Trek Kangri 2019/20 Challenge Brochure

Action Challenge has been leading inspirational team adventures across the globe for individuals, private groups, charities and corporate clients since 1999. Our trips enable people to experience the world’s most exhilarating locations, often in aid of charity. At the heart of every challenge is team spirit and fulfilment; together we take on once-in-a-lifetime adventures, achieve formidable goals and forge friendships for life. Trek

About Action Challenge

Since 1999 Action Challenge has been operating unique group challenge events the world over. Our head office in London is staffed by a highly experienced, passionate team focused on developing and delivering inspirational adventures. We operate a host of varied itineraries across all seven continents, from rainforest to desert, mountain to jungle, snow to sea. Our adventures are fantastic group experiences, which can be enjoyed by anyone who is looking for a new challenge. We are proud of the lengths we go to, to bring you memories you will not find elsewhere!The majority of our head office have climbed Kilimanjaro and love nothing more than talking about their experience on the mountain! So please contact the Action Challenge team directly to ask any questions or discuss your challenge, by contacting us on the details below. Why Choose Us?

1) 100% ATOL BONDED - DON’T RISK ANYTHING ELSE!

Why We are 100% Choose ATOL (Air Travel Organiser’s Us? Licence) bonded - ATOL number 6296

 Offers full financial protection by the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) for clients who have booked package trips, including flights “It is not the mountain we conquer, What’s Not Include2) UK LEADERS OR MEDICS ON butEVERY ourselves”. CHALLENGE

 Qualified UK Leaders - we employ great characters, with deep experience, who have a — Sir Edmund Hillary real passion for what they do - offer guidance, support and provide daily briefings and warm ups  Leaders have great experience running our challenges

 Equipped with Satellite Phones

3) EXPERIENCED LOCAL TEAM

 Local team of guides and crew - extremely experienced with working with Action Challenge groups. Incredibly supportive and great fun!  They know every route like the back of their hands!

4) 100% TRANSPARENT ON PRICE

 All-inclusive packages with flights or land only and connecting private transfers - we have built up a portfolio of reputable airlines and local ground operators  Best value prices without compromising on quality, comfort, or safety

 All known flight taxes at time of booking included in package price

5) RESPONSIBLE TOURISM

 We work very closely with our local team to ensure fair pay & treatment of all crew.

 We’re members of IMEC (The International Mountain Explorer’s Connection), which promotes sustainable tourism  Partners with KGSF (Kilimanjaro Guide Scholarship Fund), providing guides with educational scholarships and better career prospects. Why Choose Us?

6) BRIEFINGS AND TRAINING WEEKENDS

Why Challenge briefingsChoose in central London Us? - find out about life on the mountain and what to Expect, meet the team and ask us any burning questions you may have!  Training weekends in Snowdonia , Brecon Beacons and the Peak District, plus join us on our special Snowdon Night Summit to replicate summit night Kilimanjaro  Training Walks in London, North and South Downs

“It is not the mountain we conquer, What’s Not Include7) OUR CLIENTS AND REPUTATIONbut ourselves”.

 Members of the Institute of Fundraising - a code of practice that all reputable companies — Sir Edmund Hillary organising charitable events should adhere to.  15 years experience organising challenge events worldwide, taking over 15,000 individuals on challenges across the globe, with over £50 million raised for over 300 UK charities.  Working with and organising challenges for the UK’s leading charities and major UK companies including Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity, DHL, Knight

8) DISCOUNTS ON KIT, VACCINATIONS & INSURANCE

 Save money by hiring your kit from our partner Kit Hire Company Outdoor Hire

 Receive up to 15% discount on kit and equipment purchases at leading outdoor retailers.

9) COMFORT

 Private airport transfers to your hotel.

 Accommodation: Hotels either side of climb - 3* with swimming pool /

 Camp in comfort—large 3-man tents & camping mats & back-country kitchen

10) FOOD & DRINK

 3 fresh and well-cooked meals every day - lots of surprise home comforts and great menus!

 Celebration dinner at end of trek!

 Minimum of 3 litres of purified / clean water a day. Trek Stok Kangri

Stok Kangri towers over the Stok range in the Indian , at 6,153m. This is the perfect climb for those looking to push themselves further having completed a Kilimanjaro or Everest Base Camp challenge, or for anyone with some trekking experience to take on a 6,000m+ peak! Your challenge starts at 3,500m in , with its Tibetan influences, in Northern ’s region. This 15 day itinerary has been specially tailored with a real focus on adventure, authentic rural experience and western comforts while ascending at a rate suitable for adequate acclimatisation.

DAY 1 DEPARTURE We will meet our group and Action Challenge staff at the airport and check in together before boarding our flight to India.

DAY 2 ARRIVE LEH 3500m Arrive in Leh, the Capital of Ladakh, in the morning. Spend the day resting or having a wonder around the town. At the hotel we have a briefing from our Action Challenge leader, head lo- cal guide and UK Doctor. In the evening we have a welcome meal and relax before our departure on the challenge of a life- time. Leh lies at an altitude of 3500m, so the acclimatisation has already begun!

DAY 3 EXPLORING THE INDUS VALLEY 3500m Today we explore some of the cultural and historic sites in Leh and the surrounding areas. We’ll visit the Monasteries of , Rising and , at altitudes of between 3200m and 3650m. The day involves driving, with optional walks. Lunch in a restaurant in Alchi, overnight in Leh.

Trek Stok Kangri

DAY 4 KARDUNG LA PASS 5380m Today, we further our acclimatisation with a jeep drive up to the 5380 metre , one of the world’s highest road passes. This high pass in the mountains to the north of Leh leads into the Valley, which has until recently been closed to foreign visitors. The near 2000 metre climb to the pass provides panoramic views of the Range beyond the Indus Valley, with Stok Kangri standing out prominently as one of the higher peaks in the range. At the pass itself, there are views of the little-known peaks of the Eastern Karakoram. After taking tea at the pass, gasping in the thin atmosphere, we return to our hotel in Leh.

DAY 5 SUMDO 3700m The start of the expedition phase of the trip! We leave Leh by vehicle and head towards the small village of Samdo. En route we stop off at Gompa, and ancient Monastery with very similar architectural style to the Potala Palace in Tibet. We continue of rough roads towards out start point of the trek, the village of Sumdo, 3700m. We will spend the night under canvas on the outskirts of the village after enjoying a short and easy acclimatisation walk up the valley.

DAY 6 SUMDO PHU 4200m Today is a wonderful day of trekking. We start out walking along the jeep track that passes through the village before tak- ing to a network of smaller and narrower paths that head up the valley and into the mountains. We will pass villagers that are tending to their vegetables and, higher up, looking after their flocks. Our camp is situated at the summer pastures at 4200m.

Trek Stok Kangri

DAY 7 MATHO PHU 4500m From Shang Phu, 4200m to Matho Phu, 4500m, over the high pass Shang La 4850m. 5-6 hours of trekking. From our camp we climb higher to the Shang La, 4850m, and enjoy the spectacular views of the snowy peaks that surround the valley, including Matho Kangri 5800m and Stop Kangri 6153m. After enjoying the views we descend to our overnight camp at Matho Phu. This is the valley where the villagers of Matho spend the summer with their flocks of sheep and yaks. In this area we have a chance to see Golden Eagles, Marmots and Bharal (Blue Sheep). Matho Phu will be our campsite for the next 2 nights, 4500m

DAY 8 ACCLIMATISATION DAY 5300m Acclimatisation day. After enjoying a later breakfast we spend part of the day undertaking an acclimatisation walk towards snowy peak of Matho Kangri. We’ll try to gain good height and reach 5300-5400m. We will camp for a second night at Matho Phu 4500m.

DAY 9 SMANKARMO 4380m Today we trek into the Stok Valley, 5-6 hours of trekking. A shorts walk from our camp in Matho Phu we head towards the base of Matho La. We gently climb towards the top of Matho La 4800m. This area is often covered with tiny flowers and flowering bushes, bright patterns of yellow, pink and blue can be seen. From the top of the pass we gently descend, for about half an hour towards our camp at Smankarmo, 4380m.

DAY 10 STOK KANGRI BASE CAMP 4900m Today we have a relatively short walk up to Stok Kangri Base Camp, 4900m. The base camp is situated on a grassy area besides small streams that flow from the Stok Glacier. The afternoon can be spent relaxing, or by taking short walks to explore the area and take in the views of the surrounding peaks.

Trek Stok Kangri

DAY 11 ACCLIMATISATION 5400m Tomorrow is the big day, so it’s important to prepare, rest and acclimatise to ensure we have the highest chances of success. Our leadership team will give instruction on the simple techniques needed for the main ascent, and there will be opportunities for walks above basecamp to further aid acclimatisation and to gain views of Stok Kangri and our route. We will eat and rest well before getting an early night at Base Camp.

DAY 12 STOK KANGRI SUMMIT 6120m The summit push is long and hard, but is rewarded by wonderful views over the vast views over the Karakorum and Himalayas. We will depart in the early hours of the morning following a hearty breakfast. The climb starts gradually upwards for ~3 hours where we meet and cross the Stok Glacier. We continue upwards towards 5700m, from where we traverse more steeply up to the exposed ridge-line on the left-hand side of the summit. A rocky, and sometimes icy, final scramble brings us to the summit. The route isn’t technical, but the cold and altitude will make it hard work. After catching our breath and admiring the incredible views we careful start our descent back down to Base Camp. We’ll be back in Base Camp for a warm brunch and spend the rest of the day catching up on rest and sleep.

DAY 13 STOK VILLAGE 3497m Our last day of trekking. We descend a stunning valley past colourful rock formations and through a gorge before the val- ley widens and we enter the village of Stok. Our transport will be waiting to transfer us to Leh for a hot shower and a much needed Celebration Meal. Trek Stok Kangri

DAY 14 DELHI We depart from Leh on a morning flight to Delhi. We then transfer to a comfortable airport accessible hotel. You have the choice to simple relax at the hotel, or enjoy what this incredible bustling city has to offer! In the evening there is the chance for one more spectacular meal.

DAY 15 DEPART DELHI We depart on a morning flight back to the UK.

Need to know

WHAT’S INCLUDED?  International and domestic flights  Action Challenge Mountain Leader  Action Challenge UK Medic  Full support team, including local guides, Sherpas and donkeys  All accommodation & camping, on a twin-share basis  All meals, except in free time  Drinking water  Airline taxes (except fuel surcharges)  All transfers in local vehicles  National Park entrance fees  Free time in Delhi & Leh and celebration dinner in Leh  Pre-challenge briefing in London  Discounted UK training weekends  Fitness and training guide  Discounts from UK retailers - Cotswold Outdoor, Trek Hire & more  Reduced rates at Nomad Travel Clinics and Masta Health

FOOD Breakfasts each morning will be at our accommodation/campsite. Lunches will be en route and evening meals will be at our night’s accommodation or in a mess tent at the campsite. Variety in the menu at this altitude is limited, but we attempt to offer a mix of typical Indian and dishes with an international influence. Please let us know if you have any dietary requirements in advance.

ACCOMMODATION  4/5 nights in comfortable 2 - 3* hotels in Delhi & Leh.  9 nights in well-equipped 2-person tents.

All accommodation is on a twin-share, single-sex basis and we will pair you with someone of a similar age, where possible.

If you wish to share a room with someone you are travelling with, please specify this on your registration form.

If you decide that you would like to have your own room on the challenge, we can accommodate this in the majority of places.

BESPOKE TRIPS If you are a charity, business, school or private group with a minimum of 10 people and fancy your own bespoke trip, please get in touch with our team.

BOOKING YOUR OWN FLIGHTS If you are planning on travelling to the India before the challenge or wish to organise your own flights, we do offer a land-only option, with a significant discount off the trip price. You will be required to meet your group at the hotel on day two of the itinerary.