‘I see my path, but I don’t know where it leads. Not knowing where I’m going is what inspires me to travel it.” – Rosalia de Castro
The Himalayan region of Ladakh can be a haven for travelers seeking adventure and not to mention the astounding visuals. Adventure camping in Ladakh can be a thrilling experience.
Ladakh offers all kinds of trekking experiences for beginners and avid trekkers both. Here are a few treks that might tickle your adventurous bone:
1. Markha Valley Trek
Best time: end of April to beginning of October
Duration: 6 to 8 days
Difficulty: level 3
Max altitude: 5260m
Known to be the most popular trek in Ladakh, the Markha valley trek is in the Hemis National Park. Wedged between the snow-clad Stok Kangri massif to the Zanskar range, the Markha valley runs parallel with the Indus valley. This trek can be reached by two different routes: one from Spituk and the other from Chilling. After passing Ganda La and Kongmaru la, it ends in Hemis. During this trek, you will catch site of breathtaking mountain scenery and wild fauna. The isolated villages offer Homestays to experience the lives of the locals. This is an experience worth a try.
2. Rumtse to Tso Moriri Trek
Best time: mid-June to mid-October
Duration: 7 days
Difficulty: level 4
Max altitude: 5435m
This trek is most preferred by individuals looking for impressive landscapes. It is one of the most beautiful and wild treks in Ladakh. This trek travels through the high-altitude plateau of Changthang and goes quickly to high altitude. Therefore, it is important to be well-acquainted to the altitudes before starting this trek. Ladakh is a cold desert. Still it has some beautiful lakes to offer like the Tso Moriri lake where this trek comes to an end. If you are lucky, you may meet the Changpa nomads and be invited to sip a cup of butter tea.
3. Snow Leopard Lake
Best time: March
Duration: 8 days
Difficulty: level 2
Max altitude: 3956m
Ladakh shelters one of the rarest wild cats in the world: the snow leopard. This trek is held in the Hemis National Park which is a home to several wild animals, including the majestic snow leopard, Tibetan wolves, Asiatic ibex to name a few.
Spotting the snow leopard in challenging temperatures requires patience. But again, which wild expedition doesn’t test your patience?
4. Chadar Frozen River Lake
Best time: January and February
Duration: 9 days
Difficulty: level 3
This famous trek has been covered in numerous documentaries, a famous on is BBC’s 2011 series, “Human Planet”. The trek is all about persistence and survival. The temperature range is around -5 to -25 degrees throughout the day. It is popularly called the ‘Do before you die’ journey and you’ll know why!
5.Stok Kangri climb
Best time: mid-June to end of September
Duration: 4 to 6 days
Difficulty: level 5
Max altitude: 6153m
This trek will make you use crampons, axe, rope in short, all your mountaineering gears. The guide will provide a short introductory course on the equipment usages. This climb is hard on your body and mind, but reaching the summit and envisioning the incredible view will make it all worth it. This trek can also combine with the Markha trek.
Ladakh treks are friendly for solo and small group travellers, couples and families traveling with kids. On His Own Trip also makes customized Ladakh tour packages for couples. You can check out Ladakh tour packages on our website. Let’s get Leh’d!