Hike Stok - Changma

It is about 17 kilometers from Leh to Stok. From the beginning, you drive along the Indus River, then climb the ugly bare desert. You have at least a beautiful, undisturbed, view of the Stok Kangri mountain (6,140 m above sea level). Along the way you will pass the former royal palace in Stok

Stok itself is a vast oasis in the Ladakh Desert. The starting point for the trek is at the very western end of the village. There are shops with snacks, they will cook for you here, or you can also arrange donkeys here. Here, too, they may want to see an entry permit.

After leaving the last farm houses, a journey awaits you through the desolate and wide valley of the river Stok

After about 2.5 kilometers of walking you can choose to stay here on the same bank of the river and climb over a rocky promontory or bypass it on the other side of the river.

The path across the promontory is +80 meters high, but again you have a nice view of the path you have already walked and the mountains in the background

The road continues through a slightly monotonously desolate valley

In places where he has life, at least a little chance of survival in this stony desert, small bushy oases arise.

Of interest, not only for geologists, are the local rock formations.

Finally, we are at Changma Camp, located at a crossroads. One road from here leads to the Stok La saddle, the more frequented direction Stok Kangri