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Tour Packages of Ladakh
Trekking Tours
Spituk to Stok
Duration : 15 day Moderate/Demanding Climbing grade 1
Maximum Altitude:6120 metres
No. Days:24
Places Covered : Delhi - Leh - Stok - Stok La Base - Stok - Rumbak -
Zingchen - Spituk - Leh - Delhi
Known as “moonland” or “Little Tibet”, Ladakh
is a remote and rugged land, situated deep in the Himalaya, on the borders of
Tibet, China and Pakistan. Large Buddhist monasteries continue to operate in
the Indus valley and within side valleys hidden among jagged ridges. Flying
into Leh, over the Himalaya, we have several days in Ladakh’s capital for
essential acclimatisation and sightseeing of the most important monasteries
including Hemis and Thiksey. Our time in Leh has been planned to coincide with
the colourful festival at Phayang Monastery which we will visit before starting
our trek.
Our trek starts from the village of Spituk, ascending magnificent winding canyons
where Blue Sheep are regularly seen on the steep rocky slopes. Crossing several
high passes with magnificent views across to the jagged Zanskar mountains and
the snow capped Karakoram before descending a beautiful willow and wild rose
choked gorge to enter the Markha Valley. Following the Markha river we pass
through lush vegetation and spectaular Grand Canyon style scenery. The head
of the Markha valley is dominated by the glaciated Kang Yatze peak (6400 metres)
rising above the idyllic Nimaling Plains. Here shepherds bring their sheep and
yaks to graze during the summer months. Himalayan Marmots are common as are
the huge Himalayan Griffon and Lammergeier Vultures. Crossing the Kongmaru La
(5274 metres), with its wonderful views from the top, we follow a high level
route to Stok Kangri base camp. A superb approach to the mountain provides fantastic
views towards Tibet.
The climb on Stok Kangri (6120m) is fully supported and is technically straightforward
involving scree and easy snow slopes. At over 6000 metres it is quite a challenge
but the rewards are fantastic, a fitting end to a splendid trekking adventure.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 01 - Depart London Heathrow on the flight
to Delhi.
Day 02 - Arrive Delhi early morning. Met and transferred to our hotel,
the very comfortable and centrally located Hotel Connaught. There is time to
relax before a guided sightseeing tour. Delhi, the capital of India has a fascinating
history and a stimulating present. It has been the seat of power of numerous
dynasties - the Rajputs, the Muslim invaders, the Afghans, the Tughlaqs, Sayyaids,
the Lodis and the Mughals, who continued the imperial line until the British
Days.
Today it is the political capital of the world's largest democracy. Our guided
sightseeing tour will visit some of New Delhi's places of interest including
Rashtrapati Bhavan, once the Viceroys residence, Sansad Bhavan, India’s
Parliament, India Gate, the war memorial to 90,000 Indian Army soldiers who
died in World War 1 and Humayuns Tomb, the inspiration for the Taj Mahal. Overnight
Hotel Connaught.
Day 03 – Early morning we are transferred to the domestic terminal
for the flight to Leh. The flight is just over an hour and is quite spectacular,
providing excellent views of the 7000 metre high mountains of Nun and Kun. On
arrival we are met and transferred to our hotel. The rest of the day is free
to relax and to become adjusted to the altitude. Overnight hotel, Leh.
Days 04 to 06 – In Leh, sightseeing. Leh is a fascinating town
which developed as a trading centre attracting a wide variety of merchants from
Yarkand, Kashgar, Kashmir, Tibet and North India. Leh has a wide main bazaar
street where colourful Ladakhi ladies sell vegetables at the roadside. There
are many craft shops, restaurants and cafes. Leh Palace has been described as
a miniature version of Lhasa’s Potala Palace and houses a museum containing
old buddhist paintings. The white Shanti Stupa, high on a hill is worth a visit
for the views overlooking Leh. Polo is the national sport and is popular in
the summer.
The Polo ground is beyond the main bus stand and you may be lucky to be in town
when a Polo match is scheduled. We will visit some of the areas most important
monasteries at Shey, Thiksey and Hemis and have time to explore Leh town. We
will also visit Phayang Monastery and we have timed our visit to coincide with
the colourful festival. There is also the opportunity to take a jeep drive (and
a further acclimatisation aid) to the 5300 metre high Khardung La, one of the
world’s highest road passes. This pass to the north of Leh leads into the
Nubra Valley and the views from the top of the Zanskar range beyond the Indus
Valley are magnificent. Stok Kangri being one of the higher peaks can easily
be picked out. These days are also essential acclimatisation days before our
trek. Overnight hotel, Leh.
Day 07 – We load our gear into jeeps and drive out of Leh for
7km to Spituk, crossing the Indus river before turning right along a bumpy track
crossing a flat desolate plain. At the roadhead we meet our trekking crew and
pack ponies. After sorting out the loads for the ponies we begin trekking, following
the Indus into a narrower valley and soon reach the entrance to the Hemis National
Park.
Just beyond is a chorten (Buddhist monument) and prayer flags from which you
get impressive views down the Indus gorge. Soon we leave the Indus behind and
head into the mountains along the willow-lined Jingchan gorge to the village
of Jingchan. (6 hours walking) Overnight camp.
Day 08 - We follow the Jingchan Nala upstream. The valley soon narrows
as we pass between two rock buttresses and are treated to lovely views ahead
of a spectacular jagged ridge. A couple of stream crossings brings us to a willow
plantation and a little further to the village of Rumbak. The trail, keeping
to the right bank of the Rumbak Nala, passes through the village of Rumbak upstream
to a watermill and a bridge.
The mill is used for grinding barley, this simple technology has remained unchanged
for centuries. Crossing to the right bank our trail climbs up the valley of
a subsidiary stream to the tiny settlement of Yurutse. Camp is set a little
beyond at the foot of the Ganda La. (5 hours). Overnight camp.
Day 09 – The trail climbs steadily to the Ganda La (16,097 ft/4,878
m), it is not steep but it is long. As we climb higher Stok Kangri dominates
the south-eastern skyline. From the pass, a spectacular panorama of white fringed
mountains, merging into the distant ranges of the Karakoram, is revealed. The
trail descends steadily to the head of the Skiu valley where a number of rivulets
join to form a small stream. The broad grassy shoulders of the upper valley
narrow sharply to the pinched waist at Shingo with its few houses and fields
at the junction of a small stream with the Skiu Nala. Our camp is about 20 minutes
beyond Shingo on a lovely grassy site. (7 hrs). Overnight Camp.
Day 10 - From Shingo the river swoops exuberantly down a tight, narrow
gorge choked with willow and wild rose with the trail leaping from bank to bank
all the way to the village of Skiu on the banks of the lower Markha. Since Skiu
is only at about 9,900 ft (3,000 m) and the Markha valley is quite narrow, the
temperature is higher here. We continue through the Markha valley to our camp
on a rocky shoulder above the river. (7 hours) Overnight Camp.
Day 11 – A very pleasant walk up one
of the loveliest sections of the Markha Valley. Woody bushes grow thickly along
the river which is spanned by several bridges over which the trail marches to
Thinlespa, a village with very basic dwellings but well kept fields. At the
top of the rise out of the village we reach a collection of large chortens and
mani walls.
There are wonderful views back down the valley. As we progress we get our first
views of the snow covered slopes of Kang Yatze (6400m). This magnificent mountain
commands the view for the next two days. There is a wolf trap on the outskirts
of the village which is an enclosure with overhanging sides. We continue to
our camp on the right bank of the river about 10 minutes before Markha Village.
(7 hours) Overnight Camp.
Day 12 – The trail continues eastwards climbing steadily up
the valley through the picturesque village of Markha and its interesting monastery,
which is well worth visiting. Coming in from the south is the trail from Rubering
La, one of the routes to Zanskar. From Markha the country changes and the warm,
relatively heavily wooded section of the lower Markha is left behind.
The trail continues past the twin villages of Lower and Upper Hankar. Between
the two villages is a ruined fort, the walls of which climb sharply up a crag
to an erie lookout tower - worth visiting for those with an exceptionally good
head for heights. We leave the Markha Valley and climb through a canyon to our
alpine meadow camp at Tahungtse. (7 to 8 hrs) Overnight Camp.
Day 13 – From Tahungtse the trail climbs steadily through alpine
meadows towards the broad, undulating Nimaling plains at the base of the ice-clad
Kang Yatze peak which dominates the area. Nimaling with tiny ponds and rivulets
flowing all over its meadows provides 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
hares are seen in plenty and overhead huge Himalayan Griffon and Lammergeier
vultures are common. (4hrs). Overnight Camp.
Day 14 – An opportunity to relax or explore the area around
the beautiful Nimaling plain. An interesting alternative is a walk to the base
of Kang Yatze. There are several possibilities for half or full day excursions
from our camp. Overnight Camp.
Day 15 – Crossing to the north of the Markha, we begin the climb
up to the highest of the passes - Kongmaru La (17,409 ft/5,274 m) with its wonderful
views from the top. It is a steady climb of around 2 hours to the pass on good
trails. As we gain height the unfolding views are amazing. From the pass a never
ending series of ridges leads the eye to distant snow capped peaks.
To the north are the mountains of the eastern Karakoram and China and to the
south above Nimaling Kang Yaze dominates. There is time to absorb the view and
take photographs from the pass before descending to the head of the Martselang
valley. Look out for blue sheep as you begin to descend from the pass. The sulphur
springs of Chyushkarmo are passed as we follow the Martselang stream to Chogdo
and our camp. (6 to 7 hrs). Overnight Camp.
Day 16 – From our camp at Chogdo we turn west to enter a tributary
valley which takes us to the Gyuncho La (4600m). We descend from the pass to
our camp at Shang Po. (6 to 7 hours). Overnight camp.
Day 17 – A day for crossing a number of minor passes as we pass
through a rarely visited region. After crossing the Shang La we descend to the
Topko River. From here it is mostly downhill to our camp at Gangpoche. (6 to
7 Hours) Overnight Camp.
Day 18 – We start the days walk with
a gradual climb to the Mato La (4860m) before descending into the valley to
the north of Stok. This is a beautiful valley where local people graze their
sheep and goats and live during the summer months in small stone huts. Snow
Leopards are known to inhabit this region although seeing them is not easy.
You are much more likely to see herds of bharal (blue sheep). Golden Eagles
can also be seen in this area. The Base Camp for Stok Kangri is at 5,000 metres
on a pleasant grassy area. We can take a short acclimatisation walk (30 mins.)
to the top of the pass above our camp. This is the route we take when climbing
Stok Kangri and there are impressive views of Stok Kangri from this pass. (5
to 6 hours) Overnight camp.
Days 19 & 20– We have allowed two
days for the ascent of Stok Kangri which will give everyone the best chance
of climbing the peak. Much of the climb involves walking up scree and boulder
slopes. If there has been some unseasonal snow then there may also be snow on
these slopes but normally at the time of year we are climbing the slopes are
free from snow.
We will make an early start (4 to 5 am) from base camp, climbing to the pass
above our camp and then crossing a glacier before heading up scree and boulder
slopes. The final part of the climb may involve the use of crampons and an ice
axe on easy angled snow slopes to the summit ridge. Although this is technically
an easy climb, the altitude does make the climb very strenuous.
The views from the summit are spectacular with the Indus Valley and Leh far
below us to the north behind which an impressive mass of peaks stretch from
the Karakoram to Tibet. The climb of stok Kangri is optional and you may choose
to explore the fascinating area around base camp rather than climb the mountain.
This is the land of the Snow Leopard and if you are lucky you just might see
one of these magnificent animals. Overnight camp.
Day 21 – From our base camp we descend on an easy trail to cross
a small pass into the Stok Valley and down to Stok village through fields of
barley and buckwheat. This should take 3 to 4 hours. Transport will be waiting
to take us back to Leh and the afternoon is free for shopping and further explorations
of Leh town. Overnight hotel, Leh.
Day 22 – Transfer to the airport for the spectacular flight
across the main chain of the Himalaya to Delhi. On arrival we transfer to our
hotel, the Hotel Connaught, conveniently located in the centre of New Delhi.
Overnight Hotel Connaught.
Day 23 – Free day in Delhi for shopping and sightseeing or simply
relaxing. This may be needed should the flight from Leh be delayed. It is also
possible to organise a one day visit to Agra to see the Taj Mahal. Overnight
Hotel Connaught.
Day 24 – Early morning transfer to the international airport
for the flight to London Heathrow, arriving late afternoon.
Spituk to Stok, Ladakh Trekking Tour Packages Reservation Form
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