Trek Stok Kangri 2019/20 Challenge Brochure

Action Challenge has been leading inspirational team adventures across the globe for individuals, private groups, charities and corporate clients since 1999. Our trips enable people to experience the world’s most exhilarating locations, often in aid of charity. At the heart of every challenge is team spirit and fulfilment; together we take on once-in-a-lifetime adventures, achieve formidable goals and forge friendships for life.

About Action Challenge

Since 1999 Action Challenge has been operating unique group

challenge events the world over. Our head office in London is staffed

by a highly experienced, passionate team focused on developing and

delivering inspirational adventures. We operate a host of varied

itineraries across all seven continents, from rainforest to desert,

mountain to jungle, snow to sea. Our adventures are fantastic group

experiences, which can be enjoyed by anyone who is looking for a new

challenge. We are proud of the lengths we go to, to bring you

memories you will not find elsewhere!The majority of our head office

have climbed Kilimanjaro and love nothing more than talking about

their experience on the mountain! So please contact the Action

Challenge team directly to ask any questions or discuss your

challenge, by contacting us on the details below.

Trek Stok Kangri

“It is not the mountain we conquer,

but ourselves”.

— Sir Edmund Hillary

What’s Not Include

Why Choose Us?

2) UK LEADERS OR MEDICS ON EVERY CHALLENGE

Qualified UK Leaders - we employ great characters, with deep experience, who have a

real passion for what they do - offer guidance, support and provide daily briefings and

warm ups

Leaders have great experience running our challenges

Equipped with Satellite Phones

4) 100% TRANSPARENT ON PRICE

All-inclusive packages with flights or land only and connecting private transfers - we have built

up a portfolio of reputable airlines and local ground operators

Best value prices without compromising on quality, comfort, or safety

All known flight taxes at time of booking included in package price

3) EXPERIENCED LOCAL TEAM

Local team of guides and crew - extremely experienced with working with Action Challenge

groups. Incredibly supportive and great fun!

They know every route like the back of their hands!

1) 100% ATOL BONDED - DON’T RISK ANYTHING ELSE!

We are 100% ATOL (Air Travel Organiser’s Licence) bonded - ATOL number 6296

Offers full financial protection by the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) for clients who have booked

package trips, including flights

5) RESPONSIBLE TOURISM

We work very closely with our local team to ensure fair pay & treatment of all crew.

We’re members of IMEC (The International Mountain Explorer’s Connection), which

promotes sustainable tourism

Partners with KGSF (Kilimanjaro Guide Scholarship Fund), providing guides with educational

scholarships and better career prospects.

Why Choose Us?

“It is not the mountain we conquer,

but ourselves”.

— Sir Edmund Hillary

What’s Not Include

Why Choose Us?

7) OUR CLIENTS AND REPUTATION

Members of the Institute of Fundraising - a code of practice that all reputable companies

organising charitable events should adhere to.

15 years experience organising challenge events worldwide, taking over 15,000 individuals

on challenges across the globe, with over £50 million raised for over 300 UK charities.

Working with and organising challenges for the UK’s leading charities and major UK

companies including Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity, DHL, Knight

8) DISCOUNTS ON KIT, VACCINATIONS & INSURANCE

Save money by hiring your kit from our partner Kit Hire Company Outdoor Hire

Receive up to 15% discount on kit and equipment purchases at leading outdoor retailers.

6) BRIEFINGS AND TRAINING WEEKENDS

Challenge briefings in central London - find out about life on the mountain and what to

Expect, meet the team and ask us any burning questions you may have!

Training weekends in Snowdonia , Brecon Beacons and the Peak District, plus join us on our

special Snowdon Night Summit to replicate summit night Kilimanjaro

Training Walks in London, North and South Downs

10) FOOD & DRINK

3 fresh and well-cooked meals every day - lots of surprise home comforts and great menus!

Celebration dinner at end of trek!

Minimum of 3 litres of purified / clean water a day.

9) COMFORT

Private airport transfers to your hotel.

Accommodation: Hotels either side of climb - 3* with swimming pool /

Camp in comfort—large 3-man tents & camping mats & back-country kitchen

Why Choose Us?

Trek Stok Kangri

Stok Kangri towers over the Stok range in the Indian Himalayas, at

6,153m. This is the perfect climb for those looking to push

themselves further having completed a Kilimanjaro or Everest Base

Camp challenge, or for anyone with some trekking experience to take

on a 6,000m+ peak!

Your challenge starts at 3,500m in Leh, with its Tibetan influences, in

Northern India’s Ladakh region.

This 15 day itinerary has been specially tailored with a real focus on

adventure, authentic rural experience and western comforts while

ascending at a rate suitable for adequate acclimatisation.

DAY 1 DEPARTURE

We will meet our group and Action Challenge staff at the

airport and check in together before boarding our flight to

India.

DAY 2 ARRIVE LEH 3500m

Arrive in Leh, the Capital of Ladakh, in the morning. Spend the

day resting or having a wonder around the town. At the hotel

we have a briefing from our Action Challenge leader, head lo-

cal guide and UK Doctor. In the evening we have a welcome

meal and relax before our departure on the challenge of a life-

time. Leh lies at an altitude of 3500m, so the acclimatisation

has already begun!

DAY 3 EXPLORING THE INDUS VALLEY 3500m

Today we explore some of the cultural and historic sites in

Leh and the surrounding areas. We’ll visit the Monasteries of

Likir, Rising and Alchi, at altitudes of between 3200m and

3650m. The day involves driving, with optional walks. Lunch in

a restaurant in Alchi, overnight in Leh.

Trek Stok Kangri

DAY 4 KARDUNG LA PASS 5380m

Today, we further our acclimatisation with a jeep drive up to

the 5380 metre Khardung La, one of the world’s highest road

passes. This high pass in the mountains to the north of Leh

leads into the Nubra Valley, which has until recently been

closed to foreign visitors. The near 2000 metre climb to the

pass provides panoramic views of the Zanskar Range beyond

the Indus Valley, with Stok Kangri standing out prominently as

one of the higher peaks in the range. At the pass itself, there

are views of the little-known peaks of the Eastern Karakoram.

After taking tea at the pass, gasping in the thin atmosphere, we

return to our hotel in Leh.

DAY 5 SUMDO 3700m

The start of the expedition phase of the trip! We leave Leh by

vehicle and head towards the small village of Samdo. En route

we stop off at Thiksey Gompa, and ancient Monastery with

very similar architectural style to the Potala Palace in Tibet.

We continue of rough roads towards out start point of the

trek, the village of Sumdo, 3700m. We will spend the night

under canvas on the outskirts of the village after enjoying a

short and easy acclimatisation walk up the valley.

DAY 6 SUMDO PHU 4200m

Today is a wonderful day of trekking. We start out walking

along the jeep track that passes through the village before tak-

ing to a network of smaller and narrower paths that head up

the valley and into the mountains. We will pass villagers that

are tending to their vegetables and, higher up, looking after

their flocks. Our camp is situated at the summer pastures at

4200m.

Trek Stok Kangri

DAY 7 MATHO PHU 4500m

From Shang Phu, 4200m to Matho Phu, 4500m, over the high

pass Shang La 4850m. 5-6 hours of trekking. From our camp

we climb higher to the Shang La, 4850m, and enjoy the

spectacular views of the snowy peaks that surround the valley,

including Matho Kangri 5800m and Stop Kangri 6153m. After

enjoying the views we descend to our overnight camp at

Matho Phu. This is the valley where the villagers of Matho

spend the summer with their flocks of sheep and yaks. In this

area we have a chance to see Golden Eagles, Marmots and

Bharal (Blue Sheep). Matho Phu will be our campsite for the

next 2 nights, 4500m

DAY 8 ACCLIMATISATION DAY 5300m

Acclimatisation day. After enjoying a later breakfast we spend

part of the day undertaking an acclimatisation walk towards

snowy peak of Matho Kangri. We’ll try to gain good height

and reach 5300-5400m. We will camp for a second night at

Matho Phu 4500m.

DAY 9 SMANKARMO 4380m

Today we trek into the Stok Valley, 5-6 hours of trekking. A

shorts walk from our camp in Matho Phu we head towards

the base of Matho La. We gently climb towards the top of

Matho La 4800m. This area is often covered with tiny flowers

and flowering bushes, bright patterns of yellow, pink and blue

can be seen. From the top of the pass we gently descend, for

about half an hour towards our camp at Smankarmo, 4380m.

DAY 10 STOK KANGRI BASE CAMP 4900m

Today we have a relatively short walk up to Stok Kangri Base

Camp, 4900m. The base camp is situated on a grassy area

besides small streams that flow from the Stok Glacier. The

afternoon can be spent relaxing, or by taking short walks to

explore the area and take in the views of the surrounding

peaks.

Trek Stok Kangri

DAY 11 ACCLIMATISATION 5400m

Tomorrow is the big day, so it’s important to prepare, rest

and acclimatise to ensure we have the highest chances of

success. Our leadership team will give instruction on the

simple techniques needed for the main ascent, and there will

be opportunities for walks above basecamp to further aid

acclimatisation and to gain views of Stok Kangri and our route.

We will eat and rest well before getting an early night at Base

Camp.

DAY 12 STOK KANGRI SUMMIT 6120m

The summit push is long and hard, but is rewarded by

wonderful views over the vast views over the Karakorum and

Himalayas. We will depart in the early hours of the morning

following a hearty breakfast. The climb starts gradually

upwards for ~3 hours where we meet and cross the Stok

Glacier. We continue upwards towards 5700m, from where

we traverse more steeply up to the exposed ridge-line on the

left-hand side of the summit. A rocky, and sometimes icy, final

scramble brings us to the summit. The route isn’t technical,

but the cold and altitude will make it hard work. After

catching our breath and admiring the incredible views we

careful start our descent back down to Base Camp. We’ll be

back in Base Camp for a warm brunch and spend the rest of

the day catching up on rest and sleep.

DAY 13 STOK VILLAGE 3497m

Our last day of trekking. We descend a stunning valley past

colourful rock formations and through a gorge before the val-

ley widens and we enter the village of Stok. Our transport will

be waiting to transfer us to Leh for a hot shower and a much

needed Celebration Meal.

Trek Stok Kangri

DAY 14 DELHI

We depart from Leh on a morning flight to Delhi. We then

transfer to a comfortable airport accessible hotel. You have

the choice to simple relax at the hotel, or enjoy what this

incredible bustling city has to offer! In the evening there is the

chance for one more spectacular meal.

DAY 15 DEPART DELHI

We depart on a morning flight back to the UK.

Need to know

WHAT’S INCLUDED?

International and domestic flights

Action Challenge Mountain Leader

Action Challenge UK Medic

Full support team, including local guides, Sherpas and donkeys

All accommodation & camping, on a twin-share basis

All meals, except in free time

Drinking water

Airline taxes (except fuel surcharges)

All transfers in local vehicles

National Park entrance fees

Free time in Delhi & Leh and celebration dinner in Leh

Pre-challenge briefing in London

Discounted UK training weekends

Fitness and training guide

Discounts from UK retailers - Cotswold Outdoor, Trek Hire & more

Reduced rates at Nomad Travel Clinics and Masta Health

FOOD

Breakfasts each morning will be at our accommodation/campsite. Lunches will be en route and evening meals will be at our

night’s accommodation or in a mess tent at the campsite. Variety in the menu at this altitude is limited, but we attempt to offer

a mix of typical Indian and dishes with an international influence. Please let us know if you have any dietary requirements in

advance.

ACCOMMODATION

4/5 nights in comfortable 2 - 3* hotels in Delhi & Leh.

9 nights in well-equipped 2-person tents.

All accommodation is on a twin-share, single-sex basis and we will pair you with someone of a similar age, where possible.

If you wish to share a room with someone you are travelling with, please specify this on your registration form.

If you decide that you would like to have your own room on the challenge, we can accommodate this in the majority of places.

BESPOKE TRIPS

If you are a charity, business, school or private group with a minimum of 10 people and fancy your own bespoke trip, please

get in touch with our team.

BOOKING YOUR OWN FLIGHTS

If you are planning on travelling to the India before the challenge or wish to organise your own flights, we do offer a land-only

option, with a significant discount off the trip price. You will be required to meet your group at the hotel on day two of the

itinerary.