Flying into the Ladakhi capital of Leh, the shapely peak of Stok Kangri (6121 m) is prominent on the southern skyline. Spending several days acclimatizing, we will visit the colorful monasteries of Shey, Thikse and Hemis before setting off on the lovely trek through the Markha Valley. Our route leads by way of several remote [...]

This wilderness trail skirts the hi-altitude Hemis National Park with its abundance of wild life and heads through far flung villages with lush green fields of barley and potato the chief crops in the region. These tiny oasis appear as welcome sights as you traverse an otherwise stark barren landscape. Far to the northwest extend [...]