CHAMSER KANGRI
Expedition OverviewThe climb
Towering above the sapphire waters of Lake Tso Moriri on the vast Changthang plateau, Chamser Kangri is one of Ladakh’s highest accessible six-thousand-metre massifs. At 6,622 metres, this glaciated giant offers an uncompromising high-altitude expedition across desolate Trans-Himalayan landscapes bordering Tibet. The objective suits experienced mountaineers who have previously summited a six-thousand-metre peak and want to test their physiological cold endurance at extreme altitude without vertical rock climbing. You follow the remote Rumtse traverse before establishing Base Camp at Skurchu.
Your itinerary follows a fourteen-day wilderness traverse from Rumtse through Kyamar, Tisaling, and Korzok, reaching Skurchu Base Camp at 4,750 metres and Advance Camp at 5,630 metres. The crux comes on summit morning with an alpine start around one in the morning into sub-zero plateau winds. You climb for ten to twelve hours across fractured moraine and sustained forty-two degree névé snow slopes, gaining 992 vertical metres from high camp. Roped teams cross the upper glacier, standing atop the 6,622-metre apex.
Day by day
A fourteen-day wilderness traverse from Rumtse to Tso Moriri, establishing Advance Camp at 5,630 metres before the alpine push to the 6,622-metre summit of Chamser Kangri.
Sleeping altitude, night by night
Tso Moriri progression curve to CHAMSER KANGRI summit ridge
Drive south from Leh along the Indus Valley to the staging village of Rumtse. Conduct baseline medical evaluations and acclimatisation walks along the river canyon before camping.
What's included
All expedition infrastructure across the Changthang plateau is covered, from IMF climbing permits to high-altitude tenting and emergency communications.
Included
- IMF climbing permits & national park fees:Official Indian Mountaineering Foundation peak royalties, Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary permits, and border area clearances.
- Military-grade guide leadership (1:2 ratio):Experienced Ex-HAWS instructors and certified UIAGM/IMF climbing Sherpas maintaining an unyielding 1:2 guide-to-climber ratio.
- Full expedition camping infrastructure:Four-season geodesic mountain tents at Base Camp and High Camp, insulated sub-zero sleeping pads, and heated mess dome.
- Full expedition catering & hot fluids:Freshly cooked high-calorie meals, trail lunches, continuous boiled drinking water, and high-energy hot drinks throughout.
- Group technical safety gear:Dynamic climbing ropes, snow pickets, deadmen snow anchors, and collective glacier safety equipment.
- Emergency medical kit & oxygen apparatus:Emergency supplementary oxygen cylinder, Gamow hyperbaric bag, digital pulse oximeters, and satellite SOS communicator.
Not included
- Personal climbing boots & technical gear:Double mountaineering boots, crampons, ice axe, harness, and -30°C down clothing (available to rent at Leh Base HQ).
- Mandatory high-altitude medical insurance:Insurance policy explicitly covering high-altitude mountaineering and emergency helicopter evacuation up to 7,000 metres.
- Domestic and international flights:Air travel to and from Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport (IXL) in Leh.
- Guide and support staff gratuities:Customary tips pooled and shared directly among climbing Sherpas, base camp cooks, and horsemen.
- Single room supplement in Leh:Private room upgrades in Leh before and after the mountain expedition phase.
- Personal medical supplies:Personal prescriptions, preventative blister pads, Diamox, and personal medications.
What to pack, and what you can rent
Pack personal moisture-wicking base layers, technical alpine outerwear, and cold-weather clothing using our comprehensive kit list. High-grade mountaineering hardware—including 6,000m/8,000m double boots, crampons, ice axes, and sub-zero down sleeping bags—can be fitted and rented directly from our Leh Base HQ locker.
Booking & Cancellation Policies
Payment
A 25% non-refundable deposit confirms your roster placement. Balance is payable 45 days prior to arrival in Leh.
If you cancel
Cancellations outside 45 days forfeit deposit. 45–30 days forfeits 50% of fee. Under 30 days, no refund is granted.
If we cancel
If RRU cancels due to civil restrictions or severe political disruption, 100% of fees paid are credited to future departures.
Common questions
Specific operational guidance for Kang Yatse II (6,250m)
Because the peak rises directly from the high Changthang plateau, temperatures are significantly colder than central Ladakh. Base Camp often drops to minus ten degrees Celsius, while summit night temperatures fall below minus twenty-five with fierce plateau winds.
Ready to climb above Lake Tso Moriri in Changthang?
Consult directly with our veteran military instructors to review your high-altitude experience and reserve your roster spot.
If this one is not right
Compare elevation profiles, duration, and terrain demands across alternative Himalayan itineraries.
Lungser Kangri
The twin and slightly higher summit across the col, offering a slightly longer 15-day itinerary with an additional high camp acclimatisation day for climbers wanting the highest summit in Rupshu.
Mentok Kangri
A lower 6,250m peak on the western shore of Lake Tso Moriri, providing a shorter 11-day snow ascent ideal for climbers stepping into the Changthang region for the first time.
Mount Kun
For climbers who have mastered 6,600m cold endurance, Kun represents the step to 7,000m with technical 65° blue ice climbing in the Zanskar Range.