Where Next: Back to Ladakh!

Being at a loose end on a Wednesday evening proved dangerous….. I booked the last place on Exodus’s Peaks of Ladakh.

Destination: Ladakh, Northern India

When: July 2022

What: A high altitude trek plus a couple of peaks, hopefully including Vatseri Peak (5,640m) and Dzo Jongo East (6,189m)

How: Exodus’s Peaks of Ladakh trip. (You’ll have to go look it up for yourselves – Exodus asked me to remove my links to their website.)

Why: Val Parkinson’s leading it and I’ve wanted to go back to Ladakh ever since our wonderful Autumn in Ladakh in 2016, organised by the other/usual-trek Val (Pitkethly) and Rimo Expeditions.

Day 7 of our Markha Valley Trek took us from Nimaling (4700m), over the Gongmaru La / Kongmaru La (5287m) and out via Chuskyumo (4089m) to Chokdo / Chogdo (3985m) [spelling and altitudes are from my blogpost for that trip] – and I’ve realised that some of my photos from the pass feature Dzo Jongo East (6,189m).

Dzo Jongo is the big lump, sort of in the just-left-of-centre / foreground; Kang Yatse on the right.

Pema arrives at the Gongmaru La
Pema arrives at the Gongmaru La

Itinerary:

Out/back via Delhi, acclimatisation in Leh then ten-ish days trekking and climbing.

  1. Train to London / Overnight flight to Delhi
  2. Day in Delhi
  3. Fly to Leh (3500m) / Orientation tour of Leh
  4. Sightseeing in and around Leh (3500m) – Shey & Tikse
  5. Acclimatisation in and around Leh (3500m) – Optional Jeep Ride to Khardung La (5,602m) & Acclimatisation walk Leh Valley
  6. Drive to Stok; Trek to Mankarmo (4,350m)
  7. Cross the Matho La (4,960m) to Gangpoche (4,440m)
  8. Cross the Shang La (4,950m) to Shang Phu (4,373m)
  9. Cross the Gyuncho La (4,718m) & second col (4,693m) to Chokdo village (on Markha Valley Trek), Chuskurmo (4,150m)
  10. Cross the Gongmaru La (5,236m) to Nimaling (4,854m)
  11. Trek to Dzo Jongo Base Camp; Ascend Vatseri Peak (5,640m) – optional
  12. Rest & Acclimatisation Day
  13. Climb Dzo Jongo East (6,189m)
  14. Cross the Lalung La (5,320m) to Riyul Sumdo (4,500m)
  15. Trek to Lato; Drive to Leh
  16. Fly to Delhi.
  17. Fly to London

Very Excited.

But I have just mucked up my Tourist Visa Application. Let’s hope 4 months is enough time to sort it out.

The To Do List

  • Tourist Visa – see above….
  • COVID – Proof of vaccination for entry into India – NHS COVID Pass
  • Travel Insurance – I’ll probably go with the Campbell Irvine policy offered via Exodus as that will definitely cover this trip (winter sports / climbing + altitude) plus Picos and Nepal (hopefully) later in the year.
  • Travel money – I decide how much and in what form nearer the time.
  • Travel to/from London – keeping an eye out for Advance train fares….
  • Pay the trip balance – in the diary for May.
  • Maps?
  • Remind my self how to use an ice axe.

The Done! List