Stok Kangri Climb | Stok Kangri Trek | UFO Adventure Travel
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Difficulty

Difficult- Tough

Max. Altitude

6150m

Duration

9 Days

Best Time

Jun, Jul, Aug, Sept,

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You can download our complete tour details and guide for STOK KANGRI CLIMB (VIA STOK LA). Also, you can schedule a callback from UFO Adventure Travel.


Tour description

Flying into the Ladakhi capital of Leh, the shapely peak of Stok Kangri (6153m) is prominent on the southern skyline. Stok Kangri climbing holiday offers the opportunity to make an ascent of this technically straightforward peak as a climax to a superb week of exploration and trekking in Ladakh. During the holiday, we visit Leh and surrounding monasteries. To reach our climbing objective we trek on a high-level trail to reach Stok Kangri base camp. The ascent of Mt Stok Kangri is objectively very safe and is technically straightforward, involving easy-angled scree and snow slopes with a short section of ridge climbing to a perfect summit dome, bedecked with prayer flags and with wide-ranging views. Mount Stok Kangri climbing perfectly suited to someone seeking their first Himalayan summit or for those who want a 6000 meter climbing holiday in the summer!


Virtual tour of
STOK KANGRI CLIMB (VIA STOK LA)

Is this Holiday for you ?

After spending 2 days acclimatizing to the altitude in Ladakh (3500 meters), during which time we will explore Leh and surrounding monasteries and walk around the city, the time that we actually spend on Stok Kangri trekking and climbing will be 5 days. The approach to our base camp traverses a wild area where trails are not always well-defined. In normal conditions, the ascent of Mt Stok Kangri involves no technical climbing. It may be necessary to rope up to cross a small glacier before starting the ascent which will mainly be over easy-angled scree and boulder slopes. The final 100 - 200 meters may require the use of crampons on snow slopes up to about 35 degrees and along a short rocky ridge where the guides may use safety ropes depending on the conditions on the day. Although this is not a technically demanding climb, at an altitude of over 6000 meters, it will be physically demanding. Previous crampon experience is preferable but not essential.

Excellent introduction to Himalayan climbing with a 6000m + summit

Experience the culture and hospitality of Ladakh

Fantastic summer adventure holiday





  • 9 Days, 3 nights hotel, 5 nights camping
  • 8 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 8 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.

Please contact [email protected] for quotes.

  • Local Ladakhi guide
  • Leh 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 tank (for descent only)
  • Private group chemical toilets
  • Travel insurance
  • Tips
  • Visas
  • Some meals as per the Meal Plan
  • Airport transfers other than those described
  • 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 Mt Stok Kangri climbing 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 11 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 to Mt Stok Kangri the group will spend 3 nights in Leh and 7 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 to Mt Stok Kangri climb 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 during our Mt Stok Kangri climb. 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.

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. During our climb to mt Stok Kangri, the first day is reserved for acclimatization 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
Dinner

DAY 2

EXPERIENCE LEH & SURROUNDING MONASTRIES

We will make an early start after tea and breakfast to catch the morning prayers at Thiksey Monastery. Affiliated with the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism, it is situated on top of the hill in Thiksey village and is noted for its resemblance to Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet. After lunch, we will rest a bit and then head for Shey Palace and surrounding areas. You will be given some time to yourself to explore on your own. We will then visit Shanti Stupa and head back to our hotel for dinner. 



  Accommodation
Hotel in Leh
  Meals
B,D

DAY 3

DRIVE TO ZINGCHEN (3354m). TREK TO STOK LA BASE (4270m) VIA RUMBAK (3890m)

From Leh, we drive past Spituk Monastery to Zingchen which is an hour away. Here we meet our mules and trekking crew, and then trek towards Markha Valley.  The trek follows into the Zingchen gorge as we cross the stream a few times. We experience the craggy yet colorful terrain of Ladakh with colors of purple, red, green and blue shining bright.  We enter Rumbak village to green pastures and pass many 'chortens' (stupas) as we cross this magnificent village to our campsite at the base of Stok la.



  Accommodation
Camping
  Meals
BLD
  Time
5-6 hrs walking(10-12 kms)

DAY 4

TREK ACORSS STOK LA (4895m) TO SMANKARMO CAMP (4380m)

Today will be the first big challenge, Stok La ! After an early breakfast, we climb steadily towards the top the high pass.  We get some fantastic first views of the Stok peak and then descend into the upper reaches of the lovely Stok valley, a high and wild area visited only by climbing groups and by the local shepherds who spend the summer months in temporary stone huts. We make our camp tonight near one of these huts at Smankarmo (4380m)



  Accommodation
Camping
  Meals
BLD
  Time
7-8 hrs walking(8-10 kms)

DAY 5

TREK FROM SMANKARMO TO BASE CAMP (5000m)

After tea and breakfast, we will make our way to Base camp of Stok Kangri. You can get up early to catch some good views of the peak in the first rays in the morning.  We make our way to Base camp which will take us about 2-3 hours.. Walk slowly and easily as we will be reaching 5000m in altitude today and the air will get thinner. You will be able to spot marmots as you are reaching the base camp and a Tibetan fox, if lucky. Jackdaws will keep you company throughout the walk and you might catch sight of the stunning Lammergeier and the HImalayan Griffin  vulture. We will reach base camp by lunch. After lunch we  can go for a short walk and climb around 100-150 m to aid our acclimatization. Evening at leisure



  Accommodation
Camping
  Meals
BLD
  Time
3-4 hrs walking(5-6 kms)

DAY 6

CONTINGENCY DAY FOR POSSIBLE DELAYS, OR REST AT BASE CAMP (5000m)

This is a day for rest and acclimatization prior to our ascent. Our guide will also give basic instruction on the simple techniques we will require for the Mt Stok Kangri climb. Afterwards, there will be opportunities for walks above the campsite. The small col directly above to the north-west provides a striking view of our objective.



  Accommodation
Camping
  Meals
BLD

DAY 7

ASCENT OF Mt STOK KANGRI (6153m) & RETURN TO BASE CAMP(5000m)

From base camp the trail climbs over a ridge then follows the glacier at first beside the moraine and finally across rubble-covered ice to the lower slopes of the mountain. In normal conditions, much of the Stok Kangri climb involves walking across scree and boulder slopes. The final 100 - 200 meters will involve the use of crampons on snow slopes up to about 35 degrees and along a short rocky ridge where the guides may use safety ropes depending on the conditions on the day. At any time of the year but especially late in the season, the snow may extend to the glacier in which case we may use ropes to cross and crampons will be worn for the whole of the Mt Stok Kangri climb. Although this is not a technically demanding climb, at an altitude of over 6000 meters, it will be very strenuous. Once on the summit beside the cairn and streaming colorful prayer flags, the views are spectacular and extensive, stretching from the Karakoram peaks to the north to a number of almost unknown 6000 meter peaks in Tibet to the north-east, and including a bird’s eye view of the Indus Valley and Leh below us to the north. Having taken our photographs, we make the descent by the same route back to the glacier and across the ridge to reach the base camp.



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

DAY 8

TREK DOWN TO STOK VILLAGE (3595m). DRIVE TO LEH

From our base camp, we will descend directly to the upper reaches of Stok Village, with its fields of barley and buckwheat. We have time to look around the village. At Stok, we will meet our transport and make the relatively short drive back to our hotel in Leh.



  Accommodation
Hotel in Leh
  Meals
BLD
  Time
5-6 hrs walking(12-13 kms)

DAY 9

TRANSFER TO AIRPORT.

After an early breakfast we will be transferred by private vehicle to the airport. If you want to extend your stay to visit  Pangong Tso lake , Nubra Valley or Tso Moriri, please contact our staff.



  Meals
B

Why trekkers love us?

Joined this great trip combining cleaning up base camps, and also summit two peaks from Stok Kangri base camp in Ladakh. Was very well organised, and most of all a great group of people! Was a wonderful few days spent with UFO!

Hui Hui Ng

5 Because it was a completely hassle free experience for me. I have some experience with treks and expeditions, and thought the team handled situations beautifully, ensuring that none of the headaches came our way.The staff was eager, the guide experienced and mature and the team was willing to help wherever required.This will be one that I will remember for a very long time. Thanks UFO!!

Amit Gupta

What an amazing experience with this guys climbing Kang Yatse II (6250m) in Ladakh,India. Most of all, they became great friends and the team was like a family. It was my first expedition with UFO and we had plenty of joy, great food and guides.Thank you for amazing trip, all the best, keep up the good work and I hope I'll be back soon to experience other mountains with you guys!

Júlio César Furquim Silva

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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, Pan-Cake, Omelet, Tea and Coffee.

Lunch: (You will have Packed Lunch while trekking mostly) 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.

Please 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 I (6400m) and Kang Yatse II (6450m),Mentok Kangri (6210m), Golep Kangri (6000m) and Nun (7135mts) Kun (7085mts) are other famous mountaineering peaks. Mail [email protected] for more details.

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 Tso moriri 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 homestay/guesthouses to boutique hotels to luxury hotels and camps, travelers can pick and choose according to the budget. We usually choose an 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 big rooms equipped with modern amenities.

How difficult is the Stok Kangri trek?

Stok Kangri is the highest walking , non technical peak in India. Any high altitude above 12,000 feet can induce AMS symptoms and the Stok Kangri base camp itself is at 16,300 feet. The Stok summit stands at 20,100 feet tall! High altitude plays a very important role in creating difficulties with the thin air and low of oxygen levels (almost 50% less than sea level) taking a toll on your body and mind. The summit day can easily range from 8 hours to 15 hours according to your fitness levels and how well you have acclimatized. The gradient on the climb at 70 degrees till the 'Shoulder' (summit ridge) is a considerable challenge. Needless to say the weather plays a big part. On a good day the temperatures are below freezing in the night and bad weather with chilly winds and snow only makes the climb more difficult.