STOK KANGRI ASCENT AND MARKHA VELLEY TREK

A classic trek and stunning 6153 mtrs climb in Ladakh Stok Kangri Climb Only : Best way to visit ladakh is reaching by air and coming by land. Due to altitude problems in ladakh region- minimum days for Stok Kangri climb is 10 days. This is cheaper option and for extreme tight budget climbers- travel by jeep only can reduce cost of package .

Day1 +2 + 3 : Reaching Leh from Delhi by air and staying in hotel for two days. In this time period jeep travel to local monasteries like Shey, Thiksey and Hemis can be undertaken along with daily walk in mountains which will help in obtaining proper acclimitization for Stok Kagri climb.

Day4: Reaching Stok Village ( By Jeep ) & start of trek to Manokarmo

Day5: Reaching Base Camp

Day6: Rest Day

Day7: Shifting to ABC

Day8: Summit Attempt

Day9 & 10 : Back to Manokarmo and next day by jeep to Leh.

Markha Valley Trek + Stok Kangri Climb

Day 01: Arrival in New Delhi, Meeting upon International airport, transfer to hotel, excursion around Delhi.

Day 02: fly to capital of Ladakh Leh, transfer to hotel.

Day 03: acclimatisation, excursion around Leh. Visit Shey, Thiksey.

Day 04: Leh Hemis Shang Sumdo (drive) trek to Chukirmo 5 to 6 hrs. From the village of Martselang, proceed up the torrent, to Sumdo. On the right, a valley leads to Shang. Continue up the valley, passing through the tiny settlement of Chogdo. Overnight camp is set at the snout of the deep gorge.

Day 05 : Chukirmo Nimaling - 8 to 9 hrs. Immediately after leaving camp, enter into deep gorge. As soon as the pass becomes visible, the trail climbs steeply to the beautiful grassy slopes at the foot of Kongmaru La (17,409 ft/ 5,150 m) with its wonderful views from the top. Descent to Nimaling. Cam on the other side of the river.

Day 06 : at Nimaling - The Nimaling plain is a broad undulating meadow which slopes upwards to the base of the ice-clad Kang Gyatse which dominates the area. Nimaling with tiny pasturage in the summer for an astonishing number of animals yaks, dzos, sheep, goats, horses not only from the Markha but also from villages all around. Himalayan Marmots and white tailed Hared can be seen in plenty and it is not unusual to sight an occasional blue-sheep or wolf can be seen. Camp by the river.

Day 07 : Nimaling Markha 6 /7 hrs. The trail descends steadily down the narrow valley; pass small villages and barley fields. Further on in a gorge lies the Humlung monastery, not often inhabited. The valley is worth visiting. Camp is set near the village for the night.

Day 08 : Markha Skiu 5 hrs A very pleasant walk up one of the loveliest sections of the valley, with thick bushes along the river, which is spanned by several bridges. Camp is set at Skiu.

Day 09 : Skiu Base camp Ganda la (16,097 ft / 4,878 m) 7 hrs. Climb up a well-timbered gorge, which opens on to the broad grassy shoulders of the upper valley of Sumdo. The small villages with its few houses and fields lies at the junction of a small stream with the Skiu Nala. Camp is set here for the night.

Day 10 : base camp Rumbak 5 hrs. Approximately an hours steep climb gets you to the top of the pass. From here spectacular panorama of snow- capped mountains merging into the distance Karakoram range is revealed. The trail descends steadily to the head of the Rumbak valley and passes through the small settlement of Yurutse. Rumbak is a very pretty village of farmers and caravaneers. Overnight camp.

Day 11 : Rumbak - Kilchey 7 hrs. Immediately after leaving camp, cross the Nala over the bridge and follow the trail to the right bank of the Rumbak Nala. After a short while a steep ascent through scree and through a complicated knot of ridges leads you to the top. A steep descent leads to the campsite which shelters summer shepherds.

Day 12 : Kilchey Upper Munikarmo 6 hrs. Descend through the narrow gorge over avalanche debris. Just before the spot where a side stream joins Stok Nala, turn right and keep following the main valley, walking for quite some distance over gentle slope. The slope gets steeper as the valley winds to the right. On leaving the curve, you get your first glimpse of the snow-capped group of mountains. Overnight camping.

Day 13 : upper Munikarmo Base camp Immediately after leaving camp, start climbing up the west ridge till top. From here walk eastwards. Base camp is generally set at 5,300 mtrs in moraine below the glacier. Walk through hard ice, climb up an ice wall with 70-degree gradient, past an old snow ridge and crecices. To avoid the loose rocky area just above the snow ridge, traverse the exposed west flank, another ice wall with a 75-degree gradient.

Day 14 : At abc: Explore the surroundings and make your way to the summit. Overnight camping.

Day 15 : abc Munikarmo : Retrace your steps to Munikarmo. Overnight camping.

Day 16 : Munikarmo Stok Leh 4/5 hrs. Keeping on the left bank of the Stok Nala, the trail descends, going past the jagged ruins of the Staklang Kar fort. At its base is a thick grove of willow. The trail is well worn, being used for the summer movement of cattle and sheep to the higher pastures. The small gorge opens on to an alluvial plain. The trail through apricot orchards and barley fields, ending at the village of Stok and the Ladaklh Sarai. Drive 6 kms to Leh, and overnight stay at hotel.
Day 17 : Excursion around Leh.

Day 18 : early morning drive to airport, fly to New Delhi.

Day 19 : Excursion around Delhi. Evening for leisure.

Day 20 : flight to home town.