GUNUNG · India

Stok Kangri

Stok Kangri (སྟོག་གངས་རི)

Information

Elevation: 6.153 m
Country: India (IN)
Location / Range: Stok Range (part of the Zanskar Mountains) — Ladakh, India; about 15 km south of Leh
Mountain type: Metamorphic and granite rock peak — a non-volcanic peak in the Stok Range, Ladakh
Volcanic?: No (non-volcanic)
Coordinates: 33.9861, 77.4425
Difficulty: CLOSED TO CLIMBING since August 2020 by the UT Ladakh Administration; previously rated moderate-technical (crampons and ice axe required, but no fixed ropes on the normal route) — achievable by experienced hikers without a professional mountaineering background
Best Season: July–August (when the summit is open); NOTE: climbing has been closed since 2020 — check the official status before planning
Permits & Rules: CLOSED — no permits have been issued since August 2020 by UT Ladakh for ecosystem recovery reasons; previously no special permit was required (open to the public)
Hazards: Altitude sickness (AMS, HACE, HAPE) at elevations >6,000 m; hypothermia; snowy and rocky terrain; climbers often lack sufficient acclimatization from attempting it too quickly from Leh; the area is currently officially closed

Description

Stok Kangri (6,153 m) is the highest peak of the Stok Range in the Zanskar Mountains, standing about 15 km south of Leh city in Ladakh, India. Before its closure, it was the most popular trekking summit in Ladakh and one of the most accessible 6,000 m peaks in the world — offering genuine mountaineering (crampons, ice axe, snow and ice terrain) without requiring fixed ropes or professional technical skill. From the summit, a 360° panorama takes in the Karakoram (K2 on clear days), Himalaya, and the Ladakh plateau. Its extreme popularity — thousands of climbers per season — became its undoing: trampled vegetation, accumulating waste, and severe trail erosion led to the Ladakh UT Administration officially closing Stok Kangri to all climbing in August 2020 for ecosystem recovery. As of 2026, the closure has not been officially lifted. For those wishing to visit the Stok area, the village at the mountain's foot offers Stok Palace Museum and spectacular mountain views without climbing.

Gallery

Foto bersumber dari Wikimedia Commons — klik untuk memperbesar & lihat sumbernya.

Routes

Rute Normal via Stok Village — Base Camp — High Camp (DITUTUP sejak 2020)

DITUTUP — sebelumnya dinilai Moderat-Teknis (PD/AD); memerlukan crampon dan ice axe, tapi tanpa tali tetap; dianggap puncak 6.000 m 'paling accessible' sebelum penutupan

4–5 hari total dari Leh (1 hari ke Stok village + 2 hari ke High Camp + 1 hari summit + 1 hari turun); CATATAN: resmi DITUTUP sejak Agustus 2020

IMPORTANT NOTE: Stok Kangri has been officially CLOSED to all climbing since August 2020 by order of the Ladakh UT Administration — the route information below is for historical documentation only. Before closure, the normal route started from Stok village (3,530 m) about 15 km from Leh, usually reached by taxi from the city. From Stok, trekkers follow the valley to Base Camp (4,890 m) in about 4–5 hours through rocky terrain and alpine meadows. Base Camp is a critical acclimatisation point — many trekkers spend 1–2 nights there. The next day's trail climbs to High Camp (5,650 m) via a small glacier and rocky slopes. The summit push typically departs very early (1–3 AM) from High Camp, reaching the summit (6,153 m) in 4–6 hours. The upper section involves firm snow and ice at 35–45° slopes where crampons and ice axe are in full use. On clear days the summit view encompasses K2, the Karakoram, the full Himalayan arc, and the high-altitude plateau of Ladakh far below.

Route Segments

1

Leh → Desa Stok (3.530 m)

⏱ 30–45 menit (taksi) 3.530 mdpl
2

Stok Village → Base Camp (4.890 m)

↔ 9 km ↑ 1360 m ⏱ 4–5 jam 4.890 mdpl
3

Base Camp → High Camp (5.650 m)

↑ 760 m ⏱ 4–5 jam 5.650 mdpl
4

High Camp → Puncak (6.153 m) PP

↑ 503 m ⏱ 4–6 jam naik, 2–3 jam turun 6.153 mdpl

Source

Climbing Experiences

Stok Kangri was once a dream destination for millions of trekkers worldwide: a 6,000 m summit 'accessible to anyone' just 15 km from Leh city, reachable on a multi-day trek. Its extraordinary popularity was precisely what led to its closure — since 2020, the peak has been officially shut by the Ladakh administration. The videos below were filmed while the area was still open, and now stand as valuable documents of a climbing experience that can no longer be repeated. Anyone watching them can feel why Stok Kangri was so beloved, and understand why its closure became necessary.

References

The summary above is compiled from the following sources. Click to explore them yourself.