Route library · Outstation · High passes
Delhi to Padum (Zanskar)
Padum is the main settlement of Zanskar — a high, dry, deeply Buddhist valley walled off by the Great Himalayan and Zanskar ranges, historically reachable only on foot in summer or over the frozen river in winter. The classic ride in climbs from Kargil past the Drang-Drung glacier over Pensi La (about 4,400 m); a newer road links it to Nimmu near Leh. Padum is the base for Phugtal, Karsha and Stongdey gompas and the Zanskar gorge. It is a genuine expedition — long, high, cold, with a short season and thin support.
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At a glance
- Round trip
- About 2,200–2,400 km
- Riding time
- 4 days to Kargil each way; a day to Padum
- Nights
- 7–8 nights
- Start point
- Delhi (via Jammu, Srinagar and Kargil; return optionally via Leh)
- Highest point
- About 4,400 m at Pensi La; Padum sits around 3,600 m
- Difficulty
- Expedition. Long NH-44 riding, then a high, remote road with a 4,400 m pass, a glacier section, gravel, water crossings and very little help.
- Surface
- Sealed in stretches, gravel and broken in others; the Rangdum–Pensi La–Padum section is largely unpaved with stream crossings. The Nimmu–Padum road is improving but has rough, high, unbuilt gaps.
- Best season
- Mid-June to September, once Pensi La is open. Snow closes the pass from October to May/June. The monsoon barely touches Zanskar itself but hammers the NH-44 approach.
- Permits
- No permit for Indian nationals to Padum via Kargil; the Nimmu–Padum route and side valleys toward the LoC are checkpost-controlled. Carry ID for every rider. Foreign nationals may need a protected-area permit for parts of the region.
The ride
Delhi → Jammu → Srinagar → Kargil over four days on NH-44 and NH-1 — the Zoji La crossing and the Dras stretch are the crux of the approach. Rest a night at Kargil.
From Kargil, up the Suru valley past Sankoo and Panikhar, under the Nun-Kun massif to Rangdum (acclimatise), then over Pensi La past the Drang-Drung glacier to Padum. Use Padum as a base for Karsha, Stongdey and Sani gompas and the walk toward Phugtal. Return over Pensi La to Kargil, or — if the group and the road allow — out on the Nimmu–Padum road to Leh and home via Manali.
Day by day
Delhi to Patnitop / Jammu
NH-44 into the Jammu hills (10–12 hours). Night here.
To Srinagar
Through the Banihal tunnel to Srinagar (6–7 hours). Night in Srinagar.
Srinagar to Kargil
Over Zoji La, through Dras to Kargil (7–9 hours, slow on the pass). Night in Kargil.
Kargil to Rangdum
The Suru valley under Nun-Kun to Rangdum (~3,650 m, 5–6 hours). Acclimatisation night.
Rangdum to Padum
Over Pensi La past the Drang-Drung glacier to Padum (6–7 hours). Night in Padum.
Zanskar valley day
Karsha and Stongdey gompas, Sani, and the Zanskar river confluence. Rest and acclimatise.
Toward Phugtal / rest
A day walk or ride toward Phugtal (road to Cha / Purne, then walk), or a rest day. Night in Padum.
Padum to Kargil
Back over Pensi La to Kargil (long day).
Kargil toward Srinagar
Over Zoji La and on.
To Delhi
Two more riding days home (or via Leh–Manali if you took the Nimmu route).
Fuel & services
- Fill up at Srinagar and Kargil. Kargil is your last big fuel stop before Zanskar.
- There is a pump at Padum, but it is small and frequently dry or rationed — never plan on it. Kargil to Rangdum, over Pensi La to Padum, around the valley and back to Kargil is 400 km+ of high, rough riding. Carry 10 litres or more of spare per bike and fill at Sankoo/Panikhar if the pumps there are working.
- Rangdum has a monastery guesthouse and a couple of camps; Padum has basic hotels, guesthouses and monastery stays; the side valleys are homestay-only. Everything is cash and limited supply — carry food, and cash for the whole trip, from Kargil.
Road & conditions
NH-44 to Srinagar is the usual long, closure-prone highway. Zoji La is a gravel, mud-and-meltwater climb with heavy truck and convoy traffic — ride it early and slowly. The Suru valley to Rangdum is a mix of tar and gravel. Rangdum to Padum over Pensi La is largely unpaved: loose rock, corrugations, glacial stream crossings that rise through the day, and long exposure at 4,000 m+. The Nimmu–Padum alternative has its own high, unbuilt, remote sections. Everywhere above Kargil, help is hours to a day away.
Bike, fuel & getting help
- Suggested bike
- Needs a dirt-capable bike (an ADV or a light dual-sport) and off-road experience. Not a commuter route.
- Fuel gap
- A serious fuel gap on this route — carry spare fuel and fill every chance you get.
- Spare fuel
- Carry 10 litres or more of spare fuel.
- Emergency & logistics
- Hospitals at Kargil and (basic) Padum; the Padum pump is small and often dry — never plan on it. The road holds above 4,000 m for hours with camps at 3,600 m; AMS is a real risk and evacuation is a full day or a weather-dependent helicopter. Acclimatise at Rangdum, carry a satellite messenger, and do the fuel sums before leaving Kargil.
Best time to ride
Mid-June to September, once Pensi La is reliably open. July and August are the most settled for the pass; September gives the clearest air but the first snows can arrive by late in the month and shut Pensi La early. October to May, Zanskar is road-cut-off. The monsoon spares Zanskar itself but batters the Jammu–Srinagar approach with landslides.
What to add to your kit
Beyond the standard ride kit: expedition cold-weather gear, a disciplined acclimatisation schedule (Rangdum is non-negotiable), altitude medication and a full first-aid kit, a satellite messenger, 10 litres+ of spare fuel per bike, tools and recovery gear, cash for the entire trip from Kargil, and several spare days for weather and road closures.
Ride this with a group
We run Zanskar as a 9–10 day expedition — four days to Kargil, an acclimatisation night at Rangdum, over Pensi La past a glacier into one of the most isolated valleys in the Himalaya, with a glacier-viewpoint clean-up as the service action. Experienced high-altitude riders, strict fuel and acclimatisation discipline.