Day 12
Tahungtse - Nimaling (4878 m/ca. 10 km/ca. 4 h)
The first pleasant, short stage of our trek awaits us today. The path leads slightly uphill through the beautiful high alpine steppe landscape of the Nimaling plateau. Here we are sure to see marmots and the mighty Himalayan Golden Eagle. After about 3 - 4 h this place is reached at about 4900 m. The imposing Kang Yatze (6400 m) with its mighty glaciated mountain flanks clearly determines the scenery. Nimaling (dt: "sun place) serves us to relax and recover. Nomads who live up here in the summer raise pashmina sheep, which are famous for their prized wool. By the way: a pashmina scarf requires around 4 kg of raw wool, for which up to 60 sheep have to be shorn.
Overnight in tents
Day 13
Nimaling – Chuskirmo (4200 m/ca. 13 km/ca. 6 h)
After crossing the Markha River, it's a nearly two-hour climb, which only gets a bit steep at the end, to the highest pass of our trek, the Kongmaru - La (5274 m). Gaining height, countless mountain ranges become visible on the horizon. On one hand we see the mountains of the Karakorum and Tibet, in the south the well-known Kang Yatze dominates over Nimaling. Cairns and prayer flags mark the top of the pass. Here we have enough time to enjoy the fascinating view and to take pictures. Then we start descending into the Martselang valley. The way to Chukirmo leads through a very narrow, bizarre gorge in which we often have to change the side of the river. Here the colors of the rock and its texture, but also the variety of plants, are completely different from those of the past few days.
Overnight in tents
Day 14
Chuskirmo - Shang Sumdo - Hemis (3650 m/ca. 7 km/ca. 3 h)
From our camp in Chuskirmo, after breakfast, we hike comfortably out of the valley to Shang Sumdo (approx. 3 h). Our jeeps are already waiting here and we drive to Hemis. Here we move into our quarters with a local family.
Overnight with locals or in tents
End of the Markha Valley Trek