What to pack for the Markha valley
Layers, sun protection and good boots; ponies carry the rest.
How to acclimatise in Leh
Leh is at 3,500 m. What you do in your first two days decides how the trek goes.
Most people fly into Leh from Delhi in an hour and a half, and step out at 3,500 m. The body needs time to adjust to the thinner air, and the first 48 hours matter most.
On day one, rest. Sleep if you can, drink three to four litres of water, and walk no further than a café down the road. Avoid alcohol and heavy meals. A mild headache is common; tell us if it gets worse or does not ease with rest.
On day two, take a short walk uphill and come back down. The Shanti Stupa steps or a visit to a monastery near town are ideal. The rule climbers follow is to climb high and sleep low.
We check everyone’s oxygen level and pulse each evening in Leh. Readings in the high 80s are normal at this height; we look at how they change from one day to the next.
On the trek, our itineraries raise sleeping height by no more than about 500 m a day. Walk slowly, slower than feels necessary. Guides set the pace at the front for a reason.
