Kang La Trek
The Kang La trek begins in the Miyar valley in Lahaul, famous for its wildflowers and pristine alpine pastures, and crosses the Kang La pass to the Zanskar valley in Ladakh, a stark alpine world of rock and ice. Lying on the border of Himachal and J&K, Kang La has the longest glacial approach of any pass in the central Himalaya at 24 km. The trail ascends one of the longest glaciers in Himachal Pradesh to access the extremely remote village of Padam in Zanskar, with a total contrast of scenery and culture.
Kang La is made only for experienced trekkers who want to test their limits. The challenges faced in the trek should not be underestimated. You should attempt this trek only If you have already done a trek that climbs to 4700-5000 metres. It is recommended not to opt this trek if you cannot get acclimatized in the mountains of Ladakh. Besides you need to have a strong physical endurance to complete this trek. For details on trek difficulty level, please read on Bikat Rating Scale
A basic mountaineering course is recommended though not mandatory in case of highly experienced & skilled trekkers. At least 2-3 challenging treks along with 20 – 25 total trekking days in the Himalayas. Medical fitness certificate from CMO of a recognized hospital.
How to use an Ice Axe
How to use Climbing boots & Crampons
How to rope up & follow queued climbing/descending
How to self-arrest using an ice axe
Knowledge of Basic First aid
The Kang La Trek starts from the Miyar valley in Lahaul, famous for its wildflowers and pristine alpine pastures, and crosses the Kang La pass to the Zanskar valley in Ladakh, a stark alpine world of rock and ice. The crossing involves traversing the Miyar glacier, which is the longest glacier in Himachal Pradesh.
Pre monsoon - May and June
Post monsoon - September and October
Click here for packing list.
The base for Kang La Trek is Manali, which is well connected to Delhi with all kinds of transport (except direct train) and can easily be reached through road or air.
By Road : The road distance from Delhi to Manali is 536 km. There are overnight HRTC buses and Volvos available from ISBT Kashmere Gate, Delhi for Manali. It is a 14 hour journey by bus. You can book your bus tickets online through hrtchp.com or any other bus services available. You can also hire a private taxi or an outstation cab from Delhi.
By Rail : To reach by train, take a direct train from Delhi to Pathankot. Some of the trains that run on this route are Delhi-Pathankot Express, Jammu Tawi Express, Delhi-Dhauladhar Express. You can then take a bus from Pathankot to Manali. Or you can take a connecting train to Joginder Nagar from Pathankot which is the nearest station to Manali. There are buses running frequently between Joginder Nagar and Manali.
By Air : The nearest airport is Bhuntar airport which is located 50 km from Manali. There are taxis available at the airport which will take you to Manali. You can also take local buses that keep running from Bhuntar to Manali at a very regular frequency. Buses are decent and very cheap compared to taxi that can cost you around INR 2000-5000 depending upon the season.
The trip ends at Leh. From Leh, you can take one of several daily flights to Delhi or Srinagar, or go back via road in shared or private taxis. A seat in a shared Tempo Traveler to Manali can cost anything between INR 1500 - INR 3500, depending on the season. From Manali, there are several overnight Volvo buses and HRTC buses to Delhi.
There will be no connectivity after we cross Rohtang Pass on our road journey to Lahaul. After the trek ends, you might get Airtel or BSNL connectivity at Kargil. Once you leave Kargil on the last day, you will lose network again until we reach the outskirts of Leh.
Manali: Manali is the gateway to Solang Valley where you can participate in adventure activities like paragliding, and zorbing in the summer months when the snow melts. Visit the ancient Hadimba Devi Temple which has an interesting mythological tale associated with it. Walk through the charming lanes of Old manali. Visit the bazaar to buy some souvenirs. Jogini Fall and Vashisht Temple are other famous attractions in Manali. You can also visit Rohtang pass while you are in Manali.
Leh: There are so many enchanting places to visit in Leh-Ladakh. You can roam around the town and visit the monasteries; Diskit Gompa, and Lamayuru Monastery. Drive up to the Magnetic Hill and experience the crazy magnetic phenomenon on the hill. The picturesque Nubra Valley will take your breath away. The green oasis villages, the monasteries, the ruined palaces- Turtuk and Bordang; there is a whole different culture in this place. It is 150 km away from Leh. You can take a shared taxi to this route. How can you leave Ladakh without seeing Pangong Lake, the sapphire blue lake? Also, visit Gurdwara Pathar Sahib and Leh Royal Palace.
