Zanskar is the high, cut-off side of Ladakh: one wide valley around the small town of Padum, ringed by passes that close for half the year. You reach it by a long shared jeep from Kargil over Penzi La, or from the Manali side over Shinku La. Karsha and Stongde monasteries are a short drive from Padum, and Phugtal, built into a cave, is a day away by road and on foot. Give it a week from Leh: two days to get in, three in the valley, two to get out.
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When to go
The Kargil road over Penzi La is usually open mid-June to October; mid-June to September is the reliable window. Shinku La from the Manali side is best July to September, and in May 2026 was open only to 4x4s with chains. In winter Zanskar is cut off by road.
Zanskar right now and the next 7 days
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Zanskar on the map
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The area
Getting there
Places to see
Day trips
Zanskar · Open in Google Maps ↗
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Step 3 of 11Next: Cost↓What your trip costs
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Ballpark ranges, not live quotes. Page updated 18 October 2026. Prices move with season and demand, so check live fares before you book.
On the ground: stay, food, local travel and tickets. Pick a route above to add the journey.
Check live prices
Zanskar in 3 days: a day-by-day plan
Our suggested plan, in a sensible order with times. Move things between days, remove them or add more. It saves on this device, and you can share it.
- 11:00Karsha monastery2 h · price to check · Zanskar's largest monastery, stacked up a cliff across the river from Padum. Check if there is an entry fee.
- 13:30Lunch break
- 08:00Phugtal monasteryFull day · price to check · Built into a cave above the Tsarap river, 52 km from Padum. Drive to Purne, then walk 2 to 3 hours. Best done with a night nearby.
- Lunch on the way
- 08:00Stongde and ZanglaFull day · ₹6,000 each · A cliff-top monastery and an old royal village on one taxi-union day. The price is per vehicle.
- Lunch on the way
How to get to Zanskar
One-way prices per person. The cheapest sensible option is marked. Each button opens live times and fares for the date you picked above.
Bus Cheapest
₹375JKSRTC buses run the Leh-Kargil highway; about ₹350 to ₹400 reported. Check the time at the Leh bus stand the day before.
Shared Sumo Last leg
₹2,100₹2,000 to ₹2,200 a seat in 2026. No reliable daily bus goes all the way. Leaves early; ask at the Kargil taxi stand the evening before.
Private taxi Last leg
₹14,765Per car, one-day drop, on the 2025 Kargil taxi union rate list.
Bus + shared jeep
Check fareBus to Keylong ₹150 to ₹200 and on to Darcha ₹100 to ₹150, but no fixed transport over Shinku La: shared jeeps and lifts only. Total cost varies too much to quote.
Getting around once you're there
Taxi union sightseeing
₹6,000₹5,500 to ₹6,500 per vehicle for a full day of monasteries around Padum. Fill the car to share it.
Taxi, Padum → Karsha
₹520One way per vehicle on an older taxi rate list; ₹690 return. Expect it to be higher now.
Shared jeep
Check priceShared jeeps link Padum with the villages. No fixed fares published; ask at the Padum stand.
On foot
FreePadum town and the walk up to Karsha's lower village are easy on foot. Phugtal is a 2 to 3 hour walk from Purne.
Where to stay in Zanskar
Price per night for the room. The buttons open live availability for your dates.
Homestay, meals included
₹1,300/night₹500 to ₹800 per person with meals. Arranged on arrival or by phone.
Guesthouse
₹1,150/night₹800 to ₹1,500 a room, or ₹400 to ₹600 per person sharing.
Hotel
₹0/nightA few hotels and resorts in Padum. Rates were not published; call ahead in July and August.
Stopover
₹1,000/night₹800 to ₹1,200 a room. The night before the jeep to Padum.
What to eat, and what it costs
Dhaba meal in Padum
₹125₹100 to ₹150: dal, rice, thukpa, momos.
A full day of dhaba food
₹450₹400 to ₹500 a day if you eat all three meals out.
Homestay meals
IncludedIncluded in most village homestays. Butter tea and skyu (a pasta-and-vegetable stew) are what the family eats.
Things to do in Zanskar
Tap “Add to my plan” and it goes into your day-by-day plan above.
Karsha monastery
Check priceZanskar's largest monastery, stacked up a cliff across the river from Padum. Check if there is an entry fee.
Phugtal monastery
Check priceBuilt into a cave above the Tsarap river, 52 km from Padum. Drive to Purne, then walk 2 to 3 hours. Best done with a night nearby.
Stongde and Zangla
₹6,000A cliff-top monastery and an old royal village on one taxi-union day. The price is per vehicle.
Penzi La and the Drang Drung glacier
FreeThe pass at the head of the valley, with a huge glacier beside the road. Ask the driver to stop.
Village walks around Padum
FreeBarley fields, chortens and stone houses in every direction. No ticket, no crowd.
Day trips and next stops
Rangdum and its monastery
₹4,000Taxi or the shared jeep out
Karsha
₹520Taxi
Zangla
₹2,000Taxi
Keylong and Lahaul
Check fareShared jeep to Darcha, then bus
Know before you go
Mistakes to avoid
- Kargil town lies close to the Line of Control. The UK government (FCDO) advises against all travel within 10 km of the India-Pakistan border and against all travel to Jammu and Kashmir, which includes the Srinagar road to Kargil. Foreign visitors should come from Leh, not Srinagar, and check their insurance.
- Indian citizens need no permit for Zanskar. Foreign nationals: rules reported by guides conflict; check with a registered Leh or Kargil travel agent before you go.
- Padum is at 3,657 m and the road crosses Penzi La. Acclimatise in Leh or Kargil first, and expect a full, rough day in the jeep.
Ways to spend less
- Share a taxi-union day car with others from your guesthouse: ₹6,000 a vehicle is ₹1,500 each with four people.
- Sleep in village homestays at ₹500 to ₹800 a head with meals instead of Padum hotels.
- Go in late August or September: the road is open, the barley is harvested and the summer crowd from Manali has thinned.
Before-you-go checklist
Zanskar in pictures
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Step 11 of 11Next: FAQ↓Questions people ask
When is the best time to visit Zanskar?
Jul–Sep is the best time. The Kargil road over Penzi La is usually open mid-June to October; mid-June to September is the reliable window. Shinku La from the Manali side is best July to September, and in May 2026 was open only to 4x4s with chains. In winter Zanskar is cut off by road.
How do I reach Zanskar?
Bus: Leh → Kargil, 7-8 h, about ₹375 one way.
How much does a 3-day trip to Zanskar cost?
On the ground (stay, food, local travel and tickets), one person spends about ₹3,000 on a shoestring, ₹5,100 mid-range or ₹13,500 in comfort over 3 days. Add the journey: the cheapest sensible option is bus (Leh → Kargil) at about ₹375 each way.
How many days do you need in Zanskar?
3 days is right for most people. That covers Karsha monastery, Phugtal monastery, Stongde and Zangla without rushing.
Is Zanskar good for families or solo travellers?
Zanskar works best for solo, couples, groups. It is harder with young children or older parents. Solo travellers find it easy and cheap.
Is vegetarian food easy to find in Zanskar?
Vegetarian is easy: dhabas and homestays run on dal, rice, potatoes, thukpa and vegetable momos. Vegan needs care because butter tea and dairy are everywhere; ask for black tea.
Will my phone and cards work in Zanskar?
BSNL postpaid works in Padum. Most of the road has no signal at all. Do not count on cards or UPI anywhere in the valley. Bring all your cash from Kargil or Leh. Homestays, jeeps and dhabas are cash.
Sources and last check
Checked 17 October 2026. Fees, hours and rules change, so confirm on the official site before you pay.
- ladakh.gov.in OfficialHRTC trial bus Keylong-Padum (June 2024), not confirmed as a regular service
- gov.uk OfficialFCDO advises against all travel within 10 km of the India-Pakistan border and to the UT of Jammu and Kashmir (incl. Srinagar)
- discoverwithdheeraj.comKargil-Padum shared Sumo Rs 2,000-2,200 (2026); Manali-Keylong-Darcha fares and Shinku La status May 2026; taxi union sightseeing Rs 5,500-6,500; Padum rooms Rs 800-1,500, homestays Rs 500-800 pp with meals; Kargil rooms Rs 800-1,200; dhaba meals Rs 100-150, Rs 400-500 a day; no ATM, no petrol, BSNL postpaid; Padum 3,657 m; road seasons (updated Sep 2026)
- vargiskhan.comKargil taxi union 2025 rates: Kargil-Padum one-day drop Rs 14,765
- vargiskhan.comNo reliable Kargil-Padum bus; Padum taxi rates to Karsha Rs 520/690, Zangla Rs 2,000, Rangdum Rs 4,000 (older list)
- discoverwithdheeraj.comKargil-Leh bus about Rs 350-400
- discoverwithdheeraj.comPhugtal 52 km from Padum, 2-3 h walk from Purne; no separate permit for Indians
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Set your dates and group at the top, shape the days, then book each piece directly.
Back to the planner ↑Costs are indicative ballparks for doing it yourself and change with season and demand. Always check live fares, rates and opening rules before you book. Trip Under is not a travel agency: we sell nothing, take no commission, and every booking link goes straight to the provider. Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; see credits.
By Gokul · Updated 18 October 2026 · Photo: This Photo was taken by Timothy A. Gonsalves . Feel free to use my photos, but please mention me as the author. I would · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Sammandi · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Bishtashita · CC BY 3.0 · source · Photo: This Photo was taken by Timothy A. Gonsalves . Feel free to use my photos, but please mention me as the author. I would · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: This Photo was taken by Timothy A. Gonsalves . Feel free to use my photos, but please mention me as the author. I would · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
