Some places are about lifetime experiences, they are hard to reach but once you reach them they never come out of your mind. If you are also searching for one such place, Zanskar Valley hits the target.
Just 4-5 years ago, most of the places in Zanskar Valley were reachable only by foot as there were hardly any roads.
Though the roads are still not in good shape and the travel is long and bumpy, what you see, experience and feel are worth any struggle.
We have created this guide to help you plan a smooth trip to Zanskar Valley. All our budget details, itinerary, tips, and local contacts are included in this article.
But before you go through this guide, we want to tell you that Zanskar is an area with harsh weather conditions and a delicate environment. These areas are not sightseeing places. Travel here only if you love traveling and enjoy being out of your comfort zone with bare minimum facilities.
Also, read our Andaman Post to plan an epic trip to one of the most beautiful places in India.
Table of Contents
How to reach Zanskar Valley in Ladakh
By flight – We took a flight from Delhi to Leh. It takes less than an hour to reach Leh from Delhi by flight. After acclimatizing to Leh for a day, we reached Padum (Zanskar Valley) via Kargil by taking a taxi from Leh.
By road – Another way to reach Padum (Zanskar Valley) is by road from Manali. You can either drive your car (only if you have an SUV and you are an expert in driving in rough mountainous terrains) or rent a taxi to reach Padum (Zanskar Valley) directly from Manali.
Acclimatization in Leh
Leh is at a height of 11000 ft above sea level and due to the lack of oxygen, it is recommended to rest for a day especially if you are reaching by flight. Otherwise, mountain sickness can hit you hard. Sleep, hydration, and no physical activity are a must on your first day in Leh. You can also have a Diamox tablet daily for your first few days in Ladakh.
Itinerary to a trip to Zanskar valley
Day 1: Reach Leh and Acclimatize
Day 2: After breakfast, leave for Sham Valley Tour and Reach Kargil
Day 3 – 4: Explore Kargil and nearby Places.
Day 5: Leave for Zanskar Valley Tour, Explore places on the way like Suru Valley, Rangdum, etc., and reach Padum
Day 6: Explore Padum
Day 7: Leave for Phugtal Monastery and stay in Purne Village
Day 8: Leave for Sarchu and stay in a Camp at Sarchu Village
Day 9: Leave for Leh and Stay overnight
Day 10: Flight back home
Best time to visit
June to September is considered the best time to visit Zanskar Valley. Most of the roads are open during this time.
We went on this trip in the first week of August. The sun was harsh in the afternoons. Mornings and evenings were cold.
Do check the weather forecast before planning this trip. Avoid Monsoon season as the roads might be closed during that time.
Mobile connectivity in Zanskar
Only Postpaid connections work in Ladakh. In the Zanskar region, mostly BSNL and Jio networks work, and that too in particular areas.
Budget for a 9 Nights 10 Days trip to Zanskar
Accommodation – We stayed for 2 days in Kesaar Palace, 3 days in Hotel the Kargil, 2 days in Omasila Hotel in Padum, one day in Himalayan Homestay in Purne Village, and one day in Dorje camps in Sarchu.
Kesaar Palace Leh range between INR 5500 – 7500 per room (with breakfast), Hotel the Kargil range between INR 6500 – 12000 per room (with breakfast), Omasila Hotel Padum cost around INR 3500 per room (with breakfast and Dinner), Himalayan Homestay Purne cost around INR 1500 per person (Breakfast and Dinner) and Dorje Camps stay cost around INR 2500 per day (with breakfast, snacks, and Dinner).
So, for 9 night 10 days trip, expect to spend around INR 21000-28500 (for two people) on accommodation if you choose your stay in a similar range.
If you are on a budget, you can book your stays online in the range of INR 2000 – INR 3000 per day or even less. For a decent price of a property, prebook your stay at least 2 months in advance.
Transport – You can hire a taxi, take your car (if you have an SUV and experience in driving on tough mountainous terrains), or bike for this road trip. We rented a taxi from Leh for our 9-night 10 days trip. As we were traveling in a group of four, renting a taxi was not only comfortable but also saved us a few bucks.
Also for sightseeing in Leh, we spent around INR 3000. Airport pick-up and drop cost us around INR 3000 in total.
Expect to spend around INR 70,000 – 80,000 per taxi for 9 nights 10 days if you rent a taxi as we did.
Food – We carried Haldiram’s ready-to-eat food packets because there are very less or negligible eating options while you commute in Ladakh.
In Leh, there are many cafes and a variety of food. You can easily get a meal for INR 500-800 (two people).
In Kargil, we mostly ate in our hotel The Kargil.
In Padum, there are a few cafes/ local food joints where one can easily get a meal for INR 300-500 (two people)
In Purne and Sarchu, there are no options to eat outside. Your place of stay is the only option to eat.
Others – There is a ticket price for visiting a few locations like War Memorial and Monastery Museums that range between INR 50 – 100 per person.
How to Book a taxi for Zanskar Trip
As per Ladakh Taxi Union Rules, for sightseeing in Leh, you need a Leh number Taxi and for sightseeing in Kargil and Zanskar Valley, you need a Kargil number taxi. For Leh Tour, we booked a taxi with a local Mr. Otsal. You can contact him at +91-9622951297.
For the rest of the trip, we booked a Kargil number taxi from Ayub Bhai, a local in Kargil. His smooth driving and knowledge of the routes took this trip to another level for us. If you also want to book your taxi with him, contact him at +91-8899942881, 9541254816 (his uncle Javed Bhai).
Daywise breakup of our trip to Leh, Kargil, and Zanskar Valley
Day 1 Reached Leh
- We reached Leh early in the morning (around 6 am). Took a taxi from Airport to our hotel.
- Check-in at the hotel. We stayed in hotel Kesaar Palace in Leh. Built in Ladakhi-style with rooms having a view of Stok Kangri, Shanti Stupa, and Leh Palace, hotel Kesaar Palace is a comfortable stay equipped with all the modern facilities. For booking your stay with Kesaar Palace Leh, contact them at +91-9953157209.
- To acclimatize better and avoid mountain sickness, hydrate yourself well and rest as much as possible on your first day in Leh.
- We rested till evening. We were feeling fine, so we went for a walk up to Leh market which is around 5 minute walk from Hotel Kesaar Palace. We had Coffee and Sandwiches at Brazil Café in Leh Market.
- After coming back to our hotel, we hired a taxi (with the help of our hotel staff) to visit Leh Palace and Shanti Stupa. At Shanti Stupa, avoid taking the stairs on your first day in Leh. Vehicles can go up to the parking from where Shanti Stupa is a short and easy walk. The restaurant at Shanti Stupa serves ultimate momos.
- Dinner at our hotel.
Day 2 Reached Kargil
- After Breakfast at our hotel, we left for Kargil in the taxi we had booked for this entire trip.
- If you are leaving early you can visit Gurudwara Pather Sahib, Magnetic Hills, Sangam, Basgo palace, Likir Monastery, and Alchi Monastery along the way. This tour is known as Sham Valley Tour. If you are starting late from Leh, it is better to skip some of these locations else it might delay you for the journey ahead.
- Visit Lamayuru Monastery along the way which is one of the oldest Monasteries of Ladakh. The landscape at the village of Lamayuru is similar to the moon’s surface and famously known as Moonscape/ Moonland.
- Visit Heniskot/ Zbayul Village along the way which is also known as the hidden village. It requires walking for 10-15 minutes up on a hill to get a glimpse of the hidden village. As it went already dark before we reached the village, we could not go to the village but we visited a Museum which looked no less than a haunted house and had a collection of utensils, instruments, and other things of the old times. One can also visit this village from Kargil.
- Visit Mulbekh Monastery along the way. Here a 30 feet statue of Buddha is carved on an enormous slab of stone.
- Reached Kargil around 11:00 PM and checked in at Hotel The Kargil. Equipped with all the modern amenities, hotel The Kargil is one of the best hotels in Kargil. For booking your stay with hotel The Kargil, contact them at +91-9811995752.
- Dinner at Hotel the Kargil.
Day 3 Explore Kargil
- After Breakfast at Hotel the Kargil, we left for Drass which is around 60 km from Kargil. It is the 2nd coldest inhabited place on earth. The journey up to Drass is smooth and beautiful.
- Visit Kargil War Memorial along the way.
- Drive up to Mushko Valley from Drass for its wildflowers and beautiful views. Spend some time near Drass River in Mushko Valley.
- After coming back to Kargil, visit the LoC viewpoint in the evening. From the LoC viewpoint, one can see Indian and Pakistani bunkers. Do not forget to have Kashmiri Kahwa from a tea stall here.
- Further 2 km from the LoC viewpoint, visit Hunderman Village, the last village in India. We visited a 200-300-year-old house in the village. The way it was built gave a deep insight into the lives of the local people of the area. The Museum inside this house has a collection of ornaments, utensils, clothes, games, coins, money, and letters from the people of this area. If you have a guide or a local with you here, you will be mesmerized by the stories they tell. We were lucky to get accompanied by our host Zaheer from Hotel the Kargil.
- Dinner at Hotel The Kargil.
Day 4 Trekking in Kargil
- We were having breakfast in our hotel when its owner Zaheer joined us and while he was telling us about all the things Kargil has to offer, he mentioned a trek to a Monastery that passes through narrow gauges with water streams flowing through it. He then offered to accompany us on the trek so that he could also live some of his childhood moments again. How could we not hop on this opportunity of going deep in Kargil and that too with a local!!! And the next moment we were on to this adventure. Urgen Dzong Trek is around 5-6 km (to and fro) and it takes around 5-6 hours to complete this trek and come back. At the top, there is a small cave Monastery and multiple other caves where lamas are said to mediate for years. We went inside one of these caves and it was really hard to get inside and come out of it.
- After the trek, we came back to our hotel around 5:30 PM.
- Dinner at Hotel the Kargil.
Day 5 Journey to Zanskar Valley
- We got our breakfast packed from our hotel and left early morning (5:30 AM) for Zanskar Valley.
- We stopped by Suru Valley and enjoyed the views of the largest peaks of the region, Nun and Kun.
- We visited Rangdum Monastery along the way. And ate our ready-to-eat Haldiram Lunch in the kitchen of Rangdum Monastery.
- We got to see one of the largest glaciers of Ladakh, the Drang Drung Glacier. It was a sight to behold.
- We visited Sani Gompa in Sani Village, just 6 km before Padum.
- We stayed in Hotel Omasila in Padum. Padum is the district headquarters of Zanskar and the base of the tourists visiting Zanskar Valley. Hotel Omasila is one of the best stays in Padum. For booking your stay with hotel Omasila, contact Norbu Bhaiya at +91-7889857547.
- Dinner at Hotel Omasila.
Day 6 Explore Padum in Zanskar Valley
- Sunrise at Guru Gompa which is just 10 minutes easy hike from Hotel Omasila. The views of the Zanskar valley from Guru Gompa are breathtaking.
- We visited Pibiting village after sunrise which is right there in between Guru Gompa and Hotel Omasila. It felt nice seeing the houses in the village made of stones and mud and people starting their day by taking their cattle for grazing.
- After breakfast at Hotel Omasila, we left for Karsha Monastery. Karsha is the largest monastery of Zanskar.
- Thereafter, we visited Chuchik Jal Nunnery which is the abode of nuns from Karsha Monastery. It was such a nice experience interacting with the nuns and kids out there.
- Visit Stackrimo Monastery, which is at the backside of Padum. The view from the Monastery is the widest one can have of the entire region.
- Lunch at Changthang Café in Padum Market. We had Palak Paneer Skew (Zanskari Dish), Mushroom Soup, Thupka, Veg Pizza, and Momos. The food has never tasted this good before.
- After lunch, we visited Stongdey Monastery which is built on a rocky hill to give panoramic views of the valley. Stongdey is famous for its festival which is held around the month of June-July every year. Monks wear their traditional big face masks and perform in the festival.
- Visited Zangla Palace, which is in ruins today but used to be the home of the king of the region. The palace is a 10 minutes hike from Zangla Village. The views of the Zanskar range from the Zangla Palace are sure to make you sit for hours.
- Visited Sheela Waterfall. We never thought Zanskar would have Waterfalls. It was nice visiting one.
Day 7 Trek to Phugtal Monastery
- After breakfast at Omasila Hotel Padum, we left for Phugtal Monastery.
- Visited Gyalwa Ringna along the way which is an ancient rock carving site in Padum. Five Dhyani Buddhas are engraved here on a rock.
- Visited Bardan Monastery along the way which is at a picturesque location.
- On the way to Phugtal, visited Ichar Village and Maitreya Buddha Statue safeguarding the Ichar village.
- Reached Cha Village and started the trek to Phughtal Monastery. There are two ways to reach Phugtal Monastery. One from Cha Village and the other from Purne Village. They run parallel to each other, separated by the Tsarap River in between. We went via Cha Village and came back via Purne Village. Our driver dropped us at Cha Village and waited for us at Purne Village. It takes around 3 hours to reach Phugtal Monastery from either side. The trek from Cha village is narrower and more difficult comparatively, so if you are not an experienced trekker, do take the other route. Orange hills stand in contrast to the turquoise-blue Tsarap River and the entire landscape is sure to give you Goosebumps.
- We had lunch at Hotel Gonpa in Phugtal Monastery. Hotel Gonpa is run by local monks and also provides stay facilities to tourists.
- Around 2500 years ago, Phugtal Monastery used to be only a cave where monks would visit and meditate for years. Gradually a monastery was built using mud and wood. Around 1200 years ago, Phugtal Monastery was rebuilt the way it is today.
- We went back to Purne Village and stayed in Himalayan Homestay.
- Watched the Milkyway galaxy and millions of stars at night in Purne.
Day 8 Camps at Sarchu Village
- After breakfast, we left Purne Village.
- Reached Sarchu by noon and stayed in Swiss camps. Sarchu, located at 14,500 feet height marks the border of Himachal and Ladakh. A wide open area surrounded by rugged mountains from all sides, Sarchu is a nice place to spend a day at. We stayed in Dorjee Camps. The camps were clean and cozy with attached bathrooms. The facilities at Dorjee camps and the food they serve are impressive. For booking your stay with Dorjee Camps, contact them at +91-9418356382.
Day 9 Back to Leh
- After breakfast, we left for Leh.
- Checked in at Hotel Kesaar Palace in Leh.
- We roamed around Leh market and stuffed ourselves with loads of food.
Day 10 Back home
- Early morning flight back home
Virtual Tour to Leh, Kargil and Zanskar Valley
We have a YouTube Channel where we post our travel videos. We have posted videos from Leh, Kargil, and Zanskar Valley on our channel to help you plan your trip better.
Do watch these videos and let us know what you think of them. Also, if you like our videos, do subscribe to our channel. It really motivates us to create more such content.
Ultimate things to do in Leh
Things to do in Kargil
The journey from Kargil to Padum
Things to do in Padum
Trek to Phugtal Monastery
Staying in camps at Sarchu
Hope this guide helped you in making an amazing trip to Leh, Kargil, and Zanskar Valley. If you have any questions for us, do ask them in the comments.