How to plan a trip to Zanskar Valley [Beginners Travel Guide]

Zanskar Valley, nestled in the remote corner of Ladakh, is one of the most enchanting places to visit in the Himalayas. Located on the eastern corner of Jammu & Kashmir state, it is separated from Ladakh by the Zanskar mountain range. Planning a trip to Zanskar Valley can get tricky. This travel guide for beginners will help you plan a memorable trip to this remote corner of Ladakh.

In ancient times, Zanskar & Ladakh together with Jammu and Kashmir were part of the kingdom of Guje in Western Tibet. It is connected through Kargil by Kargil – Padum road. You can also reach Zanskar via Darcha in Himachal Pradesh by a trekking route over Shingo La pass.

Once you visit this wonderland, you will fall in love with it. Zanskar Valley trip offers wide-open vistas, fresh aqua blue water streams gushing through the valley, the compelling aura of total remoteness and the massive glaciers which appears to be just a touch away 🙂 🙂 …

Delhi to Zanskar Valley Travel Guide

Each year adventurists and Himalayan lovers embark on their journeys to these remote places in trans-Himalayas. In the recent past, Zanskar Valley tourism is on the rise. It has started getting enough attention from travelers from all walks of life across the globe.

Thanks to the much popular Chadar trek where hikers walk over the frozen Zanskar river, nowadays you see tourists footprints in Zanskar even in winters.

If you were to ask me, which is more beautiful among Ladakh, Zanskar Valley, and Spiti Valley, I would politely pass it back to you. Zanskar Valley images present over the Internet does no justice to the real beauty of this place. I will say that you should travel to these magical places and judge how difficult it is to choose among them 😉 ;).

Today in this article, I will share a detailed travel guide that will help you plan a memorable trip to Zanskar Valley with much ease and convenience.

Best Routes to reach Zanskar Valley from Delhi

Srinagar – Kargil – Padum is the best & fastest route to reach Zanskar Valley. However, one can also travel from Manali – Leh Highway to reach Leh and then travel from Leh to Kargil – Padum route. In case, you are planning to come from the Manali side and exit from Srinagar side, then plan the Zanskar Valley trip through Leh – Kargil route. Otherwise, the shortest route to reach Zanskar Valley is through Srinagar to Kargil to Padum only.

Alternate Routes to Padum, Zanskar Valley

There are a couple of new routes to Zanskar Valley which are under construction right now. These new routes are expected to be completed in the next few years. One route runs from (Himachal) Darcha to Shingo La to Padum. And, the other route runs along the Zanskar river (Chadar trek), that is, Leh – Nimoo – Chilling – Padum.

Darcha – Shingo La – Padum Route

The route from Darcha – Padum runs alongside the Phugtal Monastery trek and Darcha – Padum trekking route. So, once open, you can also pay a visit to the Phuktal monastery while coming from Darcha side to Padum. Currently, the 40 KM route from Darcha to Shingo La is open. BRO is working to connect the rest of the route to Padum beyond Shingo La.

The roads are connected as of 2019. But still, motor vehicles are not running from Darcha to Padum over Shingo La as of now. It has been the case for the last couple of years now. But, you know, that is how things work in the remote Himalayas.

Leh – Chiling – Padum Route

The route from Leh to Chilling to Padum will provide year-round connectivity to Zanskar Valley through Leh when Pensi La pass gets closed in winters. Once completed, it will be a big change in the lives of local people who have to remain landlocked for almost 5-6 months in a year in winters.

A winter trip to Zanskar Valley will be possible by flying directly to Leh and then traveling to Padum alongside this route. Of course, that might mean Chadar trek may deplete due to pollution or more incursion but I may be completely overthinking.

What is the best season to visit Zanskar Valley?

The best time to travel to Zanskar Valley is from June to September months. Zanskar valley temperature is also quite pleasant during these months of the year.

The shortest route to reach Zanskar Valley from Delhi is to travel first to Srinagar and then take Srinagar – Leh highway to reach Kargil. Once you reach Kargil, you have to travel the rest of 250 KM to Padum on Kargil – Padum road.

However, the 434 KM long Srinagar – Kargil – Leh Highway remains closed for about six months in a year starting from the middle of November to early May due to the presence of heavy snow on Zojila pass.

Kargil – Padum Road

Kargil – Padum road also passes through Pensi La pass, which also remains closed for the entire winter due to heavy snowfall on it. Both Pensi La pass and Zojila pass starts receiving snowfall in October-November. It becomes challenging for BRO to clear the snow in winters which results in closure of both these roads.

As winter resides, BRO begins the snow clearance process in March and repairs the damaged roads, bridges, and other parts of the highway. Finally, after completing this rigorous job of snow clearance, BRO announces the opening of Srinagar – Leh Highway, generally around early May.

Pensi La Pass, connecting Kargil with Padum in Zanskar Valley, may take another month or so to open as snow clearance operations start later on it. It is around starting June, the snow from Penzi La pass gets cleared, and Kargil – Padum road is also thrown open for vehicular traffic.

So, when should you travel?

Hence, the best time to visit Zanskar Valley is only between June to September/October. In the early season, the roads are in bad condition and take a couple of weeks after opening to stabilize for safe travels. In winters, the only way to reach Zanskar Valley is through long freezing walk over the frozen Zanskar river popularly known as Chadar trek.

You can also read the detailed article to know more about the Best Time to Travel Ladakh & Zanskar

Different Modes of Travel to Zanskar Valley

Let us look at different modes of travel you can choose to reach Padum from Srinagar – Kargil or Leh – Kargil routes.

Private Vehicles i.e. Cars and Bikes | Bike Ride or Self Drive to Zanskar Valley

Many people traveling to Zanskar Valley and Ladakh prefer a self-drive car or a bike ride to travel. The main reason is to live the adventure of driving or riding through one of the toughest and adventurous terrains accessible in India by road. You can take your own or rented car/bike to Zanskar Valley. But, one must be careful while driving or riding through slushy roads, snow, and water crossing or nallas.

Also, it is always handy to learn little maintenance tasks of your vehicle before you start this remote and arduous journey. The road from Parkachik to Padum is nothing but a dirt track and offers a very bumpy drive.

Can I take a sedan/small car to Zanskar Valley?

For cars, it is preferable to have a SUV/MUV, and a 4WD SUV will always help. However, I have seen hatchbacks (including Altos) and sedans doing the Kargil – Padum road as well. The smaller cars will take a final toll on its body and underbellies for sure. Also, at times the road ahead of Parkachik can be worse enough to turn back and cancel the trip;).

Hence, with sedans/hatchbacks, one must be flexible with travel plans and drive with extra care/caution because one mistake can get you stuck in the middle of nowhere.

Tips for Self-drive to Kargil – Padum Road

Believe me, when I say that the road from Kargil to Padum will make you pray at least once “when will it finish !!” 😀 😀 … Please note whenever you are in doubt, always step out of your car, walk down the path, inspect with your foot and plan the path of exit before crossing a dangerous landslide or water crossing on your vehicle.

You can also park aside and see how others are crossing the risky section to plan your route of escape. In deep water, crossings try to maintain the momentum without any half clutch measures and complete the entire stretch in one go only.

Similarly, in slush stretches, near Zojila, do not force the issue rather keep the smooth momentum with the required speed to pass you through, without half clutch measures. Do keep an eye on the direction of the vehicle too. If you get stuck in the mud, then try to back and forth your vehicles to get out of the stuck position.

It is always handy to ask your fellow co-travelers to get out of the car and push the vehicle from behind. It helps in case the car is struggling to pass through the mud or water crossing stretch.

These tips will certainly help you on your trip from Kargil to Padum by car.

Things to carry

Basic toolkit, screwdriver set, small hammer, puncture repair kit, iron rod, two or three “2 ltr” empty bottles of Pepsi / Coke / Limca, etc. to carry extra petrol or diesel (jerry cans will leak, cold drink bottles do not leak), funnel, towing rope, spare tube (must for bikes), Elfy or five-quick (2-3 sachets), jump-start cables/wires, M-seal to prevent leakage, etc. were among the few things which I carried along on my trip to Zanskar valley.

Also, do not forget to get your vehicle (car/bike) serviced about 2-3 weeks before the start of the Zanskar valley journey. Servicing your vehicle will ensure that you have proper time in advance to test it. Also, it will give you time to get any hitches fixed that may have been introduced in that service.

You can prepare the checklist from my list of 40 must-have things to carry on Zanskar self-drive trip

Hiring a Private Taxi | Costly mode of travel to Zanskar Valley

Zanskar Valley has one of the most complex taxi rules when compared to the rest of the regions in Ladakh. In Zanskar Valley, you can only get in using a Kargil numbered taxi that operates based on the token system.

The taxi in Kargil, who has a token for the next day, can only take you to Zanskar Valley. The Kargil taxi is only allowed to drop you in Padum. Once you get into to Padum, you have to hire Padum based taxi for sightseeing purpose. This taxi can only drop you back to Kargil or Leh or Srinagar whichever is your endpoint.

You can get in touch with any of the drivers listed under: List of Taxi Drivers for Ladakh – Srinagar – Leh – Manali. Otherwise, after reaching Srinagar, you can go to the taxi stand and bargain with the local drivers for a drop to Kargil. Do not involve any tour operator or hotel staff at any stage to save some bucks.

Kargil to Padum Taxi Fare

The local taxi drivers will charge about Rs 6500-7000 for a drop to Kargil. Once, you reach Kargil; you will hire a Kargil taxi for a drop to Padum, which will cost you about Rs 13000-14000.

The rates for local sightseeing within Padum are about Rs 3500-5000 depending upon what all local places you are planning to cover during your stay in Padum. Then, the drop back to Kargil with an overnight stop at Rangdum will cost you about Rs 15000.

Hence, you will end up spending about Rs 50,000-55,000 in the taxi from Srinagar to Zanskar Valley and back.

Public Transport – JKSRTC Bus Service | Economical mode of travel to Zanskar Valley

JK SRTC plies buses on Srinagar – Leh Highway which is available at Srinagar Bus Stand near Lal Chowk. I guess JK SRTC has both standards as well as semi-deluxe buses which can drop you to Kargil. The tickets for Srinagar to Kargil bus may cost you about Rs 300 for a standard bus and Rs 400 for the semi-deluxe types.

You may also find few private bus operators running semi-deluxe buses between Srinagar – Kargil route as well who charge about Rs 300-350 per seat. You can also catch the Srinagar – Leh bus service and get down at Kargil. If you are coming from Leh to Kargil direction, then you need to pay a similar fare.

These buses generally stop at Sonamarg for tea and snacks if coming from Srinagar side and at Lamayuru in case coming from Leh side. The JK SRTC buses may not be as comfortable though, but comfort comes with the price.

Kargil to Padum Bus Service

Once you reach Kargil, well, the JKSRTC bus to Padum is very infrequent and does not have a daily frequency. Hence, you can check at Kargil bus stand in case the bus is running; then, you can hop onto it. There is a bus that runs from Leh to Padum every week when the roads are open. The bus takes overnight stop at Kargil and reaches Padum the next day.

Do not count on the availability of the seats in this bus, though. Some buses run daily from Kargil to Sankoo, Panikhar, and Parkachik but this leaves you at the mercy of a hitchhike or shared ride for the rest of the journey to Padum.

Public Transport – Shared Taxis | Most suitable economic option of travel to Zanskar Valley

You can also buy yourself a seat in a shared taxi. These taxis run every morning between Srinagar to Kargil, Leh to Kargil. The shared taxis are also available between Kargil – Padum road as well. The locals from Padum and Kargil travel to these places in the shared cabs only. These shared taxis do not stop overnight between Kargil – Padum. Hence, it makes a 12 hrs run with few tea/snacks/food stops in between.

You need to pay about Rs 1400 to Rs 1500 per person for a drop between Kargil – Padum in these shared taxis. The Srinagar – Kargil, and Leh – Kargil can be done in JKSRTC buses to save some money as shared taxis will cost about Rs 600-700 for a drop.

Of course, since it is a local shared taxi with 7-8 other people plus the driver, these do not stop for any sightseeing in between Kargil to Padum. Also, you can imagine the level of comfort yourself considering the 12 hrs bumpy road.

This one is the second cheapest mode of travel to Zanskar Valley but mind you, it could be the toughest on the body too 🙂

Planning night stays on the way to Zanskar Valley

Based on my experience, you can opt to plan a journey to Zanskar Valley either from Leh or from Srinagar. I have already detailed out Zanskar – Most Common Itinerary which you can refer to plan a memorable trip. However, I will still touch upon briefly how you can break your journey to Zanskar Valley in one of the following ways –

Three Day Journey on Leh / Srinagar – Kargil – Padum Road

In case, you are planning for a three-day journey to Padum from Srinagar with night halts at Kargil and Rangdum, I will suggest that you plan it while coming back from Padum to Kargil / Leh / Srinagar.

Rangdum is a harsh place to spend a night without proper acclimatization. Hence, you might suffer a sleepless night, especially when you are coming from Srinagar side. So, this option is only preferred if you are coming back from Padum, or you have been acclimatized enough within Ladakh and coming to Padum from Leh.

Two Day Journey on Srinagar – Kargil – Padum Road

When traveling from Srinagar side, it is best to make a two day trip to Padum with an overnight halt at Kargil. I know the 12 hr journey could be tiresome, especially when you have roads that can never let you sleep.

However, it is still a safe option considering AMS issues in Rangdum. Padum village is less harsh and better equipped with medical facilities like oxygen in case you may need any. Hence, I always prefer this option of travel while going to the Zanskar valley, especially while going from Srinagar side.

Sightseeing in Zanskar Valley

There is too much to see within Suru and Zanskar Valley. This longish article may also not be enough to jot down all the sightseeing places. I will be writing detailed articles on the sightseeing places in Suru and Zanskar Valley in time to come. I will link them within this article below as and when they are published.

• Phuktal Monastery Trek – Travel Guide
• Kargil – Rangdum – Padum Road – Travel Guide
• Local Sightseeing in Padum
• Zanskar Valley Trek including easy and moderately difficult ones.

Accommodation or Stay Options

Both on Srinagar – Kargil route and Leh – Kargil route, you will find plenty of options to stay. I will try to enlist the names and contacts in a separate article. However, just that you must be aware, the following are the places where you can find options to stay in Suru and Zanskar Valley.

• JKTDC Alpine Huts (Rest houses) are available at Kargil, Sankoo, Purtikche, Panikhar, Parakchik, Rangdum, Padum. Each passing town towards Rangdum from Kargil, the facilities and cleanliness degrade in these alpine huts. Rangdum is the worst of all of them.
• Rangdum has few options for a stay including homestays in the village as well as a couple of high-cost camps.
• Padum has many accommodations available ranging from low budget to high budget. Hotel Omasila run by Nobu Omasila is one of the nice places to stay in Padum. You can reach Nobu Bhai at contact number +91-9469369109.
• Srinagar – Sonamarg – Drass | Decent number of accommodation options available at Sonamarg & Drass
• Drass – Kargil | Many accommodation options available at Kargil
• Kargil – Mulbekh | Few basic / homestay accommodation options available at Mulbekh
• Mulbekh – Lamayuru | Decent number of accommodation options available at Lamayuru
• Lamayuru – Alchi / Likir | Few basic / homestay accommodation options available at Alchi / Likir
• Lamayuru – Leh | Many accommodation options available at Leh
• Alchi / Likir – Leh | Many accommodation options available at Leh

Acclimatization and its importance in Zanskar Valley

When you travel to Zanskar Valley, acclimatization is always an important factor in making it a memorable trip. In case you are traveling from Leh – Ladakh to Zanskar valley after visiting all local places like Pangong Tso, Nubra Valley, etc.., you are better acclimatized.

However, if you travel from Srinagar – Kargil route, your body will not acclimatize for altitudes like Rangdum or Padum. Hence, its always good that you take enough precautions to minimize the effects of high altitude sickness.

Here are some tips which will help to acclimatize the body:

• Try to cover the Srinagar – Kargil – Padum journey in two days with a night halt at Kargil. Avoid night stay at Rangdum and stay at Rangdum while coming back from Padum.
• Keep your body properly hydrated.
• Avoid sleeping at high altitudes.
• Better not to overexert.
• Avoid tobacco and smoking and alcohol and other depressant drugs.
• Keep your body warm and eat lots of carbohydrates.
• Avoid sleep during the day.
• Sleep in an upright position, if possible.
• Carry preventive medicines for AMS.
• Immediately descend, if symptoms increase.

For more information on Acute Mountain Sickness and all above acclimatization tips, please refer the following link at least once: Acute Mountain Sickness and Importance of Acclimatization

Fuel or Petrol Pumps in Zanskar Valley

It is fairly easy to find fuel or petrol on Srinagar – Kargil road. But once you leave Kargil and enter Suru Valley, you will not find any petrol pump till Padum. Even in Padum, the availability of fuel is limited at times. Sometimes they provide you a limited capacity of fuel only just enough to reach back to Kargil.

Black fuel is also available at times at Rangdum village. Hence, you must top up at Kargil, and then you must top up at Padum or fill in whatever they are offering during your visit.

You can always refer some tips on making a budget trip to Zanskar Valley.

ATMs Availability

There is one J&K bank ATM in Padum market (thanks to Debashish for the input). However, ATMs are available at Ganderbal, Drass, Kargil apart from Leh and Srinagar ATMs. You should carry enough cash with you in Zanskar Valley because ATMs at these limited places can run out of money or become un-operational at any day or time. Hence, it is better to carry enough cash.

Medical Facilities

Kargil has a very decent hospital and so as Padum, which also has a big government Hospital. I was admitted to Padum hospital due to AMS issues and believe me, though government running, everyone took good care of me in that hospital 😉 ;)…

The cleanliness was also up to the mark when I visited it. Apart from these two, there is not much to offer in between 250 KMs of Kargil – Padum road. Hence, carry your basic medical kit with you and avoid any heroics because basic medical help is also hard to find in these remote places of Himalayas.

Mobile Connectivity in Zanskar Valley

Kargil has mobile connectivity, and once you cross Sankoo, you enter a dead zone where there will be no phone or mobile connectivity. Only BSNL postpaid connections work in Padum, Zanskar valley, and it is fairly limited to about 15-20 odd KMs around Padum only.

Hence, it is important that you follow the tips mentioned under 10 Tips on Mobile Phone Connectivity in Zanskar.

Srinagar \ Leh – Kargil – Padum Road Distance Chart

I will be writing a detailed travel guide about Kargil – Padum road, including a Zanskar Valley map. But just for the reference, below is the outline of the distances between various places that comes on Srinagar – Kargil, Kargil – Padum, Kargil – Leh routes.

• Srinagar – Sonamarg (80 km)
• Sonamarg – Drass (65 km)
• Drass – Kargil (55 km)
• Kargil – Sankoo (42 km)
• Sankoo – Panikhar (25 km)
• Panikhar – Parkachik (31 km)
• Parakchik – Rangdum (40 km)
• Rangdum – Pensi La Pass (27 km)
• Pensi La Pass – Padum (90 km)
• Mulbekh – Kargil (40 km)
• Lamayuru – Mulbekh (70 km)
• Leh – Lamayuru (125 km)

Conclusion

I hope this article on Zanskar Valley will help you in planning most aspects of your trip. In case you still have any doubts or questions, feel free to post them either in the DwD Community or the comments section at the end of this article. I will be more than happy to assist with every question you have to make your trip to Zanskar Valley, a memorable one 🙂 …

Have a travel question?? You can subscribe to my YouTube channel and leave a comment to ask your travel questions on traveling to the Himalayas.

On the other hand, have you been to Zanskar Valley before or planning to make your next trip to Zanskar valley? How about sharing your stories or thoughts with other lovers of the Himalayas in the DwD Community? Tag us in Instagram.

It will certainly help other fellow travelers to plan their journey to one of the remote yet beautiful places in the Himalayas. I will eagerly wait to hear or read about your experiences of this wonderland called Zanskar Valley.