Quick Jumplinks to Navigate
If you can’t tell the world how fantastic your travel was, then it is definitely just a regular trip that was made by you for the sake of it. Umesh, an IT manager by profession always loved exploring the world and capturing the memorable moments that last a lifetime. For him, traveling is the best therapy and a way to make your life meaningful. Despite suffering from slip disc and cervical issue, he took the challenge of conquering the Stok Kangri Trek along with his biggest support; his wife Geetanjali and other travelers and this is their journey.
At the height of 20,500 ft above sea level, the Stok Kangri Trek is a thrilling experience for those who wish to challenge themselves to conquer the high altitude. The trek is set amidst the lofty mountains in the Himalayas wherein Ladakh is the parent of the high Stok Kangri Peak. With the unparalleled beauty of the surrounding, plenty of ridges and tremendous layers of snow in winter, the summit also gives the spectacular view of the entire Zanskar and the Indus Valley.
Why Stok Kangri?
“I had planned to take the Chadar Trek but something happened, I guess a landslide or turbulent weather that made me cancel the trip on not just one but on multiple occasions. It was then, that the team at Thrillophilia convinced me to opt for the Stok Kangri Trip and after considering it for a while, I said yes. The main attraction for me was the height.”
The high altitude Stok Kangri trekking expedition was a 9-day trek package offered by Thrilllophilia that started and ended at Leh. The trek included the travelers to get accustomed to the acclimatization and suggested them to prepare physically and mentally for at least 2 months prior to this expedition. The trek offered spectacular views of the Stok village, Chang Ma, Mankhorma and scenery that surrounded these places. Every day, the travelers were expected to trek for at least 4-5 hours apart from Summit day where trek demands approx.12 hours.
Planning A Bike Trip, Check Out Best Ladakh Bike Trip Packages
“The only reason to choose Stok Kangri Trek, as I said before, was because of its daunting height and difficulty. When we speak of the Chadar Trek, it is nothing but just simple, straight trekking with variations in temperature and walking on the ice sheet. In comparison, Stok Kangri was nothing short of a roller coaster ride. I had been on a few treks before but Stok Kangri was a challenge that I accepted.”
The Preparation:
Umesh says, “We had about three months’ time to prepare ourselves physically for the trek that we had already booked. The Thrillophilia team had already advised us on all the prerequisites required for the kind of trek that we were ready to embark. I feel the lack of such useful communication could prove dangerous and as I was traveling with my wife, I didn’t want to take any risk. It was really impressive of the team to inform us way beforehand.”
The Know all guide to Stok Kangri
Must Check Out: Reviews Of Thrillophilia
“If it is not worth sharing with everybody, then it is definitely not a story”
Trekking on such heights could be challenging for those who were ready for it, however, there lay certain moments when the travelers are least informed about the same and face difficulty and have to return halfway. It was suggested that these treks were taken by those who already had mountaineering skills or those who had scaled altitudes of 4000-4500 m high. Since the climatic conditions also played an important role with variations from -20 degree to water freezing cold, it became an impertinent task on behalf of the tour company to inform about all the do’s and don’ts and for travelers to pay heed to each one of them. Certain elements such as carrying first aid kits, prohibition of consumption of alcohol, avoiding treks in the night, health insurance and carrying enough warm clothes during the trip made the overall journey enjoyable.
Click here to Book: Leh Ladakh Honeymoon Tour From Delhi
The Trek Trip:
The trip started at the arrival in the land of high passes Leh and stay in pocket-friendly, comfortable guest houses to start the journey. On the second day, the travelers went for an acclimatization hike for 3-4 hours and discovered the well-known monasteries Shey and Thiksey around Leh( Things to do in Leh). The next day, Umesh, Geetanjali and fellow travelers along with the group leader reached Stok village to witness the majestic beauty and serene scenes of Chang Ma trek that they took on that day.
After three days spent on acclimatization, the group headed by a leader started the official trek from Chang Ma to Mankorma. They crossed river streams, green trees, and ice desert along the way and set up tents at Mankorma for an overnight stay. The travelers enjoyed the view of the Gulap Kangri and Parcha Kangri peaks at the base camp which was set at a height of 16,300 ft. Since the oxygen level started to drop and to get accustomed to such climatic conditions, the leader suggested they take rest and train themselves for the big challenge after setting up tents.
Finally, the day arrived when Umesh, his wife Geetanjali and other travelers geared up for the biggest challenge. The long climb from the base camp (16,300 ft) to Stok Kangri (20,080 ft) through the glaciers and steep slopes took them around 9-10 hours to reach.
Upon reaching the top with much difficulty but amazing zeal, Umesh described how amazing the entire experience had been. He says, “The accommodation provided by Thrillophilia was amazing and not your average guest house which came as a surprise. Combine all that and I can tell you that my experience from the top of the trek was truly mesmerizing. Seeing my favorite place from above was something that I and my wife would never ever forget.” He adds, “Mountains have a different sort of addiction and that became evident to me when I looked down from the top of Stok Kangri.”
After an amazing trek, the group returned to the base camp and back to Leh via Stok Village after spending 8 full days amidst nature and mountains.
Check Out Thrillophilia Ladakh Reviews before Planning your Ladakh Trip
Travel Companions:
Traveling with a good company is one of the added charms that people rarely get while on the move. Umesh and Geetanjali were in fact, lucky to have found fellow travelers that became close friends during the trek. They were accompanied by Hemant, who was a practicing doctor, Tony, a fun loving guy along with his friend Erik, both from Malaysia who had done a few treks before in Nepal, Praul, the youngest and the funniest of the lot and Abnish and Ritesh who were both from IT and were marathoners.
The group was led by the energetic and decent duo Salman and Stenzin who made the entire trip experience for them worth millions.
Experience with Thrillophilia:
Umesh described the experience of booking for the trek with Thrillophilia as smooth sailing. He says, “You know how it used to be earlier. You had to directly talk to the organizers or take the responsibility on your shoulders, but Thrillophilia made it all easy for me and my wife. They created a WhatsApp group with all the fellow travelers and leaders in it and reaching out was never that easy before. The professionalism impressed us throughout, even during the trek and you need that kind of confidence with the third party more than on yourself.”
He further adds, “Money was another issue that’s why I chose to book through Thrillophilia because had I booked directly with the operator, it would have been a concern.”
Words for the Readers:
“You know, this was not my first time in Ladakh. I had been here twice because it always attracted me. It has a certain charm that you just cannot find anywhere else and I intend to go back there again. It always feels like I am at a different place altogether. Besides, Thrillophilia made it so easy for us. Trips like Himachal or Kashmir excursions are okay as you go with the flow. But when you are planning on something this adventurous like this, you really need everything planned and managed to the very last detail, something an only experienced guide will do it for you.”
Best Selling Domestic Tour Packages
Best Selling North India Tour Packages
Best Selling Himalayan Treks
Exciting Offer: Get 40% Off on Pawna Lake Camping.
