Stok Kangri

Overview

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A 6,000m summit and excellent introduction to mountaineering in the Himalaya

Introduction

At 6,121m Stok Kangri is clearly visible from Leh, the ancient capital of Ladakh in Northern India. It was the first mountain that we organised an expedition to, in 1988. Since then, aspiring mountaineers have joined us every year to climb it as it remains a brilliant introduction to high-altitude mountaineering. If you are a keen walker or trekker and have used an ice axe and crampons, you could well attempt Stok Kangri as a first Himalayan peak.

Join us on Stok Kangri

• Team led by Jagged Globe leader from the UK.
• Superb acclimatisation trek over the Shang La (4,960m).
• Climbed every year by Jagged Globe since 1988.

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Tailor Made Trips

We can organise this expedition on a ‘tailor-made’ private basis for groups of friends, families, clubs, charities or any other group. The cost of going private can be surprisingly reasonable. Please contact us to discuss the itinerary and your preferred dates. We will then send you a quote, with no obligation.

Experience Required

Stok Kangri is an excellent first Himalayan peak and no previous experience of high altitude or mountaineering is required. To join the climb, you need to be familiar with the use of ice axe and crampons on low-angled terrain and be confident on British Grade I scrambles, such as Snowdon's Crib Goch.

Our Introductory Long Weekend in Scotland would provide good preparation for this trip.

Additional Information

If you wish to discuss any aspect of the expedition or your suitability for it, please phone +44 (0)114 276 3322 or contact us.

Know Before You Go

Jagged Globe supports the British Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) ‘Know Before You Go’ campaign. We recommend that you read the FCDO Travel Advice for India on the FCDO Website.

What the price includes

• International economy class return airfares from the UK (unless Land Only).
• UK Air Passenger Duty (excluded if joining land-only and you make your own international flight arrangements).
• All internal flights.
• 2 group road transfers between International Airport and hotel in Delhi, connecting with flights (excluded if joining land-only).
• 2 group road transfers between hotel in Delhi and Domestic Airport, connecting with flights.
• 2 nights' bed and breakfast hotel accommodation in Delhi on a twin-sharing basis.
• 4 nights' full-board hotel accommodation in Leh on a twin-sharing basis.
• 8 nights' full-board camping accommodation on a twin-sharing basis.
• All road transport by private vehicles as described in the itinerary.
• Porterage costs to base camp.
• Climbing permits.
• All costs for Jagged Globe leader.
• Nepalese climbing sherpas and local helpers.
• Jagged Globe kitbag or lightweight fleece.

What the price does not include

• Visa fees.
• Overseas airports taxes not paid in advance through the international airline ticket.
• Bar bills and laundry.
• Travel insurance.
• Lunch and evening meals in Delhi.
• Optional extension (for example, Agra Fort and Taj Mahal).
• Tips.

Tailor Made Trips

We can organise this expedition on a ‘tailor-made’ private basis for groups of friends, families, clubs, charities or any other group. The cost of going private can be surprisingly reasonable. Please contact us to discuss the itinerary and your preferred dates. We will then send you a quote, with no obligation.

Insurance

You will need a travel insurance policy that caters for the activities you will undertake on your trip with Jagged Globe. It is a requirement of our booking conditions that you have such a policy. For a list of insurers who specialise in mountaineering, trekking and skiing, please see our Travel Insurance page »

Itinerary

Here is an outline itinerary for this trip. A more detailed day-to-day itinerary is available as a downloadable PDF »

Outline Itinerary

Day 1 - 2:	Fly to Delhi Overnight hotel.
Day 3:	Fly to Leh, the capital of Ladakh (3,524m) Overnight hotel.
Day 4 - 5:	Exploring the city of Leh (3,350m) You have two days to relax and stroll around Leh and allow your body to acclimatise. There are plenty of distractions in Leh, varying from scenic and cultural to gastronomic. There are options of visiting the 11th century monastery at Alchi and the famous Khardung La pass (the highest motorable road in the world). Overnight local hotel.
Day 6 - 7:	Trek to Shang Phu (4,365m) In the morning you visit the Thiksey Monastery and then continue to Shang. The walk begins up a stony valley and there are several river crossings en route to Sumdo (3,800m), your first campsite (3 hours walking). The next day you head directly up the valley to Shang Phu at an altitude of 4,365m to complete a total of 5 to 6 hrs walking. Overnight camp.
Day 8:	Cross the Shang La (4,960m) Today you traverse across spurs and passes through an area that is very rarely visited. It's a 6 - 7 hour day and the toughest non-summit day of the trip, as you climb 900m to a high point on the Shang La. Following the crossing of the pass you descend to the Tokpo River, then trek downhill to camp at Gangpoche (4,435m).
Day 9:	Trek to Smankarmo (4,380m) In the morning you cross the Matho La (4,965m) from where you have views of Stok Kangri and then descend into the valley to the north of Stok Village. This lovely valley is a high and wild area, which is visited only by climbing groups and by the local people. You camp near Shepherds huts at Smankarmo (4,380m) after 4 to 5 hours of walking.
Day 10:	Trek to Stok Kangri base camp (4,980m) A two hour trek takes you up to the base camp area for Stok Kangri. Overnight camp.
Day 11:	Acclimatisation walk to 5,400m You spend today walking up towards what used to be Advanced Base Camp (camping here is no longer allowed) before returning to base camp. The walk is on moraine to the edge of the glacier.
Day 12:	Rest day and time for final preparations
Day 13:	Summit day Summit day begins well before dawn, to give you ample time for the climb. The nature of the route depends on the snow cover. It is likely that you do not need crampons for the most part as you scramble over scree and boulders, which lead up to the south ridge. The 450m ridge to the summit is exciting and superbly exposed, although never particularly steep. Most of the ridge is like a steep path, so ropes are not usually necessary, although some scrambling is required. The summit is festooned with prayer flags and after enjoying the views, you descend to base camp for the night. This is normally a 12 - 14 hour day.
Day 14:	Trek to Stok from base camp From base camp you trek directly down the valley towards the village of Stok. This is a delightful walk through a dramatic canyon with amazing red sandstone formations (6 hours). Your transport meets you to take you back to Leh. Overnight hotel.
Day 15:	Fly Leh to Delhi Overnight hotel.
Day 16:	Fly from Delhi to London

IMPORTANT NOTE: Every effort will be made to keep to the above itinerary, but as this is Adventure Travel in a remote mountain region, we cannot guarantee it. Weather conditions, road conditions, vehicle breakdowns, landslides, river crossings, the availability of horses and the health of climbers can all contribute to changes. The Expedition Leader and our local agent will try to ensure that the trip runs according to plan, but an easy going nature will be an asset!

Photos & Videos

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Reports & Reviews

First Expedition: July 1988
Total: 29 trips

Have you been on this trip? If you'd like to contribute a trip report then we'll post it up on the site.

Team Member Reviews

• “An excellent mountaineering and cultural experience, for me the perfect blend of both! TH.” Stok Kangri - July '16
• “First class trek from start to finish. Awesome guide, fabulous team, beautiful scenery and a wonderful trek that challenged me in all the right ways! RMB.” Stok Kangri - July '16
• “Great experience, great team and great Jagged Globe leader. JT.” Stok Kangri - 24 Jul to 8 Aug '15
• “All details were taken care of and that made it easier to just have fun.” LR, Stok Kangri, Aug '14
• “We were so well acclimatised and looked after that when we did have our big summit day it was a great achievement and a real team effort.” LC, Stok Kangri - August '14
• 5 more reviews »

• “It was an excellent trek, which gave us great acclimatisation, led with great enthusiasm, professionalism and good humour by Debbie.” CD, Stok Kangri - August '14
• “Real challenges, excellent companionship and a great sense of personal achievement - an intoxicating mixture.” MW (Bristol, England) - Stok Kangri 2004
• “A superb adventure made possible by a spirited leader and a first rate team.” CL (Newtown, Powys) - Stok Kangri 2004
• “I was bowled over by the magnificence of the scenery and the scale of the Himalayas.” LH, 2001
• “A wonderful and varied experience meeting great new people and gaining the summit.” DG, 2001

Leader Reports

• Stok Kangri - August 2018
  “This trip has evolved over the years and is now honed to deliver a great package that includes some culture, a great trek and a fantastic objective in the shape of Stok Kangri. As with all places Ladakh has changed over the...”
  report added 30/Aug/18
• Stok Kangri - 21 July to 4 August '17
  “This trip has evolved over the years and is now honed to deliver a great package that includes some culture, a great trek and a fantastic objective in the shape of Stok Kangri. As with all places Ladakh has changed over the years...”
  report added 23/Aug/17
• Stok Kangri - 22 Jul to 6 Aug '16
  “Ladakh - “Land of Mystery” - not really India but not Tibet either, like much of the rest of the world, is changing fast. The region only opened its borders to foreign visitors in 1974; I was fortunate to go there in 1979 when it...”
  report added 15/Aug/16
• Stok Kangri - 6 to 22 July '12
  “We had a great flight into Leh at the start of our expedition with superb views of the Indian Himalaya and Ladakh. As we circled into Leh airport, we noticed larger than usual amounts of snow on the mountains and Stok Kangri itself...”
  report added 23/Jul/12
• Stok Kangri - 29 Jul to 14 Aug '11
  “It was a happy bunch of twelve climbers who parted ways at Heathrow Airport, all having gained new heights in the Indian Himalaya. Stok Kangri is a fantastic peak, with a largely unspoilt trek through valleys with great wildlife...”
  report added 18/Aug/11
• 11 more reports »

• Stok Kangri - 19 Jul to 9 Aug '08
  “Friday 8th Aug; We are back in Delhi, 5 of the group have spent the night in Agra seeing the Taj Mahal, and we are on the way home tonight. It is less than 3 weeks since we met each other but so much has happened on this varied...”
  report added 11/Aug/08
• Stok Kangri - 21 Jul to 11 Aug '07
  “I met all but one of the team at London Heathrow amid the chaos following recent flooding. Fortunately our flight wasn’t one of those cancelled and despite much queuing we were in the air relatively on time. Unfortunately on...”
  report added 13/Aug/07
• Stok Kangri - 29 Jul to 19 Aug '06
  “The monsoon this season crept further north than normal into Ladakh bringing heavy rainfall and leading to swollen, fast flowing streams high up on the mountains, which soon turned to angry rivers lower down. This brought about...”
  report added 13/Sep/06
• Stok Kangri - 22 Jul to 12 Aug '06
  “At 8.30am on 6 August all six members of the Jagged Globe Stok Kangri expedition reached the summit of a very snowy Stok Kangri (6,121m). The ascent was completed despite unseasonably bad weather with heavy snowfalls, flooding...”
  report added 10/Aug/06
• Stok Kangri - 30 Jul to 20 Aug '05
  “The second Stok Kangri group are back in Leh, enjoying rest, food and shopping. The Dalai Lama landed this morning for a 3-week visit, so there is an air of great excitement here, with many Ladakhies dressed traditionally and...”
  report added 18/Aug/05
• Stok Kangri - 23 Jul to 13 Aug '05
  “The first of our expeditions to Stok Kangri in India is now back in Leh having had a successfull ascent to the summit of the 6,121m peak. Ten team members reached the summit on Sunday 7 August at 9am in good weather. The mountain...”
  report added 09/Aug/05
• Stok Kangri - 26 July to 16 August 2003
  “All ten team members reached the summit of Stok Kangri on 10 August, accompanied by Ladakhi guide Rigzen, Nepalese Sherpa Nima and the UK leader, Peter Thompson. Some members of the team found the climb harder than expected...”
  report added 17/Aug/03
• Stok Kangri - 4 to 25 August 2001
  “Seven team members enjoyed the acclimitisation trek through the Zanskar mountains before five of the party made a successful ascent of Stok Kangri. To of our group opted not to come up the mountain from high camp. This expedition...”
  report added 15/Jan/02
• Stok Kangri - 28 July to 18 August 2001
  “Twelve team members summitted on this Stok Kangri expedition which was led by Alan Ward. Three ropes set out for the top on summit day at 3 a.m. with our Nepalese Sherpas. They were soon donning crampons and walking up easy...”
  report added 15/Jan/02
• Stok Kangri 30 July - 20 August
  “The second trip to Stok Kangri was thoroughly enjoyed by almost everyone, although the itinerary became difficult to stick to when delays early on (flights and political unrest in Leh) set the team back 2 days. Unfortunately, the...”
  report added 15/Dec/00
• Stok Kangri 23 July - 13 August
  “Ron Holt reported that the weather in Ladakh was more mixed than usual with considerably more precipitation than expected. This unsettled nature to the weather pattern resulted in a remarkable flash flood around midnight on day 3...”
  report added 15/Dec/00