Day 01. Spituk – Zingchen (4-5 hours)

In the early morning, we will travel by jeep to Spituk, where horses will be ready to carry our equipment. Our trek will start along an old jeep road through a parched and exposed region, so it's crucial to have water and sunscreen on hand. We'll then enter the lush Zingchen Valley, where the Rumbak River meets the mighty Indus. Our campsite for the night is located in the small hamlet of Zingchen, meaning 'big field'.

Day 02. Zingchen – Ganda La base (3-4 hours)

Today, we'll explore Hemis National Park, and if we're lucky, catch a glimpse of some wildlife. The park is home to snow leopards, lynx, Ladakhi Urial, arghali, Bharal, red foxes, Tibetan wolves, dholes, marmots, and mountain hares. After paying the entrance fee, we'll gradually climb through a beautiful gorge, passing the village of Rumbak and stopping for a warm cup of tea at a tented teahouse run by women from the village. We'll then reach our campsite at the base of Ganda La, where we'll be treated to breathtaking views of Stok Kangri and the entire Stok range.

Day 03. Ganda La base – Skiu via Ganda La (6-7 hours)

We'll begin the day with a light breakfast and a 2-hour ascent towards Ganda La (4900m). At the top of the pass, we'll be greeted by chortens and prayer flags and may spot blue sheep, marmots, and arghali roaming the hills. The views of the Zanskar Range and the distant Himalayas are truly awe-inspiring. After a short rest, we'll descend gradually to Shingo for lunch before hiking for another 2 hours through a spectacular gorge to our final destination, Skiu (3300m). This idyllic village is home to an ancient monastery and the ruins of an old castle that once served as a resting spot for the Royal family on their way to Srinagar.

Day 04. Skiu – Markha (7-8 hours)

On day four, we will follow the Markha River through a beautiful valley on a fairly level path. Along the way, we will cross the river at various points and pass through winter settlements that contain Lhatos (religious shrines for local deities) and Mani walls (stones inscribed with Buddhist prayers). During peak season, a number of tented teahouses will be open for refreshment. Markha (3800m) is the largest village in the valley, consisting of around 20 houses, an old monastery, and a ruined fort.

Day 05. Markha – Thachungtse (5-6 hours)

Our trek through the Markha valley continues as we pass old stone-mills, a ruined castle, and the auspicious monastery of Techa, which proudly perches upon a cliff that looms above Markha. The path then intersects the river several times before cutting through the last hamlets in the valley. After leaving the village of Umlung, we will be afforded our first view of mighty Mt. Kang Yatse (6400m), which will stay in sight until we cross Kongmaru La. After we break for lunch in the village of Hangkar (the last one in the valley), we will continue onward to the lovely green pasture of Thachungtse (4100m), where we will make camp.

Day 06. Thachungtse – Nimaling (4 hours)

On day six, the trail will lead us up to the beautiful plateau of Nimaling, where the people of the Markha Valley bring their herds to graze during the summer months. At 4700m, Nimaling is the highest camp (4600m) on the trek, giving us spectacular views of the huge peak of Kang Yatse to the right.

Day 07. Nimaling – Kongmaru La – Sumdo (7-8 hours)

Today we will cross our highest pass, Kongmaru La (5200m), which offers spectacular views across to the Sarchu plains and the distant peaks of the Himalaya. We will start our ascent early in the morning to avoid the strong winds that can buffet the area later in the day. After crossing the pass, we will descend into the Martselang valley, where we will stop for lunch. From there, it's just a short hike to Sumdo, where we will set up our final camp of the trek.

Day 08. Sumdo – Hemis – Leh (3-4 hours)

On our final day of the trek, we will hike for three to four hours along a jeep road to the village of Hemis, where we will visit the famous Hemis monastery. This is the largest and wealthiest monastery in Ladakh and is dedicated to Padmasambhava, the patron saint of Tibetan Buddhism. After exploring the monastery and its surroundings, we will drive back to Leh, where we will check into a hotel for a well-deserved shower and rest.