatization! The trekking was everything I hoped for. Really colourful mountains, interesting villages and people. We even saw baby eagle owles, pica's (mouse hare), a red fox and loads of blue sheep! The camping was very well organized, food was excellent! I would strongly recommend this trip when you love mountains, trekking and other cultures. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? I found it all very memorable. What did you think of your group leader? Valerie Parkinson is a very experienced and pleasant tourleader. She really knows all about Ladakh and buddhism, has good humor, knows how to 'handle' a group, gives you plenty of good tips. After trekking days she encouraged us to go for extra acclimitization walks. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Take enough batteries and powerbanks with you on the trek when you like to take a lot of photos!
Reviewed September 2017 Tony Wright Trip: Ladakh: The Markha Valley Magic Markha Valley The Markha Valley Trek was a truly memorable experience. The landscape, wildlife and vegetation, the light, the culture and peaceful atmosphere of Ladakh are unforgettable and we were fortunate to experience it 'up close'. The trek was superbly organised, with expert and supportive leadership from Valerie Parkinson. The camping experience was great and the local team was full of joy and very competent. We were very well looked after! I enjoyed the excellent company of my fellow trekkers and appreciated the way in which some of the more challenging sections of the trek were paced and supported. As well as the trek, there were excellent visits to monasteries, and good accommodation in Leh and Delhi. 2 weeks felt like 2 months - it was an intense and very satisfying experience all round. Thanks for everything. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Many! Getting up to the top of the GandaLa Pass after struggling a bit with the altitude, and seeing the incredible view from the crest. Contrasts between summer crops and the utter barrenness of the mountains. Watching the sunset from the Old village at Markha. Visiting Thikse Monastery. All the opportunities to experience the culture and religion. Walking the final few kilometres down the valley to Shang Sudmdo in golden light surrounded by mountains of other-worldly colours. What did you think of your group leader? Valerie is a truly superb group leader. She brings calm authority, care, respect, humour, a vast depth of expertise and local knowledge, and a calm that is both reassuring and authoritative. She has a great knowledge of group psychology too! I feel very fortunate to have been on a trek led by Valerie. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Carry boiled sweets or peppermints to suck on - helps to handle the dry air. If you want to take a lot of photos, take a power bank with plenty of capacity for recharging your camera, as well as a couple of extra batteries. I ran out on the last day of the trek despite having 3 batteries and a 6000 ma power bank! Is there anything else you would like to add? All aspects of Exodus planning and organisation were excellent. I will recommend the trip to friends and am looking at my next trip already. Exodus will be my go-to company.
Reviewed September 2016 Danny Bell Trip: Ladakh: The Markha Valley Memorable Markha Valley Stunning scenery and great camping adventure. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Being able to enjoy spectacular landscape ranging from the different valleys, canyons, with a multitude of colour changing rock formations. What did you think of your group leader? The guide Rajeev was extremely organised and took great care of the group. Both him, his assistant Wangail and the team were also very social which is always nice. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Do prepare for any weather conditions as with this being the end of the season we did wake up to Snow one morning. Also with is being hot during the day do not pack too much in your day bag.
Reviewed September 2016 Michelle Madrigga Trip: Ladakh: The Markha Valley Spectacular Scenery! A great trek through an amazingly beautiful area with an enormous array of colours and landscapes. Great acclimatization time in Leh before the trip. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Walking in relatively isolation through the amazing landscapes. Crossing the two passes were an achievement. What did you think of your group leader? Both the group leader and the trekking guide were excellent, friendly and competent. Very well organized and no issues with communication. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Be prepared for cool or cold night temperatures. Some of the parts of the trail are on narrow (sometimes crumbling) ledges above the river so people with vertigo issues or unsteady feet may want to come prepared. There are also some sections where you are walking along rocky riverbeds so you may want to ensure you have boots with adequate ankle support. Definitely bring a wide brim hat, sunscreen and lip balm with sunscreen as well as the sun was particularly strong during the day and there was often little shaded areas. Bring extra camera batteries and memory cards if you like taking photos as this trek is full of photo opportunities! Is there anything else you would like to add? Great trip and would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in beautiful scenery and relatively isolated environments.
Reviewed August 2016 Stephen Taylor Trip: Ladakh: The Markha Valley The Markha Valley A great trek to remote locations. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Crossing the Gongmaru La pass-stunning views in every direction, and worth all the effort. Seeing the Dalai Lama in Leh. What did you think of your group leader? Lakpa was a great leader. Always on the ball, checking everybody was OK, and making sure everything worked like clockwork-great job! Wongel, the assistant guide was also a star. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Take big memory cards-the scenery is breathtaking. It can be very hot and dusty, so be prepared. Is there anything else you would like to add? Worth the cost, the overnight flights, not showering, being caked in dust, and generally feeling privileged to have been there.
Reviewed August 2016 Kirit Garala Trip: Ladakh: The Markha Valley TGR Very good What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Fellow trekkers. Scenery. Guide and Ladaki people What did you think of your group leader? Excellent. No other words to explain him. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Just do it!! Weather a little hotter than I expected
Reviewed September 2015 Irene Neilson Trip: Ladakh: The Markha Valley Beautiful Wilderness - Ladakh: The Markha Valley An outstanding trek in a wonderful arid, mountainous environment where rocks gleam a wide variety iridescent colours, where lammergeiers and golden eagles circle above as marmots sit sunning themselves on the rocks below and where blue sheep have you gasping in amazement at their sure footedness on craggy rocky slopes. The isolation of the trek is special with just a few sparsely inhabited villages being passed. The range of temperatures from very warm during the day to very cold at night combined with the altitude of the passes and the rough stony ground of the riverbeds hemmed in by large rockfaces creates a wonderful feeling of challenge and exploration. The timelessness of the Buddhist monasteries encountered further enhances the experience. An amazing trip!! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The walk to Nimaling was special as the views really open up as you approach the plateau and the light on the snow topped slopes of Kang Yatse shifted to reveal huge cracks in its cornices. Cows and horses grazed at the camp and huge flocks of sheep and goats (including Kashmir goats) passed by the tents to gather in summer corals on the opposite side of the river. The crossing of the Gongmaru La Pass in perfect weather with vivid blue skies enabling us to see a perfect panorama of mountain tops including a 7000m+ peak belonging to the Karakorum range in Pakistan. It was very special seeing somewhere you would love to visit but are unlikely to be able to. The descent through the gorge was spectacular. What did you think of your group leader? Lakpa Lama was brilliant as a leader - kind, considerate, patient, good fun, competent. He had a great manner - at ease with everyone and quietly making sure that any problems were attended to and resolved as best as circumstances would permit. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? On our trip we had real extremes of temperature almost every day - 35 daytime, below freezing at night- so pack for both extremes. I regretted not bringing a very lightweight windproof long sleeved top - my summer base-layer was too warm. A flannel for the morning basin of water is useful. We found canoe shoes good for river crossing leaving sandals dry for the evening. The dry air can cause throat/chest issues so Strepsils, cough sweets etc useful. Unlike Nepal you can't just pick up things like that at a local teahouse though there are tea parachute tents en route where you can buy soft drinks and some local community handicrafts made from wool. The stuffed snow leopards are best at Rumbak village tent. Mobile phones are blocked in Ladakh though there is erratic wifi at Glacier View Hotel. Safe water shop in Leh is great- try the Apricot or Sea buckthorn juice though I found the latter too bitter. Is there anything else you would like to add? Excellent acclimatisation schedule. The river does change course and you do sometimes end up on narrow cliff passes but the sand on these is 'sticky' and gives a good grip. The food is excellent and quality of tents - including toilet tent- is good. Easy to change money at the hotel in Delhi which has a swimming pool - great after the flight. Nearby Mughal Mahal restaurant good. We did the Golden Triangle Extension with Wellcome Travel and enjoyed it.
Reviewed September 2015 Frank Porter Trip: Ladakh: The Markha Valley Makrha Valley This was a great experience the Markha Valley is truly unique part of the world. We arrived a in Leh a week after heavy rains and closed the track due to flooding and some land slides. The Exodus team worked extremely hard to plan an alternate route if we could not do the Markha trek. Luckily the Markha valley track was reopened and we were able to do the planned walk. The views the landscape the local people all well and truly exceeded my expectations. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Standing at the top of Gongmaru Pass with fantastic views in all directions was truly inspiring. What did you think of your group leader? The Group leader Ngima could not have been better nothing was too hard for him he was committed tot he group 24/7. his commitment an happy smiling face help to make the trek the wonderful experienced that it was. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? The river crossing can be a bit tough on two days we spent several hours following the river bed crossing and recrossing the river jumping from stone to stone, I personally found this a bit challenging due to problems with a dodgy ankle.
Reviewed August 2015 Simon Barber Trip: Ladakh: The Markha Valley Simon Barber's Markha Valley review A trip of a lifetime! My first time in Asia - a difficult place to get around in. I was attracted by the terrain and the altitude: I'd done over 4000 m last year in Morocco (Mt. Toubkal), this year I fancied a go at 5000 m. I made it, but not with much breath to spare. An excellently organised trip but not for the faint-hearted or those with any vertigo/balance problems. The Markha valley trail is up a flash-flood prone canyon that several times a year wipes out all vestige of the old trail, and the locals valiantly hack a new one out of the loose, crumbling cliffs above the gorge. In places the track is a foot wide and the drop a hundred feet and more. Not pleasant. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Getting over the 2 high cols. The first one I managed on zero sleep - although the schedule tries hard to acclimatise the trekkers, it doesn't always work on schedule. The second high camp I was unable to sleep at all - rather like a night of being waterboarded by all accounts, But I still made it over the col the next day, feeling like death. The second, high col (5200 m) I was a bit better acclimatised for, managed 2 hours sleep. Makes all the difference! What did you think of your group leader? Ngima was the one who really kept us going; I can't speak too highly of him. Whether organising the first and last nights meal in Delhi or keeping us on the trail, his leadership skills were superb. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Be sure you don't get vertigo or any balance problems, if you want to take this trip. There's a lot of rock-hopping and stream crossing. Equipment; I wore a pair of almost knee-length Meindl boots, and recommend them or similar. Is there anything else you would like to add? The food and camp organisation was excellent. The porters and horsemen deserve every rupee of what they got, and more!
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