Great Ladakh trek: from Markha to Tso Moriri
In summary
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Sports
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Duration21 days
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LevelConfirmed
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DestinationAsia / India
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AgeFrom the age of 18
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CO₂-Emissions2072.85 kg CO2
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Type of stayIn a group
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Languages
French
English
In a few words
The highlights
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A grand trek through Ladakh, Zanskar and Changtang!
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The villages and landscapes of the Markha Valley.
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The beauty of the Tibetan highlands and its lakes Tso Kar and Tso Moriri.
Photos
Sport
Level
Hiking / Trekking
The expert's opinion
Long-distance trekking in remote regions. This is a challenging trip, with some days entirely dedicated to walking.
The daily stages are of an intermediate level, but the nights in bivouacs, the climate and the high altitude over a prolonged period add fatigue and make the exercise more difficult than on paper.
To participate in this trip, prior mountain trekking experience is recommended. You must be in good physical condition, enjoy physical exertion and hiking, and prepare yourself physically in the months leading up to departure (weekly endurance activities).
In figures
Hiking
- Average duration/day: 5h
- Average daily elevation gain: 403 m
- Average daily descent: 370 m
Management
Based in Ladakh for many years, our local agency guarantees a successful active travel experience, thanks to our guides and logistical infrastructure. During your trip, you will be accompanied by our adventure guides, fully committed to helping you discover unique places in the heart of nature.
- Local French-speaking guide-companion, knowledgeable about the environment and local populations.
- Local driver for road transfers.
- Upon arrival in Delhi, you will be greeted by a representative who will provide initial travel information and assist you with checking your luggage for your flight to Leh, where your French-speaking guide will be waiting for you during your stay in Ladakh. In Delhi, all transfers and any tours will be conducted by a local Indian guide.
Program
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Paris - Delhi
- Transportation Plane - 08h30 - 6500km
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
International flight departing from Paris.Day 1 -
Arrival in Delhi
- Accommodation 2-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
Arrival at Delhi airport. After clearing customs and collecting our luggage, a driver will be waiting for us at the airport exit to take us to the hotel. The following day will be dedicated to exploring Delhi. For arrivals after 12:00 PM, the Delhi tour will be self-guided, without a guide or transportation.Day 2 -
Delhi - Leh
- Accommodation 2-star hotel
- Breakfast not included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
This morning, we're enjoying a short but exceptional flight: we're flying over the Himalayan range from north to south! Upon arrival in Leh, we're met by our guide who takes us to the hotel. The rest of the day is dedicated to rest: due to the high altitude, we need to take it easy and avoid any physical exertion. Note: The Delhi-Leh flight is subject to weather conditions and may therefore be subject to delays and cancellations.Day 3 -
Indus Valley: Stok Palace and Spituk Monastery – Lamayuru (3500m)
- Transportation Minibus - 03h - 100km
- Accommodation 2-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
This morning, discover the Royal Palace of Stok, built in 1825 to house the Namgyal dynasty. Still the royal residence, the family retreats to Manali during the harsh winters. Continue your visit with Spituk Monastery, built in the 14th century, which houses an enigmatic sacred shrine at its summit. After this cultural immersion, return to Lamayuru for a scenic drive. In the late afternoon, explore the 11th-century Lamayuru Monastery, perched on a rock overlooking the village.Day 4 -
Lamayuru (3500 m) - Prinkiti la (3700 m) - Wanla (3160 m)
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Accommodation 2-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We put our hiking boots back on this morning and set off towards the Prinkiti Pass, at 3,700 meters. We first enjoy a beautiful view of the colorful "Moonland" rocks before gaining altitude and reaching the pass. From the summit, we can make out the jagged peaks that dominate the Zanskar Valley, several dozen kilometers away. We then descend into an arid canyon, an unusual, isolated landscape, before emerging not far from the village of Wangla. At the end of the day, we visit the village monastery, then settle into our homestay.Day 5 -
Wanla - Hinju (3740m) - Konzke La BC (3925m)
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Positive elevation gain 600 m
- Accommodation 2-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
A short transfer along the Yapola River takes us to the village of Panjila, then on to Hinju, a small village nestled in the valley. Here, we begin our trek through the North Zanskar massif. We hike through a valley surrounded by arid, colorful mountains, dotted with verdant oases. Tonight, we camp at the foot of the Konzke Pass.Day 6 -
Hinju - Konzke la (4880 m) - Sumda Chu valley (4210m)
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 6h
- Positive elevation gain 1000 m
- Negative elevation 800 m
- Accommodation 2-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
The first climb of this trek is the Konzke La, whose summit reaches 4,880 meters! The trail ascends gradually in a zigzag pattern. At the top, we enjoy a beautiful view of the surrounding peaks and the Sumda Chu valley, towards which we now descend. Arriving at the Sumda Chenmo alpine pastures, we set up camp for the night.Day 7 -
Sumda Chenmo - Lasgo (3750 m) - Dundunchen Camp
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Positive elevation gain 300 m
- Negative elevation 400 m
- Accommodation Bivouac / Tent
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We continue our journey along the river, amidst the rocky peaks. We approach the village of Sumda Chenmo and begin to see a few trees and the first cultivated fields. We visit the small monastery and, after lunch, we reach the foot of the Dundunchen Pass, at an altitude of 4,200 meters.Day 8 -
Dundunchen Pass (4,700 m) - Chilling (3,200 m)
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Positive elevation gain 500 m
- Negative elevation 1300 m
- Accommodation Bivouac / Tent
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
A gradual climb leads to the summit of the Dundunchen Pass. The summit offers a panoramic view of the entire route we've traveled since the Konzke La pass. The chaotic mix of gray schist and green serpentine, with rocks in shades of ochre, brown, and red, creates a truly exceptional landscape. We then begin the long descent to the Zanskar River gorge, a major tributary of the Indus. We end the day in the charming village of Chilling.Day 9 -
Chilling - Markha (3710 m)
- Transportation Minibus - 02h - 50km
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Positive elevation gain 150 m
- Negative elevation 50 m
- Accommodation Bivouac / Tent
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We take a 2-hour transfer to the village of Markha, enjoying the unique landscapes of the valley throughout the day. Once we arrive in the main village, we visit the monastery overlooking the surrounding area before settling into the campsite located at the village entrance.Day 10 -
Markha - Langtangchen (4250 m)
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Positive elevation gain 500 m
- Accommodation Bivouac / Tent
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We continue our trek towards the upper Markha Valley. We cross the river several times, and soon catch sight of Tanze Monastery, perched like an eagle's nest. Still following the Markha, the valley gradually widens, and its highest point, Kang Yatse, now looms on the horizon. Along the way, we pass through the picturesque hamlets of Humlung and Hankar, the last settlements in the valley, each with its own charming monasteries. At the confluence of the Markha and Langtang rivers, we leave the beautiful Markha Valley and enter the steep-sided Langtang Valley. We follow the river upstream to the Langtangchen campsite.Day 11 -
Langtangchen - Zalung Karpo BC (4600 m).
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Positive elevation gain 300 m
- Accommodation Bivouac / Tent
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
A short day of trekking along the Langthang Chu. Unlike the Markha Valley, this narrow valley remains relatively unknown and seldom frequented by trekkers. We pass through the ruins of two ancient hamlets, Tikyu and Langthang, once home to the region's many nomads. We take advantage of the last remaining alpine pastures to set up camp in the heart of this wild mountain range.Day 12 -
Zalung Karpo BC - Zalung Karpo La (5190 m) - Sora (4210 m)
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 7h
- Positive elevation gain 500 m
- Negative elevation 750 m
- Accommodation Bivouac / Tent
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
It's a beautiful day of hiking, during which we cross the Zalung Karpo Pass at 5,190 meters. The path climbs gradually alongside the river, whose flow narrows as we ascend. The trail eventually leaves the riverbanks as the slope steepens abruptly. After an initial rise, the summit of the pass comes into view. The effort is well worth it. To the north, we enjoy a view of Kang Yatse and its "brothers," a cluster of peaks over 6,000 meters high. To the south, the view plunges down to the Sora Valley and the jagged mountains of the Kharnak Valley, in the heart of the Zanskar massif. After a well-deserved break, we begin a long descent into the valley, ending the day in Sora, a pastoral village in a magnificent setting, ideal for tonight's bivouac!Day 13 -
Sora - Dat (4340 m)
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 7h
- Positive elevation gain 185 m
- Negative elevation 200 m
- Accommodation Bivouac / Tent
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Another beautiful day of hiking to finish this first part of the trek. We enter the Kharnak Valley via a single, narrow path, surrounded by impressive cliffs. The mountains frame a lush valley, a surprising little paradise of vegetation! We are now on the banks of the Kharnak Chu River, which flows into the Zanskar Valley. We follow the river upstream on a pleasant path, through a landscape that is still impressive with its greenery and steep cliffs. The valley gradually opens up before widening considerably. We set up camp in the valley, near Dat, a small village at the end of the world, whose only summer inhabitant is a monk!Day 14 -
Dat - Transfer to Lake Tsokar (4530 m)
- Transportation Minibus - 03h - 150km
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 3h
- Accommodation Bivouac / Tent
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We set off towards the Changtang Plateau, located southeast of the Markha Valley, a few kilometers from Tibet. The scenery changes completely. Lovers of wide-open spaces will be in their element! In summer, many nomads come to graze their herds of goats, sheep, horses, and yaks on the grasslands of this region. The Changtang lakes also welcome numerous protected species of migratory birds each year. Arriving at Lake Tsokar, we set up camp and walk along the lake's edge. The red and ochre landscape of the surrounding mountains is reflected in the turquoise waters of the lake.Day 15 -
Tso Kar - Nuruchan (4650m) - Horlam La (4950m) - Rajun Karu (4920m)
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 6h
- Positive elevation gain 400 m
- Negative elevation 300 m
- Accommodation Bivouac / Tent
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We begin our trek towards Tso Moriri Lake. We are in a hilly region with vast alpine pastures, where nomadic Champa people graze their cattle in the summer. We regularly pass nomadic camps. We approach them and set up our bivouac not far from their encampment. We hike towards the Horlam La pass, with numerous peaks exceeding 6,000 meters in the Korzog and Rupsu massifs as a backdrop. The ascents and descents are gradual, and the elevation changes are relatively small.Day 16 -
Rajun Karu (4920 m) - Kyamayuri La pass (5420 m) - Kartse La (5380 m) - Gyama (5000 m)
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 6h
- Positive elevation gain 600 m
- Negative elevation 400 m
- Accommodation Bivouac / Tent
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We're now well acclimatized and ready to spend a full day at high altitude! Right from the start, we gently tackle the slopes of the Kyamayuri La pass, at 5,250 meters. We're now descending into one of the most remote valleys in the region. Here, the isolation is complete! We walk along the river before climbing the Kartse pass, the only way out. A final descent takes us to Gyama, at the confluence of the two rivers. We enjoy our last night away from civilization.Day 17 -
Gyama - Yalung Nyau La (5440 m) - Korzok - Lake Tsomoriri (4540 m)
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Positive elevation gain 600 m
- Negative elevation 980 m
- Accommodation Bivouac / Tent
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
This is the final stage of our trek! We begin the day by climbing the highest pass of the trek, Yalung Nyau, which reaches an altitude of 5,422 meters. The ascent is gradual, following the banks of a glacial stream. At the end of the valley, we ford the river and arrive at the foot of the glacial cirque. A final climb leads to the summit, from where we glimpse for the first time the turquoise waters of Tso Moriri, one of the most beautiful lakes in the Himalayas. We now descend towards the vast Korzok plain, with the lake in our sights. Emerging from a small canyon, the view suddenly opens up to it. Tso Moriri is one of the highest lakes in the world. It covers nearly 120 square kilometers and is a major migration site for more than 40 species of birds. We camp near the village of Korzok, famous for its panoramic views of the lake and its Buddhist monastery.Day 18 -
Lake Tsomoriri - Leh
- Transportation Minibus - 07h - 350km
- Accommodation 2-star hotel
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner not included
This morning, we took a leisurely stroll along the lake to recover from the exertions of the past few days. We visited Korzok Monastery before heading to Leh. The drive was long but stunning, offering a final opportunity to admire the Changtang landscapes before returning to the Indus Valley. Upon arrival in Leh, we checked into our hotel and enjoyed the rest of the day at leisure.Day 19 -
Leh - Delhi - Return international flight.
- Transportation 03h
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
Early this morning, we take a domestic flight to the Indian capital, New Delhi. Depending on the time available, we will either stroll through the bustling streets of Old Delhi or visit the Qutub Minar archaeological site (near the airport). If the return flight is scheduled for this evening, we will transfer to the airport in the late afternoon. If the return flight is scheduled for the following day, we will have a short night at the hotel and transfer to the airport the next morning. Note: Today's road transfers may be by metro or tuk-tuk, which is often more convenient and faster than driving (due to difficult traffic conditions).Day 20 -
Arrival in Paris
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Arrived in Paris during the day.Day 21
Note
Accommodation
Access
Go to the starting point
1/ International Transport
We use scheduled flights between Paris and Delhi, primarily with Air India and Qatar Airways. On certain dates, we purchase a block of seats (allotments) from these airlines departing from Paris to guarantee you the best fares and flight schedules for as long as possible. Depending on availability at the time of your booking, we may also offer you flights with other airlines.
Direct flights between Paris and Delhi are generally possible (at an additional cost).
We prioritize night flights whenever possible: departing on Saturday, you arrive at your destination on Sunday. For trips to Ladakh, you arrive in Delhi early in the morning (generally between midnight and 4 a.m.), allowing you to catch a domestic flight to Leh the same morning.
We pre-purchase a stock of flights departing from Paris on these different airlines in order to guarantee you the best fares and availability for as long as possible. Departures from certain provincial cities are possible upon request and subject to an additional charge.
IMPORTANT: This information is for guidance only. Depending on availability at the time of your booking, the airlines may differ from those listed above.
Price details
The price includes
- International and domestic flights
- Supervision by a local French-speaking guide-tour leader
- Land transport planned in the program
- The services of a local team during the trek
- The accommodations as indicated in the itinerary
- Full board except for meals listed as "free" in the day-by-day itinerary
- The trekking permits required for this trip
- A hyperbaric chamber during the trek (in case of an emergency related to Acute Mountain Sickness)
- Access to a specialist altitude medical service 24/7 (in case of emergency only and when the telephone network is available)
The price does not include
- Visa fees
- Paid entrance fees to sites in Delhi
- Personal expenses
- Drinks
- Meals in Delhi and Leh (~ €5 to €10/meal)
- Tips for local teams
Options
- Flex fare and insurance
Practical information
Specific formalities
Specifics
Before your departure, check with the embassy or consulate regarding the entry and stay requirements for your destination country. You can also find this information on the France Diplomatie website ( https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/dossiers-pays/ ).
In the case of flights with stopovers operated by different airlines, also check the entry requirements of the countries you are transiting through.
It is your responsibility to ensure you are in compliance, particularly regarding the validity of your identity documents (for example, some countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after your return) , visa requirements, necessary vaccinations, and health recommendations. And don't forget to consider any customs restrictions and other potential requirements of your destination or transit country.
ℹ️ Information may change up to the departure date, remember to regularly check official websites.
Equipment
Equipment provided on site
- Camping equipment
- First aid kit
- Hyperbaric chamber
Note: we cannot bring satellite phones with us: they are prohibited in the region (militarized zone).
Equipment to bring
- Sleeping bag, comfort temperature -5°C
- Telescopic hiking poles
- Toiletries (opt for natural products)
- Biodegradable cleaning wipes
- Towel and swimsuit
- Water bottle or hydration pack for trekking (1.5 l minimum)
- Water filter or tablets for water treatment
- Headlamp and batteries
- Toilet paper
- Waterproof plastic bags (to keep your belongings dry in case of rain)
- Card game, book...
- Solar battery charger, very useful for recharging phones used as cameras, especially at altitude where the cold accelerates discharge.
- Cereal bars / energy snacks: very useful for maintaining calorie intake, especially for those who usually consume a lot of meat, in order to prevent undernourishment during intense physical exertion.
Please note: only local telephone networks operate in Ladakh (restrictions due to militarized zones). Therefore, you will not be able to use your French phone. Internet access, via hotel Wi-Fi networks, remains the best way to communicate with France (when the connection is working...).
Clothing to bring
Please bring light and comfortable clothing for the trip, as well as appropriate equipment for mountain trekking (significant temperature difference between hot days and cold nights):
- Cap
- Gloves
- Cap or hat
- Scarf or neck warmer
- Windproof, waterproof and breathable jacket
- Warm down jacket for the evening
- Warm fleece jacket
- Thermal underwear (for cool evenings and nights)
- T-shirt made of synthetic material (quick-drying)
- Shorts (short shorts are forbidden in monasteries)
- Comfortable walking pants
- Walking socks
- Comfortable and sturdy walking shoes with a grippy sole
- Light shoes for the evening
- Sandals for river crossings