Right now at Base Camp: −8°, raining
DifficultAMS highJul–Sep (currently restricted)

Stok Kangri

Ladakh · Stok Range, Hemis NP fringe · from Stok (Leh)

A trekking peak above 6000 m — no ropework, but serious altitude. Note: local authorities have restricted/closed Stok Kangri in recent years; verify current status.

Plan this trekOpen in the grader
Max altitude
6153 m
Distance
45 km
Days
7
Honest grade
Difficult
AMS risk
high · 53
The flyover

Fly the route in 3D

Real SRTM terrain, with the trail colored by each night’s AMS risk — watch where Stok Kangri starts pushing your body too fast.

The map

Where you’ll sleep, on real terrain

The elevation profile traces the full climb and descent; tap a camp on the map and the SpO₂ gauge and safety numbers follow.

Elevation profile — the whole climb
Highest-risk night: Base Camp (post-summit) · sleeps 4,980 m · tap a camp on the map for its numbers
4,0005,0006,0006,153 m0 km34 km
Hover the profile to read altitude & AMS zone at any point.
2,500–3,500 m — acclimatise3,500–5,500 m — AMS commonAbove 5,500 m — extreme
D3 5 km · 2.5–3.5 hD4 4 km · 2.5–3.5 hD5 3 km · 2.5–3.5 hD6 10 km · 8–11.5 hD7 12 km · 6–8.5 h

Reconstructed from real per-day distance, ascent and camp altitudes. The line between points is a straight approximation — not a surveyed terrain profile.

When to go

Best months

Prime window: Jul, Aug, Sep

Curated season (Jul–Sep (currently restricted))— off-months reasoned from the region’s monsoon and winter.

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Prime windowShoulderOff-season
Trail path

Stage by stage

Start · Stok village→End · Stok villageLoop~34 km walked · est 22–31 h total
Day 1Rest / acclimatisation at LehMandatory acclimatisation — you flew to 3500 m
Day 2Rest / acclimatisation at LehSecond rest day; gentle walks only
Day 3Stok village → Chang Ma~5 kmest 2.5–3.5 h
Day 4Chang Ma → Mankarmo~4 kmest 2.5–3.5 h
Day 5Mankarmo → Base Camp~3 kmest 2.5–3.5 h
Day 6Base Camp → Summit → Base Camp~10 kmest 8–11.5 hGlacier + ridge, rope and crampons; alpine start
Day 7Base Camp → Stok village~12 kmest 6–8.5 h

Distances are approximate operator-standard figures. Times are computed— Naismith’s rule (pace + climb + descent) slowed for altitude, for a fit trekker with breaks — not copied from brochures. Plan generously; groups move at the pace of their slowest member.

The route

Night by night, stop by stop

Each stop is where you sleep — the altitude that drives acclimatisation. Exact camps and per-day distances vary by operator; the safety flags are computed from this profile.

  1. 1
    Leh (fly in)3500 m · est SpO₂ 87%
    Fast arrivalNight 1 is already at 3500 m. Arriving high (flying/driving straight up) is a leading cause of AMS — spend a night lower first if you can.
  2. 2
    Leh (acclimatise)3500 m · est SpO₂ 87%
    Rest daySleeping altitude held — this is where the body actually acclimatises.
  3. 3
    Chang Ma3900 m (+400 m) · est SpO₂ 85%
  4. 4
    Mankarmo4400 m (+500 m) · est SpO₂ 81%
  5. 5
    Base Camp4980 m (+580 m) · est SpO₂ 76%
    500 m/night limitSleeping altitude jumps 580 m to 4980 m. Above 3000 m the guideline is ≤500 m per night.
    1000 m rest rule1480 m of sleeping gain since your last rest day. Take a rest day every ~1000 m.
  6. 6
    Base Camp (post-summit)4980 m · est SpO₂ 76%
    1000 m rest rule1480 m of sleeping gain since your last rest day. Take a rest day every ~1000 m.
    Rest cadence4 nights climbing without a rest day above 3500 m.
    Big summit pushClimbs ~1173 m to 6153 m in a single day. Summit day is when AMS/HAPE most often strikes — start pre-dawn, pace slowly, and turn around at the first symptoms.
    Sleeps lowerDescends to sleep 1173 m below the high point — good, it gets you off the summit overnight.
Why this grade

Sold as "Difficult (non-technical 6000er)"; our numbers put it at Difficult. Broadly consistent.

Max altitude
35
Acclimatisation load
16
Daily distance
10
Length & remoteness
12
7-day weather window

Overnight lows lapse-adjusted to the high camp (~4980 m).

Sun
-16°
Mon
-16°
Tue
-17°
Wed
-17°
Thu
-19°
Fri
-20°
Sat
-20°
Permits (Indian nationals)

Ladakh: Inner Line Permit for protected areas (domestic); foreigners need a PAP for the same zones.

Inner Line Permit (ILP)
LAHDC / DC office, Leh (online portal available)
Full permit navigator →
⛑Emergency & evacuation
Nearest roadhead
Stok village (near Leh)
Nearest hospital
SNM Hospital, Leh (altitude-experienced)
Helipad
Leh (Kushok Bakula Rimpochee airport)
Trek area (approx)
34.000, 77.480
If things go wrong

Descend to Base Camp then Stok/Leh. Leh sits at 3500 m — evacuation still means going lower. Verify the peak's current open/closed status.

Approximate planning info — confirm with your operator. HAPE/HACE signs = descend immediately.

Known hazards
  • •Flying straight into Leh at 3500 m is a major AMS trigger
  • •Summit night is long, cold and very high
  • •Currently subject to closure — confirm before planning
Highlights

On the trail

Photo credits →
Before you go

Necessary preparations

▲

Fitness

  • Serious base needed: 5 km under 30 min, weekly long hikes with a loaded pack; train 8–12 weeks out.
  • Expect ~6 km of walking a day — train on stairs and inclines, not just flat ground.
  • Do a few hikes carrying your actual daypack weight so your legs and shoulders are used to it.
  • Add interval/cardio work — summit days at this altitude are long and relentless.
✚

Acclimatisation & health

  • Know the AMS golden rules: don't ascend with symptoms; if worse, descend; HAPE/HACE = descend now.
  • Carry a pulse oximeter and take a daily resting reading — a falling trend that doesn't recover means stop.
  • Discuss acetazolamide (Diamox) with a doctor before you go — Shikhar never prescribes medication.
  • This profile ascends fast (AMS: high) — build in a spare acclimatisation day if you can.
  • Stay hydrated (3–4 L/day), eat well even without appetite, and avoid alcohol at altitude.
  • Carry a personal first-aid kit; tell your operator about any medical conditions in advance.
◆

Gear & clothing

  • Layering system: moisture-wicking base, fleece/down mid, waterproof-breathable shell (jacket + pants).
  • Broken-in waterproof trekking boots with ankle support + 3–4 pairs of wool/synthetic socks.
  • 40–55 L backpack with rain cover; a 20 L daypack if porters carry the main load.
  • 3-season sleeping bag rated to at least −5 °C; a liner adds warmth cheaply.
  • Trekking poles, sun hat, and warm hat + gloves for cold camps.
  • Monsoon-proofing: full rain gear, dry-bags for electronics, quick-dry clothing, leech socks/salt.
  • Mountaineering layer: crampons, ice axe, harness and a helmet — go with a qualified guide who provides technical training.
  • UV protection: category-4 glacier sunglasses, SPF 50+, lip balm — UV is brutal at altitude and on snow.
  • Headlamp (+ spare batteries), 1 L insulated bottle, and a power bank (cold drains batteries fast).
❖

Documents & permits

  • Government photo ID (original + several photocopies) and passport photos for permits.
  • Line/area permit (ILP for Indians, PAP for foreigners) — see the permit navigator for this state.
  • Travel + trek insurance that explicitly covers high-altitude trekking and helicopter evacuation.
  • Emergency-contact card: family contact, blood group, allergies, and your day-by-day itinerary.
From the trail

Trekker experiences

Illustrative trail notes — representative composites of what trekkers commonly report on this route, not reviews from named individuals. Verify specifics with your operator.

★★★★★
“My first 6000 m 'trekking peak'. The mistake people make is rushing Leh — I flew in and needed three full days before I felt human. Summit night is brutally cold and long. Note it's been restricted lately; check status.”
Aspiring mountaineer · Delhi · August
★★★★★
“Physically I was fine; the altitude was the whole battle. My SpO₂ at base camp scared me. We turned around 200 m below the top and I have zero regrets — the mountain will be there next year.”
Ladakh returnee · Bengaluru · September
Ask about this trek

Stok Kangri copilot

Grounded strictly in this trek’s data — route, computed times, AMS grade, permits and field notes. It won’t invent water sources or clear you medically. Ask in English or Hindi.

Community

Reviews from trekkers

No community reviews yet — be the first. (See the illustrative trail notes above for what trekkers commonly report.)