Twin Peak - Kang Yatse II, Dzo Jongo, Markha Valley Trek

• Acclimatization and sightseeing in Leh
• Can visit monasteries: Shey, Thiksey, Sangam, and Hemis
• Avoid River Rafting, You can plan it after your trek
• Visit any very high altitude place or pass is not advisable
• Stay in hotel

This is an extra day added to the itinerary to help you get acclimatized better. Therefore utilize this day and try to stay outdoors. Acclimatization days in our treks are used to give your body time to adjust to the thinning air at high-altitude conditions. Several changes occur in your body while trekking in high-altitude regions and the purpose of acclimatization is to allow your body to operate optimally in a decreased oxygen-level environment.

Leh is a major hub for adventure as well as a culturally rich centre. It presents innumerable opportunities for sightseeing starting from the monasteries and temples, the local market as well as many places serving delicious local cuisine. Today, you can hike up to the Shey Palace, Thiksey Monastery, and Thiksey Gompa to experience the Buddhist culture. Thiksey Gompa is the largest in central Ladakh, located on a hill. Avoid gaining height by hiking to nearby passes or valleys. This is only to avoid stressing your body, as it may hinder the process of acclimatization.

Additionally, you can interact with the locals and fellow travellers to gain some knowledge about the adjacent areas. Roam in the Leh City and the Leh Bazaar. You can collect souvenirs from a variety of shops. You must spend the sunset at the Shanti Stupa, which is known for its dazzling lights in the evening. In the evening, rest in your hotel. Your actual trekking day begins tomorrow.

• Altitude:- Chilling 3,200m/10,500ft, Skiu 3,400m/11,150ft
• Drive:- 65 km, 2-3 hours (Leh to Chilling)
• Trek:- 9 km, 4-5 hours (Chilling to Skiu)
• First one hour is a steep ascent, rest is easy to walk
• Drive through Gurudwara Pathar Sahib, Magnetic Hill and the confluence of the Zanskar and Indus.
• First hour is a steep ascent, the rest is an easy walk
• Drive through Gurudwara Pathar Sahib, Magnetic Hill and the confluence of the Zanskar and Indus

Get set as your real trek journey commences. You will be riding along the skillfully paved roadways crossing marvellous landscapes. Throughout the road, you will encounter military camps decorated with colourful big rocks around the camps. Do not miss Gurudwara Pathar Sahib on the right and Magnet Hill on the left as you move ahead. The Stok Range remains on the right until it vanishes slowly when you reach Hemis National Park. You will be pleasantly surprised once you reach Sangam. Indus and Zanskar rivers, both bottle green, yet so unique, form the most spectacular confluence. This point is also famous as starting end for rafting. Take a diversion here towards Chilling. The surrounding view henceforth changes magically. The open terrain beside the road enters into the closed valley. Valley has stunning purple, black, and grey shades of the mountains. Juniper and tall alpine trees will border the route as you cross the Zanskar River over green iron bridges. Take a deep breath once you get down at Chilling, as the walking will begin in a few minutes.  Chilling is the point where the Markha River merges into Zanskar.

The trek ahead incepts a steep ascent going through Zingchen Gorge. Amidst you will also cross the river on a trolley at Kaya-Do place. The trail many times comes across the river. Skiu will mark the first camping in the tents. It is located at the confluence of rivers Shgri Nala and Markha. Skiu village is largely divided into two sections, upper and lower village. Lower Skiu has 12 houses quite close to each other. A small trudge, an old monastery, and the ruins of a palace separate it from upper Skiu. There are small white stupas and mani stones laid towards the upper Skiu. Markha River lies on the right of the village.

Most of the places here offer homestays. Relax after a mini-trek, while looking forward to the upcoming trek.

• Altitude: 3,700 m/ 12,200 ft
• Trek Distance: 16 km | Duration: 7 to 8 hrs
• Altitude Gain: 500 m/ 1050 ft
• Longest day but normal and plain slope.
• Markha is one of the largest villages in the valley
• Cafes on the way.
• 2-3 river crossings
• Monastery and palace visit at Markha.

Start fresh for the actual first trekking day. Be vigilant about birds and animals. Markha valley harbors enormous wildlife. Magpie birds will be visible right after you step out of the house. The trail is quite evident and well-paved intermittently. The Markha River will remain escorting on the right, which incepts from Kang Yatse peaks. In an hour a cafe can be spotted, take a small break here and keep walking. The trail is enclosed by the valley that goes through sparse forest cover. After another hour’s trudge and the first wooden bridge comes to Zanpa Yoakma.

In about 25 minutes another coffee shop at Hamourja is waiting for you to rejuvenate. You will cross the Markha River a couple of times during the trek as you pass through various winter settlements containing Lhatos (religious shrines built for the local deities) as well as Mani walls (walls made of stone inscribed with prayers). Look out for black sheep, deer, and mountain goats on these banks. Keep walking straight to Nagding village for another 40 minutes. Right in front of the houses spot meditation caves at a height on the valley walls. These caves are believed to be having paintings from the 20th century. The banks of the Markha River get wider and you can find yourself stepping in the powdered sand. Enjoy the feeling of Himalayan sands.

After about 1 hour from Nagding village, a big entrance of Sara village appears. The entrance is decorated with skeletons of wild animals. Unlike Skiu, Sara seems like an open area. Sara Village is also home to a monastery and ruins of an old castle which is believed to be the resting spot of the Royal families on their way to Srinagar in ancient times. You may also see wheat plantations and Bushoi (a cotton-like flowering plant and also a natural painkiller). Also, a unique thing that you will notice is that the entrance to Sara village is decorated with skulls of animals like Yak or Sheep. These animal skulls are perceived as a sign of pride for the locals.                            

From here, the first tea houses arrive immediately after 30 minutes at Chalak village. The Chalak Village comes after crossing a wooden bridge. The village has houses placed on small hills with stone protection shelters for domestic animals at the base. Visit any of the villagers and they will greet you with Namkin Chai and biscuits. Re-energize with affectionate talks and hot drinks. You will see Barley fields in the village. From Chalak, it is a gradual ascent up towards Markha and you will pass by the section of the trail marked by Bharal horns.  The destination is 2 hours away from here. 

At every small distance, you can find Mani stones laid around white stupas. These stones are engraved with Buddhist prayers, some of them in the Sanskrit language too. Be humble in front of these historic symbols. Do not dare to touch these stones. The villagers believe these stones are protected by some powers, and any harm to them will cause harm to that person. Do not forget to notice the ruins of the palace at every turn in the valley. This can be figured out by flags at a height on small temples. These palaces were considered viewpoints and signalling points during the reign of the Kings. Markha Village is considered the largest village, you can find numerous houses, scattered away. You will have to walk in the running stream of the Markha River to reach the Markha village. The water in the Markha River can be thigh-high at some points, so it is better to take off your shoes and socks and pull up your pants to cross the river. The cold water will bring back all the energy. In 20 minutes, you can see the hamlet. Markha is the biggest village in the entire valley and comprises 25 houses.

• Altitude: 4,100m/ 13,400 ft
• Trek Distance: 13 km | Duration: 8 to 9 hrs
• Altitude Gain: 400m/ 1200 ft
• Teahouse at Umling Village
• Last Village Of The Valley
• View Of A Beautiful Monastery
• The path will intersect the River a number of times
• After Umlung, you will have the first look at Mt. Kang Yatse (6,400 m)
• Packed lunch on the way
• Accommodation in homestay/ camping

Take the most advantage of the innocence of the salient villages because today will probably be the last habitats on the route. Today is one of the most beautiful days of trekking and the views start opening up as you traverse the upper Markha Valley. The trail is beautiful and refreshing when it merges with flowing rivers and streams. These water bodies can also be crossed over a bridge. Umlung village is a small village and will serve as the last teahouse of the trek with yet another serene monastery to your sight.

After Umlung you can get the first sight of Mt. Kang Yatse(6400m). It seems as if the peak is calling you! Follow its voice, again overcome the river several times and enter the Hankar village. Try to spot the magically placed Tacha monastery on a mountain. It is the last hamlet of the trek and your refuge place.

• Altitude: 4,800 m/ 15,800 ft
• Trek Distance: 7 km  Duration: 3 to 4 hrs
• Altitude Gain: 700 m/ 2,400 ft
• An easy trek
• Amazing view of Kang Yatse
• Amazing view of Tigu Lakes
• Packed lunch on the way
• Accommodation in tent

Get all enthusiastic, after yesterday’s tough trek, today will be an easy and short trek. Start walking and in 1 km you will find diversions or paths separating out. The other route goes to Rupshu and Zanskar. Keep walking on the left path until a stone bridge. This marks that you are on the right trail. Henceforth, you can see many diversions, please be careful and follow the trek leader/guide. In the next 2 hours, the pastures of Thochuntse become visible. There are camping sites and tea houses here. Thochnugtse also has some lovely green fields which are quite a contrast to the aridness of the desert in Ladakh. Keep walking slowly, enjoying the view. The trail is quite steep for like an hour after which becomes a gradual incline.

Try to engulf yourself in nature and move slowly just as you focus on the Kang Yatse peak. The peak seems to grow bigger and bigger. Surprisingly, tranquil twin lakes also come along the path. From the lakes, it is a long and gradual descent to the plateau of Nimaling. The trails enter into a huge grassland after a few fights crossing streams of high altitudes. Sheep, mountain goats, and sometimes rabbits are found grazing at Nimaling. It is a pleasant camping place. It is the highest point you will attain on this trek and being the highest campsite Nimalaing offers spectacular views of the Kang Yatse Peak on the right. There are instances of snowfall at this site hence we prepared for that. Above all that, just try to merge into the high world and sleep in peace.

• Altitude: Base Camp - 5,100 m/ 16,700 ft
• Trek: 3 km | Duration: 2 to 3 hrs
• Altitude Gain: 300 m/ 900 ft
• The first half is uphill through loose rocks, the rest is gentle downhill and across the river.
• Don’t exhaust your body, take as much rest as possible.

This will be the smallest trekking day of the entire trek. Hence, chill and try to make the most of the beauty around you. The trek starts from the open grounds of Nimalng and follows an uphill climb to the top of the ridge. The first half of the trek has loose rocks but the stunning views of Kang Yatse will ease the pain. This is where you get to see the views of Kang Yatse in its full glory. The latter half of the trail descends. The trail keeps descending until you reach the other side of the river, which is also the base of the mountain. It takes about 2 to 3 hrs for you to arrive at the base camp at 5,100 meters.

Make sure to remain out of the tent to get acclimatized. Try to not strain your body and relax at the campsite. You can take short acclimatization walks around the campsite in the evening. This is the best time to study the mountains around you, try to capture as much as you can.

• TTH team will ensure you the technical equipment
• Learn how to use technical equipment
•  Briefing and planning for the summit
• Push for the summit at 11 pm

This is a thoughtfully added day to help you get acclimatized to high altitudes. Yesterday we gained quite a bit of altitude and also entered a different terrain so you need to give your body adequate time to adjust. You can also consider this as a training day. Our team will be granting training on the usage of technical equipment. You will be taught how to walk on the snow, using crampons, handing an ice ax, and other techniques that are a must for the summit attempt on a nearby slope. This will also help you get accustomed to trekking gear like snow boots, crampons, and ice axes. Ice ax is a very important tool to maneuver across crevass-laden areas. 

Try to grasp as much as you can. In doing so, try not to exhaust yourself as next will be the summit day. The beautiful Kang Yatse Peak will stare at you throughout. Additionally, you can also go nearby for altitude gain trek. Make sure to give your body enough rest for the summit attempt. Pack your backpack for the summit day and keep it light and easy. Youll have dinner early to wake up at midnight for the last climb. Hence, try to sleep early to get enough sleep.

• Altitude: 6,250 m/ 20,500 ft
• Trek: 5 km each way | Duration: 13 hrs
• Reach the summit by 6 am
• Reach Base Camp by 11 am
• Packed breakfast and hot lunch at campsite
• Carry enough hot water

And the most exciting day rises! We will start at midnight for the summit and push to be at the top around 6 am for a glistening sunrise. Carry packed lunch, refreshments, and enough water for the strenuous climb. 

Today you will be rising from 5100 meters straight to 6200 meters. Therefore, being mentally fit is the key. The route to the summit is through the famous Kang Yatse shoulder. The trail starts with loose moraine and scree. Loose rocks make it difficult to set foot on the trail. Use a trekking pole for assistance. The trout upward has crevasses that are covered with snow most of the time. Based on the level of snowfall you have to rope up for safety. Be careful and watch every step. The route goes to the north face through the northwest ridge towards a rocky outcropping.

After a steep climb top, you will find the 360 degrees views of the Zanskar range, Karakoram peaks, and mountains surrounding Kang Yatse. You might also notice the K2 peak (the second-highest peak in the world). You may also spot the distant Tibet mountains. The views are flawlessly satisfactory and will bring back all the energy to climb down.

The entire summit path is 5 km each way. When you retrace your steps, be cautious about the scree and moraines. Make sure you return from the top by 1 pm to avoid further issues due to the weather. Come back to the base camp to rest after the exhausting summit attempt.

• Altitude: 5,200m/ 17,100ft
• Altitude gain: 100m
• Distance: 6 km, 4 hours
• Difficult level of ascent
• Cross Chak Pass 5,500m/ 18,000 ft
• Night stay in a tent (twin sharing)

As we set our sights on a new summit, we are embarking on a journey from Kang Yatze Base Camp towards Dzo Jongo Base Camp. Our departure is scheduled for the early morning to ensure we reach our destination in a timely manner. Along the trail, we will be treated to breathtaking vistas of the majestic barred mountains, as Dzo Jongo Base Camp awaits us at an impressive altitude of 5200m.

• TTH team will issue you the technical equipment
• Learn how to use technical equipment
• Briefing and planning for the summit
• Don’t exhaust your body, take rest as much as you can
• Push for the summit at 10 pm (timings may get change)

Today we will rest and accumulate our energy for the summit. Our team will issue technical equipment and also demonstrate their uses for the trek. Today you will practice using the technical equipment for the summit trek. After practising, take enough rest so that you can be ready for the summit at night.

Our team usually pushes for the summit by 10 PM so that we can reach the summit by early morning and enjoy a spectacular sunset. Gear up in the equipment youre received and get ready for the biggest climb so far, the climb to the Dz Jongo Summit.

• Altitude: 6,250 m/ 20,500 ft
• Trek 7 km each way, 11 hrs
• Reach on the summit by 5-6 am
• Reach base camp by 11 am
• Packed breakfast on the way and hot lunch at campsite
• Carry enough hot water, not many water point at the glacier (very cold)

The summit climb to the Dzo Jongo Peak is going to be long and hectic but once you make it to the summit, you will understand that all the arduous climb was worth it. It is 6 km on both sides and thus one of the longest and most challenging climbs, which only gets steeper and steeper as you climb.

The first 20 to 30 minutes of the trek involves only a fairly easy walk on the levelled ground and you arrive at your first rest point. The climb from here becomes steeper and after 40 minutes of climbing, you will arrive at the Advanced Base Camp. The trail becomes even steeper and while the trail is not technical, the snow can make the climb quite difficult.

You will spot crevasses on the way to the summit and move slowly and cautiously as the climb to the summit is very steep. You will reach the summit by 5 to 6 AM. From the summit, you can spot peaks like Kang Yatse I and II as well as the Changthang Valley mountains.

As you go through each rest point the path becomes steeper and steeper until you make it to the summit at an altitude of 6250 meters. The sunrise at such a high altitude is almost a surreal experience and one of the biggest defining moments of the trek. After enjoying the spellbinding views from the summit, we will head towards the base camp once again and reach the camp by noon. Have lunch at the campsite and rest for the remaining day at the base camp.

• Altitude: Kongmaru La: 5200 m/ 17100 ft, Chokdo: 3700 m/ 12100 ft
• Trek Distance: 14 km, 6 - 7 hrs
• The highest altitude pass crossing makes it a difficult day.
• Takes 3 - 4 hrs for Kongmaru La Pass
• A steep descent and rocky terrain offer amazing views of Indus Valley and Ladakh Range
• Drive to Leh (60 km)
• Stay in the hotel.

Our return journey starts today as we descend from Dzo Jongo Base Camp to Chokdo and cross even another high pass, the Kongmaru La Pass. The Kongmaru La Pass is located at an altitude of 5200 m and crossing the pass makes today’s trek a little difficult. From the Pass, you can enjoy stunning views of the Ladakh Range as well as the Indus Valley. The views of Indus Valley are quite different and you will spot reddish copper and basalt trails leading up the mountains. This is quite a different view as compared to earlier.

The descent from the Kongmaru La Pass is quite steep and it may require roping to descend safely. Further climbing down a rocky terrain will bring you to Chokdo and from here you will drive back to Leh which is approximately at a distance of 60 km.

Day 14

• Buffer day will be used if unable to summit due to of any unforeseen circumstances.
• Opting a buffer day will be a team decision not an individual.
• Keep a buffer day in your travel plan.
• Buffer day is not included in the cost.
• Buffer Day Cost entire group per day (Rs 30,000).
• Please make any further travel plan on Day 15.
• If buffer day is not used in the Expedition then it can be used to explore Leh.
  o Rafting in Zanskar
  o Mountain Biking
  o Motorcycle Tour
  o Khardung La visit
  o One day trip to Pangong lake
  o full day sightseeing
  o Zip line