Stok Kangri

Stok Kangri, at 6,153 metres, is the high point of the Stok Range, part of the Zanskar mountains. It lies within Hemis National Park, about 12 km southwest of the trailhead at Stok village and around 15 km from Leh. Despite its height it is a popular trekking peak, often chosen as a first, non-technical step into high-altitude climbing, though its difficulty is easily underestimated.

The usual approach follows the Stok Chu up the Stok valley. Reaching base camp at about 4,970 metres takes two days, and climbers must be well acclimatised before setting out; summit day then lasts 8 to 14 hours, gaining more than 1,000 metres. In late July and August the mountain may be clear of snow except near the top, and the climb is considered non-technical from July to September but becomes demanding in winter. Local operators closed the peak from 2020 to 2023 to let the area recover from over-tourism.