Dzo Jongo East is a 6,217m peak in Ladakh's Markha-Hemis sector of the Zanskar Range. The Vertical Tribe runs it as a Leh-to-Leh expedition: a Markha Valley walk-in via Markha and Hankar villages to a base camp at roughly 4,800m in the Nimaling area, a non-technical snow walk-up to the summit ridge, and a descent over Kongmaru La, roughly 5,260m, the highest pass in the Markha Valley, to the Chokdo road head. Graded Alpine PD: crampon and ice-axe terrain on a long snow line, no fixed-rope ridge. Climbed in the same window and on the same Markha approach as Kang Yatse II, but with fewer climbers on the summit line.
Highlights
- It's a non-technical 6,000er. No fixed-rope ridge: a long snow walk to a wide summit, with crampons and an ice axe and roped travel on the glacier sections. One of the gentler 6,000ers in India.
- The quieter peak on the Kang Yatse approach. Dzo Jongo East shares the Markha Valley walk-in and the Nimaling area with Kang Yatse II, but sits on its own base camp with a fraction of the climbers on the summit line.
- The Markha approach is a destination in its own right. Monasteries, mani walls, river crossings, and a final climb to the Nimaling meadows. Many climbers rate the walk-in above the summit day.
Dzo Jongo (E) Peak at a glance
- What is Dzo Jongo East?
- A 6,217m peak in the Markha-Hemis sector of Ladakh's Zanskar Range. Standard route is graded Alpine PD: a non-technical snow walk-up to a wide summit ridge.
- How hard is it?
- Alpine PD, a grade easier than Kang Yatse II. Crampons, ice axe, glacier travel, and a long snow walk to the summit ridge, with no fixed-rope work. What we strongly recommend is altitude: one Himalayan trek on which you slept at 4,500m or higher.
- How does it compare to Kang Yatse II?
- Same Markha Valley approach and same Nimaling area for base, similar altitude (6,217m vs 6,250m), separate base camps a day's move apart. Dzo Jongo East is a grade easier (PD vs PD+), with no fixed-rope ridge, and gets fewer climbers on the summit line.
- When is the best time to climb?
- July to September. Late July through August gives the most stable weather and firm snow on the summit slope.
How difficult is Dzo Jongo (E) Peak, really?
No, not technical. Alpine PD, which here means crampon technique, glacier travel, and a long snow walk to the summit, with no fixed-rope ridge. No prior mountaineering experience is required; we teach the skills at base camp. What we strongly recommend is altitude: one Himalayan trek on which you slept at 4,500m or higher.
- Terrain
- Valley trail through Markha and Hankar villages, then the high pasture toward the Nimaling area. Above base camp: moraine, a broad snow slope, and a wide summit ridge. No fixed ropes on the standard route.
- Altitude
- 6,217m summit, sleeping at 4,800m in the Nimaling area. Leh sits at 3,500m. The descent crosses Kongmaru La at roughly 5,260m, the highest pass in the Markha Valley.
Overview
Dzo Jongo East is climbed off the standard Markha Valley approach. Trail days carry you through Markha, the largest village in the valley, and Hankar, the last village before the high meadows, and up onto the high pasture toward the Nimaling area, where base camp sits at roughly 4,800m. Base camp covers crampon fit, ice-axe self-arrest, and rope-team basics for glacier travel. Summit day is a pre-dawn alpine start: walk up the moraine, onto the broad snow slope above, and follow the line non-technically, crampons and ice axe, no fixed ropes, to a wide summit ridge with views across the Zanskar Range. Descent is back to base camp by midday. The exit crosses Kongmaru La at roughly 5,260m, the highest pass in the Markha Valley, drops to the Chokdo road head, and drives back to Leh.
Who climbs with us
Dzo Jongo is one of our gentler 6,000ers — a non-technical snow walk to a wide summit ridge in the Markha Valley. The base-camp acclimatisation and the non-technical line make it work for climbers who are trek-fit but new to snow.
The route, point by point
| Point | Altitude | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Leh | 3,500m | |
| Markha | 3,800m | Largest village in the Markha Valley |
| Hankar | 3,950m | Last village before high meadows; ruins of an old fort |
| Base Camp (Nimaling area) | ~4,800m | Tented base camp east of the Kang Yatse massif |
| Summit | 6,217m | Wide non-technical snow ridge — no fixed ropes |
| Kongmaru La | ~5,260m | Highest pass in the Markha Valley; descent route |
| Chokdo | 3,800m | Road head; drive back to Leh |
What's included
Included
- Transport — Leh to last road head and Chokdo to Leh
- Accommodation — stay from Day 1 to last day in Leh (sharing)
- Food — all meals from Day 3 lunch to lunch on the last day
- Permits — all trekking permits and camping charges
- Trekking and safety equipment — tents, sleeping bags, and technical equipment
- Certified trek leaders, guides, and support staff
Not included
- Backpack offloading charges
- Any kind of personal insurance and rescue expenses
- Meals during Leh stay and road journey
- Personal expenses of any kind, and anything apart from the inclusions
- Emergency evacuation and hospital charges
How it compares to other peaks
| Peak | Altitude | Grade | Best for | Why pick it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dzo Jongo East | 6,217m | PD | Quieter alternative to KY2 | Pick this if you want a less-trafficked summit a grade easier than Kang Yatse II. |
| Kang Yatse II | 6,250m | PD+ | Most popular non-technical 6,000er in Ladakh | The benchmark: accessible altitude, intact glacier, a fixed-rope summit ridge. |
| Twin Peaks | 6,250m + 6,217m | PD+ | Two 6,000ers in one trip | KY2 + Dzo Jongo East over 12 days. |
| Yunam Peak | 6,111m | PD | Shortest itinerary of the Indian 6,000ers | Pick this if you want the shortest 6,000er: the roadhead at Bharatpur puts base camp within hours rather than days. The trade-off is that the short approach gives less gradual acclimatisation than the Markha Valley, so it still expects a real altitude history. |
| Stok Kangri | 6,153m | PD | Closed since 2020 | No commercial expeditions since the 2020 closure. Kang Yatse II is its successor. |
Dates & availability
No fixed dates yet — get in touch for the next Jul–Sep batch or private/custom dates.
No public slots are available for this expedition yet. Reach out and we'll share the next departure as soon as it's confirmed, or set up a private group on dates that suit you.
or email us →Need different dates? Private departures are possible through Jul–Sep with a minimum of 4 climbers — message us on WhatsApp.
Your guides
Subodh Bhadauriya ITRA
Expedition Leader · Mountain Athlete · 8+ years
What climbers said
-
Did Kang Yatse II & Dzo Jongo expeditions with The Vertical Tribe team and the experience was amazing. Special thanks to our Expedition leader Subodh and our guide Ajay, who took care of us at every step and made sure we have a memorable journey and successful summit.
Pooja Solanki Google
What we don't do
- We don't fabricate summit success rates
- No '85% summit rate' marketing line. Conditions and weather decide too much for a number to mean anything honest. We tell you what we control, and we turn around when conditions don't support a safe attempt.
- We don't run rolling weekly departures
- We climb in small groups, with named guides we've worked with for years, not a rotating roster. If the dates don't fit your calendar, climb with us next season.
Permits, rules and cancellation
Permits
- All trekking permits and camping charges, handled by TVT and included in the expedition cost
- No Inner Line Permit required for Indian nationals on this route
- Expedition permits in Ladakh are issued to registered Mountaineering Tour Operators, by the office of the Assistant Director (Tourism), Leh, at least 30 days before the expedition starts (Ladakh Mountaineering Policy 2024, section X)
- Permit fee for peaks below 6,500m, the band Dzo Jongo East sits in at 6,217m: Rs 1,000 per member for domestic teams. Foreign teams pay USD 50 per member in a group of up to five, plus USD 40 for each additional member up to 14
- Peaks below 6,500m are capped at 100 permits per peak per calendar year, with a maximum of 14 members per expedition and no more than 40 climbers on the peak at any one time
- Foreign nationals: we file the additional paperwork well ahead of the 30-day minimum
Budgeting permit fees yourself? Use our IMF permit & India trek cost calculator — every figure quoted from its source.
Cancellation
- More than 60 days before departure — full refund
- 60 to 30 days before departure — 50% refund
- Less than 30 days before departure — no refund
Rules on the mountain
- No alcohol or smoking during the trek
- Don't litter; do not disturb the flora and fauna
- No loudspeakers
- Leave No Trace
Frequently asked
How difficult is Dzo Jongo East?
Alpine PD, non-technical. The standard route is essentially a walk-up: moraine, a long snow ridge, and a short rocky section to the top. You'll wear crampons on snow and carry an ice axe for self-arrest, but there are no fixed ropes. No prior mountaineering experience required.
Do I need a permit for Dzo Jongo East?
All trekking permits and camping charges are included in your expedition fee and handled by TVT. No Inner Line Permit is required for Indian nationals on this route. Foreign nationals are welcome with prior arrangement: we file the additional paperwork well ahead of the 30-day minimum, so reach out early.
What's the temperature at Dzo Jongo East base camp?
We do not publish a temperature range for base camp or summit day, because we have no measured record of our own to publish and a figure copied from a general forecast is not worth planning against. What we do share on confirmation is a gear list graded for the conditions we actually pack for at 4,800m in July and August, and on summit day above it. Ask us and we will talk you through it.
What gear do I need to bring?
Personal: trekking and mountaineering boots (B2 rated, broken in), down jacket, base + mid-layers, gloves (light + heavy), gaiters, headlamp, glacier sunglasses. Technical climbing gear (harness, helmet, ice axe, crampons), tents, and sleeping bags are provided. Full personal-gear checklist shared after enquiry.
What happens if weather turns on summit day?
The lead guide makes the final call, and we turn around if conditions don't support a safe attempt. Whether a second attempt is possible depends on where the delay falls in the schedule, so ask us on your batch's dates rather than assuming one is held in reserve. If the weather does not open, we descend without a summit. Mountains decide, and we don't fabricate success rates.
Why is no day-by-day itinerary or price published yet?
We're confirming the 2026 batch logistics, meaning final dates, group composition, and the cost sheet, before publishing. Drop us an enquiry and we'll share the detailed itinerary, gear list, and current per-climber price directly. We'd rather quote you accurately than post a placeholder we have to revise.
