Top 15 Places for Trekking in Ladakh

Trekking in Ladakh is an incredible experience. With its barren landscapes, towering mountains, and pristine lakes, it is no wonder that Ladakh is a popular destination for trekkers. There are many different treks to choose from in Ladakh, ranging from easy day hikes to multi-day expeditions. To help you choose the right trek for you, here are 15 of the best treks in Ladakh.

Chadar Trek

The Chadar Trek is one of the most popular treks in Ladakh. It is a challenging trek that takes you through the Zanskar Valley, with its frozen river and imposing cliffs. The trek is only possible to do in winter when the river is frozen over.

• Difficulty: Difficult
• Duration: 5 to 9 days
• Trek type: Frozen
• Max altitude: 11,123 feet

Markha Valley Trek

The Markha Valley Trek is a classic Ladakh trek. It takes you through the Markha Valley, past several villages, and through some stunning sceneries. The trek can be done in summer or winter. The Markha valley trek is one of the most popular treks in Ladakh. It is a moderate to strenuous trek that takes you through some of the most stunning sceneries in the region.

The trek starts from the village of Spituk and takes you through the Markha valley, past glaciers, and alpine meadows. You will also get to see some of the traditional Ladakhi villages along the way. The trek takes around 7-9 days to complete and is a great way to see the best of Ladakh.

• Difficulty: Moderate – Difficult
• Duration: 6 to 12 days
• Max altitude: 17,060 feet

Snow Leopard Trek

The Snow Leopard Trek is a wildlife trek in the Hemis National Park. The park is home to the endangered Snow Leopard, as well as many other animals such as the Tibetan Wolf, Red Fox, and Blue Sheep. The trek takes you through some of the best wildlife habitats in Ladakh.

Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Duration: 7 to 10 days
Max altitude: 19,850 Feet

Nubra Valley Trek

The Nubra Valley Trek is a trek through the Nubra Valley, one of the most beautiful regions of Ladakh. The trek takes you through the valley, past the villages of Sumda and Khardung, and to the Khardung La, the highest motorable road in the world.

• Difficulty: Difficult
• Duration: 5 to 10 days
• Max altitude:18,380 feet

Lamayuru to Alchi Trek

The Lamayuru to Alchi Trek is a trek that takes you from the highlands of Lamayuru to the lowlands of Alchi. The trek is a beautiful one, with views of the mountains, rivers, and villages of Ladakh.

Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
Duration: 5 to 8 days
Max altitude:5236m

Tso Moriri Trek

The Tso Moriri Trek is a trek to the Tso Moriri, a beautiful high-altitude lake in the Changthang region of Ladakh. The trek is a challenging one, but the views of the lake and the surrounding mountains are well worth the effort.

• Difficulty: Difficult
• Duration: 7 to 11 days
• Max altitude: 17,840 feet

Stok Kangri Climb

This Stok Kangri Peak can be the perfect target for your first Himalayan climbing experience, and for those looking to break the 6000-meter barrier. Although climbing to the top is not technical, climbers should still use most of the climbing equipment such as crampons, axes, ropes, etc.

This Stok Kangri expedition could be taxing on your body and soul, but you will surely realize its true worth when you reach the top, and take in the awe-inspiring views of the surrounding mountains. The expedition can start from Stok or Spituk, or it can be combined with a Markha hike.

• Difficulty: Difficult
• Duration: 4 to 9 days
• Max altitude: 20180 feet

Spituk to Stok Trek

This Spituk to Stok trek is for all those adventureholics, who are short on time but want to experience a beautiful trip in Ladakh for three days. Get off to a great start on your hike with a stop at the Spituk Monastery, which is an 11th-century monastery belonging to the Gelugpa sect. After crossing the Indus River, you will reach Zingchen, from where a 2-hour walk will bring you to Rumbak. This happens to be a beautiful village with whitewashed houses that are surrounded by barley and mustard fields.

You can also stay here with a host family in this village. After spending the night at Rumbak, you can ascend to the top of Stok La Pass, from where; you will get a spectacular view of the colorful snow clad mountains. The winding way down to the village of Stok will leave you with some unforgettable memories.

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Duration: 3 to 6 days
• Max altitude:4855m

Sham Valley Trek

Often referred to as the “Baby Trek” due to the easy nature of the trek, it is certain that the Sham Valley Trek offers stunning views for hikers. If you’re looking for an easy, kid-friendly hike, this is the address for you. It never exceeds 4000 meters and can be done all year round.

The trek passes through several small villages where one can sleep the night over with the locals, and relish their authentic local dishes prepared by the local families there. You can visit some of the ancient and famous monasteries in Likir, Basgo, Temisgam, Rizong, and Alcohol during your trekking tour or after it.

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Duration:3 to 8 days
• Max altitude:3874m

Lamayuru to Alchi Trek

The western Ladakh region is famous not only for its age-old monasteries but also for the trekking route from Lamayuru to Alchi. This 5-day trek has been dotted with 2 challenging passes, which are the Kongka La (i.e. at 4948 meters) and the Stakspi La (which is at 5153 meters), and will push your limits to the max, but you’ll be awarded by spectacular mountain scenery.

One can spend the nights at the homestays in the remote villages here if one needs to experience the local culture up close. One can also visit the monasteries before or after the trekking tour.

• Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
• Duration: 5 to 8 days
• Max altitude: 5236m

Spituk to Lamayuru Trek

The Spituk to Lamayuru Trek is a trek that takes you from Spituk, on the outskirts of Leh, to Lamayuru, one of the most beautiful villages in Ladakh. The trek is a challenging one, but the views of the mountains and the villages of Ladakh are well worth the effort. The Spituk to Lamayuru Trek begins in Spituk, a small village on the outskirts of Leh.

Spituk is a popular tourist destination and is home to the Spituk Gompa, a Buddhist monastery. The trek then winds its way through the mountains, passing through the villages of Stok, Matho, and Yurutse, before reaching Lamayuru. Lamayuru is a beautiful village and is home to the Lamayuru Gompa, a Buddhist monastery that is said to be over 1,000 years old. The Spituk to Lamayuru trek is a moderate trek and is suitable for hikers of all levels of experience.

The trek is about 50 kilometers long and takes 3-4 days to complete. The trek is mostly downhill, with a few short uphill sections. The trail is well-marked and easy to follow. The trek is mostly on dirt trails, but there are a few sections where the trail is rocky. There is a moderate amount of elevation gain and loss throughout the trek. The highest point on the trek is at 4,650 meters.

• Difficulty: Easy
• Duration: 3 to 11 days
• Max altitude:4855m

Zanskar Trek from Padum to Lamayuru in Ladakh

Zanskar is a remote region of Ladakh, and therein, its beauty lies. This ten-day Padum to Lamayuru trip is the best one in Zanskar, including ancient monasteries, beautiful &small villages, and picturesque views of the Zanskar range. Before embarking on your trip, you can visit the famous Phuktal Monastery, which happens to be an isolated monastery in Zanskar built in the fifteenth century.

Zanskar has landscapes of incomparable beauty, colorful mountains, and hills. And distinctive cultures for hikers to explore. The road is dotted with 3 major passes: Hanuma La (which is at 4724 meters), Singge La (which is at 5009 meters), and Sirsir La (that is at 4832 meters).

• Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
• Duration: 10 to 19 days
• Max altitude:5009m

Jhunglam Hemis to Padum Trek

This trek crosses the beautiful Hemis Monastery and Latza Kongmaru. After that, passes through Zalung Karpo La, Tilat Sumdo, Zangla Sumdo, and culminates at Padum.

• Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
• Duration:10 to 12 days
• Max altitude:5260m

Rumtse to Tso Moriri Trek

One of the most popular treks in Ladakh is the Rumtse to Tso Moriri trek. The trek takes you through some of the most beautiful landscapes in Ladakh, including the stunning Tso Moriri Lake. The trek is relatively easy and can be completed in just a few days. However, it is important to be prepared for the high altitude and cold weather.

• Difficulty: Difficult
• Duration: 7 to 11 days
• Max altitude:5435m

Kang Yatse II Trek

The Kang Yatse Twin Peaks (Peak I and Peak II) are the most prominent massifs in the middle of the stunning Markha Valley in the Ladakh region. The western one and the lower one of the 2 peaks, i.e. Kang Yatse II Peak (6250 meters / 20500 feet), has a relatively easier peak (Alpine PD, which can be done with little difficulty) than the higher one. This is a possible summit for the trekkers as well as for the hikers because there is no requirement of knowing any technical climbing skills.

There’s also a hike back to the base camp while you acclimate. Indeed, this is a double payout for you, if you already have a good experience of hiking at a good height with excellent fitness. Here you get the best of the both worlds, explore a beautiful valley in Ladakh, and also peak over 20,000 feet / 6,000 meters. You’ll learn why it’s one of the most scenic hikes to the summit, ignoring the technical elements. (Difficulty level is six and trek duration is nine days)

• Difficulty: Difficult
• Duration: 11 to 13 days
• Max altitude: 20500 feet

Tips to Trek in Ladakh

If you are planning on doing the trek in Ladakh, here are a few tips to help you prepare. Following these tips will help you have a great experience on the treks in Ladakh.

• Pack warm clothing: The weather in Ladakh can be very cold, even in summer. Make sure you pack plenty of warm layers, including a coat, gloves, and a hat.
• Train for the altitude: Ladakh is a high altitude region and the air is much thinner than at sea level. This can make it difficult to breathe, so it is important to train your body before attempting the trek.
• Acclimatize to the altitude: It is also important to spend a few days acclimatizing to the altitude before starting the trek. This can be done by spending time in Leh, the capital of Ladakh.
• Bring enough food and water: There are few shops along the trek, so make sure you bring enough food and water for the entire journey.
• Be prepared for the cold: The temperature can drop below freezing at night, so make sure you have a good sleeping bag and warm clothing.