Village homestay
Family homes among barley fields, with home-cooked food and simple, clean rooms.
All ridesSummer 2027
Zanskar by Road: Suru Valley to Padum
Twin sharing · Leh to Leh · GST extra. Private and tailor-made versions on request.
Overview
The valley behind the mountains
Zanskar lies behind the Great Himalayan range and is cut off by snow for half the year. In summer a single road climbs from the Suru valley over Pensi La and drops into a broad, bright valley of barley fields, whitewashed villages and monasteries clinging to cliffs. We take that road slowly, with nights at Kargil and Rangdum to break the climb.
From Padum we spend three days exploring: Karsha and Stongde, and a walk to Phuktal, a monastery built into a cave above the Tsarap river. We return the way we came, stopping at Alchi's thousand-year-old murals on the final day.
Day by day
The itinerary
11 days, Leh → Leh. Open a day for the route, travel time, stay and meals.
The approachDays 1 – 4
Leh, Kargil and the Suru valley.
Day 1Arrive in LehRest
Route Leh airport → hotel
Travel 15 min
Stay Leh
Meals Dinner
Altitude 3,500 m
Rest and acclimatise. Drink plenty of water and keep the day easy.
Day 2Leh and the IndusGentle sightseeing
Route Leh → Shey → Thiksey → Leh
Travel 2 hrs
Stay Leh
Meals Breakfast & dinner
Altitude 3,600 m
Thiksey's morning prayers and the palace at Shey, with the afternoon free in Leh.
Day 3Leh to KargilVia Lamayuru
Route Leh → Lamayuru → Fotu La → Kargil
Travel 6–7 hrs
Stay Kargil
Meals Breakfast & dinner
Altitude 2,700 m
Head west past the eroded 'moonland' around Lamayuru and over Fotu La, descending to Kargil on the Suru river.
Day 4Up the Suru valleyTo Rangdum
Route Kargil → Panikhar → Parkachik → Rangdum
Travel 5–6 hrs
Stay Rangdum camp
Meals Breakfast & dinner
Altitude 3,650 m
Green villages give way to high pastures as the twin peaks of Nun and Kun come into view. Camp near Rangdum Monastery.
In ZanskarDays 5 – 8
Padum, Karsha and Phuktal.
Day 5Over Pensi LaInto Zanskar
Route Rangdum → Pensi La → Padum
Travel 4–5 hrs
Stay Padum
Meals Breakfast & dinner
Altitude 3,600 m
Cross Pensi La with a long stop above the Drang-Drung glacier, then follow the Stod river down to Padum.
Day 6Karsha & StongdeMonasteries on the cliffs
Route Padum → Karsha → Stongde → Padum
Travel 2 hrs with walks
Stay Padum homestay
Meals Breakfast & dinner
Altitude 3,700 m
Climb through Karsha's whitewashed buildings to its assembly halls, then cross the valley to the ridge-top monastery at Stongde.
Day 7Towards PhuktalThe Lungnak valley
Route Padum → road head (drive) → Phuktal (walk) → Purne
Travel 2 hrs drive · 4–5 hrs walk
Stay Purne homestay
Meals Breakfast & dinner
Altitude 3,850 m
Drive up the Lungnak valley and walk to Phuktal, a monastery built into a great cave above the river. The night is in a village homestay at Purne.
Day 8Back to PadumA slow morning
Route Purne → road head (walk) → Padum (drive)
Travel 2 hrs walk · 2 hrs drive
Stay Padum
Meals Breakfast & dinner
Altitude 3,600 m
Walk back to the road and return to Padum, with the afternoon to wander the old town.
The way homeDays 9 – 11
Back over Pensi La.
Day 9Padum to KargilA long road day
Route Padum → Pensi La → Kargil
Travel 9–10 hrs
Stay Kargil
Meals Breakfast & dinner
Altitude 2,700 m
An early start for the long drive back over Pensi La, with a picnic lunch in the Suru valley.
Day 10Kargil to LehVia Alchi
Route Kargil → Lamayuru → Alchi → Leh
Travel 7 hrs
Stay Leh
Meals Breakfast & dinner
Altitude 3,500 m
Stop at Alchi for its 11th-century murals before a farewell dinner in Leh.
Day 11Depart LehMorning flight
Route Hotel → Leh airport
Travel 15 min
Stay —
Meals Breakfast
Altitude 3,500 m
Transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Where you'll stay
Stays along the route
Chosen for warmth, cleanliness and character. Exact properties are confirmed when you book.
Valley camp
Comfortable tents with real beds near Rangdum Monastery, under a sky full of stars.
Guesthouse
Clean, family-run guesthouses with attached bathrooms and hot water.
Dates & prices
Departures and prices
Prices are per person. Private journeys can start on any date in season.
| Departure | Type | Status | Enquire |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Jun 2027 | Small group | Open | Enquire |
| 3 Jul 2027 | Small group | Open | Enquire |
| 7 Aug 2027 | Small group | Few seats left | Enquire |
| 4 Sep 2027 | Small group | Open | Enquire |
| Any date, mid Jun – Sep | Private journey | Open | Enquire |
| Option | Indian residents | International |
|---|---|---|
| Small group, twin sharing | ₹62,000 | USD 1,050 |
| Private · 2 travellers | ₹96,000 | USD 1,620 |
| Private · 4 travellers | ₹72,000 | USD 1,220 |
Twin sharing · Leh to Leh · GST extra. Single rooms, upgrades and extra nights on request.
What's included
- 10 nights in hotels, guesthouses, camps and homestays
- Breakfast and dinner every day
- 4×4 vehicle with an experienced mountain driver
- Local guide in Zanskar
- Permits and environment fees
- Oxygen cylinder and pulse oximeter in every vehicle
Not included
- Flights to and from Leh
- Lunches and drinks
- Monastery entry fees
- Travel and medical insurance (required)
- GST at 5%
Before you go
Good to know
Practical notes on altitude, kit, permits and connectivity for this journey.
Altitude and acclimatisation
Leh sits at about 3,500 m. Every Ladakh journey begins with at least two easy days there, and we gain height gradually after that. Drink plenty of water, skip alcohol for the first few days and tell your guide about any headache or breathlessness straight away.
Fitness
You don't need to be an athlete, but you should be comfortable walking for an hour or two on uneven ground at altitude. If you have a heart or lung condition, please speak to your doctor before booking.
Permits
Nubra, Pangong, Tso Moriri, Hanle and other border areas need protected-area permits. We apply for them once we have copies of your ID — passport for foreign nationals, any government photo ID for Indian citizens.
Phones and connectivity
Most Indian prepaid SIMs don't work in Ladakh; postpaid connections on BSNL, Jio and Airtel usually do. Expect patchy signal outside Leh and limited Wi-Fi in remote areas.
Journey essentialsLeh → Lamayuru → Kargil → Rangdum → Padum → Phuktal · Jun – Sep
Route notes: getting there & permits
Along the way
Photographs from the route
A few of the places you'll pass through.
Before you book
Questions we're often asked
How rough is the road?
Long stretches over Pensi La are unpaved and dusty, and some days are long. Our 4×4s and drivers are used to it, and we stop often.
Is the walk to Phuktal difficult?
It's a few hours each way on a narrow trail with some ups and downs. Take it slowly and it's manageable for most reasonably fit travellers.
Can I return via Manali instead?
Yes — on a private journey we can exit over Shinku La towards Manali, road conditions permitting.
Can I join as a solo traveller?
Yes. On small-group departures we pair solo travellers of the same gender in twin rooms, or you can pay a supplement for a room of your own.
How do I pay?
A 25% advance confirms your booking and the balance is due 30 days before you travel. We accept bank transfer, UPI and cards.
What if I need to cancel?
Our cancellation terms are set out on the booking terms page — the earlier you let us know, the more we can refund. We strongly recommend travel insurance that covers trip cancellation and high-altitude evacuation.
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