Ascent to Stok La pass

From the end of the village of Stok, it is less than six kilometers through the valley (along the route leading in the direction of the famous mountain Stok Kangri) and about 450 meters to the place where the refreshment Tea Tent stands at the crossroads. The main route to Stok Kangri then descends slightly into the valley and turns left. The road to Stok La leads upwards. After a few tens of meters there is a nice plot where you can set up a tent (approx. 4,050 m above sea level), leave your luggage here and easily go to the Stok La saddle. The photo shows a view back to Tea Tent and the crossroads

The local landscape is made for lovers of rocks of different shapes and colors

There is a crossroads about 150 meters from the camp. The good news is that both roads lead to Stok La Pass. I turn right into a smaller valley. The road leads through a gorge around weathered rocks.

The road slowly leaves the gorge and the landscape opens. This is a look back, towards the gorge

If you want to have better views, you need to continue the ascent south, where the terrain is well passable

The goal can be the top of Stok Peak (4,950 m), about 100 meters above the Stok La saddle

In 15–20 minutes walk from the saddle you will be at the top of Stok Peak, from where the views are much better than from the saddle itself

The view of the Indus Valley is great. The desolate Ladakh Mountains occupy the entire horizon

The peaks of the Stok Mountains are covered with remnants of glaciers, which can be found at altitudes above 5,500 meters above sea level.

You can return the same way or the other path to make the trip more varied