Ladakh: Stok Kangri Climb, India Trekking Holiday

Essential Information

Trip Profile

8 days point-to-point walking with full porterage. Altitude maximum 5260m (6141m with climb), average 4600m.

Accommodation

6 nights hotels, all en suite, 8 nights full-service camping.

Food

All breakfasts, 8 lunches and 8 dinners included.

Reality Check

This is a fairly tough trek graded D (the climb is graded E) with 8 days walking including the climb day.

The maximum altitude is 5,260m (6,123m with the climb), average 4,600m. There are high passes but most of the walking is on well-established trails.

The trek is suitable for those who are confident of their physical fitness and have trekked at high altitude before.

Daytime temperatures can be very hot especially during the middle of the day as at these altitudes the sun is very strong.

The trek culminates with the ascent of Stok Kangri from a base camp. The ascent is optional and fairly non-technical, and requires strong lungs and a good deal of will power. For anyone wishing to make the ascent, previous experience using ice axe and crampons and walking in a rope team is necessary; it is not possible to learn the skills whilst on this trip.

You should be a confident walker and be comfortable scrambling on loose rock on a ridge. For safety we will rope up along the summit ridge.

Please note on the ascent of Stok Kangri there are some scrambles on loose rock and exposed ridges and the climb is not recommended for those with fear of heights/exposed ridges. For those not wishing to climb there will be an optional walk on the climbing day to the Stok Kangri Glacier for spectacular views of the mountain. We spend 3 days in Leh before the trek to allow you to acclimatise - very important at this altitude.

This is a fully supported camping trek and we provide spacious two-person tents, dining and toilet tents, stools, cooking and kitchen gear and a full support staff. We have put a lot of effort into improving standards on our Indian Himalayan treks and we believe that, in terms of organisation, our standards of service are as good as in Nepal - many of our Nepalese staff now work in Ladakh in the summer months and you may well find Nepalese Sherpas working alongside our Ladakhi staff.

All groups will be accompanied by an Exodus leader, who will be supported by a local guide, ponymen, assistant guides and cook team. For the Stok Kangri ascent there will be a qualified climbing guide. Whilst on trek we will wake you up with a cup of hot tea, and will also provide a small bowl of warm washing water in the mornings.

All our leaders are trained in the use of a PAC bag (Portable Altitude Chamber) and this is carried on all treks in Ladakh. The PAC bag is used in an emergency only to treat altitude sickness in the mountains. A First Aid kit is carried with the group.

Normal group size and age

Normally 6 to 16, plus leader, climbing guides and appropriate local staff. Minimum age 18.

Icons explained

The vast majority of Exodus adventures are adult group holidays. Groups are always small in size. We strongly believe that this adherence to small groups means a better experience for all; more time with your guide, less waiting around and a reduced impact on the communities and environments visited.
Each group is generally made up of like-minded travellers - with singles, couples and friends all joining in together. All these trips are suitable for single travellers, but if you prefer to travel with clients booking individually, please see our Solo Departures page.

An E grade tour combines all the elements of our D Grade, tough itineraries, but adds extra difficulties such as tricky river crossings, very high or difficult passes, glaciers or peaks that require basic climbing skills. Often specialist equipment, like ice axes and crampons will be needed and you must have experience of them.

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Walking & Trekking: Trips are wholly trekking-focused or simply include a significant number of walking days during the itinerary.

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