Markha Valley Winter Trek

Moderate

Markha Valley Winter Trek

BRS 4
Max Altitude
Ladakh
10 Days
63 Km
Max 15
25300 + 5% GST
Leh to Leh

Add ons




Brief Description

Grade:Moderate
Location: Ladakh
Altitude:4050 m
Duration:10 Days

In the winter world of trekking, Markha Valley is an unconventional trek to explore. Not only is it ideal for people who want to experience the Chadar Trek without going on the Chadar Trek, but Markha Valley is also a winter wonderland with distinct topography and captivating sceneries that give you a total offbeat experience.  

The millennial term for this marvel is Chadar 2.0. Almost half of the valley's landscape is covered with the frozen Markha river and the other half is composed of the dry and picturesque ranges of Ladakh.

Markha river is a tributary of the main Zanskar river. During winters, the river freezes, and the glistening white streams extend like frozen branches towards several quaint villages like Chilling, Skiu, Sara, Markha, and Hunkar. The humbling part of this 10-day trek is staying in cozy homestays immersed in the fascinating world of Ladakhi culture.

The winter ecosystem of this place comprises exotic vistas, extensive valleys, enriching culture, rare flora and fauna making it an ideal place for trekkers, travelers, and nature lovers alike.

This magnificent winter wonderland falls within the boundaries of the Hemis National Park. During the trek, if we are lucky, we will witness some exotic birds like the Eurasian magpie, whitecap redstart, and chukar partridge. Herds of Himalayan blue sheep cross our path every now and then. Keep your cameras ready to freeze the nimble sheep in your frame. The fascinating element of the frozen river is that you can slide, skate and even dance on it. It does not require any special gears to navigate it. Some of the other interesting elements here are the ancient monasteries, old wooden bridges, sharp brown peaks, and serene stupas. The main attraction here is the view of the mighty peaks Kang Yatse 1 (6,400M) and Kang Yatse 2 (6,250M). To get a comprehensive idea of the attractions of this place, check Highlights of the Markha Valley Winter Trek

The ideal time to do this trek is from January to March.  Though the terrain and trails of Markha Valley are fairly easy with a moderate gradient, one has to walk for a distance of 10 km every day. For a beginner, this could be extremely strenuous. The main challenge here is facing sub-zero temperatures. During the daytime, it falls to -15 degrees and at night, it tends to drop further down to -25. In campsites like Hunkar, the winds amplify the chillness to -35 degrees. To understand the challenges of the trek and the nature of the trail, check Who is this trek meant for?

If you are a winter lover, then Markha Valley Winter Trek is the perfect match for you. Scroll down to get more information about the trek like itinerary, blogs, policies, etc.


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Brief Itinerary

Arrive at Leh (3,500M)
Acclimatization at Leh (3,500M)
Leh (3,500M) to Chilling (3,400M) to Skiu (3,400M)
Skiu (3,500M) to Sara (3,500M)
Sara (3,500M) to Markha (3,700M)
Markha (3,700M) to Lower Hunkar (4,000M)
Lower Hunkar (4,000M) to Upper Hunkar (4,050M) to Markha (3,700M)
Markha (3,700M) to Sara (3,500M)
Sara to Leh (3,500M) via Skiu (3,400M) & Chilling (3,400M)
Departure from Leh

Detailed Itinerary


Day 1

Arrive at Leh (3,500M)

Leh is the center for many popular treks like Stok Kangri, Kang Yatse, Spituk, Chadar, and Markha Valley. Once you reach Kushok Bakula Rimpochee airport, there are shared cabs outside to reach Leh market. You can find affordable homestays, hostels, and hotels there. The distance from the Airport to Leh market is 4 km and the fare for the cab is around INR 100. If you have opted for accommodation from Bikat Adventures, then the location for your accommodation will be shared with you before your arrival.

The first day is meant for rest. Being at an altitude of 3,500M, the oxygen level at Leh is much lower and the temperature by day is around -15 degrees which drops further to -20 by night. In the beginning, you might feel dizzy and find it hard to breathe. So instead of exerting your body, try to relax and rest.

Day 2

Acclimatization at Leh (3,500M)

Day 2 plays a major role in making your body adapt to the high altitude and temperature. This day is specifically set to explore the local market and nearby hot spots within and around the city. A simple walk or hike can regulate your oxygen level and make it ready for the journey ahead.

Leh market area consists of several novel cafes, iconic restaurants, woolen shops, army general stores, and gift shops. The flea markets are the ideal spot to get some souvenirs and authentic Ladakhi merchandise. If you opt for sightseeing then you can visit the Leh palace and the monastery right next to the market.

Day 3

Leh (3,500M) to Chilling (3,400M) to Skiu (3,400M)

Distance: 60 km to Chilling + 5 km to Skiu

Duration: 2 hour drive + 3 hour trek

Drive to Chilling

The trail to Markha Valley trek begins from Chilling village. Around 9 AM, a camper or a cab is ready near Pologround to pick us up from our accommodation. The drive from Leh to Chilling is a pleasant one with astounding scenery. It is about 60 km and takes close to 2 hours to reach by road.

A few minutes into the drive, we come out of the market area and enter the highway. The highway holds panoramic views of the crystal white Stok Range on the left-hand side of the road and stunning views of cityscape on the right. As soon as the views fade, we gain elevation and arrive at our first pit stop, the Magnetic Hill. The road from the magnetic hill joins the beautiful Sangam – the confluence points of Zanskar and Indus rivers. Sangam is our second pit stop. We wait at Sangam for a few minutes and then resume our journey. The road from the Sangam point turns right and joins Chilling through a big iron bridge. As soon as we enter Chilling valley, we enter the territory of Hemis National Park.

After a drive of 10 more minutes through sharp bends inside the Chilling village, we stop at the starting point of the trail.

Chilling to Skiu

The trail from Chilling to Skiu is flat without any ascents or descents. For the first two kilometers, we walk alongside the lush farmlands of Chilling. Look to your right and you will notice the tall poplar trees arranged in a fence-like fashion to guard the crops against yaks and horses. Once we cover a distance of 5 km (roughly 3 hours), the track narrows down to open into an expanse with sweeping views of the Ladakh range. That is Skiu, our campsite for the day.

Day 4

Skiu (3,500M) to Sara (3,500M)

Distance: 10 km

Duration: 6 hours

The gradient for today is easy with minor ascents and descents. There are plenty of water sources throughout the day. For the first 2 km, we walk on well-paved pathways made by the villagers. There are puddles of frozen water all along the trail. Keep your eyes peeled for some exotic Himalayan birds like the Eurasian magpie and white cap red star along the trail. When you come across areas with dense shrubs and vegetation, look out for the nimble blue sheep. They are experts in climbing steep and inclined surfaces. When the tracks get wider, and a vast horizon emerges, we would have crossed a distance of 5 km in 2 hours. This is when we spot an age-old wooden bridge that takes us to the other side of the stream.

The trails from the bridge expand into a boundless area as we walk on dried-up grey sand and colorful pebbles of the Markha river. This stretch continues for another 4 km and leads us towards Sara village. The skeleton structures onhandmade wooden houses are a fascinating feature to look out for as soon as we enter Sara. As we walk past the houses and cover a distance of 1 km, we find an open area with a view of the Markha range. This is our campsite.

Day 5

Sara (3,500M) to Markha (3,700M)

Distance: 10 km

Duration: 6-7 hours

Today we leave the campsite at around 9 AM. About 2 km into the boulder-covered trails, we come across the calming Mani walls which are small, spiritual structures built by stacking up holy stones with prayers written on each one. Locals believe that people have to cross the tomb on the right-hand side for good luck. We continue to walk and ascend for another 2 km and enter into the quaint little village of Chalak, a barely populated settlement with small houses and half-built structures.

As we gradually descend from Chalak, the nature of the trail becomes fun. We walk on a huge section of the frozen river. The ice stretch spans over a distance of 4 km and directly leads us to the Markha bridge. The bridge is connected to a flattrail that leads us to Markha village. Markha village is one of the iconic spots of the valley. It has a lot of cultural significance and is rich in spiritual tales from the past. If you get some extra time, do interact with the villagers to learn more about their culture and the way they live. About 500 meters into the village, is our campsite for the day.

In Markha village, the temperature drops to -25 to -30 degrees at night because of strong downhill winds. A 4 type layering is required to keep warm.

Day 6

Markha (3,700M) to Lower Hunkar (4,000M)

Distance: 10 km

Duration: 7 Hours

We start trekking at 9 AM. The path towards Hunkar is a bit rougher and wider as compared to the other days. Though the gradient is flat, seventy percent of the trail is covered with rocks and boulders which add to the complexity of the trek today.

In the initial 2 km of the journey, we walk through a desolate landscape which bears a strong resemblance to the Wild West films of Hollywood. If you look carefully, you see the shades of brown smeared across the body of huge mountains. When the wide trails narrow down and gain elevation, we begin to see the sacred flags of the Tacha monastery.

The trail from Tacha is completely engulfed by the small golden-brown peaks of the Markha range on both sides. Most of the peaks have a sharp pointed top connected to other mountains. Together they create a colossal spike range. As we progress through the valley, we get our first glimpse of both Kang Yatse 1 and Kang Yatse 2 peaks. They stay with us for a few hours until the valley gets wider and the trails land on a frozen section after 7 km. The joy of walking on the frozen section has a way of absorbing all the pain and stress from the strenuous trek up until now. This ice stretch continues for 2 km. All we have to do is slide our way to the entry point of lower Hunkar village.

According to the winter route map, Hunkar is the last village where we stay for the night. The lower portion of the village with a few stone houses is called lower Hunkar and the higher ground with a monastery is named upper Hunkar.  We set our camps or settle in a homestay at lower Hunkar.

Day 7

Lower Hunkar (4,000M) to Upper Hunkar (4,050M) to Markha (3,700M)

Distance: 2 km (to Upper Hunkar) + 12 km (to Markha village)

Duration: 1 Hour (to Upper Hunkar) + 6 hours (to Markha)

Today is the main day of the trek. The gradient of the trail is moderate with steep ascents for 2 km and easy with a flat trail of 10 km afterwards. We start trekking at 7 AM towards upper Hunkar. The path from lower Hunkar to upper Hunkar is a short fascinating 40-degree ascent. After a strenuous hike of 30-40 minutes, we finally arrive at the vantage point and get a panoramic view of the magnificent peaks Kang Yatse 1 and a subtle hint of Kang Yatse 2 behind it.

Post a successful summit, we head back directly to Markha village and settle in for the day.

Day 8

Markha (3,700M) to Sara (3,500M)

Distance: 10 km

Duration: 6 hours

Today we retrace our way back to the campsite at Sara.

Day 9

Sara to Leh (3,500M) via Skiu (3,400M) & Chilling (3,400M)

Distance: 14-15 Km

Duration: 7-8 Hours

Today is the last day of the trek; we head back to Chilling through Skiu. A vehicle waits at Chilling to pick us up and drop us back to our hotel in Leh.

Day 10

Departure from Leh

You can check out of the hotel at 10 AM and start your return journey. If you plan to stay for a few more days and explore the wonders of Ladakh, then this article will help you start off on what places to consider – Places that you must visit in Leh Ladakh.

What's Included

  • Camping/Homestay during the trek
  • Trek Meals (Starting Lunch on Day 3 till Breakfast on Day 9)
  • Gaiter, Micro-spikes, and Helmet as required
  • Trek Permissions Fee, if any (Upto the amount charged for Indian nationals)
  • First aid medical kit including oxygen cylinder
  • Experienced Guide and Support staff
  • Transport from Leh to Road head and return
  • Hotel/Guest House Stays in Leh (Day 1,2 & 9)
  • Mountaineering course certified Trek Leader with First Aid certification

What's Not Included

  • Meals in Leh
  • Meals during road Journeys
  • Any kind of personal expenses
  • Any kind of Insurance
  • Mules or porter to carry personal luggage
  • Anything not specifically mentioned under the head Inclusions
  • Inner Line Permit Fee
  • Altoa & Environmental / Wildlife Permit Fee. Approx Charge 6k to 8k to be paid on the spot to the authorities

Are you Eligible for this Adventure?

Moderate
4050 m
63 km

BRS Level Required

BRS 4

Markha Valley Winter Trek is a level 4 adventure on the Bikat Rating Scale.

Packing List

Frequently Asked Questions



Markha Valley Winter Trek is suitable for trekkers with prior experience, having completed at least one BRS 3 level trek or equivalent.

If you can Jog/Run for 4 kms in 30-35 mins, you are ready to take on this trek. Once a week, you can practice running 8 kms in an hour or so to improve your endurance further. In addition to this, you can also add resistance workouts to your schedule like squats, lunges, push ups etc.

If you cannot do the above, there’s no need to worry. It is important to remember that it’s all about practice. Get on a training schedule and we can assure you that you will meet these standards in a matter of a few months.

A certain level of fitness and physical endurance are required to take on any high-altitude trail in the Himalayas. Basic knowledge about pitching a tent, ascending and descending on steep gradients, how to use a sleeping bag, toilet tents, sleeping tents, and mountain mannerisms will be helpful.

The minimum age limit is 13 years. However, minors between 13 to 17 years of age should be accompanied by their parents/ guardians. If you are above the age of 60, kindly carry a medical certificate from your doctor that deems you fit for adventure activities like trekking.


The Markha Valley winter trek is located in the Leh region of Jammu and Kashmir. The trail to Markha Valley trek begins from Chilling village.

With its proximity to Leh, Markha Valley is a prominent trek of Ladakh that can offer an unconventional experience to trekkers and nature lovers alike. The Markha River is a tributary of the main Zanskar River. During the winter season, almost three-fourths of the river freezes, and the glistening white sheet extends towards several quaint villages like Chilling, Skiu, Sara, Markha, and Hunkar. During the day, the temperatures read -15 degrees, and at night, the mercury free-falls to a -25 degrees. Located inside the grounds of the Hemis national park, this valley is home to some rare birds and exotic wildlife. The paths change rapidly every day alternating between views of barren lands, old bridges, and monasteries, dried up river plains, frozen river patches, and pinnacle peaks. The main attractions here are the views one gets treated to of the mighty peaks of Kang Yatse I and II. For more details on the highlights of this climb, read Highlights of Markha Valley Winter Trek

Though the terrain and trails of Markha Valley are fairly easy with a moderate gradient, one has to walk for a distance of 10 km every day. For a beginner, this could be extremely strenuous. The main challenge here is facing sub-zero temperatures. During daytime, it falls to -15 degrees and at night, it tends to drop further down to -25. In campsites like Hunkar, the winds amplify the chillness to -35 degrees. For more details on the challenges of this climb, Read Who is this trek meant for?

The ideal time to do Markha Valley Winter Trek is from January to March.

On the trek we have twin-sharing tents. In case you want an individual tent, you can add that to your booking request for an additional cost.

During daytime, it falls to -15 degrees and at night, it tends to drop further down to -25. In campsites like Hunkar, the winds amplify the chillness to -35 degrees.

The Markha Valley Winter Trek is considered to be moderately challenging in terms of difficulty. The terrain and trails of Markha Valley are fairly easy with a moderate gradient, but one has to walk for a distance of 10 km every day. For a beginner, this could be extremely strenuous. However, it does not require any specialized technical skills or equipment.


The trek starts from Leh, which is a headway into Ladakh which is home to some of the highest peaks in the region. It is also a very popular tourist destination and hence easily accessible.

BSNL has the best connectivity in Leh-Ladakh region followed by Airtel. However, all the mobile networks like Idea and Vodafone also work in Leh. Please note that only postpaid numbers work in J&K state, prepaid connections will cease to work as soon as you enter Ladakh region. On & Off network coverage is available throughout this trek (BSNL & Airtel mostly).

You will find plenty of ATMs in Leh.

Markha Valley Winter Trek is a Leh to Leh trip. You’ll have to arrive in Leh on your own. Pick up for the start of the trek will be from the hotel in Leh.

Expect to reach Leh by late evening. We stay the night at Leh. Kindly plan your departure early the next day.

There are so many enchanting places to visit in Leh-Ladakh. During your acclimatization period, you can roam around the town and visit the monasteries; Diskit Gompa, and Lamayuru Monastery. Drive up to the Magnetic Hill and experience the magnetic phenomenon on the hill. The picturesque Nubra Valley will take your breath away. The green oasis villages, the monasteries, the ruined palaces- Turtuk and Bordang; there is a whole different culture in this place. It is 150 km away from Leh. You can take a shared taxi to this route. And how can you leave Ladakh without seeing Pangong Lake, the sapphire blue lake? Also, visit Gurdwara Pathar Sahib and Leh Royal Palace. For more information on top tourist attractions in and around Leh, read, Places You Can Visit in Leh Ladakh


All the common gear like tents, sleeping bags, mattresses etc. are provided. All the technical climbing equipment needed for the trek, like microspikes, Helmets, Gaiters, etc. are also provided to you. Safety equipment used for rescue is carried by our trek leaders.

You can rent trekking shoes, trekking poles, a fleece jacket and a rucksack from us. In case you have any other requirements, you can talk to our representative and we will be happy to assist you in any way that we can.

You will receive your rented equipment at Leh, on Day 1.

Our trek leaders will collect the rented equipment from you at the end of the trek on the last day.

For a detailed list, check the Packing List section on this page.

You can buy your essentials in Leh. However, do not leave anything for last minute purchase.


Although not recommended, you can off load your bag at an additional cost. Add a request while making your booking for the trek and it can be arranged.

(Note: We don’t recommend offloading because the extra resources on a trail - ponies or porters depending on the trail - means extra load on the environment which can easily be avoided. It also goes against the spirit of trekking by eliminating a level of endurance and discomfort from the experience which are factors at the very heart of an outdoor adventure activity.)

You may leave the extra luggage at the hotel in Leh since we come back to the same location upon return.

On all trek days, we provide 3 full meals (breakfast, lunch & dinner) in addition to evening snacks and tea. The meals are vegetarian and the menu is pre-decided for all days of the trek. We do provide eggs as well on certain days. If you have any specific food-related allergies or restrictions, you can let our local staff (during the trek) know, and your requests will get accommodated. We try to provide a variety of food across meals so as to avoid repetition as well as cover all nutritional needs.

On campsites, our team will dig dry pits and assemble a toilet tent to provide for safe and secure quarters. A shovel will be provided within the toilet tent as well. Using water in the toilet tent is restricted; you will need to carry your own toilet paper. On the more difficult expeditions, toilet tents are not carried to the higher camps (above base camp) due to restriction of space (to pitch the tent).

In case you get your period on the trail and don’t have sanitary napkins, our trek leaders can provide them to you. If you need any other kind of assistance, you can let our trek leaders know. Irrespective of gender, our leaders are gender sensitised and equipped to assist you in any way you need them to.

Our team carries a first aid kit and all the basic medicines required during the trek. They are equipped to be the first responders in case of any injury or health-related issues. For higher expeditions, we also carry a HAPO Bag and oxygen cylinders to tend to any altitude-related health conditions.

You leave the last charging point behind at your hotel in Leh. From here on, we will be camping in the wilderness with no access to electricity.


A copy of your ID Proof and Medical Certificate are the mandatory documents required for this trek. (Soft copies for all of these are to be sent to us & originals should be on your person while on the trek.)

Yes, insurance for any high-altitude activity is highly recommended to cover for the cost of rescue, evacuation and any other emergency service required as well as to cover for medical cost in case of injury or illness during the trek. You can buy it on your own. Alternatively, if you want us to buy it on your behalf, you can mark it as an add-on during the booking of the trek.

Yes, there are multiple permits required for this. We obtain the permits on every trekkers’ behalf. All the permit costs are included in your trek cost.


Yes, you will receive e-certificates (of completion) after the trek. It will bear your name, the trek, and the maximum altitude you achieved on the trek. In case you were unable to finish the trek, you will get a certificate of participation.

On completion of the trek, the certificate will show up on your dashboard on our website. You can download it directly from there.


Markha Valley Winter Trek is in India. If you are coming from outside, you will need a visa to enter the country. You should be able to find the rules for obtaining a Visa based on your home country on the internet. This information is easily available.

This does not apply to you if you are an Indian citizen. In case you don’t hold an Indian passport, you will need to check online for Visa application rules based on your home country.

If you are not an Indian citizen, you will need Travel Medical Insurance to travel to the country. Please make sure that your insurance policy is valid for the altitude you are going to and the activity you are undertaking, to cover risks during the trek. The insurance policy provided by Bikat Adventures does not cover foreign nationals. So, please do not purchase it while making the booking from our website.

The Himalayas house the tallest mountains in the world and have long been a treasure trove for all adventure enthusiasts. The variety in terms of beauty, terrain, landscape, geography, culture and opportunity for adventure in the Himalayas, remains undisputedly unmatched.

You can make the booking any time depending on availability of slots in our fixed departure batches. You will get this information at the top of this page.


A Basic Mountaineering Course certification from one of the five recognized mountaineering institutes in India is a minimum requirement to join our team. Our field experts are also trained in basic medicine and first-aid response. We also conduct on-ground training for our staff once a year as a refresher for old skills and to learn some new ones. During this training that we call APW (Adventure Professional Workshop), our leaders learn close to 25 topics and techniques of rescue which are not covered in the BMC and AMC courses. For practical training, we simulate on-ground situations to prepare them for quick thinking and quick response during emergencies.

We follow a rigorous regime of hiring and training our experts on the field. Each trek leader is a certified mountaineer with years of experience in the field. The interview process to bring a trek leader on-board is close to 6 months long where we assess various skills as well as personality traits of an individual. They also go through an on-field assignment as part of the hiring process. Trek leaders also progress in time from leading easier treks before advancing to the more difficult ones where the stakes are higher. For detailed information on our selection process, please visit Forerunners - The Making Of A Trek Leader

It absolutely is. We recognize, value and embody the ideology that the world of outdoor adventure can benefit from diversity. We make it our mission to create outdoor spaces as equally accessible and safe for all genders as possible. We also encourage women leaders in the outdoors and all of our staff (irrespective of gender) is gender sensitised. As for accommodation, in case there are no other women on the trek, a solo female trekker is provided with a separate single-occupancy tent.

Our batch sizes for Markha Valley Winter Trek are capped at 15 with the trek leader to trekker ratio of 1:8.

In addition to their qualification, our trek leaders are trained to tackle any and all kinds of sudden conditions that may present themselves on ground. During our recce stage, we study the trail in great detail and map out rescue routes before opening it up for our trekkers. We also have local support staff stationed in each area to arrange for emergency services at the place of need as quickly as possible.

We mobilise road rescue efforts where our trek leaders bring the person to be rescued down to the trailhead of the trek from where a car can take them to the nearest healthcare facility. The cost of rescue is not covered in the trek fee that we charge. It must be borne by the participant. However, if you opt for the insurance the cost of rescue operations can be claimed from the Insurance company on production of valid proof e.g. doctor’s prescription & hospital bills etc. Please note that Bikat Adventures is only a facilitator & not a party in the Insurance policy. You need to raise the claim request directly with the Insurance company. Bikat Adventures is not responsible for any rejection of claim. You can call the insurance provider directly for any clarifications related to the Insurance policy. Although not mandatory, we recommend buying the insurance. You don’t necessarily have to get the insurance we provide, you can pick an Insurance company of your choice and get a policy directly from them. If you need more information on the terms and conditions of the insurance policy, get in touch with our customer support team.

All the gear used on our treks and expeditions is tried and tested, maintained for good quality and is overall top notch in quality and condition. We are continually looking to obtain the best of everything there is in the market so as to ensure optimum safety.

That will depend on the nature of your medical condition. Do give us a call, and one of our people will help you understand what is best for you. If not this, we are sure there would be plenty of other options you can choose from our vast portfolio to pick as your next adventure.


We have rolling camps on all our trails. To know why we are strictly against the concept of Fixed Camping, read Reasons to Ban Fixed Camping in Himalayas

This is a complex question and has a compound answer. The simple response is that because it is bad for the environment which we dearly love but if you are interested in a more detailed response to this question, please read Reasons to Ban Fixed Camping in Himalayas

There are a number of measures that we take to prevent overcrowding on some of the most popular trails. Some of them are capping our group size at 15, capping the number of trekkers on a trail to 250 per season, constantly looking for newer trails and routes to spread the crowd around and providing incentives to our trekkers to try unexplored territories with us. We put in place the system of dynamic pricing, which is the first of its kind in the trekking industry, which incentivises trekkers to choose less crowded trails by offering higher discounts. We have noticed, since we started this system, that this has helped in a big way to spread out the crowds between trekking routes. We are also going international so as to relieve some of the stress on the Himalayan landscape as well as explore newer ranges and design newer experiences for our community. If you want a more detailed description of all our measures in this regard, please read Simple solutions to overcrowding on Himalayan Treks

Some basic things to remember are: do not use water, do not dispose of anything non-biodegradable inside the pits, carry your own roll of toilet paper and remember to cover up after yourself to leave a clean toilet for your fellow trekkers. Everything else is much the same like using an Indian style home toilet!

Most wet wipes are not biodegradable which means it could take 100 years or more for them to decompose – not the best thing if you are trying to ‘Leave No Trace’, right?

This is quite a tricky situation but not a hopeless one. Since most of our sanitary waste is not biodegradable, we recommend that you pack your pads/tampons neatly, store it in a zip-lock bag and bring it back down with you where there are better options to dispose of them. In case you do not have zip-lock bags, ask our trek leaders for them and they should be able to provide them to you.

Each trekker is responsible for the use and hygiene of their own eating utensils. And as a measure to maintain proper hygiene, we do not provide plates and spoons. Also, dipping your hands in cold water to wash your own utensils adds something to the overall joy of high-altitude living, wouldn’t you think?


On making the payment, you will receive a booking confirmation along with the packing list and a copy of the undertaking form via email. You will subsequently receive emails detailing documents required, how to prepare physically and mentally for the trek, information on pick-up location on the first day etc. Please add info@bikatadventures.com in your trusted emails list to make sure our emails don't go to your spam folder.

A Whatsapp group will be formed a few weeks before departure. Members from our team are on those groups as well. Feel free to seek any clarifications you require in regards to the trek, on the group itself. Updates related to transportation/pickup point/pickup timing, accommodation etc. will be shared on the Whatsapp group as well.

Yes, we create a Whatsapp group a few weeks before the departure date so that the flow of information remains smooth and transparent.

Yes, it is one of the mandatory documents you will need to submit before the trek starts. The soft copy is to be sent to us & the original should be on your person while on the trek.

Yes, we will provide you an undertaking form through email which will need to be filled up by you and submitted to us post booking.

Why Bikat?

Small Group Size


Our batch sizes are capped at 15 for smaller treks with the trek leader and trekker ratio of 1:8. This ratio, in our years of experience, has proven to deliver the best trekking experience for individuals as well as groups. Capping the size of the group ensures individual attention to each trekker so that no signs of distress or need during the trek go unnoticed. It also helps to form a more cohesive cohort with better group energy which helps define the rhythm and pace of days on the trek.

As you go higher up on the BRS scale, since the stakes are higher, expeditions have an even smaller group size with the ratio of expedition leader to climber set at 1:2.


Qualified Trek Leaders


We follow a rigorous regime of hiring and training our experts in the field. Each trek leader is a certified mountaineer with years of experience in the field. In addition to their qualification, they also go through practical and situational training to tackle any and all kinds of sudden conditions that may present themselves on the ground. Being unpredictable is the core nature of the mountains but being ready for any circumstance as best as possible is a controllable asset that we try to nurture.

Our field experts are also trained in basic medicine and first-aid response.

Watch: Forerunners - The Making of A Trek Leader At Bikat Adventures


Guided Progression


Since Bikat Adventures is a learning-based organization, we help you climb up the ladder of difficulty within the sphere of outdoor adventure systematically. Our on-ground training modules are designed to handhold you through the upskilling process so that you are ready to take on bigger challenges.


Equipment Quality and Check


All the gear used on our treks and expeditions is tried and tested, maintained for good quality, and is overall top-notch in quality and condition. We are continually looking to obtain the best of everything there is in the market so as to ensure optimum safety.


Support Systems


Along with the staff you see on-ground, we have a team of superheroes working in the background to give you the best experience possible. Our background team also comprises local staff from each area who know the region best. Having local support helps with studying the area, pre-planning, execution, and in receiving timely support in case of emergencies in these remote locations.


Communication


Our on-field staff is in constant contact with our teams based in primary locations so as to eliminate any avoidable delay in reaching additional help and support when required. We try to use the best tools for communication available, including satellite phones, in regions where they are not restricted.


What our customers Say

Cancellation Policy


Cash refund

Cancellations up to 30 days prior to departure date

5% deduction

Cancellations between 30 days to 15 days prior to departure date

50% deduction

Cancellations within 15 days prior to departure date

No Refund

Voucher refund

Cancellations up to 5 days prior to departure date

No Deduction

Cancellations within 5 days prior to departure date

No Refund

Please Note:
  1. Cash refund is applicable only in case of bookings made without using any promotional offer code or vouchers
  2. This is only a brief of cancellation terms. For finer details please refer Detailed Cancellation Policy.

Blog Posts

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Informative
Markha Valley Winter Trek – Who is this meant for?
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The Flora and Fauna of Markha Valley
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Experiential
Markha Valley – A Journey From The Summer Land To The Winter Capital!
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Highlights of Markha Valley Winter Trek
We are all in constant search of people, places, and experiences that fulfill us. We want to be somewhere special, experience something new, meet someone who can indulge and influence us with their unconditional approach and accept us as we are. We l...
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