Climbing Mentok Kangri | Mentok Kangri Ladakh | UFO Adventure Travel
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Difficulty

Difficult- Tough

Max. Altitude

6210m

Duration

13 Days

Best Time

Jun, Jul, Aug, Sept,

In A Hurry?

You can download our complete tour details and guide for MENTOK KANGRI II CLIMB. Also, you can schedule a callback from UFO Adventure Travel.


Tour description

Close to Ladakh's eastern border with Tibet, the rarely visited high plains of the Chang Tang are colored in just a few places by beautiful turquoise lakes, such as Tso Kar and Tso Moriri and this exciting trekking and climbing holiday is the perfect way to view this remote and stunning landscape. Changthang is a Tibetan word meaning western plains. It is inhabited by the Changpas who are a nomadic tribe and travel all over Changthang following the ancient grazing patterns. Mentok Kangri means the 'mountain of flowers' and is a cluster of three peaks and the highest being 6277 m. The sight from the summit is stunning where on one side you have endless mountains and on the other side the turquoise blue waters of the Tso moriri Lake. Technically undemanding, this peak presents an excellent challenge to fit and adventurous trekkers. A super trek and climb combination in a special part of the world.


Virtual tour of
MENTOK KANGRI II CLIMB

Is this Holiday for you ?

Neither the trek to Tso Morari, nor the climb on Mentok II are technically difficult undertakings. However, the high altitudes involved during the trek (between 4500 and 5500 metres) and the climbing above 6000 metres does mean that this trip will present a challenge to even very fit group members. The lower slopes and approaches to the Mentok peaks are likely to be free of snow during the summer months, but we will need to use crampons and carry an ice-axe (and the UFO leader and Sherpa team may fix some sections of rope, if necessary) above approximately 5500 metres.

Excellent introduction to Himalayan climbing with a 6000m + summit

Witness the stunning Changthang plateau and Tso moriri lake

Fantastic summer holiday to experience Ladakhi culture and hospitality





  • 13 Days, 3 nights hotel, 9 nights camping
  • 12 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 12 dinners
  • max group size: 10
  • On the high plateau of Ladakh, the maximum daytime temperature low down on our trip (and at Leh) will be around 15°C, with night-time lows below 0°C. At high altitude, the sun has a very strong effect and at the height of the day it will feel hotter than the indicated temperatures. Ladakh is not adversely affected by the monsoon and we can usually expect stable, weather. However, mountains do generate their own weather systems and some rain or wind cannot be ruled out at anytime.

Start Date End Date Code Adult Price Status  
01-08-2023 13-08-2023 MTK-0823 1420 Available

  • Local English speaking guide
  • Airport transfers as described
  • All land transport involved in the itinerary
  • All accommodation as described
  • Meals as per the Meal Plan
  • All permits and entrance fees in the itinerary
  • All costs are applicable for double occupancy
  • Oxygen tanks (for descent only)
  • Private group chemical toilets
  • Travel insurance
  • Visas
  • Some meals as per the Meal Plan
  • Airport transfers other than those described
  • Tips for local staff including the local guide and drivers
  • Miscellaneous expenses - drinks and souvenirs etc.
  • Personal camera equipment & gear
  • Flights and airfare
  • Meals will be a mix of local and comfort food. Breakfasts will consist of bread, cheese, honey, jams, fruit, tea and Nescafe along with eggs, paranthas,etc. For lunch there will be a variety of momos, thukpas, and other dishes from which we can select, or a full packed lunch. Dinner will usually be a soup followed by lentils, vegetable curry and meat as available. Vegetarians can be catered for.
  • A single group transfer will be arranged from Leh Airport to the hotel in Leh. This transfer will meet the arrival of the flights from Delhi at 1030hrs. At the end of the trip there will be a single group transfer from the group hotel to Leh Airport at 8 am. This transfer will be after breakfast on Day 13 of the trip itinerary. A representative of our local agent will assist with the transfers between the airport and the group hotel. If the arrival transfer does not work with your flight, you will need to make your own transfer arrangements at Leh Airport. Should you require an airport transfer, these can be arranged by the hotel reception staff or alternatively please contact the UFO office.
  • During this trip the group will spend 3 nights in Leh and 9 nights camping.. All accommodation is allocated on a twin sharing basis. If you are travelling by yourself you will be paired up with another single client of the same sex. All accommodations used by UFO adhere to hygiene and comfort norms. For Hotel prices and single supplement costs please contact UFO office.
  • Day will start with a hot cup of tea served to you in the tent at around 6.30 am. At around 8 a.m. breakfast will be under way and by 8.30 we should be back on the trail to our next camp. You will have plenty of time to get up and pack your trek bag which will be transported safely to the next camp on mules. Please make sure you fill you water bottles for the trek ahead. After breakfast, you can pick your packed lunch prior to setting off. Usually, our route will involve a mix of walking through rugged terrain and scrambling over loose rocks. Be prepared for some uphill climbing every day. We will pick a beautiful spot with some shade or a meadow for Lunch. Usually we walk for around 5-6 hours every day. On arrival at camp, we can relax in our mess tent and take tea or coffee. Dinner is ready at around 7 p.m. in the mess tent. This is a great time of day for reliving the events of the trip so far and for general socializing. After dark, the temperature starts to fall and everyone will soon be tucked up in their sleeping bags.

How UFO makes MENTOK KANGRI II CLIMB special?

    Small Groups

We are all about small groups and personalized services! Small groups tend to bond together much more than large groups and also help us give personal attention to each client. Also are you not in the mountains to get away from the crowd?

    Inclusive package

Our adventure holidays have a lot of amenities and services included i.e accommodation, transportation, meals, staff et all. Right from picking you up at the airport we do not want you bother you with arranging or spending on anything other than personal expenses or some meals. Let us take care of you for the duration of your holiday!

    Camping equipment

All quality equipment is used for our camping and climbing holidays. Usually a camping setup includes client tents, mess tent, kitchen tent and private group toilet tent. We use 3 person tents on twin occupancy basis and 5 person tent on twin basis on our 'glamping' trips.

    Mules and transport

All your land transport is included in this package as you land at the Leh airport. Your main backpack being carried by mules. We want you to enjoy your walk in the mountains and not be bogged down by a heavy backpack.

    Meals

We have extensive meal options for our meals. Meals are combination of eggs, paranthas, pancakes etc. accompanied by Nutella, peanut butter, coffee, tea perpetually on the table. Packed lunch usually comes with carbs, juice, fruit and a chocolate. Dinner has atleast 3 -4 options on the table. We understand the importance of food in the mountains. We follow our mantra of ‘ Adventure by day, Luxury by night’!

    Accommodation

Your stay in Leh will be at a 3-4 star facility hotel or similar on twin occupancy. We want you to be comfortable while you acclimatize and also have the basic luxuries right after your trek ends so you can relax in the city before catching your flight or train the next day.

More reasons to love the experience

Make new friends
Walk the Changthang plateau, one of the most isolated regions in India
Stunning views of Tso kar & Tso Moriri
Interact with Changpa nomads
Attempt a 6000m+ Himalayan peak
Very less traffic on the trail;still offbeat

ITINERARY FOR THE TREK

DAY 1

MEET AT THE GROUP HOTEL IN LEH.

Meet at the group hotel in Leh. A single group transfer at 10.30am from Leh Airport to the group hotel is provided. The first day is reserved for acclimitization and you will be advised to rest, eat and keep yourself hydrated as much as possible. A short walk around the city to Leh Palace in the evening can be organized.



  Accommodation
Hotel in Leh
  Meals
D

DAY 2

EXPERIENCE LEH & SURROUNDING MONASTERIES

We will make an early start after tea and breakfast to catch the morning prayers at Thiksey Monastery. Affiliated to the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism, it is situated on a hill in Thiksey village and is noted for its resemblance to the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet. We will then head towards Shey, the ancient capital of Ladakh where a picnic lunch will be waiting for us. After lunch, we rest a bit and visit the Shey Palace and surrounding areas. You will be given sometime to yourself where you can explore the palace on your own. In the evening we will visit the Shanti Stupa and head back to the hotel for dinner.



  Accommodation
Hotel in Leh
  Meals
B D

DAY 3

DRIVE TO TSO KAR (4579m). CAMP BY LAKESHORE.

We will leave from Leh to Tso Kar (White Lake) which is 153 kms from Leh and should take us about 4-5  hours to reach. We will camp on the shores of the salt lake of Tso Kar. There should be time in the afternoon to explore the lake shore, with a good chance to see kyang (wild ass), marmots and great birdlife, such as bar-headed geese and Brahminy ducks on the lake. Tso Kar is a salt water lake and the nomads take this salt across to Tibet for trade. 



  Accommodation
Camping
  Meals
B D
  Time
4-5 hrs drive

DAY 4

TREK ALONG THE LAKESHORE AND CHANGTHANG PLAINS TO NURUCHAN (4694m)

Today’s walk is an easy one, along the shore of the lake and then across the open and quite arid Chang Tang plains to a beautiful campsite in the pastures of Nuruchan (4694m). There are usually several nomad camps in this area, with scattered tents, shepherds and their dogs and herds of livestock.



  Accommodation
Camping
  Meals
BLD
  Time
4-5 hrs walking(11-12 kms)

DAY 5

TREK ACROSS NURUCHAN LA (4750m) TO RACHUNGKARU (4952m)

On leaving camp, we cross a stream and pass close to a mani wall, sculpted by the Chang Tang herders. We then hike up to the Nuruchan La (4750m), before descending easily to cross another stream and another low pass. In this area, the nomadic herdsmen that we meet are likely to be Tibetan, having been displaced here from the western part of that cross-border territory. We camp at Rachungkaru (4952m) amongst grazing yaks, sheep and pashmina goats. Afternoon at leisure.



  Accommodation
Camping
  Meals
BLD
  Time
4-5 hrs walking(11-12 kms)

DAY 6

TREK ACROSS KYAMARU LA (5400m) AND GYABARMA LA (5300m) TO GYABARMA (5171m)

Today is a fairly long day as we cross 2 passes of above 5000 metres. It takes us around 2 hours to reach the first of these, the Kyamaru La (5400m), where the views extend across a high-level landscape to numerous snow-capped peaks. After a short descent, we climb again to cross the Gyabarma La (5300m), beyond which we descend, cross a stream and reach our camping place in the pastures at Gyabarma (5171m). A wild and remote location.



  Accommodation
Camping
  Meals
BLD
  Time
6-7 hrs walking(14-15 kms)

DAY 7

TREK ACROSS YALUNG NAULA PASS (5400M) WITH VIEWS OF TSO MORIRI AND DESCEND TO KORZOK DOK (4632m)

Today, we finally get views of the stunning lake of Tso Morari, as we reach the top of the Yalung Naula Pass (5400m). Some 20 kms long and surrounded by high, snow-capped peaks, Tso Morari is one of the most beautiful lakes imaginable. The approach to the pass is straightforward, but quite long. We descend to Karzok Dok (4632m) on a zig zag path.



  Accommodation
Camping
  Meals
BLD
  Time
5-6 hrs walking(10-11 kms)

DAY 8

TREK TO OUR BASECAMP OF MENTOK KANGRI II (5300m)

Today, we hike up to the basecamp area below Mentok II. This approach leads through an open valley and over rounded ridges, on a trail that is mostly poorly defined and which crosses a mix of open moorland and bouldery moraine. We set up camp at approx 5300 metres.



  Accommodation
Camping
  Meals
BLD
  Time
5-6 hrs walking(10-11 kms)

DAY 9

REST DAY AT BASECAMP. FINAL PREPARATIONS FOR SUMMIT.

A day to rest at basecamp and make final preparations for the ascent of Mentok II. The group leader and Sherpas may opt to fix ropes today on the headwall leading to the col between our objective peaks.



  Accommodation
Camping
  Meals
BLD

DAY 10

CLIMB MENTOK II (6210m) FOR VIEWS OF TSO MORIRI AND TIBET. RETURN TO BASECAMP.

After an early start, we hike for 2 hours to the foot of the snow slope that leads to the col between Mentok 1 (6250m) and Mentok II (6210m). We then ascend to the col (possibly with some sections of fixed rope) and continue more easily to the top of Mentok II. If the weather is good, we will spend some time admiring the fantastic views across the lake to the peak of Lungser Kangri (6666m) and distant Tibet. We descend to basecamp via the same route.



  Accommodation
Camping
  Meals
BLD
  Time
10-12 hrs walking(10-11 kms)

DAY 11

TREK DOWN TO KORZOK (4600m). EVENING AT LEISURE.

We begin our walk-out with a relatively easy descent to the village of Karzok, which is one of the highest permanently inhabited settlements on Earth. It is scenically located beside Tso Morari at an elevation of over 4600 metres. The afternoon is free to walk by the lakeshore, meet the local people and check out the village and its ancient monastery.



  Accommodation
Camping
  Meals
BLD
  Time
3-4 hrs walking(10-11 kms)

DAY 12

DRIVE ACROSS CHANGTHANG PLAINS AND THE RIVER INDUS TO LEH.

We will rendezvous with our vehicles at Karzok and set off on the 6-hour drive back to Leh which is 220 kms away. The road is quite rough at first but we travel on an ever improving surface and once we reach the Indus River, the road is very smooth making the final part of the journey quite comfortable. There are some great views as we cross the open plain of the Chang Tang and then descend by the (at this point) very small Indus. We will all be pleased to check into the hotel in Leh, get cleaned up and eye up the soft bed before tucking in to a celebratory dinner.



  Accommodation
Hotel in Leh
  Meals
B D
  Time
5-6 hours drive

DAY 13

DEPARTURE DAY

We have an early start and go to the airport to catch our flight to Delhi. If you want to extend your stay in Leh, please let us know.



  Meals
B

Why trekkers love us?

I joined UFO on their twin peaks initiative in Ladakh attempting Stok Kangri (6150m) & Golep Kangri (5900m) and the experience could not have been better curated. From the start of the trip till the very end, everything was well organised to meet the best quality standards. The team is beautifully welcoming and cheerful!

Shuchita Grover

Have done two expeditions, Stok Kangri (6150m) & Kang yatseII (6250m) with UFO. If you want to see the real beauty of being in mountains then no other company can give you what UFO has in store for you. Thank you for amazing locations to tent and thank you for making me fall in love with mountaineering/trekking. Aces in my book

Dushyant Jhala

I had a great trekking experience on the Kashmir Great Lakes trail. The hospitality in such weather conditions was way more than expectations. I was able to complete the trek in spite of fever & flu, which seemingly had doubled the hindrances for me! But, It was all about moving out of your comfort zone and experience the adventure and thrill at its best.

Rahul Girdhar

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Frequently asked questions

How do we travel to Ladakh?

There are three ways to reach Ladakh- a) you can take flight from Delhi to Leh from major airlines such as Indian Airlines, Jet Airways, Indigo and Go Airlines. b) You can take road journeys either from Manali or Srinagar. It takes 2 day journey (474 kilometers) from Manali to Leh with a night stopover in Sarchu. On the other hand, Srinagar to Leh will take 2 days (434 kilometers) with a night halt at Kargil. All the roads remain open from May to October.

What are the symptoms of High Altitude sickness? How long does it take to get acclimatize in Ladakh?

Some common symptoms of high altitude sickness include giddiness, loss of appetite, lack of sleep and difficulty in breathing. The best way to acclimatize in Ladakh is a natural rest for at least 48 hours, keep yourself well hydrated and eat well. Even then it depends from person to person as to how long it takes to acclimatize before trekking in the Himalayas.

Am i fit enough for an adventure in Ladakh?

Anyone with an enthusiasm for the outdoors, different cultures and overseas travel and is prepared to be open minded and flexible. Our trips are fun and informal and attended by a wide range of people. We offer a range of trips which are all graded for difficulty to help you choose your holiday, if you would like advice, please get in contact us at [email protected]. You will always enjoy your trekking holiday in Ladakh better if you have a good level of fitness. Running, cardio vascular exercises or playing sports always helps.

What kind of food is provided during the trek?

We provide clean, hygienic and tasty food during treks and climbs. Below items will give you an idea with regards to the meals:

Breakfast - Porridge, Cornflakes, Muesli, Bread, Apricot Jam, Honey, Butter, Peanut Butter, Cheese, Pancake, Omelet, Tea, Coffee, etc.

Lunch- You will have packed Lunch while trekking mostly of sandwiches, Boiled Eggs, Boiled Potatoes, Fruit Juice, Chocolate Bars, Biscuits, etc.

Tea Time-Instant Noodles, Popcorn, Pakoda, Tea, Coffee with Biscuits.

Dinner- Soup, Rice, Curry (Veg. Mushroom, Paneer, & Dal) Noodles (Thukpa) Chowmien) Veg Momos, Pasta, etc and desserts. 

Note: All of the above items are served different on different days, and the items are subjected to the availability in the market. Meals can be customized according to clients and private groups.

Which treks should be considered in Ladakh?

Ladakh has a wide array of treks and climbs of different grades. Treks with multiple high altitude passes,average camping altitude and remoteness determine the toughness of the trek.

Easy treks- Markha valley trek, Sham Valley trek, Lamayuru to Chilling trek

Moderate Treks- Phyang to Hunder, Tsokar to Tsomoriri

Challenging treks- Rumtse to Tsomoriri, Chadar Trek

Which are the famous mountaineering peaks in Ladakh?

Stok Kangri(6150m) is the highest walking peak in India and draws a lot of climbers due to its height and non technicality. Kang Yatse II (6250m), Mentok Kangri (6210m), Golep Kangri (5900m) and Nun (7135mts), Kun (7085mts) are other famous mountaineering peaks.

Why our some treks more expensive than others?

If we have to organize a trek near Leh, the transportation cost and carriage cost is less expensive. Markha Valley trek is more accessible from Leh than the Rumtse to Tsomoriri trek, therefore it will be cheaper than it. Horses to carry your luggage also play an important component to trek cost. Ultimately though, it is the services that the client or the groups require and want i.e accommodation,food, experiences, etc that will determine your trek or adventure cost.

What kind of accommodation is available in Ladakh?

There are various price points in Ladakh for accommodations. From home stay/guesthouses to boutique hotels to luxury hotels and camps, travelers can pick and choose according to the budget. We usually choose a class and luxury hotels with their facilities and services comparable to any 3-4 star hotel. Hotels in Ladakh are designed with traditional architecture of the region and feature over sized rooms equipped with modern amenities.

How difficult is the Mentok Kangri II climb?

Mentok Kangro II climb is a tough high altitude trek in Ladakh. The trek starts from Tso kar, a salt lake in Eastern part of Ladakh and ends at Tso Moriri Lake, a beautiful High altitude lake in Changthang, which is also the breeding ground to birds like the Black-necked Crane, Tibetan Sandgrouse, Bar-headed geese, etc. The barren region is home to numerous species of wildlife including the wild ass (Kiang), Himalayan Marmot, and if lucky, spot the Tibetan Argali and Himalayan Wolf. The route traverses across a number of high passes and multiple 5000m passes making it a physically demanding trek. This 13 day trekking holiday in Ladakh will require good fitness to finish and prior camping experience is always a bonus. Acclimatizing well before this trek is a must.