Elevation: 11,480 ft / 3,500 m

Stay: On your own (we will guide you to good options)

To ensure the expedition runs smoothly and safely, we strongly recommend arriving at least 48 hours before Day 1.

This buffer allows your body to acclimate to Ladakh’s altitude gradually and significantly reduces the risk of AMS as we move higher.

This is a full rest day. Walk around the market, hydrate well,  and avoid overexertion or alcohol.

Acclimatisation Walk + Traditional Ladakhi Dinner

Morning:

We meet the team informally today. Nothing official, just introductions and a slow acclimatisation walk to a nearby viewpoint (Shanti Stupa / Leh Palace trail / Tsemo).

This helps your body “switch on” to altitude movement without strain.

Evening:

We host you for a traditional Ladakhi dinner in a local family home, thukpa, skyu, butter tea, and fresh vegetables from their greenhouse.

It’s warm, grounding, and gives you a sense of Ladakhi hospitality before we begin the expedition rhythm.

Stay: On your own (we will suggest neighbourhoods and hotels)

Dinner: On us

This marks the formal beginning of the expedition.

We gather in the late afternoon for:

• Full route briefing
• Weather window discussion
• Load ferry structure
• Rope/ice axe/crampon handling
• Layering & packing system
• Safety systems (turnaround time, pace, hydration, red flags)

Then we go through every single item of your gear, checking the fit and compatibility, and filling any gaps from Leh’s gear shops.

The idea is simple:

Nobody leaves Leh underprepared.

Drive: Leh to Chilling (3 hrs)

Trek: Chilling to Skiu (~9–10 km)

Starting Elevation: 11,480 ft / 3,500 m

Ending Elevation: 11,150 ft / 3,400 m

We drive along the Indus and Zanskar rivers until the road ends at Chilling, a tiny settlement that feels like the edge of the known world.

Once we cross the bridge, the expedition finally begins on foot.

The walk to Skiu is gentle, easing you into Ladakh’s landscape: narrow gorges, sections carved out by the Zanskar, and silence broken only by the wind.

By late afternoon, we reach Skiu, with its poplar-lined lanes, old stone homes, and that distinct Ladakhi calm.

This is the first night we camp as a team.

Distance: ~16 km

Elevation: 11,150 ft / 3400m → 12,370 ft / 3,770 m

A long but gorgeous day.

This is classic Markha Valley terrain with wide-open sections where the river braids, deep canyon-like segments, and ancient chortens marking the way.

It’s a steady walk with minor undulations, nothing steep, but the distance makes the day feel full.

We cross several wooden bridges and small hamlet clusters.

Markha itself is one of the prettiest villages in all of Ladakh, with buckwheat fields, stone houses, a monastery above the settlement, and blue skies stretching endlessly.

Tonight, you’ll really feel the shift with the air, thinner, the mountains closer, and the expedition energy settling in.

Distance: ~ 12–14 km

Elevation: 12,370 ft / 3770 m→ 13,850 ft / 4,220 m

The terrain now changes.

The valley narrows, the trail climbs more steadily, and views of Kongmaru La and Kang Yatse II & I begin to appear at a distance.

This is also the day you’ll notice your breathing change, shortness, deeper breaths, and the need to pace steadily.

We pass Hankar village, then the last settlement before the high mountains truly begin.

Thachungtse is a quiet, open, windy, high-grazing meadow used by shepherds.

A perfect halfway point before the mountain reveals itself.

Distance: ~6–7 km

Elevation: 13,850 ft / 4220 m → 15,750 ft / 4,800 m

This is one of the most exciting days.

As we climb to Base Camp, Kang Yatse I slowly rises into full view with a clean, elegant snow pyramid dominating the valley.

From here, everything revolves around altitude, discipline, and measured movement.

Base Camp is a wide moraine field with views of both summits (KY II & KY I).

We settle in, organise loads, and begin preparing for the expedition phase.

Tonight, the temperature drops sharply, welcoming you to life above 4,800 m.

Elevation: 15,750 ft / 4,800 m

A crucial day.

We climb a few hundred metres to activate the body, practice crampon walking, ice axe use, rope systems, and load carrying techniques.

The idea is simple:

On a 6,000er, skills matter as much as fitness.

The afternoon is for resting, hydrating, and an early dinner.

Summit teams learn to switch to “expedition mode” with efficiency, routine, and discipline.

Elevation: Base Camp 15,700 ft / 4,800 m → ABC 17,060 ft / 5,200 m

This is your first real test.

Carrying a load at altitude teaches you more about yourself than any gym session ever will.

The trail is steep, winding through moraine and loose rock.

Above 5,000 m, everything slows down; even tying your shoelaces feels like a task.

We drop our loads at ABC, take a short break, and descend to Base Camp.

This rotation is what allows proper acclimatisation.

Elevation: 15,700 ft / 4,800 m → 17,060 ft / 5,200 m

We pack up our personal gear and move to Advance Base Camp.

ABC is minimal with just the team, the mountain, and silence.

Nights are colder, winds are stronger, and the summit wall feels close enough to touch.

Dinner is early.

We check gear, pack summit packs, confirm weather conditions, and sleep as early as possible.

Summit camp ~ 18,700 ft / 5,700 m

Summit: 20,955 ft / 6,387 m

Return to Base Camp: 15,750 ft / 4,800 m

This is the big day, long, slow, mentally heavy, and advantageous.

The approach

We climb the snow dome in roped teams.

The gradient is steady but constant, with no flat breaks or manageable sections.

This is where your months of training finally matter.

The final shoulder

Just before the summit push, the angle increases.

Ice axe work gets real.

Breathing is loud, slow, and deliberate.

The summit

Kang Yatse I offers one of the best summit views in Ladakh:

• K2 side of the Karakoram
• Stok range
• Zanskar ranges
• Tibetan plateau light
• And Kang Yatse II rising beside you

We don’t stay long as the winds are unpredictable at 6,300+ m.

The descent

This is the hardest part of the entire expedition.

It’s long, draining, and demands full attention.

We return to ABC, regroup briefly, then descend all the way to Base Camp to sleep low.

Distance: ~ 16–18 km

Elevation: 15,700 ft / 4,800 m → Cross Kongmaru La 17,320 ft / 5,280 m → 12,795 ft / 3,900 m

Kongmaru La is a spectacular exit with red rock canyons, deep gorges, and wild Ladakhi landscapes.

After days of snow and ice, the desert warmth feels like another world entirely.

From Chokdo, we drive back to Leh and check in.

Showers, hot food, and absolute beds feel unreal after the expedition.

Climbing Kang Yatse I is not a “tough trek.” It is a full-scale 6,000-metre mountaineering expedition with load ferries, technical sections, glacier travel, and long summit hours at extreme altitude.

We take your safety seriously, and we expect you to take your preparation just as seriously.

Here’s what we expect from every participant:

1. Arrive prepared: physically, mentally, and with intent.

This climb demands more than general fitness.

You should already be:

• Comfortable with long days (6–8 hours) on steep terrain
• Able to carry 10–12 kg at altitude during load ferries
• Noticing how your body responds above 4,000–5,000 m
• Aware that some days will feel slow, heavy, and uncomfortable

A 6,000er pushes your mind far more than your legs.

2. Be willing to train consistently for 2-3 months.

Once you register, we give you a structured training plan and add you to a training group.

But it only works if you show up for yourself.

Your summit window depends on your preparation.

So does the safety of the entire rope team.

3. Respect the expedition rhythm.

Mountaineering has its own discipline:

• Early nights, early mornings
• Hydration and nutrition, even when you don’t feel like it
• Listening to your guide and rope leader
• Moving efficiently, not fast
• Accepting that sometimes the weather decides for us

We expect you to embrace the routine, not resist it.

4. Be a good rope-team member.

On summit day, your behaviour affects everyone tied to the rope.

We expect you to:

• Maintain a steady pace
• Communicate honestly
• Keep your gear ready and organised
• Follow safety instructions instantly
• Hold your line, especially during steeper or exposed sections

A rope team works only when everyone shows up as a professional.

5. Trust the process, and stay adaptable.

Altitude, weather, and mountain conditions can change plans overnight.

You may:

• Repeat acclimatisation hikes
• Wait out weather windows
• Shift summit day
• Turn around if safety dictates

We expect you to trust the expedition leader’s calls without negotiation.

These decisions are made for your safety.

6. Respect the people and the mountains.

From the local staff to the high-altitude porters, this mountain runs on teamwork.

We expect:

• Courtesy
• Patience
• Leaving No Trace
• No shortcuts
• Genuine respect for local culture

7. Come with the right spirit.

This is not a luxury trip.

This is not a “show up and get carried to the summit” expedition.

It’s hard work.

It’s long days.

It’s cold mornings, heavy boots, slow breaths, and honest effort.

If that excites you, you belong on this expedition.

Climbing Kang Yatse I requires a different level of preparation than trekking.

Here’s the fitness benchmark you should meet before arriving in Leh.

1. Aerobic Endurance

You should be able to perform comfortably:

• An easy-paced run for 90-120 minutes or
• 10 km brisk walk in under 100 minutes or
• Stair climb: 1,000–1,200 stairs in 30–35 minutes

This tells us your engine is ready for sustained exertion at altitude.

2. Strength & Load Carrying

You must be capable of:

• Carrying 10–12 kg for 3–4 hours
• (simulating load-ferry days)
• Performing leg strength movements like squats, lunges, step-ups (3–4 sets of 15–20 reps)
• Holding a plank for at least 90 seconds

Summit day requires strong legs and a stable core so your form doesn’t collapse on snow slopes.

3. Altitude Response

Though we cannot test this beforehand, you should have:

• Prior experience above 4,500 m, OR
• Strong multi-day trekking background (5–7 day treks)

This expedition is not suitable for first-time trekkers.

4. Mobility & Balance

You must have basic agility for:

• Moving on moraine
• Snow slopes
• Rock sections
• Knife-edge ridges
• Walking in mountaineering boots & crampons

We don’t need elite athletes; we just need people who can move well.

5. Mental Preparedness

This is half the expedition.

You should be comfortable with:

• Slow, deliberate movement
• High-altitude discomfort
• Very early starts (midnight/1 am on summit day)
• Freezing temperatures
• Turn-around decisions if safety demands

Your mental resilience is just as crucial as your VO2 max

This is a sample training plan. Once you register, we provide a detailed personalised plan and add you to our closed WhatsApp training group, where we monitor progress every 15 days.

Weeks 1–4: Foundation

• 3–4 aerobic sessions per week
• 2 strength and mobility sessions
• 1 long hike/walk with a 6–8 kg pack

Weeks 5–8: Build Phase

• 4 aerobic sessions (longer zones 2–3)
• 2–3 strength sessions
• 1 long hike with an 8–10 kg pack

Weeks 9–12: Peak Phase

• Simulate load ferry days.
• 10–12 kg pack hikes
• Stair climbing
• Snow-walking practice (if possible)