Markha Valley with Stok Kangri Expedition

Duration : 11 Days

Experience climbing Stok Khangri along with Markha Valley Trek and enjoy the beauty of Markha Valley and the scenic beauty of the Himalayan Mountains from the summit of Stok Khangri. The climbing is easy even for a trekker without any experience or mountaineering skills.

Day 1 Leh to Chilling - Skyu (3500 m), 5 hrs
After Breakfast drive to Chilling. We cross the Zanskar River with a trolley bridge turn wise to join the waiting team on the other side of the river. Overnight camp.

Day2 Skyu - Markha (3850 m), 7 hrs
The trail joins the Markha stream and will follow it for a few days. The day’s trek is relatively easy, but it involves crisscrossing the stream at numerous points depending on the water level. Markha has a monastery and a fort for a local cultural sightseeing. Overnight camp.

Day 3 Markha - Hankar (4000 m), 4 hrs
Many monasteries are spread along our route today. After the Umlung monastery, the valley narrows and we stop to camp at the foot of Kang Yaste (6400 m). Overnight camp.

Day 4 Hankar - Nimaling (4650 m), 4 hrs
At the pass, colourful prayer flags flap in the wind, with the Zanskari range in the background. Afterwards, we descend steadily along the Jingchan River. We get great views towards the Stock summit and the Stok Kangri (6121m).

Day 5 Nimaling - Kongmaru La (5150 m) - Chogdo (4000 m), 7 hrs
Climb up to the summer pastures of Nimaling, used by the shepherds of Hankar and Markha, then follow the hedge to the top. The Kongmaru La pass commands a beautiful view of the Kang Yatze north face (6400 m), the Ladakh ranges and the Indus valley. Overnight camp.

Day 6 Chogdo - Gyuncho La (4600 m) ( Camp at 4350 m ) 6-7 hrs
From now on, we will follow a new and rarely travelled route through the valleys to the east of our objective. Today, we turn towards the west into a tributary valley that leads after a long and gradual ascent to the Gyuncho La. We descend a few meters bellow to establish our campsite. Overnight camp.

Day 7 Camp at 4350 m - Shang La (4800 m) - Matho Phu (4350 m), 6 hrs
Today, we will cross many spurs and minor passes with occasional views northwards towards the Indus Valley and the peaks beyond. We climb up to the Shang La and then descend to the Tokpo River. Afterwards we will trek downhill to a nice camping place. Overnight camp.

Day 8 Matho Phu - Mato La (4820 m) - Stok Kangri Base Camp (4700 m) 5 hrs
At the pass, colourful prayer flags flap in the wind, with the Zanskar range in the background. Afterwards, we descend steadily along the Jingchan River. We get great views towards the Stock summit and the Stock Kangri (6121m). Overnight camp.

Day 9 Acclimatization day at Base Camp:
Spend this day to acclimatize yourself to the high altitude. Overnight camp.

Day 10 Summit day (Approx. 8-9 hours to base-camp).
Our route initially crosses scree and boulder slopes, and then leads to easy angled snow slopes, which require ice axe and crampons. The route is not difficult but at this altitude, it will be strenuous. From the summit of Stok Kangri (6116m), we should see as far as the Karakoram, the Pamirs and Tibet. If it's warm enough we'll rest and recover some energy on top before descending to base-camp. Overnight camp.

Day 11 Stok Kangri Base Camp - Leh (5 hrs walk to Stok)
Descend downhill and through wild gorge scenery. There should be time to visit Stok Palace and museum while we wait for our jeeps. Then it will take only an hour's drive across the Indus valley to the comforts of the guesthouse in Leh.



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