All routes
The quiet side

Kargil & Zanskar

Zoji La, Drass and the long run to Padum over Pensi La — the least crowded road in the region, and the least forgiving.

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Distance
900 km
Recommended
10 days
Highest point
4,400 m
Best time
Jul–Sep
Difficulty
Extreme

The ride

Zanskar is as remote as riding in Ladakh gets. From Leh the road runs west past the moonland at Lamayuru to Kargil, then turns south up the Suru valley.

Pensi La opens onto the Drang-Drung glacier and the long, rough valley down to Padum. Fuel is scarce, the surface is mostly broken and the landscape is enormous. Carry spares and plan each day around the next fuel stop.

Destinations on the way

  1. 1

    Leh

    3,500 m

    Start and finish of the ride.

  2. 2

    Kargil

    2,676 m · 1 night

    The junction town on the Suru river.

  3. 3

    Padum

    3,600 m · 2 nights

    Zanskar's only town, at the end of the road.

Popular attractions

Lamayuru

3,510 m

Eroded "moonland" around an old monastery.

Zoji La

3,528 m

The pass between Kashmir and Ladakh.

Drass

3,280 m

One of the coldest inhabited places in India.

Pensi La

4,400 m

The pass into Zanskar.

Drang-Drung glacier

A long river of ice right beside the road.