Ladakh's Trekking Peaks: Kang Yatse II & Dzo Jongo

Every Stok graduate eventually asks the same question. What next. Kang Yatse II at 6,250 metres and Dzo Jongo near 6,200 metres answer it from opposite sides of the Markha valley. Both stand a full grade above the old Stok walk, asking for crampons, fixed ropes and genuine pacing rather than just lungs. Together they form the natural second step for Indian climbers, harder, quieter and far better training. This guide maps the approach, the money, the permits and the discipline they demand.

The Markha valley approach is half the education. From Leh you drive to the roadhead at Chilling or Shang Sumdo, then walk village to village on a trail that doubles as a homestay circuit. Nights in Markha, Hankar and Nimaling build height gently before base camp near 5,200 metres on the high plateau. Days run five to seven hours with river crossings and monastery detours. By the time you touch rope, the valley has already done half the acclimatisation work.

Acclimatisation in Leh is non-negotiable. Give the capital two to three full nights on arrival, with day walks to Shanti Stupa, the Leh palace and Thiksey monastery for gentle height exposure. Eat light, drink water steadily and skip alcohol for the first days. Anyone arriving by air has jumped nearly 3,500 metres in an hour, which is exactly how a headache becomes a ruined expedition. Rest first, trek later. The summit can wait.

Getting there: fly into Kushok Bakula Rimpochee airport at Leh, with Delhi to Leh one-way fares commonly listing roughly ₹4,000 to ₹8,000 booked early. Overland riders can take the Manali to Leh or Srinagar to Leh highways, with Delhi to Manali Volvos near ₹1,000 to ₹1,500 and onward buses adding ₹700 to ₹1,500 across two road days. Book return flights with flexible dates, since mountain weather delays departures in every season.

What it costs: Leh days run roughly ₹1,500 to ₹2,500 all in, with dorm beds near ₹400 to ₹800, simple meals near ₹250 to ₹500 a day and shared trailhead taxis near ₹200 to ₹500 a seat. Standalone Kang Yatse II departures commonly list roughly ₹53,000 to ₹58,000 plus tax from Leh, while twin peak expeditions adding Dzo Jongo list roughly ₹75,000 to ₹97,000. Town meals, personal insurance, buffer day charges and tips sit outside most packages.

Permits are simpler than rumours suggest but they bind everything. Expedition approval for these peaks runs through registered local operators under the Ladakh mountaineering policy, applied at least 30 days before the start date. The fee band for peaks below 6,500 metres lists roughly ₹1,000 per member for Indian teams, with higher dollar slabs for foreign teams, plus camping and wildlife charges where the route crosses protected ground. No solo expeditions are allowed. Confirm every permit in writing inside your package.

When to go: the window runs July to mid-September, with Kang Yatse II favouring July and August for kinder snow. September brings sharp skies and bitter nights. Avoid late September onward, when fresh snow and cold can shut high camps, and avoid sprint itineraries that skip the valley trek. Weather in the trans Himalaya shifts fast, so every honest operator holds a buffer day or two inside the plan.

Stay safe: read this twice. Acclimatise on the valley walk, fix turnaround times before summit night and honour them when the ridge tempts you onward. Most harm here comes from tired descents, not the climb. Move in small teams with about one guide to two clients on summit day, backed by a certified leader, medical oxygen and a working radio or satellite plan. Buy insurance that names mountaineering above 6,000 metres with helicopter evacuation. Report symptoms early and walk away from any outfit that skips briefings.

The technical bar deserves honesty. Expect glacier travel in rope teams, ice axe arrest practice that must work on demand, fixed line climbing with ascenders and descenders, and long cold hours above 5,500 metres. A prior 5,000 metre summit or a Basic Mountaineering Course certificate is the sensible minimum, not a luxury. Train for eight to twelve weeks with loaded hill walks, running and core strength. Arrive as a climber, not a tourist with new boots.

Foreign readers: Ladakh honours quiet guests. Dress modestly at monasteries, circle shrines clockwise, remove shoes where asked and ask before photographing rituals. Foreign nationals need Protected Area permits for several sectors, arranged by registered operators from passport copies weeks ahead, so carry your passport and deal only with licensed offices. Village homestays keep your money local, which is the economy that sustains these valleys. Carry back all waste without exception.

A twelve day arc looks like this. Days one to three rest and walk around Leh. Days four to eight trek the Markha valley through homestays to base camp. Days nine and ten train on snow and rotate to high camp. Day eleven pushes for the summit in the small hours and descends. Day twelve buffers weather before the drive back to Leh. Twin peak plans add two to three days for Dzo Jongo from the same valley.

Route craft, safety thinking and expedition notes in this guide draw on Dr Satinder Singh Malik's Adventure Tourism in India.