A long salt-water lake at about 4,350 m on the India-China border, a day's drive east of Leh.
FamousLakeVillageAdventure
People come for the colour of the water, which shifts through the day, and for a night beside a very high lake with clear skies. It suits travellers who have already spent at least two nights in Leh to adjust to the altitude. It is not a good choice for anyone with heart or breathing problems, or for very young children.
Trip planner
Photos from Wikimedia Commons. Select a photo for its author and licence.
| When | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Late May to mid June | Cold with fewer visitors. Parts of the lake can still carry ice in late May and the road over Chang La may have snow. |
| Mid June to August | Peak season. Days are the warmest of the year, about 17 to 22 C, all camps are open and the lake is busiest. Nights are still close to freezing. |
| September to early October | Clearest skies and thinner crowds. Nights drop below zero by early October and camps begin to close. |
| November to April | The lake freezes, usually from January to March. Most camps are shut, only a few homestays stay open and many winter visitors sleep at Tangtse instead. Only for well-prepared trips. |
The main stretch of shore where most visitors stay. The best colour changes are in the late afternoon up to sunset and again early in the morning.
The first point where the road meets the lake. It is known from the film 3 Idiots and has film props such as a yellow scooter set up for photos.
A small lakeside village beyond Spangmik with fewer camps and a quieter shore.
The furthest lakeside village most visitors reach on the Indian side. It is the least commercial of the three, with basic homestays.
The high pass on the road from Leh, at about 5,360 m. There is a small temple and an army-run tea stall at the top. Keep the stop short because of the altitude.
The last proper village before the lake, with shops, dhabas and guesthouses. It is the usual lunch stop and has a permit check post.
A small lake beside the road shortly before Pangong, used as a photo stop on the drive in.
Worth a stop on the drive from Leh, the last stretch whether you arrive by train, bus or air. Stopping needs a taxi or your own vehicle; buses do not wait. Distances are by road.
Former summer palace of Ladakh's kings, with a large gilded seated Buddha in its monastery.
Hilltop monastery often compared to the Potala Palace, with a two-storey Maitreya Buddha. Morning prayers start around 6 am.
Places people usually visit on the same trip, and how long it takes to get between them.
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| Budget level | Type | Price per night |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | Homestays and basic tented camps, some with shared bathrooms | ₹1,000 to ₹2,500 |
| Mid-range | Tented camps and wooden cottages with attached bathrooms | ₹2,500 to ₹5,000 |
| Luxury | Luxury camps and cottages, usually with dinner and breakfast included | ₹5,000 to ₹15,000 |
Most people eat at their camp or homestay, and many camps include dinner and breakfast in the room rate. Dhabas in Tangtse and a few tent stalls along the lake serve simple meals, Maggi noodles, omelette and thukpa.
Simple vegetarian meals are the norm at camps and stalls.
| Budget level | Stay per room | Food per person | Local transport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | ₹1,500 | ₹500 | ₹0 per person |
| Mid-range | ₹3,500 | ₹900 | ₹2,000 per vehicle |
| Luxury | ₹9,000 | ₹1,500 | ₹2,000 per vehicle |
Per day. Travel to and from your city is added in the planner above.
Indian visitors need the Ladakh inner line permit, paid as an environment fee of Rs 400, a wildlife fee of Rs 20 per day and a Red Cross contribution of Rs 50, about Rs 590 for a week. Apply online at lahdclehpermit.in or at the Deputy Commissioner's office in Leh, with a government photo ID. It is valid for up to three weeks; children under 12 are exempt. Foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit arranged through a registered travel agent in Leh. Carry four or five printed copies, as check posts at Durbuk and Tangtse keep one each.
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Unless a sight is described as accessible, assume it is not step-free.
Nearby
Straight-line distance; the road route here is not reliable on the map we use.
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