RECCE TRIP REPORT OF SKO VALLEY
It is with great pride that we announce the opening of Sko Valley Trek for Domestic and Foreign tourists. This route was recced by ALTOA in AUG 2022 and MHA granted permission for the trek within a year in 2023.
We will promote this as a high value experience. ALTOA will fix a Minimum Selling price (MSP) for all treks in Ladakh, and all members will adhere to rules and minimum rates.
We are making a lot of things mandatory for this trek, for instance, plastic in all forms will be banned for even food rations. We will order woven bags from the village women community to carry our rations. ALTOA has ordered sample bags of various sizes. We will all place our orders for the next season.
Need your expert input and feedback to complete the SOPs, guidelines, responsibilities. Please read and share thoughts.
Let us strive to make Sko Valley Trek a MODEL for Sustainable Mountain Tourism.
RECCE TREK– SKO VALLEY, CHANGTHANG | DATE: 11-18 AUG 2022 | SUBMITTED by ALTOA
This a High-Altitude Trek with average elevations of 5000 meters plus and it remain snow bound and inaccessible for close to 9 months in a year. So, we
have a very short window of max 75 days to operate this trek from 01 JULY till 15 Sep.
DURATION: 75 Days
TREK START DATE: 01 JULY
TREK CLOSE DATE: 15 SEP
NOMADIC ROUTES
The villagers of Phobrang, Yourgo, and Lukung Lalok, Changthang take their livestock – Yak, sheep, and goat to their summer pasturelands in the Sko valley
for 2-3 months. The trekking trail follows the nomadic routes and makes for an interesting set up.
LDATHA DUSHOT FESTIVAL
A festival is organized in Ldatha in Mid-JULY every year where all the villagers assemble to celebrate and offer prayers before they embark on their journey
to the higher valleys with their livestock. The celebration also showcases equestrian sports.
A TREKKING TRAIL with 6 HOLY LAKES
The villagers of Phobrang, Yourgo, and Lukung Lalok, Changthang consider these lakes as holy because the legendry King Kesar travelled these routes, and
the holy lakes derive its name from the King Kesar’s saga.
- Togom Tso (5290m) – Togom in Ladakhi means Horse sadle. It is believed that King Kesar’s sadle dropped here
- Djushub Tso (5440) – Dju in Ladakhi means a Bow. It is believed that King Kesar’s Bow dropped here
- Chota Tso (5360) – Chos in Ladakhi means Prayer.
- Mokpo Gur Gur Tso (5365)
- Ororotse Tso (5370)
- Nymda Tso (5160)
The route also has Guru Padmasambhava – a renowned Buddhist Rimpoche’s footmarks
The route was recced by ALTOA in AUG 2022 and MHA granted permission for the trek within a year in 2023.
TREK ITINERARY AND DETAILS
The Changthang region has great potential for trekking and since the Government of India is keen on opening the border regions for tourism, Ladakh Tourism in collaboration with ALTOA conducted a 7 nights recce trek in the Changthang region of Phobrang which is situated at an altitude of 4500 m. This trek is a high-altitude trek with altitudes ranging from 4500 m – 5600 m. The Highest point is Ororotse pass at 5600 m and all camping sites are located at an altitude of 4900 m plus.
Due to the high-altitude nature of the trek, it is mandatory to acclimatize for 4 days:
1. 2 nights acclimatization in Leh at 3500 m
2. 2 nights acclimatization in Pangong or Phobrang at 4500 m is mandatory to undertake the trek
