The Kang Yatse II 6240m or Kang Yatze located at the East end of the Markha valley region of Ladakh just above Nimaling plains. The Kang Yatse peak is the most dominant peak in Markha valley. The lower western Peak of Kang Yatse II is easier (Alpine PD – Peu Difficile) and more frequently climbed. The main summit of Kang Yatse I required some technical ability. Dzo Jongo is a delight of trekkers as it doesn’t require any technical climbing. If you are seeking for first Himalayan 6000 m peak and away from the crowd that you may see in Stok Kangri peak. This side of Markha remains calm most of the time.

OVERVIEW

ITINERARY

COST

MAP

FAQs

Overview

We start our excellent trek from Chilling after visiting the ancient village of Alchi. Crossing Zanskar River and entering Markha valley. We trek along the Markha river En route we pass through barley fields, beautiful villages, and experiencing the daily life of Ladakh people. We climb to an open pasture of Nimaling and climb gradually to the base camp. With a panoramic view finally ascending to the peak of Kang Yatse II. On a clear sky, the view goes up to K2 and Karakoram range peaks. Finally, we cross the pass of Kongmaru La and descend down to Chuskirmo, Chogdo to Shang. Finally, drive along the right banks of the Indus River to Leh.

ITINERARY
Day 01: Fly Delhi – Leh (3500m). Leh airport pick, check into the hotel. Rest and acclimatize
Day 02: Leh acclimatize: Sight-seeing around Leh
Day 03: Drive Leh – Chilling (3200m) 3-4 hrs, Trek to Skiu (3290m), 3-4 hrs
Day 04: Trek to Markha (3710m), 6-7 hrs
Day 05: Trek to Hankar (3900m) – Thachungtse (4200m), 6-7 hrs
Day 06: Trek to Nimaling (4750m), 5-6 hrs
Day 07: Trek to Base camp (5150m), 5-6 hrs
Day 08: Rest Day / Training
Day 09: Ascend Kang Yatse II 6200m – back to base camp, 9-10 hrs
Day 10: Nimaling / Reserve Day
Day 11: Trek Kongmaru La (5150m) – Chuskirmo (4140m) – Chogdo, 6-7 hrs. Drive Leh 2 hrs.
Day 12: Leh
Day 13: Leh – Delhi flight.

KANG YATSE II (6250M) & DZO JONGO RI EAST (6280m) EXTENSION – 2 summits
Day 01: Fly Delhi – Leh (3500m). Leh airport pickup, check into the hotel. Rest and acclimatize
Day 02: Sight-seeing around Leh
Day 03: Drive Leh – Chilling, Trek to Skiu (3290m)
Day 04: Trek to Markha (3710m)
Day 05: Trek to Hankar 3900m – Thachungtse (4200m)
Day 06: Trek to Nimaling (4750m)
Day 07: Trek to Base camp Kang Yatse (5150m)
Day 08: Rest Day
Day 09: Ascend Kang Yatse II 6240m – back to base camp
Day 10: Trek to Base camp Dzo Jongo (5500m)
Day 11: Rest / preparation / practice
Day 12: Climb Dzo Jongo Ri East and back to Base camp
Day 13: Reserve Day
Day 14: Trek Kongmaru La (5150m) – Chuskirmo – Chogdo, Drive to Shang Sumdo (3660m) – Leh.
Day 15: Leh
Day 16: Leh airport drop. Fly Leh to Delhi.

ITINERARY
Day 1: Delhi – Leh flight / Arrive Leh. Leh airport pickup, check into the hotel. Rest and acclimatize.
Arrive Leh, Leh airport pick up and check into the hotel. The afternoon is free to relax and acclimatize to the altitude of 3500m as well as visit Leh bazaar. visit the Royal Palace of Leh from the 16th century.

Day 2: Leh – Acclimatize / Sight-seeing around Leh
After breakfast, we drive to visit Shey first, then Thiksey. Thiksey monastery, which is 27 km from Hemis. This monastery is the oldest monastery of Gelugpa School in Ladakh. The great Lama Paldan Shesrap built it in the 14th century. Here you can see the big statue of the Future Buddha. Continue to Taktok and Chemdey and return back to visit Hemis monastery which is 45 km far from Leh and it takes 90 minutes to drive. The great Mahasiddha Staktsang Raspa along with great ancestor Singey Namgyal builds this biggest monastery in the 16th century. Continue to Matho then we drive to Stok which is situated opposite Leh at a distance of 14 km, At Stok visit to Royal Palace built in 1825 AD and the palace has great collections of antiquity. Continue to visit Matho situated 10 km from Stok, which has a 10th-century complex. Finally, we drive back to Leh

Day 3: Drive Leh – Chilling (3200m) 3-4 hrs, Trek to Skiu (3290m), 3-4 hrs
Leaving Leh we drive to Chilling, where a bridge over the Zanskar River marks the starting point of today’s route. After the loads were loaded onto the horses, you can loosely with only a small daypack ongoing running. It is necessary to overcome a first small pass (3400 m) before you reach the first large village in the Markha Valley with Skiu.

Day 4: Trek to Markha (3710m), 6-7 hrs
Leaving Skiu today we will have a long, easy and pleasant walk up the Markha valley. We hike along the Markha River and cross numerous adjoining streams. The trail passes through willows, poplar trees, and sea buckthorn bushes. Passing by Chaluk, the last river to be cross before Markha. Markha is a wonderful village which has a charming campsite and deserted fort can be seen from camp,

Day 5: Trek to Hankar (3900m) – Thachungtse (4200m), 6-7 hrs
Leaving Markha today you cross the river several times. We follow the clear path along the right bank and pass beneath the Humlung monastery. A few hours later arrived at the high village of Hankar, continue on the track leaving the broad valley and turning towards the narrow valley. As the trail goes higher and higher up the landscape presents spectacular scenes. Lastly crossing the bridge and continue to higher meadows of Thachungtse.

Day 6: Trek to Nimaling (4750m), 5-6 hrs
Today leaving camp we pass several Mani walls and come across a small lake. From here you have a spectacular view of the two peaks of Kang Yatse. Nimaling is a high pasture ground where you will find herder from Markha valley and Shang Sumdo area graze their livestock during summertime. We will have the opportunity to taste fresh Dzo milk and other milk product to taste. The view of the main Markha valley to the west is wonderful, especially during sunset.

Day 7: Trek to Base camp (5150m), 5-6 hrs
From Nimaling trail up the mountain to reach more high pasture where you will find Dzo and yaks grazing. Through the loose rocks to reach a point where we will get a clear view of Kang Yatse. We establish a base camp near the stream.

Day 8: Rest Day / Training
Today take the day to rest and before noon practice some technical skills which can be useful for next day and in the afternoon take some rest or gain some altitude.

Day 9: Ascend Kang Yatse II 6200m – back to base camp, 10-11 hrs
The summit day. Leaving midnight early approach to the edge of Kang Yatze II. At the beginning walking on scree and moraine than onto snow. At the snowline, crampons are applied and the rise follows. Gradual ascent all the way up except the last few steep parts where you rope up. Reach at the summit by sunrise and enjoy the great view over the Markha Valley to the West and Zanskar to the South, Ladakh & Karakoram to the North. Descent to base camp.

Day 10: Nimaling / Reserve Day
We keep this day as a reserve day or rest day, in case of any bad weather. This day will be used as an alternative.

Day 11: Trek Kongmaru La (5150m) – Chuskirmo (4140m) – Chogdo, 7-8 hrs. Drive to Shang Sumdo (3660m) – Leh 2, 3 hrs.
Today leaving Nimaling, continue on a path where small stream to cross then a gradual climb to the top of the highest pass of our trek, with its wonderful views from the top as far as the eye goes to all directions. On a clear sky, one can see Kangyatse, far across K2 and Karakoram Range and its peak rising above 7000m. Soon after crossing the pass steep and long descent to Chuskirmo. We descend to the small village of Chogdo, we say adieu to our horseman and from here drive to the village of Shang Sumdo and continue to Leh. Check into the hotel, rest, and relax. Evening explores a local bazaar.

Day 12: Leh

Day 13: Leh – Delhi flight.
Morning transfer to airport and flight to Delhi.

REVIEW

“I have completed the Kharnak trek and Kang Yatse II climb from 20th July to 2nd August 2019 with Potala Adventurers, we crossed 5 passes over 5,000 and summitted Kang Yatse II successful, thanks for all the the supported crew, Eshey has done this trek three times and familiar to the trek the route, campsite, monasteries, villages, local peoples and their cultures, he’s very knowledgeable on flora and fauna, a nice and friendly person I am comfortable with, climbing guide Michael has climbed Kang Yatse II several times, he is a calm, cool and confident guy, he is very familiar to all climbing gear and equipment, Sherab took me a lot of photos during the trek and I was so touching for his masala tea serve us at top of the mountain pass, Ravi is a fantastic Cook with prepare different dishes and he ensure I am well fed. Thanks for Prem Singh organize and coordinate all logistic on this trip run smooth.”
Regards / Stanley, Singapore
* Joined Potala Adventurers trek and activities since 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019 *
Mr. Stanley – Singapore – July/August 2019

Trip Highlights

Ladakh trekking peak, Pre-summit superb acclimatization
Spectacular Markha valley
Hemis national park
View of Ladakh & Karakoram range

Itinerary

Day 1:

Delhi - Leh flight / Arrive Leh. Leh airport pickup, check into the hotel. Rest and acclimatize.

Arrive Leh, Leh airport pick up and check into the hotel. The afternoon is free to relax and acclimatize to the altitude of 3500m as well as visit Leh bazaar. visit the Royal Palace of Leh from the 16th century.

Day 2:

Leh - Acclimatize / Sight-seeing around Leh.

After breakfast, we drive to visit Shey first, then Thiksey. Thiksey monastery, which is 27 km from Hemis. This monastery is the oldest monastery of Gelugpa School in Ladakh. The great Lama Paldan Shesrap built it in the 14th century. Here you can see the big statue of the Future Buddha. Continue to Taktok and Chemdey and return back to visit Hemis monastery which is 45 km far from Leh and it takes 90 minutes to drive. The great Mahasiddha Staktsang Raspa along with great ancestor Singey Namgyal builds this biggest monastery in the 16th century. Continue to Matho then we drive to Stok which is situated opposite Leh at a distance of 14 km, At Stok visit to Royal Palace built in 1825 AD and the palace has great collections of antiquity. Continue to visit Matho situated 10 km from Stok, which has a 10th-century complex. Finally, we drive back to Leh.

Day 3:

Drive Leh - Chilling (3200m) 3-4 hrs, Trek to Skiu (3290m), 3-4 hrs.

Leaving Leh we drive to Chilling, where a bridge over the Zanskar River marks the starting point of today’s route. After the loads were loaded onto the horses, you can loosely with only a small daypack ongoing running. It is necessary to overcome a first small pass (3400 m) before you reach the first large village in the Markha Valley with Skiu.

Day 4:

Trek to Markha (3710m), 6-7 hrs.

Leaving Skiu today we will have a long, easy and pleasant walk up the Markha valley. We hike along the Markha River and cross numerous adjoining streams. The trail passes through willows, poplar trees, and sea buckthorn bushes. Passing by Chaluk, the last river to be cross before Markha. Markha is a wonderful village which has a charming campsite and deserted fort can be seen from camp.

Day 5:

Trek to Hankar (3900m) – Thachungtse (4200m), 6-7 hrs.

Leaving Markha today you cross the river several times. We follow the clear path along the right bank and pass beneath the Humlung monastery. A few hours later arrived at the high village of Hankar, continue on the track leaving the broad valley and turning towards the narrow valley. As the trail goes higher and higher up the landscape presents spectacular scenes. Lastly crossing the bridge and continue to higher meadows of Thachungtse.

Day 6:

Trek to Nimaling (4750m), 5-6 hrs.

Today leaving camp we pass several Mani walls and come across a small lake. From here you have a spectacular view of the two peaks of Kang Yatse. Nimaling is a high pasture ground where you will find herder from Markha valley and Shang Sumdo area graze their livestock during summertime. We will have the opportunity to taste fresh Dzo milk and other milk product to taste. The view of the main Markha valley to the west is wonderful, especially during sunset.

Day 7:

Trek to Base camp (5150m), 5-6 hrs.

From Nimaling trail up the mountain to reach more high pasture where you will find Dzo and yaks grazing. Through the loose rocks to reach a point where we will get a clear view of Kang Yatse. We establish a base camp near the stream.

Day 8:

Rest day / Training.

Today take the day to rest and before noon practice some technical skills which can be useful for next day and in the afternoon take some rest or gain some altitude.

Day 9:

Ascend Kang Yatse II 6200m - back to base camp, 10-11 hrs.

The summit day. Leaving midnight early approach to the edge of Kang Yatze II. At the beginning walking on scree and moraine than onto snow. At the snowline, crampons are applied, and the rise follows. Gradual ascent all the way up except the last few steep parts where you rope up. Reach at the summit by sunrise and enjoy the great view over the Markha Valley to the West and Zanskar to the South, Ladakh & Karakoram to the North. Descent to base camp.

Day 10:

Nimaling / Reserve Day.

We keep this day as a reserve day or rest day, in case of any bad weather. This day will be used as an alternative.

Day 11:

Trek Kongmaru La (5150m) - Chuskirmo (4140m) - Chogdo 7-8 Hrs, Drive to Shang Sumdo (3660m) - Leh 2, 3 hrs.

Today leaving Nimaling, continue on a path where small stream to cross then a gradual climb to the top of the highest pass of our trek, with its wonderful views from the top as far as the eye goes to all directions. On a clear sky, one can see Kangyatse, far across K2 and Karakoram Range and its peak rising above 7000m. Soon after crossing the pass steep and long descent to Chuskirmo. We descend to the small village of Chogdo, we say adieu to our horseman and from here drive to the village of Shang Sumdo and continue to Leh. Check into the hotel, rest, and relax. Evening explores a local bazaar.

Day 12:

Leh

Day 13:

Leh - Delhi flight.

Morning transfer to airport and flight to Delhi.