6 Amazing Treks in Ladakh You Should Know Before Visiting
It is fairly said that the best view comes after the hardest climb. Ladakh is best known for its adventurous biking journey and scenic views. But the snow-covered treks in Ladakh attract thousands of visitors from all over the world. Trekking in the laps of the Himalayas gives you beautiful experiences. There are 20+ treks in Ladakh. They vary based on difficulty and duration. Whether you’re traveling with your family and kids or with your friends, Ladakh has treks that match your preferences. You can also join other people on the route for a larger group to trek. We have listed here some of the top treks to do in Ladakh. Snow Leopard Trek Chadar Trek Sham Valley Trek Markha Valley Trek Lamayuru to Chilling Trek Padum-Lamayuru Trek Ladakh is best place to find top adventurous treks in India. 1. Snow Leopard Trek The Hemis National Park is popular as the natural habitat of snow leopards. It is also home to many other animals such as Tibetan Wolves, Blue Sheep, and Ladakh urials. The Snow Leopard Trek is organized in the Hemis National Park every year in the months of February and March. Situated in eastern Ladakh and has an altitude of 3000 m. What excites them most in this track is that if you are lucky enough, you can actually spot a snow leopard! People wait hours for this chance. While some can spot leopards with their binoculars, others capture a picture with their cameras. Good point is that the probability of seeing a leopard is extremely high so you can stay calm and patient. In the end, all the waiting is absolutely worth it for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. This track is suitable for even beginners (with some extra effort) and is very popular, you can also expect many people to accompany you during the trek time. Make new friends, go on wild expeditions, and make beautiful memories on this Snow Leopard Trek. Time: 8 days Level: Moderate Max Altitude: 3955m Cost: Rs. 27000 per person Snow Leopard Trek, a shot by Santanu Misra 2. Chadar Trek Talking about the treks in Ladakh and not including Chadar Trek is next to impossible. People from all over the world come to do this trek. Walking on a frozen river is like a dream come true. There are over a hundred treks in India where you travel through mountains, caves, old forts, and valleys. But Chadar Trek is only one of its kind. Also known as Zanskar Valley Trek or the Frozen River Trek, it covers 105 km of the frozen Zanskar River. It is also one of the important reasons that people love to visit Ladakh during winters as the Chadar trek can be done only in the month of December to February. The extremely low temperatures freeze the river and it shines like a mirror. Walking over the river in as low as -15 to -25 degrees Celsius is really challenging. Not many trekkers are able to pass this test. Do not worry about the ice. It is thick enough to let you walk without cracking and is absolutely safe. So if you are daring enough and want to be the “Master of Trekking“, you must include Chadar Trek in your to-do list. Time: 9 days Level: Difficult Max Altitude: 11,123 m Cost: Rs. 19000 per person Zanskar Valley shot by Arjun Kapoor 3. Sham Valley Trek This is the shortest trek in Ladakh. It is also known as Baby Trek for its nature. It is only a 3 days trek. So even if you have a shortage of time but want to go trekking, you can surely join this. This trek can be done during any time of the year. Located in the Sham region of Ladakh, the Sham Valley trek is a 27 km long trek. But do not let the name misguide you. It can be tiring due to the high altitude. You can stay in local village homestays to experience regional life. You can visit the famous monasteries of Rimzong, Likir, Temisgam, and Alchi. For a beginner, this trek is best to begin. Time: 2-3 days Level: Easy Max Altitude: 3874 m Cost: Rs. 15000 per person (max.) 4. Markha Valley Trek Markha Valley Trek is one of the most popular treks in Ladakh. It runs parallel to the Indus Valley. Since it is located in the Hemis National Park, you can spot some wild animals during the trek as well but it does not hamper the security of either visitors or animals. You will witness breathtaking mountain scenes and some isolated villages en route. You can stay in the homestays in these villages and experience the local life. It is also known as “Tea House Trek”. You will find plenty of options to stay in parachute tents during the journey. It is in proximity to Leh. Anyone arriving in Leh Ladakh via flight, which is connected to metropolitan cities, can directly start their journey at the Markha trek. The trek involves river crossing and crossing the high pass Kongmaru La. The Markha and Hankar villages are a rare sight. While Markha is one of the largest villages on the trek, Hankar is an isolated beauty. The lush green villages in the high-altitude desert attract trekkers to spend a day peacefully in these villages. You can reach me here from Sptiuk or Chilling. However, the route via Spituk is a longer one. It crosses 2 passes, Ganda La and Kongmaru La. If you do not have enough time and want to avoid Ganda La Pass, you can opt for the Chilling route. Go from either of the two but we promise that you will not be comprising on the adventure. Time: 6-8 days Level: Moderate to Difficult Max Altitude: 5260m Cost: Rs. 19000 per person Beautiful
