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Stok Kangri Trek

Ladakh

Altitude6,152 M

Durations9 Days

Description

Stok Kangri is one of the highest trekkable peaks in the world. It stands at an elevation of 20,100 ft. and is higher than the highest mountain in Europe, Mt. Elbrus at 18,510 ft and although marginally, it is even higher than the highest mountain in Africa, Mt. Kilimanjaro at 19,340 ft. It beats two of the highest mountains across two different continents and is, without a doubt, a crowned jewel of India. The biggest and the only challenge during Stok Kangri trek is the summit day, where you have to brave sub-zero temperatures, trek on a glacier for about 6-7 hours at night, and walk on the ridgeline for about two hours to reach the summit.

Although Stok Kangri does not require any technical experience, by no means it is meant for beginners. The view from the Stok Kangri summit is worth all the uphill battle. You can see even Karakoram range from the Stok Summit along with the Zanskar range. Stok Kangri expedition is once in a lifetime adventure and every avid trekker's dream. Stay on the page for more information like - Stok Kangri Trek route map, complete itinerary, temperature - weather details, photos, videos, and reviews. Scroll to the end to read Stok Kangri trek blogs.

Itinerary

The most convenient way to reach Leh is by Air. But this has to be followed by at least 2 days of acclimatization in Leh before you head out for a trek like Stok Kangri. You can also reach Leh by road but this option requires at least 2-3 days of travel on the road. You will receive the detail of accommodation in Leh through an email from us. After reaching Leh check into the Guest House/Hotel. Have some rest and acclimatize as Leh is at the height of 11500 ft. above sea level. The evening can be utilized to explore the Leh market.

Explore the cultural and natural beauty of Leh. This will make you familiar with the town and also help in acclimatize to the weather. Leh is the center point of Ladakh and also a major town from where all expeditions begin. It is also a culturally rich place. There are dozens of monasteries and ancient temples that you can go around. They are located in and around the town. Enjoy the local cuisines which are a major attraction for travellers.

This is the day when we would enjoy a great drive and have an enjoyable trekking experience. If you haven’t trekked in Ladakh before this day will come as a surprise. The beautiful landscapes of the region will give you an out of the world feeling. The rocky mountain peaks all around look so perfect as if they have been painted on a canvas. The day will be difficult mostly because it is your first day of walking in this region. Over the next few days as your body will get acclimatized you will feel much better while hiking.

At the start of the drive from Leh, we would go through many exotic and beautiful scenes. The drive to the Stok village is an adventurous one and is full of natural beauty with the sight of lush green trees. The weather is generally fine in the summer season. The Stok village lies to the south of Leh and it is well known for a royal palace. Inside the palace, there is a small museum which has beautiful and religious artifacts. We will set up camp as soon as we reach Chang Ma. We will settle in camps after a small acclimatization walk.

Today is a fairly easy trek along a river. We will cross water streams a couple of times. The real beauty of Ladakh will start showing today. Mankarmo has a big Parachute café. We will pitch camps & settle in after a short acclimatization walk. Camping in Mankarmo is a lovely experience.

After a few hours trek from Mankorma, we reach the base camp. It’s a grassy patch of land with a number of water bodies in the form of lakes & streams. Utilize the day to walk up to the upper area to enjoy the surrounding views. In sight are some beautiful peaks like Gulap Kangri, Parcha Kangri, and many others. You would get sufficient time to get acclimatized to this altitude. This is very important as in the coming days, you would find a drastic increase in the altitude and experience thin air and lack of oxygen. Keep yourself warm with proper clothing as the temperature can be very low here.

It is essentially a day to prepare you for the summit day. You will understand the possibilities and challenges involved. You will be briefed about the technical equipment. A basic training would be imparted on the usage of equipment such as Ice Axe, Crampons, Rope etc. Techniques like ascending & descending in the snow, Self-arrest using an ice axe will be covered in the training session. Today we go to bed early as we will start the summit attempt at mid of night.

Wake up call would be at 12:30 AM. Get ready for the summit attempt. Technical gear will be distributed. Start walking at 2:00 AM. The route goes through glaciers and then comes to steep slopes to the summit ridge. This is a long climb. It would take somewhere between 9 to 10 hours. The summit offers a 360-degree view of the region. The wide view and open surroundings give you a royal feeling. Towards the north is Karakoram range. The Saser Kangri dominates the sky in the north along with the Karakoram, and the Zanskar ranges in the south. Descend to the base camp. Overnight stay in Camps.

With a 6000M peak up your sleeves today's trek will be a joyous experience. We start early for Stok Village. Return trek can be a little difficult & be extra careful on downhill slopes. From Stok village we start the road drive for Leh. The drive back can be a nostalgic experience as you recount the precious experiences from your days on the expedition. We will reach Leh by evening. Check into the Guest House/Hotel.

You will be required to check out from the Hotel at 10:00 AM.

Inclusion


  • Meals
  • Forest Permits/Camping Charges, if any (Upto the amount charged for Indian nationals)
  • Tents, Sleeping bags, mats
  • Technical equipment, Safety Equipment
  • Trek guide, cook, helpers, porters & mules for carrying common luggage
  • Services of a certified mountaineer as trek Leader


Exclusion


  • Meals during road Journeys
  • Any expense of personal nature
  • Any expense not specified in the inclusion list
  • Transportation
  • Rucksack Offloading Optional
  • Off Roading Charges Extra


Trek With Vagabondzz