A trip to the Purple Valley at Stok Kangri

From the Changma campsite, where we came from the starting point of the trek to Stok Kangri – Stoku, we easily climb to a rocky promontory, the crossing of which significantly shortens the path along the river. In fact, it's like crossing two small passes. From here there is a view of the first one

Finally, we are on the edge of the promontory and a nice view of the valley opens up, which we will continue on.

Same place, but instead of looking into the valley look back to the pass

After about a kilometer walk from the Changma camp, we are back by the water

After a few hundred meters, the valley turns sharply and opens up new views. In front of us is a massif of flat purple hills, which we will later climb.

Although we are already relatively high, Srok Kangri still exceeds us by two kilometers. The peak itself and its surroundings are also such a magnet for bad weather. It's nice everywhere else and not here. After less than three quarters of a kilometer, we reach the mouth of the „Purple Valley“. We will miss that for now. You lead through it one of the alternative routes through the Stok La saddle

At the confluence of almost equally large valleys is camp No. 2 – height 4,280 m above sea level. However, most expeditions or caravans continue straight through the main valley to BC Mankarmo a hundred meters higher. We leave the route under Stok Kangri in these places and set out up this deserted side valley

We leave the valley and climb comfortably upwards through comfortable terrain as we wish. It's the best part of this trip. With increasing meters, the view of this desolate landscape of flat ridges alternating with sharp rocks opens up more and more.

The path climbs to the top, about 4,600 meters above sea level, from where you can see on the horizon to the Indus Valley and further to the Ladakh Range.

The snow-capped peaks of the Stok Mountains can also be seen across the side

You can also see the top of Stok Kangri from a little known angle

From the top we descend to a shallow saddle from where we decide not to return the same way but to descend a relatively steep slope directly into the purple valley below us.

The descent is quite steep at the beginning – good shoes and trekking poles are basically a necessity. At the bottom you will find a footpath and at the confluence with the main valley you will come across a path that you came here