Tso Moriri lake in Changthang region of Ladakh is one of the most beautiful, calm, and sacred (for Ladakhis) high altitude lakes in India. It is the largest high altitude lake in India that is entirely in Indian territory. This beautiful blue pallet lake is about 7 km wide at its broadest point and about 19 km long.
Being part of the wetland reserve under the Ramsar site, it is known as Tsomoriri Wetland Conservation Reserve. You cannot pitch any camps near Tso Moriri or construct any stay option near the banks of the lake. It is the highest Ramsar site in the world. The place is full of flora and fauna is found in the region.
Since it is near to the Line of Actual Control, you need to get Inner Line Permit to visit Tso Moriri Lake, both as an Indian as well as a foreigner.
Let's quickly dive into the details:
Tso Moriri Lake Leh Ladakh
The beautiful multi-shades of blues offered by this lake along with a picturesque landscape around give this place an extremely romantic and breathtaking feel. However, in reality, the place is harsh and difficult to survive especially in winters.
There is only a couple of cemented accommodation available around the lake in the form of homestays and the facilities like electricity, medical aid, hot running water, western toilets, etc. are luxury in itself. The lack of oxygen makes survival difficult if your body is not properly acclimatized to its high altitude. Hence, one needs to plan his/her journey extremely carefully to avoid acute mountain sickness.
So, even though you might feel tempted to include Tso Moriri in your trip to Leh Ladakh, it is important to plan your trip to this high altitude place properly. This travel guide will help you with it.
Location
Tso Moriri is located about 240 KMs from Leh town of Ladakh district in Jammu & Kashmir. You cannot make a day trip from Leh to Tso Moriri lake as it will be very hectic and not worth it. Hence, you should plan for a two day trip to Tso Moriri from Leh.
Altitude
Tso Moriri lake is one of the high altitudes lakes of India at a staggering altitude of 4595 Meters or 15075 Feet, yes higher than Pangong Tso.
Best Time to Visit Tso Moriri Lake
In general, the best time to travel to Tso Moriri lake is in the summer months when the Ladakh peak season is in full flow.
Similar to what we learned about the best time to travel to Leh Ladakh, in the months of January to March, lake Tso Moriri remains mostly frozen, extremely cold conditions with no options to stay around the lake. Apart from some homestays at Korzok, Chumathang is the next best bet to stay nearby this lake.
In April, the lake starts to melt and starts transforming into the beautiful palette of multi shades of blue colors. Then, May to August is the peak tourist season but as compared to Pangong Tso it gets fewer tourists.
Tso Moriri in September and October
The tourists start to reside as cold starts to set in, and accommodation tents pack up, which are near to the lake. IMO, this is by far the best time to visit Tso Moriri and see the full glory of beautiful shades of blue color in the lake. The colors are purely magical at this time of the year, and with fewer tourists comparatively, you get better deals and enjoy more.
Visiting Tso Moriri in Winter
After mid-October up to December, all the accommodation packs up, and the only nearest place you can stay is either in some homestay with basic facilities to fight the harsh cold temperature at Tso Moriri. You can also find some homestays in Nyoma village and a guest house in Chumathang. Both Nyoma and Chumathang are much warmer than Tso Moriri lake in winter months.
Nyoma has few guesthouses having slightly better facilities to fight the cold and provide comfort in winter months than the ones in Korzok. Similarly, Chumathang has Hot Spring Guest House, and due to the presence of hot springs, Chumathang itself is quite warm and lower in altitude.
If the sun is shining and you do not mind the hard cold winters, then you can make the day trip to Tso Moriri from Chumathang or Nyoma to see magical shades of blue color at this lake. However, do not forget to check the weather conditions before leaving Leh.
How to Reach Tso Moriri from Leh
You can reach Tso Moriri from Leh by road via Upshi – Chumathang – Mahe route. Tso Moriri Lake is also connected from Pangong lake directly by Chusul – Tsaga La – Loma – Mahe route.
You can also travel to Tso Moriri lake from Manali Leh Highway via Tso Kar – Puga – Sumdo route. The diversion point to Tso Moriri from Manali Leh Highway is Debring just before Tanglang La pass. However, this route is mostly used to exit from Tso Moriri towards Manali rather than the opposite.
You can read the reasons on not to visit Tso Moriri lake from when coming from Manali to Leh.
Let us look at the different routes that you can use to travel to Pangong Tso from Leh town or Nubra Valley which will help you in planning your trip to it.
Route from Leh to Tso Moriri Lake
This is the most general route to reach Tso Moriri from Leh. You can reach in about 7 – 8 Hrs depending upon the number of breaks you take in between the journey. The route along with the distance between the subsequent places is as follows:
Leh – Karu (36 KMs) – Upshi (13 KMs) – Kumdok (19 KMs) – Kere (53 KMs) – Chumathang (34 KMs) – Mahe (22 KMs) – Sumdo (10 KMs) – Korzok or Tso Moriri(53 KMs) = 240 KMs
You can cover Thicksey, Hemis, and Shey monasteries while going through this route if you haven’t covered them earlier while going to Pangong Tso. This route provides the best road conditions for all other routes. So, if you are one of those who prefer relaxing vacation and do not want to rush through places then, I will suggest making a two day trip to Tso Moriri lake via this route from Leh.
Of course, I assume your body has been acclimatized properly by staying for a couple of nights in Leh and spending a night or two in Nubra Valley as well before attempting to sleep near Tso Moriri or Korzok. If you are short on time, then you can also exit towards Manali from Manali – Leh Highway from Tso Moriri via this route only, but you need to ensure that you have enough fuel to cover about 550 km without any fuel pump.
Route from Pangong Tso Lake to Tso Moriri Lake
There exist a direct and an indirect route between Tso Moriri and Pangong Tso as well and in most general cases, you will always be doing it from direct route of Pangong Tso to Tso Moriri because you can exit Ladakh from Tso Moriri towards Manali – Leh Highway after visiting Tso Moriri without coming back towards Leh and secondly, Tso Moriri is higher than Pangong Tso so as per acclimatization schedule you should stay near Pangong Tso before spending night at Tso Moriri.
Pangong Tso Lake to Tso Moriri Lake via Changthang (Merak – Chusul – Nyoma)
You can go to Tso Moriri from Pangong Tso directly via the remote and ever beautiful Changthang region. The drive between Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri is one of the most beautiful drives in the whole Ladakh region. Since 2019, foreigners are now allowed to go beyond Man – Merak Villages as DC office is issuing the permits to them for this route.
Hence, they need to follow the indirect, slightly longer route to Tso Moriri from Pangong Tso. A special permit to cross Chusul is required from Leh DC office in order to travel on this route.
The route along with the distance between the subsequent places is as follows:
Spangmik (Pangong Tso) – Man (9 KMs) – Merak (12 KMs)– Kakstet (4 KMs) – Chusul (24 KMs) – Tsaga La (33 KMs) – Tsaga Village (20 KMs) – Loma (23 KMs) – Nyoma (22 KMs) – Mahe (25 KMs) – Sumdo (10 KMs) – Namashang La – Tso Moriri / Korzok (53 KMs) = 235 KMs
You need to make sure you carry fuel for about 550 – 600 KMs because you will be covering Leh – Pangong Tso – Nyoma – Loma – Tso Moriri – Leh without any other petrol pump. And if you want to exit Ladakh through Manali – Leh Highway from Tso Moriri then also carry petrol/diesel for about 650 – 700 KMs as the next petrol pump will be available at Tandi.
Otherwise, you need to come back to Karu or Upshi, refill and move back again towards Manali – Leh Highway.
Pangong Lake to Tso Moriri Lake via Chumathang
The indirect route that goes from Chumathang is the longer one, where you need to go back from Pangong Tso to Leh up to Karu and from there you can take a left towards Upshi – Chumathang – Korzok to reach Tso Moriri.
This route can be followed by foreign tourists who are not allowed the permit for Changthang (Man – Merak – Chusul, etc.) region if they do not want to go back to Leh. But, IMO one must go back to Leh from Pangong Tso, refresh themselves and start towards Tso Moriri next morning instead of the very long day via Chumathang.
You need to mention both Tso Moriri and Pangong Tso on your permit form in order to undertake this route. The route along with the distance between the subsequent places is as follows:
Spangmik – Lukung (16 KMs) – Tangtse (34 KMs) – Durbuk (9 KMs) – Chang La (32 KMs) – Sakti (34 KMs) – Karu (10 KMs) – Upshi (13 KMs) – Kumdok (19 KMs) – Kere (53 KMs) – Chumathang (34 KMs) – Mahe (22 KMs) – Sumdo (10 KMs) – Namashang La – Korzok or Tso Moriri(53 KMs) = 339 KMs
Of course, you can plan the route from Tso Moriri to Pangong lake, but in general, it does not fit in the overall plan because of acclimatization and losing the opportunity of exiting via Tso Moriri to Sarchu to Manali route.
Do not forget to refill petrol/diesel at Karu or Upshi petrol pump and if you want to exit Ladakh through Manali – Leh Highway then also carry petrol/diesel for about 500 – 550 KMs as the next petrol pump will be available at Tandi.
Otherwise, you need to come back to Karu or Upshi, refill and move back again towards Manali – Leh Highway.
You can check the detailed Tso Moriri map. You can download this detailed map of Leh Ladakh by right-clicking & then select the option: “Save Image As…”
Road Conditions and Preferred Vehicles
The higher ground clearance vehicles are preferable, and 4×4 ones would be helpful, especially between Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri via Man – Merak – Chusul – Nyoma (Changthang) route. However, for the general route from Chumathang, quite a few people do it in hatchbacks and sedans as well which depends upon your skills to drive and road conditions at the time of travel.
In general Leh to Tso Moriri road condition via Upshi – Chumathang route is good enough for any type of the car including hatches and sedan.
It is always recommended to carry these important spare parts when you drive to Ladakh.
Video – Tso Moriri Lake Tourist Attractions
How to plan a trip to Tso Moriri lake?
Generally, when you plan a trip to Tso Moriri, then at least a one-night stay is recommended to witness the mesmerizing beauty of this blue colored lake truly. Of course, one night’s stay will help you watch sunrise and sunset over the picturesque landscape and increase the charm of your vacation to a great extent.
As it will take you about 8-9 hrs to reach Tso Moriri from Leh, it does not make any sense to go there, touch it and come back in a single day. Also, you miss a chance to take Tso Kar – Taglang La route when coming back to Leh from Tso Moriri.
If you plan to exit Ladakh from Tso Moriri to Sarchu to Manali route, then plan for a three day trip with night halts at Tso Moriri and Sarchu before reaching Manali from Leh.
Generally, most people plan a two day Tso Moriri itinerary like:
Day 1 | Leh – Tso Moriri via Chumathang – Namashang La
- Cover Korzok Monastery
- Overnight at Tso Moriri or Korzok
Day 2 | Tso Moriri – Tso Kar – Debring – Taglang La – Rumste – Upshi – Karu – Leh
- Cover Tso Kar Lake and Taglang La (some part of Manali – Leh Highway)
- Overnight at Leh
You can also check our most common Itinerary for a Ladakh trip
Where to Stay
You cannot find accommodation on the banks of the lake because it is restricted to pitch the camps there being a Ramsar site wetland reserve and sanctuary for migratory birds. You can pitch the tents near the other tented colonies pitched just before Korzok village or find accommodation in Korzok village.
Both ways you will definitely have a clear and broad view of the 24 KM in length, 6 KM in width this magnificent blue colored high altitude lake.
For a comprehensive list of accommodation options or hotels or camps around Tso Moriri lake, you can refer to these good Tso Moriri hotels or accommodation options to stay.
Medical Facilities Nearby
The nearest basic medical health center may be available at Korzok Village though I am not that sure about it. You can get basic first aid including Oxygen doses at some of the tents/camps, I guess else you can carry your own oxygen cylinder from Leh with you.
Where to Eat
Being a remote place, you will either be eating in the homestays at Korzok Village or at the camps/tents near Korzok in which you might be staying overnight.
The options of eating places at Tso Moriri lake is fairly limited to the homestays and camping sites available Korzok.
You should always carry your water bottle and refill it as many times as you need water. It will not only keep you hydrated always, but you will also help in saving the Himalayas from plastic garbage. Remember, every tiny step counts and your step in this direction can help save the Himalayas too !! 🙂 🙂
Phone Connectivity
You will not find any phone or mobile signals at Tso Moriri Lake. The only postpaid connections work in Leh Ladakh and BSNL have the widest coverage followed by Airtel and Reliance Jio.
Petrol Pumps near Tso Moriri
Nearest Petrol Pump is at Karu (about 204 km) from Tso Moriri and comes on the way to Tso Moriri from Leh. I will suggest that you top-up the fuel from Leh itself and then drive/ride up to Tso Moriri.
In case you are planning to exit from Manali Leh Highway, do not forget to carry spare fuel with you so that you make it to Tandi. The overall distance that you will cover without the petrol pump will be 550 km on Leh – Tso Moriri – Sarchu – Manali route.
ATMs
You will not find any ATMs near Tso Moriri lake and hence, it is always better to carry cash from Leh (the only place where you find ATM in Ladakh) itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Let us look at some of the most frequently asked questions about Pangong lake. In case I have missed to cover any question in this article, feel free to give me a shoutout and I will answer and add to this list.
What is the taxi fare for Leh to Tso Moriri?
As per taxi union rates of 2020, a two day trip from Leh to Tso Moriri taxi fare is Rs 15711 and Rs 31362 for a three-day trip from Leh to Tso Moriri to Manali.
Can I travel from Leh to Tso Moriri by bus?
There are three buses that travel from Leh to Tso Moriri every 10th, 20th and 30th day of the month. The Leh to Tso Moriri bus leaves at 6.30 AM on these dates from Leh bus stand. You can read all about Leh to Tso Moriri lake bus service.
Which one is better to visit between Tso Moriri or Pangong Lake?
If I have to choose between Pangong Lake or Tso Moriri, I will personally visit Tso Moriri lake every time just because of its raw nature and less crowd or less commercialization. However, if you are visiting Leh Ladakh for the first time, you should visit Pangong Lake because it is something that you should not miss on your first trip to Ladakh without regretting it.
Can I make a Tso Moriri to Leh trip in a single day?
It is highly NOT recommended to make a one day trip to Tso Moriri Lake. You should always plan for at least two days trip from Leh.
Conclusion
Tso Moriri lake is one of my favorite places to visit in Ladakh, sometimes I feel it is much better than Pangong Tso lake. However, for the first time in Ladakh, I am sure Pangong Tso is something that they should not miss.
I hope this travel guide of Tso Moriri lake helps you plan your trip successfully.
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514 Comments
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Hi Sirjee, I have gone thru your valuable informative posts and researched outside also, can you help me which is good for spending a night in terms of Quietness & less crowded & convenient stays & better night sky whether will it be Tso Moriri or Pangong lake.
I am bit confused between the 2 as my schedule is tight & i will be able to choose any 1 trip towards the end days of ladakh itinerary
If 1 day trip from Leh to pangong & back and 1 day trip from leh to tso moriri & back was possible i would have done using 2 days (i m not sure if the same is possible)
Thnkx in Advance
If I factor in all these things, then I will go with Tso Moriri. You will need to make 1 day trip to Pangong Tso and 2 day trip to Tso Moriri. In case you are making 2 day trip to Nubra Valley, you can club Nubra Valley with Pangong Tso and take direct route from Nubra Valley to Pangong Tso and spend night at Pangong Tso as well. This was in 3 days you visit Nubra Valley and Pangong Tso and then 2 day trip to Tso Moriri.
ohk ok.
i am planning a 1 day trip from Srinagar to Leh with few hours halt at Drass memorial
1st Day i’l stay in leh & arrange for permits (I heard that huge lines are there for permits)
2nd day is one day trip to Diskit/Hunder from Leh
3rd day i’l goto Tso moriri.. spend a night there and leave the next day,
remaining 3rd day i’l utilize for shopping and local sightseeing if required
and on 4th day, i will be leaving from Leh by flight
Hi Jack,
1. Well, there are lines but not that huge. I have been able to get the permit maximum in an hour in all 8-9 trips I have been to Ladakh.
2. Then you do not have any day to visit Pangong Tso. I will highly suggest to add a day because you will feel fatigue that may cause AMS issues to sleep at Tso Moriri with the hectic plan.
Hi Dheeraj,
Thanks for the detailed post. One question regarding permits for foreign tourists. So if I don’t want to go back to Leh and opt for the direct Pangong – Tsomoriri route, the only option is to go through the longer route through Chumathang?
Or is there an extra permit that can be acquired to go through Changthang?
And how long does it take for each routes?
Thanks!
Hey Ruth,
Yes, you will have to take the longer route from Chumathang to reach Tso Moriri. The other direct route is only available for Indian tourists. Both routes have similar ETA with Chumathang being marginally higher.
Hi Dheeraj,
Thanks for the reply. I’m actually traveling with a group of Indian nationals from Leh to Nubra all the way to Pangong. But they are going to continue traveling to Tsomoriri through the Changthang route so I have to part ways with them in Pangong.
Is it easy to hitchhike a ride back to Leh from Pangong? And where and what time is it best to look for a shared taxi back to Leh from Pangong?
There will be plenty of tourists and taxis present at Pangong Tso, You will have to weigh in the options upon reaching there and talking to people next day around the lake or campsites. Hitch hike is another adventure but I feel with such large tourist footfall, there is very high probability of getting a ride back to Leh. Shared taxis one way is not that common, so you have to rely upon hitch hikes mostly.
Dear DHEERAJ SHARMA：
I want to Visit these Places，Can you Recommend me some route,thanks a lot:
1、Hemis, Thicksey and Shey on the go towards Pangong Tso；
2、Tso Moriri Lake
3、Alchi Monastery、Lamayuru and Phuktal Gompa
4、Zanskar Valley
Then I will go to manali…Can you give some Itinerary Suggestion ,thanks you.
Lee, how mnay total days do you have in hand?
Dear DHEERAJ SHARMA：
Total 14 days….
I Will suggest to skip Zanskar and do Ladakh on easy pace as per the very balanced and most common itinerary for Leh – Ladakh followed by many travellers including me at the link here for 13-14 days: Most Common Itinerary for Leh – Ladakh.
Hi
I am traveling to Leh on 1st October by flight and my return flight is on 6th. I just want to know right now I am have planned to cover Nubra and pangong. To cover Tso Moriri I will have to change my return flight for a day later. Pls advice the weather in first week October and whether it is worth to spend the money to change flights. I just want to know the accommodation facilities in Tso moriri. I read your article. The camps would be wrapped up and it would be very cold so pls suggest what I should do.
Weather will be cold and quite cold in morning/evenings at Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri. I will suggest to keep the plan simple and skip Tso Moriri for now. Most of the camps do wrap up in September and hence, you will have to stay at home stays.
Hi, We have prepared an itinerary for Leh – Pangong Tso – Chusul – Tso Moriri – Leh in 3 days.
Day 1: Leh – Pangong Tso (stay at Spangmik)
Day 2: Pangong Tso (Spangmik) – Chusul – Tso Moriri (stay at Tso Moriri)
Day 3: Tso Moriri – Leh
Kindly accord whether these routes are OK.
We are traveling on Aug 20,21,22 2017 through this route.
The major concern for this route is fuel as it is very long travel of around 650kms. with only petrol pump at Leh. We will rent Bullet 500 which has 13.5 ltrs. tank only and load will be of driver + pillion + one travel bag. Suggest what mileage we can expect on this route with Bullet 500 and also how much fuel extra we have to carry, is it feasible to carry so much fuel while driving through dirt roads?
I have visited Leh – Pangong – Leh in single day in 2015 and your forum has been a great help to us during our last trip as well. Kindly address our issues, it will be a great help. Thanks.. Regards, Amit Upadhyay
Hi Amit,
Routes are OK, needless to say, it will be hectic and I am assuming you will be well acclimatized before making this trip in Leh and Nubra Valley.
Whatever mileage you get in plains, you will get about 65% of it only. You will have to carry extra fuel as well as rely on local sources for black fuel too.
Hello Dheeraj,
Do i need to rent a bike from Leh to go to Tso Moriri, or Can I go with a bike rented from Delhi?
Technically, yes. You should rent the bike from Leh only. But, early morning leaving you may be able to avoid the checkposts and then just exit via Manali Leh without returning to Leh.
Hello Sir, Hats off to you for providing great details and travel insight. It is really helpful for novice tourist like me. I alongwith my two other friends coming to Leh on 3rd Sep 2017 via air and stay there till 9th Morning and planning to rent bike for touring Leh.
Our Plan is as follows:
DAY 1 SUN : Rest + Rent a bike + Shanti Stupa + Hall of Fame
DAY 2 MON : ILP + Gurudwara + Magnetic Hill + Confluence of Zanskar and Indus Rivers + Chilling + Likir
Monastery + Alchi Monastery
DAY 3 TUES : Nubra Valley
DAY 4 WED : Nubra to Pangong via Agham
Day 5 Thurs: Pangong to Tso Moriri ( Merak – Chusul – Nyoma)
Day 6 Fri : Tso Moriri to Leh ( via )Chumathang
My doubts are :
1. Is Plan B feasible in first week of Sep 2017.
2. Where all can i find petrol ( Petrol Pump or black petrol) on this route.
3. How many lit of petrol do i have to carry considering we will be riding bullet 350 standard. By my Calculation
considering mileage of 20Kmpl (on safer side) total petrol required will be 38 lit and subtracting tank capacity
of 12 lit we will require 26 lit of petrol in jerry can. Is it feasible to cary such large amount of petrol on bike.
4. Is there any current update to Agham shylok road & Merak – Chusul – Nyoma route about both road conditions.
Hi Abhinav,
1. I do not see any Plan B though your plan is feasible but hectic a bit.
2. Please read: Fuel Availability In Leh – Ladakh | Ladakh Self Drive Tips
3. Above link will help you with distances. Please note Nubra Valley , Deskit petrol pump is fully functional now mostly
4. I will wish the Agham Shyok route gets opened. It is closed as of now due to a massive landslide. Merak – Chusul is open but again dirt track up to Tsaga village
Hi Dheeraj,
Sayantan here, Sakshar’s friend. Have one question. How’s the road condition between Tso Kar and Tso Moriri. You mentioned its off road, which is fine with me. But I’ll be travelling in my small car (Renault Kwid) and is it recommended to take this route (in September) ?
On the plus side, if I manage to cross, I can save time and avoid crossing Tanglang la.
Waiting for your suggestions.
Regards
Sayantan
How are you doing Sayantan !!
No major ground clearance challenge at on the road from Tso KAr to Tso Moriri. Since it is like a dirt track, it will just lower the speed down so that you do not get a puncture.
Doing good! Thanks a lot Dheeraj for your reply.
Best wishes for the trip, we will wait for your updates 🙂
Hey Dheeraj,
Few questions.
– While returning from tso moriri , we plan to take sumdo-debring route as we plan to return to Manali. from there. How’s the road condition and enfield 500cc can get on this route ??
– pangong or tso moriri ?? Which is better. ?? I know tso Moriri attracts less crowd cuz of distance. We are surely going to tso Moriri but is pangong worth visiting ? Kindly advice.
– we ll be carrying our tent. We won’t pitch it near lake. But we can put our own tent ??
– important question, in your experience how often you ve witnessed Tyre puncture ??
Cheers
Hey Kartik,
1. Road condition is OK, though it is a dirt track but easily manageable
2. Between Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri, well, Pangong Tso is more touristy and big while Tso Moriri is more secluded and a bit smaller.
3. Yes, you can do so. Kindly, refer article: Top 10 Tips for Camping in Ladakh & Spiti Valley
4. Quite a few times :), couple of handy products for bike rides are Chain Lube and Cleaner, Puncture Repair Kit and Puncture Sealant
HI DHEERAJ
You are doing a great job . we are leaving jalandhar on 27 may as per
27 may jalandhar to srinagar
28 may srinagar to kargil
29 may kargil to leh
30 may leh
31 may leh to hunder
1june hunder to pangong
2 june pangong to leh
3 june leh to tso morriri
4 june tso morriri to sarchu /jispa
5 june jispa to manali
6 june manali to jalandhar
1 buffer day
is this plan fine
any thing better please suggest
we are 5 adults in pajero sports
Harish, your plan looks OK to me. Just make sure you have some company on direct route to Pangong Tso from Nubra Valley
Hey Dheeraj, We are planning Leh trip in June end. But I am confused when it comes to packing due to insufficient information related to climate and temperature at that time. Can you please check my itinerary and guide me? Most of the time we are travelling by car, May be for a day we will hire a bike.
17 june : Reaching Srinagar
18 june : Gulmarg
19 june:pahalgam
20 june: Sonamarg
21 june: Kargil
22 june: leh
23 june nubra valley
24 june: pangong lake
25 june : coming back to leh
26 june: buffer day in leh
27 june:tsomoriri Lake
28 june: Tsokar Sarchu
29 june : Manali
Krushika, you should move the buffer day in Leh to rest day in Leh on June 23. Acclimatize, take rest and get the inner line permit. Rest looks OK to me. Regarding clothing, please refer: Tips for Carrying Clothes for Ladakh Trip
Dheeraj, one more thing pls.
Can you advise me on what kind of woolens I need to carry for day time in last week to June to 1st week to July? At nights we will be staying in hotels so no concern for cold nights but for daytime I am not sure. Pls keep in mind that I will cross Khardungla in daytime.
Since you will be riding a bike, I will suggest that you prepare layers of clothing. You should have a heavy woolen jacket or rider jacket followed by a layer of a light woolen jacket. Windcheater is a must for one of the layers, either front or inner.
Hi Dheeraj,
I am planning to visit Tso Moriri but heard that the road is under construction. I spoke to a hotel in Laddakh who said vehicles can go but I am skeptical if it is advisable for me as I am travelling alone with wife on our royal enfield. Pls suggest.
Harshit, if you are planning the trip in June – July, the road might have got damaged for few days but should be open unless there is a fresh landslide. There is no major blockade reported by anyone to Tso Moriri. If the hotel guys are saying vehicles are going, they should be. May be you can contact some of the local drivers List of Taxi Drivers for Ladakh – Srinagar – Leh – Manali who does these routes.
Hi Dheeraj,
I’m planning to go to Tso Moriri from Pangong Tso via Chushul on the 26th of June 2017. Will be traveling in an Innova taxi with a local driver. What will be the road conditions like and how long does this route usually take?
Usually, the road is mostly dirt track with bumps almost up to Tsaga village from where the tarred road starts.
hi Dheeraj,
Is it possible to do Leh – Karu – Upshi – Kumdok – Kere – Chumathang – Mahe – Sumdo – Karzok on a 150 Cc Hero CBZ Xtreme bike ??
Also share do’s & dont’s if any ?
Yes, this route can be easily done on a 150cc bike.
Sir we are planning for leh to manali ..and want to cover tso moriri also… so itinery shall be leh to tso moriri to keylong to manali …is it posible? 3days …. i want info about stay at karzok village … advance booking of hotel necessary?? Or we get cheap accomodation easily on th spot at karzok??? Dates are 4th-5th june at karzok …
Yes, people in general do it like:
Leh to tso Moriri
Tso Moriri to Sarchu/Jispa
Sarchu/Jispa to Manali
IF you are looking for economic stays then you will have to do on spot booking only as over phone stays at Tso Moriri are costly.
Is there any problem … to get there on self drive rented vehicle…. ? Cz there is no option left….otherewise we have to get back to leh …this will consume a day for us …so is it risky to go there by your self drive rented vehicle ? And what about accomodation in sarchu????
You can try it out, in case the local drivers up there creates a nuisance, you can gracefully resolve the dispute and agree to go back to sleep at Tso Kar lake from where you can go to Sarchu – Manali next day.
I want to travel leh to tsomoriri to leh from 28th may to 4th June on bike rented from leh. Is that possible? Will roads be open?
Yes, you can travel to Tso Moriri from Leh in last week of May. Please keep in mind that Tso Moriri will be still cold in May end.
Hi, We are planning to visit leh on 23rd may 2017 and will hire bike from srinagar to leh. Is it possible for us to do local sightseeing in leh on those bike and if not what options do we have?
Hiring another bike in leh for local sightseeing means we have to hire twice one from sri to leh and other for leh sightseeing thereby incurring double cost. Please give your suggestion. Thank You.
You will have to hire the bike twice in such a case. It is best to travel by public transport to Leh and then hire a bike over there unless you are OK with paying twice and do not have any budget constraints.
Hi,
Please let me know what is the difference between Tsomoriri Camps and Tsomoriri Resorts in terms of facilities.
For a 1 night stay during Sept’17 which one will be preferrable?
Regards,
Baskar, one is camp made of canvas and other is just tin sheds which protect a bit more from winds.
is it ok for our family tour in 25th may to 5th june
Day 01: Pick up at 4.00am.Udhampur – Srinagar (Stay at srinagar)
Day 02: Srinagar – Sonamarg – Zozi La – Drass – Kargil (Stay at kargil)
Day 03: Kargil – Lamayuru – Leh (Stay at Leh)
Day 04: Leh Local sightseeing (Stay at Leh)
Day 05: Leh – Khardung La – Diskit – Hunder- Nubra valley (Stay at Nubra valley)
Day 06: Hunder / Diskit – Khardung La –Leh (Stay at Leh)
Day 07: Leh-Pangong (Stay at Pangong)
Day 08: Pangong– Moore Plains – Pang / Sarchu – Jispa (Stay at Jispa)
Day 09: Jispa – Manali /Chandigarh (Stay at Manali/Chandigarh)
Day 10: Manali/Chandigarh – Departure at 11.00 am
Your plan looks OK till Pangong Tso but Manali – Leh Highway may not be open by that time and you are making it too hectic towards the end of those days.
Hi Dheeraj,
Its great to have find all information about Leh at the same place. I’m travelling with my family (including my son – 10 years) as per following itinerary. Just wanted to check if this makes sense any specific you can suggest to have a relaxed vacation and avoid AMS.
25th April – Land in Leh, day at leisure
26th April – Day trip to Sham valley, night at Leh
27th April – Leh to Nubra Valley
28th April – Nubra Valley – Turtuk (where do you suggest to stay in Turtuk?)
29th April – Turtuk to Leh
30th April – Leh to Pangong Tso
1st May- Pangong Tso to Leh
2nd May – Rest Day at Leh (local sight seeing)
3rd May – Leh to Tso Moriri (Do you suggest to make a booking to stay or find once we reach?)
4th May -Tso Moriri to Leh
5th May – Day at leisure
6th May – Flight back from Leh
Thanks
Mohit
Hello Mohit,
You have a very good and relaxed plan. Just ensure you follow the general tips mentioned under the article for precautions for AMS and you should be good to go. Well, you should not stay at Pangong Tso as it will be too cold, so stay at Tangtse about 34 KMs before Pangong Tso. Same is true for Tso Moriri lake. Stay at Chumathang.
Go prepared well with heavy woollens to make sure you combat cold.
To know about AMS and acclimatization including the tips to combat AMS, please DO READ: Acute Mountain Sickness and Importance of Acclimatization
Thanks Dheeraj, also wanted to check if Nubra Valley hotels would be open at the time (end April)? For the Pangong Lake and Tso Moriri, it is worth visiting if we are not staying there and they would be frozen and too cold?
Yes Mohit, some of the guest houses and couple of hotels will start opening up in Nubra Valley by end of April. Well, yeah, you can still visit the lakes and spend more time before return back to bases like Tangtse for Pangong Tso or Chumathang for Tso Moriri. The journey will also be beautiful.
Hi Dheeraj,
We are a group of 7 people planning to visit Leh from June 2nd to 17th this year. We are planning to reach Srinagar by flight on 2nd and start next day from there by road. Is the road conditions look positive? Also, we are planning to come back via Manali. Kindly check the itinerary below:-
2nd June – Bangalore to Srinagar by flight
3rd – Srinagar to Kargil. Stay at Kargil
4th – Kargil to Leh via Lamayuru
5th – Local sightseeing at Leh
6th – Nubra via Kardungla. Stay at Hunder/Diskt
7th – Visit Turtuk and stay there
8th – Back to Leh
9th – Visit Pangong lake. Stay at Pangong
10th – Pangong to Chusul. Stay at Chusul?
11th – Chusul to Tso Moriri. Stay at Tso Moriri
12th – Rest at Tso Moriri
13th – Tso Moriri to Pang/Sarchu
14th – Pang/Sarchu to manali
15th – Sightseeing in Manali
16th – Manali to Chandigarh
17th – Fly back to Bangalore
Is this itinerary looks ok for you? Kindly provide your suggestions.
Thanks & Best Regards,
Poornendu
Your plan looks fine to me, get the permits for Hanle and do PAngong Tso to Hanle instead of Chusul and then Hanle to Tso Moriri.
Thanks Dheeraj! 🙂 Appreciate your efforts. I have one more query.Is it possible go to Pangong lake and come back to Leh within a day? Two of us have to return to Bangalore from Leh on 10th morning.
If not, can we reach Pangong from Nubra directly. Will the roads be open by that time?
Thanks & Best Regards,
Poornendu
Yes, it takes about 12 Hrs to make a day trip to Pangong Tso and many people do it. Pangong Tso – Nubra Valley road from Agham – Shyok can also be taken to save a day but keep in mind that the route is desolated and hence, you should only travel on that route if there are other vehicles accompanying you.
Hi Dheeraj ,
HATS OFF TO YOU for such comprehensive information, really appreciate your time & efforts.
M planning for trip to leh ladakh from Jammu and exit via manali from 10 sept tp 21 sept manali we have chosen this time based on your experience & suggestions. As we want to travel light can you please guide us regarding weather conditions at this time and clothing required. I have also posted our travel plan on DOW calendar.
Thanks in advance.
Rgds,
Manish
Hi Manish,
You should carry one light one heavy jacket at that time of the year. Rest it shall be fine in day time, so light jacket will mostly be used.
Hi DHEERAJ,
Really an wonderful blog ..
i am planning 9 days trip to srinagar – leh – manali – delhi ..please advice ..
Planning to reach Srinagar on june 2nd
So
June 2 – Reach Srinagar
June 3 – Srianagr to kargil
June 4 – kargil – Leh
June 5 – leh to nubra
June 6 – nubra to leh
June 7 – leh to pangso
June 8 – pangso – tsomori
June 9 – tso mori to sarchu
June10 – sarchu to manali Manali – manali to dehi bus
June 11 – Return fight from Delhi
June 12 –
Can ypu please suggest what will be the best option we can add on emore day also , We want to visit as much as possible
Hi Rajesh,
You must add one day of rest and acclimatization in Leh before going over to Nubra Valley via Khardung La pass. Also, you should know that the plan is going to be quite hectic and you will mostly be on road, so be sure to be mentally prepared for it.
Thanks for reply ..is is possile to do Nubra and back to leh in 1 day ?
Yes Rajesh, it is possible to do Nubra Valley day trip but it will be hectic for sure. You should have about 12 Hrs for it.
Infact since you are taking Pangong Tso to Tso Moriri direct route, you will have to anyway take rest day in Leh to apply for inner line permits on that route.
yes rest we will take and one more qn is is can we make like leh-nubra-pangso-tsomori -manali in one direct route in consecutive 4/5 days without returning back to leh?
Yes Rajesh, you can do so like
Leh to Nubra Valley
Nubra Valley to Pangong Tso
Pangong Tso to Hanle
Hanle to Tso Moriri
Tso Moriri to Leh
This way it will be a bit balanced. You will need permits to travel from Pangong Tso to Hanle from Leh DC Office.