If you are looking for a short trek in Ladakh and don't want the crowds of Markha then the five day route from Shang Sumdo to Rumbak is extremely attractive. The route walks in the shadow of the Matho Kangri and Stok Kangri peaks with typical rolling grasslands, fast flowing rivers, wildlife and nomadic settlements of sheep and yak. The trek approach is close to Leh making this an ideal one week vacation.
Minimum group size is four for this trek
Who should join this trek?
A good choice for regular hill walkers, moderate level of fitness required. Prior trekking experience is advisable as it is a camping trek. 1) Walking times: average 5 to 6 hours walking per day. 2) Altitude: up to 4,940 metres at the passes and around 4200-4400 metres at the campsites. 3) Terrain: for some of the time following well-travelled trails although also likely to encounter rough and rocky conditions near the passes. 4) Remoteness: the trek is in a remote mountain area but not far from the roadheads at Shang Sumdo, Matho, Stok. There is no mobile phones and wifi connectivity on the trek.
Day 1 Fly in from Delhi to Leh and rest for the day.
Day 2 Acclimatisation rest day - visit monasteries in and around Leh.
Day 3 Leh to Shang Sumdo 3950m We drive from Leh to Shang Sumdo and reach in about 90 minutes. We camp near the river and spend the day acclimatising in and around Shang Sumdo. This second acclimatisation day will help us in our future days.
Day 4 Shang Sumdo 3950m to Shang Phu 4250m 5 to 6 hours We start our trek today - our ponies are waiting for us here and after breakfast we start our first days walk. Today the trail ascend gradually through green fields of wheat and barley following the Shang river, flowing from south of Matho Kangri.The valley heads up a shepherds hut the grasslands around serve as grazing grounds fro yak, sheep and goats. We camp overnight at Shang Phu. There is no pass to cross.
Day 5 Shang Phu 4250m to Gangpoche 41500m across Shang la 4940m 5 to 6 hours The day begins with a long three to four hour climb to the Shang la through a zg zag trail. This area is home to snow leopards, bharal, marmots, golden eagle and a lot of other bird life and wildlife. The view from the top is impressive with the mountain wall of Matho Kangri 5900m just behind and above the pass. The path then descends gradually to the campsite of Gangpoche.
Day 6 Gangpoche to Mancarmo via Matho La 4930 5 to 6 hours This trail travels across the Gangpoche meadows until it reaches the base of Matho la 4350 metres. It then climbs the gentle slopes to the top of Matho La our second pass. The trail steadily ascends to a series of grassy slopes, Yak herders from the nearby villages live in stone settlement at the foot of the pass and the view from the pass is absolute amazing , the popular Stok kangri peak right behind. From the top of Matho La is descends gradually for around 3 km to the campsite of Mankarmo 4480m.
Day 7 Mankarmo 4480m to Rumbak 3900m across Stok La 4900m 6 to 7 hours. Today we have a hard climb to the top of Stok La which has a spectacular view - this is our final pass and then we descend gradually to the the village of Rumbak. We stop for a snack at a tea tent in Rumbak and then walk one hour down to the road head where our transport is waiting drive us back to Leh 2 hour drive.
Day 8 Fly back from Leh to your home city
August 24th to 31st 2024
The cost of the trek is Rs 65,000 plus 5% GST or Rs 68,250 - Leh to Leh - some exclusions apply.
The cost per person for Leh to Leh (8 days ) as per the itinerary given earlier
Costs given above are at current rates of 2023 and may change without notice. Changes if any will be notified 3 months before the trek. Costs include: Transfer by vehicle from Leh to Shang Sumdo (day 3) and pickup from below Rumbak village (day 7) at the end of the trek.
One day monastery visits around Leh – Shey, Thikse, Hemis etc. on day 2 in a private vehicle
Three nights accommodation in Leh on twin sharing basis in a good standard hotel.
All accommodation in tents and meals on trek for five days (day 3 to day 7) as per itinerary; breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Cost of guides/cook/helper/ponyman and ponies as needed for the trek.
Costs not included
Flight Costs from home country to Leh and back.
All meals in Leh not covered.
Airport taxes if any.
Client travel and medical insurance of any kind.
Emergency evacuation costs if needed.
Bottled drinks; boiled, filtered or bottled water; alcohol; snacks etc
Personal clothing and equipment; sleeping bag; duvet /down/ goretek jacket, medicines for personal use etc.
Tips to guides/cook/helper/ponyman at the end of trek
Air Tickets Present cost of air ticket Delhi – Leh – Delhi ranges between Indian Rs 12,000 to Rs 18,000 return. Early bookings will attract lower fares. Some airlines flying to Leh from Delhi are Jet Airways, Air India and Go Air.
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| ITEMS | REMARKS | |
| Duffle Bag | All the equipment listed below other than what you need for the day should be packed into a duffle bag, locked and handed over to the porters in the morning. In case you cannot get a duffle bag in your home country these are available very cheap in Kathmandu and I can help you with this. The duffle bag should not weight more than 10 kgs! | |
| 1 | Sleeping Bag | Warm sleeping bag is needed at least three season rated to 15F |
| 2 | Daypack or Hipbelt | To carry water, one jacket some nuts, chocolates, cap, camera to keep with you in the day, maybe gloves and cap as well, hiking poles etc. |
| 3 | Boots or Trekking Shoes | one pair |
| 4 | Slippers or Sandals for camp | lightweight to wear in the evenings |
| 5 | warm Socks | 2 pairs to carry and one pair to wear |
| 6 | Gloves | one pair |
| 7 | Underwear | 1 to wear and 2 to carry |
| 8 | Warm Cap | one- Wool or fleece is usually good |
| 9 | Heavy jacket | the warmest you can get as nights and early mornings are cold - down is usually preferred otherwise a warm synthetic filled jacket. |
| 10 | Thermal Underwear ( top and bottom) - long johns | inner layer to wear at night and early morning ; |
| 11 | Mid Layer | Usually a jacket of fleece or wool which can be worn over a thermal layer or by itself while walking |
| 12 | T shirts for walking | one to wear and 2 to carry - if the sun is hot you can walk in a T shirt |
| 13 | Trousers /tights etc | one to wear and one to carry light weight preferred |
| 14 | One Rain Jacket /Wind Jacket/Soft Shell jacket | useful in case of wind ... you may need it in light rain though we would usually take shelter and wait for the rain to stop. Our trek is not in the rainy season though some light rain/snow in the late afternoon evenings cannot be ruled out. |
| 15 | Torch or headlamp | one small needed carry one set spare batteries |
| 16 | Sun bloc | one small tube should be ok spf 30 or 50 |
| 17 | some essential medicines | vitamins, headache, fever, pain killers, diamox for altitude, your own specific medicines etc |
| 18 | Hiking poles | if you have bad knees then this is recommended especially on the down hills!! |
| 19 | Water bottle | one no 500 ml or 1 litre is ok you can use the 500 or 600 ml empty coke or pepis bottles |
| 20 | Sun glasses | the sun is strong in the day |
| 21 | Cap for the sun | ditto! |
| 22 | small towel | for baths and wash up in case you can use the hot shower |
| 23 | toothbrush, paste, soap, shampoo, vaseline, comb | and any other toilet items you may need! |
| 24 | wet tissues - wet ones for bathroom | called wet ones in India |
| 25 | some washing powder surf etc small | to wash clothes en route if needed |
| 26 | Nuts, raisins etc all mixed up | can be divided into small packets for daily use |
| 27 | Chocolates /Energy Bars/Amul cheese slices/tea bags | Carry some chocolates or energy bars to have on the way. Amul cheese slices are very useful and can be had as snacks when you are tired of sweets! |
| 28 | Sweets | for energy |
| 29 | Volini gel/ Bengay etc for aches and pains | or any other equivalent |
| 30 | Iodine or chlorine tablets for water purification | available in Kathmandu- this is important as mineral water bottles are expensive; for overseas visitors you can get iodine tablets in REI and other large outdoor outlets |
| 31 | Electral or any other rehydating salts | Carry a few small packets of electrolyte - useful to have mixed with water if dehydrated |
| 32 | some spare plastic bags to pack wet stuff, dirty clothes etc | |
| 33 | Book in case you want to read on the way and IPOd for music optional! | |
| 34 | Two small locks one for your duffle bag and one for your room in case the lodge does not have a lock | |
| 35 | Clothes line with hooks on either side in case you want to hang up your wet clothes to dry outside!! | |
| 36 | Super Glue | To patch up boots that may give way! |
| 37 | Face mask | For dust, cold winds etc available in kathmandu |
| 38 | Extra shoe laces | one pair |
Special Information for the Shang to Rumbak Trek
The Shang to Rumbak trek is a full support camping trek with ponies, guide, cook, helpers. It is not a lodge or tea house trek though there are some tea tents in the season where basic refreshments like noodles, tea, soup etc may be available. Tents with mattresses will be provided every night. Quilts and blankets will not be possible. You will need a warm sleeping bag at least three season. We will have a team of one cook and two helpers who will cook all meals. Food will be basic like porridge, cornflakes, some eggs, chapattis, rice, dal, vegetables etc. All food will be carried from Leh. Our bags and luggage will be carried by ponies supervised by a pony man. Toilets will not be available on the trail. – we will provide toilet tents for the trek.
CANCELLATION POLICY The cancellation policy and refunds available are given below: 0-7 days before the start of the trek =75% 8 -15 days before the start of the trek = 50% 16-30 days before the start of the trek = 35% 31-45 days before the start of the trek = 25% 46 days and above = 15%
IN CASE OF LEAVING THE GROUP If due to illness or any other reason a client has to leave the group and go down or wait at a campsite for the group to pick him/her up on the way back, all expenses including lodging, fooding and any porter/guide related expenses if any are to be borne by the individual client over and above the trek fees paid for the trek. There are also no refunds for leaving a trek before completion.
HIRING OF PONIES ETC In the eventuality of a client needed the services of a pony to come down to lower altitudes, the cost of hiring the pony will be paid by the client.
CAMPSITES ON THE TREK The choice of campsites to be used on the trek will be decided by South Col and clients will have to stay at these designated campsites. Clients are not permitted to choose their own campsites on the route.
TREK ROUTE The trek route and day wise schedule will be fixed by South Col and will have to be followed by the client.
RISKS AND LIABILITY The trek is in a remote mountain area and has certain additional dangers and risks, some of which include: physical exertion for which the client should be prepared; weather extremes subject to sudden and unexpected changes; remoteness from normal medical services; evacuation difficulties. In the event of injury or illness South Col Expeditions (Sujoy Das) or its Staff can, at the clients cost arrange any medical treatment and emergency evacuation service as it or they deem necessary for the health and safety of the client. Waiver of liability form as per link attached to be signed by the client. https://www.southcol.com/waiver-of-liability-release/