Trekking in Northern India in 20 Photos
Visiting India had never been on my travel wish list – mostly on account of the noise, the huge population, and the sheer amount of effort just to get there. But then I thought back to a film I saw over a decade ago at the Best of Banff Film Festival on Zanskar. It alone was responsible for my overwhelming desire to go trekking in northern India.
The film showcased a teacher from the west living in a remote village in northern India’s Zanskar region, basically cut off from civilization, especially in the winter when traveling on the frozen Zanskar River was the only way to get around.
The mind-blowing mountain scenery stayed with me for over a decade. And then I found a company that did exactly the Zanskar trekking tour in northern India I was after.
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Trekking in northern India – planning the trek
A big birthday was the impetus for planning the trip to the Zanskar region. The images from the film came to mind and so I began my search for a tour company that offered a trek. There are a lot of companies that offer the Markha Valley trek, but I wanted something longer, especially if we were going to be traveling that far.
After a lot of research my husband and chose World Expeditions – largely because they run the most comprehensive tour in the area. We ended up on a trip that involved trekking for 16 days at altitudes up to 5,100 m (16,732 feet.)
The landscape that we trekked through from the turnoff on the main highway near the Lamayuru Monastery several hours west of Leh to the finale, a campsite at the end of Markha Valley, was nothing short of spectacular, even overworldly at times.
Read: Places to Visit in Leh if You Have 48 Hours
These 20 photos will merely give you a taste of what it’s like to go trekking in northern India.
Would you do a trekking trip in Zanskar?
It was always beautiful, often dusty and very tough going at times because of the altitude, some long days of hiking and plenty of tent time.
You really need to go to prepared mentally and physically. A huge thank you to all the congenial, hardworking staff on the ground – including the three horseman, the three cooks/assistant cooks/do anything that needs doing fellows and to our two guides.
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Hi Leigh,
I’m just wondering what time of year you did this trek? I’m planning on heading to Leh around the end of September this year and I was hoping to do this trek. Any advice traveling to that area around that time of year would be great. Beautiful pictures!
Cheers,
Jocelyn
Hi Jocelyn,
We did the trek in September. It was a spectacular time to visit. But be warned it can be cold at night. Quite the temperature range. One of the best we’ve done!
Absolutely spectacular scenery! Amazing! What an adventure! Thank you so much for sharing this Leigh! I had no idea it was so beautiful there. Awesome pictures too! Just WOW!
@Mario Glad you’ve checked out my blog. It’s certainly a part of the world that sees very few visitors.
Wow! This area looks just amazing and your pictures are beautiful!
@Cindy It is an amazing landscape – and thank you.
These photos are jaw-dropping. I look forward to reading more about this unique adventure that I hope is not still lingering on my bucket list when I kick the bucket!
@Suzanne Northern India is a unique, beautiful, magical destination and these photos really just scratch the surface. The Markha Valley which we hiked for three days is an easier trek and more well traveled but it was the remote part of the trip that was really special.
Wow, I’m very impressed by these pictures. Glad to see there are still wild and untouched places on our planet.
@Steffi Over 18 days there was only one place you could phone out on a land line and there is no cell coverage. SAT phones are forbidden in India so you sure need to go prepared. I love the wild places!