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Day 1
Manali → Jispa | ~115 km
Acclimatization stop. Overnight Jispa (3,100m).
🏨 Jispa🏔️ 3,100m🛣️ ~115 km · ~4 hrs
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Day 2
Jispa → Sarchu | ~125 km
Baralacha La 4,890m. Overnight Sarchu (4,253m).
🏨 Sarchu🏔️ 4,253m🛣️ ~125 km · ~5-6
hrs
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Day 3
Sarchu → Leh | ~165 km
Tanglang La 5,328m. Arrive Leh 3,500m. Rest fully.
🏨 Leh🏔️ 3,500m🛣️ ~165 km · ~6-7 hrs
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Day 4
Leh Rest + Supplies + ILP | Mandatory
Full rest. Stock up on fuel, food, water, medicines. ILP permits at DC
Office Leh. Zanskar has NO ATMs — carry sufficient cash.
🏨 Leh🏔️ 3,500m
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Day 5
Leh → Kargil via NH1 | ~230 km
Lamayuru Monastery — spectacular moonland. Mulbekh. Kargil (2,676m). Last
good fuel stop before deep Zanskar.
🏨 Kargil🏔️ 2,676m🛣️ ~230 km · ~5-6
hrs
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Day 6
Kargil → Padum via Suru Valley | ~240 km
Sanku. Parkachik Glacier views. Rangdum Monastery — spectacular on a green
plateau. Pensi La (4,401m) — gateway to Zanskar. Long winding descent. Padum (3,657m) — capital
of Zanskar.
🏨 Padum🏔️ 3,657m🛣️ ~240 km · ~8-9
hrs
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Day 7
Padum Exploration — Karsha, Zangla, Stongde | ~60 km
Karsha Monastery — largest in Zanskar. Zangla fort and monastery. Stongde
monastery (1,000+ years). Bardan monastery. Padum old town walk.
🏨 Padum🏔️ 3,657m🛣️ ~60 km · Full day
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Day 8
Padum → Phuktal Monastery | ~80 km + trek
Phuktal Gompa (3,900m) — built into a cliff cave, one of the most remote
monasteries in the world. Drive to Purne village, 1.5 hr trek each way. Absolutely unmissable.
This is the highlight of the entire trip.
🏨 Purne/Phuktal camp🏔️ 3,900m🛣️ ~80 km + 3
km trek
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Day 9
Padum → Nimmu via Zanskar Gorge Road | ~170 km
THE most challenging section. Zanskar gorge road (also the winter Chadar
trek route). River crossings possible. Hanupata, Neraq. Zanskar river meets Indus at Nimmu —
stunning confluence. Arrive Nimmu/Leh.
🏨 Leh🏔️ 3,500m🛣️ ~170 km · ~8-10 hrs
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Day 10
Leh → Nubra → Pangong (Optional) | ~250 km
Add Nubra and Pangong if time permits. Otherwise rest in Leh.
🏨 Pangong/Leh🛣️ ~250 km · Full day
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Day 11
Leh → Tso Moriri | ~220 km
Rupshu plateau lake. Overnight Korzok.
🏨 Korzok🏔️ 4,522m🛣️ ~220 km · ~6-7
hrs
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Day 12–14
Tso Moriri → Sarchu → Manali | ~470 km
Tso Kar. Pang. Tanglang La. Sarchu overnight. Next day Baralacha La,
Rohtang, Manali. Day 14 is buffer for Zanskar road unpredictability.
🏨 Sarchu → Manali🛣️ ~470 km · 2 days + buffer
