India: Trekking in Ladakh

14 days
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Small Group Tour
Leave the tourist track for an incredible trekking experience in Ladakh – from Delhi to Leh, you’ll hop on the Markha Valley trek and hike through almost untouched lands. Look out for wildlife like eagles, goats and the rare blue sheep and spend most days in the wilderness of this wild land, surrounded by the Himalayas. Camp almost every night under a night s...
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Extreme

Highlights

    • Explore the panoramic views of the Markha Valley on this remote trek popular with avid trekkers (due to its proximity to the mountainous city of Leh) and wander through Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and remote villages, backdropped by the Himalayas.
    • Tap into your leader’s local knowledge during your many discoveries around Leh – also known as Little Tibet or the Land of Lamas.
    • Enjoy fully supported camping with expert guides, porters and a professional cooking team, providing warm, homecooked Indian meals at every campsite.
    • Rub shoulders with the local villagers, known for their hospitality and warmth. Spend a night in Nimaling – one of the most gorgeous high valleys in Ladakh, at 4800 m above sea level – and watch as the locals bring their herds of sheep, goats and yaks to graze in the summer.
    • Discover old ruins hidden on the hill tops of Markha Village. This shows the former importance of this ancient route and little is known about the origin of these ruins. Here, you might even spot a wild blue sheep on the slopes, or an eagle circling above!

What's this trip about?

    Leave the tourist track for an incredible trekking experience in Ladakh – from Delhi to Leh, you’ll hop on the Markha Valley trek and hike through almost untouched lands. Look out for wildlife like eagles, goats and the rare blue sheep and spend most days in the wilderness of this wild land, surrounded by the Himalayas. Camp almost every night under a night sky with no light pollution and meet warm locals who will give you a unique insight into their daily life. See mysterious ancient ruins, wander through Buddhist monasteries with incredible scenic views and tuck into some of the most delicious authentic cuisine in India – this is what you’ve been looking for in a trekking trip!

Details

Itinerary focusOperator does not provide
Group sizeIntimate group - max of 12 people
Age range15 years and up
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityDelhi
End CityDelhi

Travel Themes

  • Hiking & Walking
  • Trekking & Expeditions

Destinations

Attractions

  • Delhi
  • Himalayas
  • Ladakh

Max Group Size

  • Max Group Size: 12

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Delhi

Namaste! Welcome to India. Your trekking adventure kicks off in Delhi – the capital territory of India’s north. Meet your trip leader and new travel buddies at a 6 pm welcome meeting tonight. If you arrive early, there's plenty to do in this wonderfully chaotic city. ...

Day 2 Leh

Take a flight to Leh this morning – the joint capital of Ladakh, in the Himalayan region, sits framed by the towering peaks of the mountains. When you arrive at the airport, transfer to your hotel, then the rest of your day is free. It might be a good idea to take is ...

Day 3 Leh

Today after breakfast, you’ll explore Leh’s gorgeous scenery and main sites with your leader. First, head to the Shey Monastery and Palace – this complex, sitting on a high hill, is best known for the one-of-a-kind three-storey statue of Buddha Shakyamuni. Next, you’l...

Day 4 Leh

Today, you’ll hike in and around Leh to continue to acclimatise to the altitude. Time in this city is crucial to properly get used to the high altitude! You’ll set off after breakfast with your leader on a hike around the Leh Valley. Visit the Ruins of Royal Palace – ...

Day 5 Zingchen to Rumbak

After breakfast, drive to the small village of Zingchen where your trek begins. Meet your crew, then start the gradual climb to Rumbak. You’ll be walking through epic mountain scenery, blanketed in snow in winter and green grasses in summer. Rare snow leopards live in...

Day 6 Rumbak to Ganda La Base

From your camp site, you’ll take a short trek this morning to the village of Yurutse in the Rumbak Valley. This remote village is home to only one large house and the family here are considered very hospitable hosts. When you arrive, you’ll set up your tents at the base camp of Ganda La, soaking up the natural landscape and watching the stars as they come out, uninterrupted by light pollution.

Day 7 Ganda La Base to Skiu

Today will be one of the longer hiking days of the trip. After breakfast, you’ll climb the 4900-m-high pass of Ganda La. Take in the amazing view and the clean, clear air. It will then be a long descent to Shingo village. When you arrive in the village, continue throu...

Day 8 Skiu to Markha Village

Today is another long trekking day, but on mostly flat trails. Walk through the scenic Markha Valley in the middle of the Hemis National Park and check out the old ruins that are on many hill tops here. These show the former importance of this ancient route and little...

Day 9 Markha Village to Thachungtse

Your trek continues up to the valley this morning. After a few hours of taking in the wild landscape, you’ll reach Hankar – the last village in the Markha Valley. When you arrive and if you feel up to it, you can take the short but very steep hike up to the small mona...

Day 10 Thachungtse to Nimaling

This morning, you’ll trek to the high plateau of Nimaling. When you arrive, you can take in the flat, green plains of the area, surrounded by the white-capped mountains. Nimaling is known as one of the most beautiful high valleys in Ladakh and the views of the 6400-m-...

Day 11 Nimaling to Leh

Today, you’ll tackle Kongmaru La – the second pass on the Markha Valley trek. From the pass, take in the sights of Kangyatze one last time, then descend into the long, narrow gorge for spectacular natural scenery. You’ll arrive in Chokdo, then drive back to Leh throug...

Day 12 Leh

After a leisurely breakfast this morning, you have a free day in Leh to do some last-minute shopping in the bazaar for any souvenirs or gifts you might like to bring home. Tonight, why not grab dinner with your fellow travellers and swap stories.

Day 13 Delhi

Take a morning flight to Delhi today. When you arrive, settle in and relax. This afternoon, you’ll have the option to explore Old Delhi on an Urban Adventures sightseeing tour in the afternoon. Wander around the wonderfully chaotic sights and sounds, then later, why not head out with your group for one final dinner together of delicious, local cuisine.

Day 14 Delhi

With no further activities planned after breakfast, your trip comes to an end. If you’d like to extend your time in Delhi, just reach out to your booking agent ahead of time. Maybe consider another trip through India, like the Classic Rajasthan (trip code HHSC), India’s Golden Triangle (trip code HHSN) or Premium India Safari (trip code HHPT).

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Dates & Availability

Price From $2,760
Price per day$197
Last Updated: 12/21/2024
Departure Date
Finish Date
Base Price
Availability
08 Jun 2025
21 Jun 2025
$2,760
06 Jul 2025
19 Jul 2025
$2,870
03 Aug 2025
16 Aug 2025
$2,760
17 Aug 2025
30 Aug 2025
$2,760
31 Aug 2025
13 Sep 2025
$2,870
14 Sep 2025
27 Sep 2025
$2,870
07 Jun 2026
20 Jun 2026
$2,900
05 Jul 2026
18 Jul 2026
$2,900
02 Aug 2026
15 Aug 2026
$2,900
16 Aug 2026
29 Aug 2026
$2,900

Check current availability, prices, specials & more.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Tour Operator

Intrepid Travel

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If you’re looking for adventure, you’ve come to the right place. For the past 25 years, we’ve been taking small groups of travelers on unforgettable trips around the world. What makes them unforgettable? Take a look for yourself and discover the Intrepid experience.

Our travelers have three styles of tour to choose from: Basix, Original and Comfort. Each has a different level of inclusions and accommodation, but all have unforgettable real life experiences as part of the package. Travellers can also choose themed trips, such as Family, Sailing or Food, to suit their interests.

Our group size has an average of just ten travellers, which allows us to get off the beaten track, use local accommodation and transport, and really get to know the culture. It also ensures we are contributing to the local economy; by choosing local suppliers we were able to keep AUD 60 million in local economies in 2012. We’re also working hard to reduce our carbon footprint and were the first in our sector to introduce carbon offset trips. This, along with our many corporate sustainability activities, has meant we’re one of the travel industry’s leaders in responsible travel.

Why Intrepid?

  •   Small groups - average of 10 people per trip
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  •   Local transport - get close and personal
  •   Local accommodation - experience real living
  •   Intrepid travelers - like-minded companions 

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Intrepid Travel has come a long way since its beginnings in 1989. From two university friends, a typewriter and a kitchen desk, it is now a proud member of The Intrepid Group, taking over 100,000 travelers every year.

Intrepid Travel is part of The Intrepid Group of companies, alongside leading small group adventure companies Peregrine, Urban Adventures and PEAK DMC.

Despite growing into a global business with over 1,000 staff based all over the world and over 800 different trips across every continent, we’ve remained devoted to the same grassroots values and responsible travel philosophies that we had at the very beginning.

 

Values

On every trip we operate and in every interaction we have with a client, supplier or local, we live our core values everyday:

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Why we love this operator
They're highly committed to sustainable tourism and contribute to crucial initiatives like climate action, focusing on local cultures and more.
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Logistics

Accommodation

Hotel (6 nights),Full Service Camping (7 nights)

Transportation & Flights

Private Vehicle,Plane,

Transportation & flights

Private Vehicle,Plane
Guides
All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leader or local representative. The aim of the group leader or local representative is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced group leader or local representative however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your group leader or local representative is new to a particular region or training other group leader or local representative. Your group leader or local representative will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your group leader or local representative can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is compulsory on all our trips for those travelling internationally. We require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. If you are travelling within your home country or region please confirm before travel that you are entitled to access the public medical system easily should an accident occur. We strongly recommend all travellers have a policy that also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage or personal effects. For international trips, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance and the insurance company's 24-hour emergency contact number has been sighted by your group leader or local representative. If you have credit card insurance your group leader or local representative will require details of the participating insurer/underwriter, the level of coverage, policy number, and emergency contact number rather than the bank's name and your credit card details. Please contact your bank for these details prior to arriving in-country. For travellers who reside within the European Union, Switzerland or USA the requirement to purchase travel insurance cannot be compulsory. However the purchase of travel insurance is still highly recommended, and travellers from these regions who decline travel insurance when travelling outside of their home region must sign a Travel Insurance Waiver Form at the Group Meeting, recognizing personal responsibility for emergency medical and repatriation costs should they arise. For assistance with travel insurance or other services, please visit the link below: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/booking-resources/our-services Please ensure that your policy does cover you up to the maximum altitude on this trip, and includes helicopter evacuation. Proof of this must be taken with you on the trip, as you will need to show it to the leader.
Visa requirements
PASSPORT You’ll need a valid passport to travel internationally and most countries require your passport to have a minimum of 6 months validity, so remember to check the expiry date. We need your passport information to get everything ready for your trip so it’s important that the information on your booking matches your passport exactly. Please take care to provide the correct details. We recommend carrying a copy of the photo page of your passport while travelling and leaving a copy at home with family or friends. VISAS & ENTRY REQUIREMENTS Many countries require a visa and obtaining the correct visa for your trip and any countries you may transit through is your responsibility. We recommend you check your visa requirements as soon as you have booked your trip. This will ensure you have time to prepare your documents and for your visa application to be processed. You can check the entry requirements for your nationality on your government's foreign travel advisories, consular websites or on our page here:  www.intrepidtravel.com/visa-entry-requirements INDIA: An E-Tourist Visa (eVT) visa is available for selected nationalities. Please follow the instructions at https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html and complete the application for your eVT. This needs to be completed no less than 4 days prior to arrival. This is the only official visa online site. There are many other mirror sites that are run by visa service companies or scammers and may not be reliable. Visa requirements for Canada, US and UK customers have changed. Please check your government's foreign travel advisories along with the consular website for India for the most up to date information specific to your nationality and circumstances. The E-Tourist Visa does not apply to travellers entering India overland. Please check your trip notes if you are crossing a border between India and Nepal, noting that Indian visas are difficult and time-consuming to obtain in Nepal. Tourist visas are available in Single and Multiple Entry. Be sure to check the date you require a visa from and the length of time you will need to cover, especially if you change countries during your trip. The following local contact information can be used for your visa application, where relevant: Intrepid India 25/3 East Patel Nagar Delhi 110008 Phone: +91 11 4500 6400 NATIONAL PARKS: In order to obtain permits and safari bookings for national parks in India, we require a scanned colour copy of the bio page of your passport at the time of booking. Your safari arrangements cannot be completed without this information.
Health & Safety
Most national governments provide regularly updated foreign travel advice on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest travel information before departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all destinations and activities on your trip. Please refer to our website's safety page for links to major travel advisories and updates on safety issues affecting our trips here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/travel-alerts We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe-keeping of your passport, flight tickets, cash and other valuable items. Leave your jewellery at home - you won't need it while travelling. Many of our hotels have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage. Your group leader or local representative will accompany you on all included activities, however, during your trip you'll have some free time to pursue your own interests or relax and take it easy. While your group leader or local representative will assist you with the available options in a given location, please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your Intrepid itinerary, and Intrepid makes no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgement when selecting an activity in your free time. Please also note that your group leader or local representative has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it's deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Intrepid's operational safety policies can be viewed on our website at the link below. We recommend that you take a moment to read through this information before travelling, and would appreciate any feedback on how safety is being managed on our trips. https://www.intrepidtravel.com/safety-guidelines
Age Requirements
15 years and up
Additional Information

Finish point

  • We are currently seeking a new hotel in New Delhi for this trip
  • .
  • Delhi
  • INDIA
Trip ID
intrepid-HHXL

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