Leh Residency
Hotel
Days 1, 2
Markha Valley Homestay Trek - 7 Days (Leh, Chilling, Skiu, Hankar & Nimaling)
Seven days across Ladakh to a 5,150 m pass, sleeping in villages. Seven days with both Leh acclimatisation days, a lead per eight and homestays booked ahead so nobody is turned away at dusk.
Kestrel High Routes
Runs this trip
Trekking
Seven days across Ladakh to a 5,150 m pass, sleeping in villages
Group Tour
Join a fixed-date departure with other travellers
Top Highlights
Leh Main BazaarNinety minutes from sea level to 3,500 m. Thiksey MonasteryTwo nights at Leh before walking. Zanskar confluenceHomestays the whole way on this trek, which is unusual and is what keeps the money in the valley. Markha villageTwo river crossings, thigh-deep by afternoon. Hankar fortNimaling is summer pasture at 4,700 m with Kang Yatse, 6,400 m, directly above the camp. Kongmaru LaThe descent off Kongmaru La is 1,450 m through a narrow gorge with more river crossings. Back to LehBack in Leh by lunch.
Itinerary
Ninety minutes from sea level to 3,500 m. The whole day is the acclimatisation.
LehHow the day runs
- Fly in, rest, drink water. Nothing else.
- MealsDinner
- AccommodationLeh Residency
Included Activities
- Airport pickup
- Guesthouse night
- Oximeter baseline
LANDMARKS Leh Main Bazaar Shanti Stupa Start point Leh, Leh, Ladakh 06:00 - 12:00Two nights at Leh before walking. Every reputable operator here builds them in.
LehHow the day runs
- 2 hrs9:00 AM — Thiksey and Shey, then back
- MealsBreakfast, Dinner
- AccommodationLeh Residency
Included Activities
- Guesthouse night
- Monastery entries
- Kit check
LANDMARKS Thiksey Monastery Shey Palace Sangam Homestays the whole way on this trek, which is unusual and is what keeps the money in the valley.
Leh, Chilling, SkiuHow the day runs
- 3 hrs8:00 AM — down the Indus, then up the Zanskar
- 3 hrs11:30 AM — the gorge walk to Skiu
- MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- AccommodationSkiu Retreat
Included Activities
- Transport to Chilling
- Homestay night
- All meals
LANDMARKS Zanskar confluence Skiu Kaya ruins Two river crossings, thigh-deep by afternoon. Cross early and carry sandals.
Skiu, MarkhaHow the day runs
- 7 hrs7:30 AM — up the valley floor, crossing the river twice
- MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- AccommodationMarkha Lodge
Included Activities
- Homestay night
- All meals
LANDMARKS Markha village Markha river Chalak Nimaling is summer pasture at 4,700 m with Kang Yatse, 6,400 m, directly above the camp.
Markha, Hankar, NimalingHow the day runs
- 4 hrs7:00 AM — past the old fort at Hankar
- 4 hrs12:30 PM — up to the high pasture
- MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- AccommodationNimaling House
Included Activities
- Tented camp at Nimaling
- All meals
LANDMARKS Hankar fort Kang Yatse Nimaling plateau The descent off Kongmaru La is 1,450 m through a narrow gorge with more river crossings.
Nimaling, Kongmaru La, Shang SumdoHow the day runs
- 3 hrs6:00 AM — up to the pass at 5,150 m
- 5 hrs9:00 AM — down the gorge to the road
- MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- AccommodationShang Sumdo Retreat
Included Activities
- Homestay or camp at Shang Sumdo
- All meals
LANDMARKS Kongmaru La Chuskirmo gorge Shang Sumdo Back in Leh by lunch. Fly out the next morning, not this one.
Shang Sumdo, LehHow the day runs
- 2 hrs9:00 AM — back to town
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationNot included — onward travel
Included Activities
- Transport to Leh
- Guesthouse night
- Day 1Airport pickup
- Day 1Guesthouse night
- Day 1Oximeter baseline
- Day 2Monastery entries
- Day 2Kit check
- Day 3Transport to Chilling
- Day 3Homestay night
- Day 3All meals
- Day 5Tented camp at Nimaling
- Day 6Homestay or camp at Shang Sumdo
- Day 7Transport to Leh
- Day 1 · 2 nightsLeh Residency
- Day 3 · 1 nightSkiu Retreat
- Day 4 · 1 nightMarkha Lodge
- Day 5 · 1 nightNimaling House
- Day 6 · 1 nightShang Sumdo Retreat
- Day 2Leh to Leh9:00 AM — Thiksey and Shey, then back
- Day 3Leh to Chilling8:00 AM — down the Indus, then up the Zanskar
- Day 7Shang Sumdo to Leh9:00 AM — back to town
Where you'll stay
All accommodations are subject to change
Skiu Retreat
Hotel
Day 3
Markha Lodge
Lodge
Day 4
Nimaling House
Hotel
Day 5
Shang Sumdo Retreat
Hotel
Day 6
What you'll eat
6 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 6 dinners across 7 days, at camp. It opens with dinner on day 1 and closes with breakfast on day 7.
- DinnerServed on days 1–6
- BreakfastServed on days 2–7
- LunchServed on days 3–6
16 meal services named in the itinerary. Vegetarian and vegan covered; Jain, gluten-free and allergies on notice at booking
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Customer reviews
Overall rating
4.7/5
Based on 20 reviews
Review summary
Food4.6/5
Guide4.4/5
Itinerary4.5/5
Transport4.6/5
Accommodation4.4/5
Tour operator4.5/5
Sort by:Recommended
5
O
Owen Clarke – Dubai2026-01-30 · Verified booking
Second trek with this operator and they've kept the standard up. Rooms were comfortable and the locations meant we could walk most evenings. Simple food, well made, and enough of it. Would book with them again.
Reply from Kestrel High Routes
Appreciate the honest feedback; we're looking at the pacing on that section.
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5
A
Ananya Gupta – Hyderabad2026-01-30 · Verified booking
The route is beautiful and the pacing was sensible — nobody was rushed on the climb. No complaints about any of the hotels — all of them well placed. The team read the group well and adjusted without making a thing of it. Would book with them again.
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5
M
Meera Iyer – Chennai2026-01-30 · Verified booking
The route is beautiful and the pacing was sensible — nobody was rushed on the climb. Accommodation was a notch better than the price suggested. The lead was calm and knew when to slow the group down. Would book with them again.
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5
S
Sofia Marchetti – Toronto2026-01-30 · Verified booking
Ladakh in the right season is something else, and the team knew exactly where to camp. Whoever planned the days knew what they were doing.
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4
N
Nikhil Joshi – Chandigarh2025-10-25 · Verified booking
The route is beautiful and the pacing was sensible — nobody was rushed on the climb. Would send friends their way.
Reply from Kestrel High Routes
Glad you enjoyed it. Hope to see you on another trip.
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4
V
Vikram Bose – Mumbai2025-10-25 · Verified booking
Did this over 7 days and it was the best walking I've done in years.
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4
F
Farah Qureshi – Ahmedabad2025-10-25 · Verified booking
Well organised from the pickup onwards. The daily distances were honest about what they'd be. Recommended.
Reply from Kestrel High Routes
Glad you enjoyed it. Hope to see you on another trip.
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5
Y
Yuki Tanaka – Toronto2025-10-25 · Verified booking
The route is beautiful and the pacing was sensible — nobody was rushed on the climb. No complaints about any of the hotels — all of them well placed. Guides answered every question, including the daft ones. Worth every rupee.
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Questions people ask
One other operator runs this trail. See all 2 side by side →