Tour Travel & adventure camping

14 Nights / 15 Days Zanskar–Ladakh–Hanle Expedition From Manali

Manali Pickup → Zanskar → Kargil → Leh → Nubra → Siachen Base Camp → Pangong → Hanle → Umling La → Tso Moriri → Leh → Manali Drop

This is a high-altitude expedition-style itinerary, not a rushed standard Ladakh tour. September is a particularly good period for clear mountain views, but the Manali–Leh and Shinku La sectors remain weather-dependent, especially later in the month.

DAY 01 — MANALI → ATAL TUNNEL → KEYLONG → JISPA

Approx. 150 km | 6–7 hrs

Pickup from Manali
Drive through Atal Tunnel
Sissu
Tandi
Keylong
Jispa
Evening beside the Bhaga River
Overnight: Jispa

Highlight: First high-altitude night and preparation for the Shinku La crossing.

DAY 02 — JISPA → SHINKU LA → PADUM

Approx. 140–160 km | 8–10 hrs

Early departure
Darcha
Shinku La Pass
Kargiak Valley
Zanskar Valley
Drive towards Padum
Evening exploration of Padum market
Overnight: Padum

The Manali–Padum route is a newer, rugged alternative corridor and remains a seasonal route; September is within its reported operating window, but road/weather conditions should be reconfirmed immediately before departure.

DAY 03 — PADUM → PANSI LA → SURU VALLEY → KARGIL

Approx. 230–250 km | 9–11 hrs

Early breakfast
Drive through the spectacular Zanskar–Suru landscape
Pensi La region
Drang-Drung Glacier viewpoint, if road/time conditions permit
Suru Valley
Rangdum region
Continue towards Kargil
Overnight: Kargil

Highlight: One of the most dramatic landscape days of the expedition.

DAY 04 — KARGIL → FOTU LA → NAMIKA LA → LAMAYURU → LEH

Approx. 215 km | 7–8 hrs

Mulbekh
Namika La
Fotu La
Lamayuru Moonland
Magnetic Hill
Gurudwara Pathar Sahib
Sangam — Indus & Zanskar Confluence
Arrival in Leh
Overnight: Leh
DAY 05 — LEH LOCAL SIGHTSEEING & ACCLIMATISATION

Easy day | Essential acclimatisation

Leh Palace
Shanti Stupa
Tsemo Monastery/Viewpoint
Leh Market
Hall of Fame
Relaxation at hotel

Overnight: Leh

Important: Keep this day deliberately relaxed. The itinerary subsequently reaches Khardung La, Pangong, Hanle and Umling La, so acclimatisation should not be sacrificed.

DAY 06 — LEH → KHARDUNG LA → DISKIT → HUNDER

Approx. 125 km | 5–6 hrs

Khardung La
North Pullu
Khalsar
Diskit Monastery
Hunder Sand Dunes
Optional double-hump camel experience
Sunset in Nubra Valley
Overnight: Hunder/Nubra
DAY 07 — NUBRA → SUMUR → PANAMIK → SIACHEN BASE CAMP → NUBRA

Long expedition day

Sumur
Panamik
Drive towards Siachen Base Camp
Siachen War Memorial/approved visitor areas
Return towards Nubra
Overnight: Nubra

Siachen Base Camp is specifically listed as a permitted circuit in the current Ladakh permit-tracking system, but access is subject to the applicable permissions and local/security conditions.

DAY 08 — NUBRA → SHYOK → DUSK → PANGONG TSO

Approx. 150 km | 6–8 hrs

Khalsar
Shyok Valley
Durbuk
Tangtse
Spangmik/Lukung
Arrive at Pangong Tso
Sunset beside the lake
Overnight: Pangong

Highlight: Dramatic transition from Nubra’s cold desert to the blue waters of Pangong.

DAY 09 — PANGONG → CHUSUL SECTOR → REZANG LA → HANLE

Approx. 170–200 km | 8–10 hrs

Early morning Pangong
Merak
Chusul sector
Rezang La War Memorial
Tsaga La
Loma
Hanle
Evening stargazing, subject to weather
Overnight: Hanle

Permit-dependent day: The Chusul–Hanle corridor is a restricted/border-sensitive route. The actual route permitted on your travel date must be followed rather than assuming the map route is always available. Current official permit circuits specifically include the Hanle/Umling La areas.

DAY 10 — HANLE → UMLING LA → HANLE

Approx. 150 km round trip | 6–8 hrs

Early breakfast
Photi La region
Umling La
High-altitude photography stop
Return to Hanle
Relax and explore Hanle village
Stargazing if skies are clear
Overnight: Hanle

Umling La reaches approximately 5,798 m / 19,024 ft, so this should be treated as a serious high-altitude excursion with a capable vehicle and flexible timing.

DAY 11 — HANLE → NYOMA → PUGA → TSOMORIRI → KORZOK

Approx. 180–200 km | 7–9 hrs

Hanle
Nyoma
Mahe
Puga Valley
Hot-spring region
Tsomoriri Lake
Korzok village
Sunset at the lake
Overnight: Korzok
DAY 12 — KORZOK → TSO KAR → MORE PLAINS → TAGLANG LA → LEH

Approx. 215 km | 7–9 hrs

Early departure from Korzok
Tso Kar
Debring
More Plains
Tanglang La
Upshi
Indus Valley
Leh
Overnight: Leh

Highlight: One of Ladakh’s most spectacular high-altitude plateau drives.

DAY 13 — LEH SIGHTSEEING & REST DAY

Easy day

Thiksey Monastery
Shey Palace
Rancho School/Shey area
Stok Palace, if time permits
Leh Market
Café/rest evening
Shopping for souvenirs
Overnight: Leh

This second Leh day provides an important weather/road buffer before the return journey.

DAY 14 — LEH → TSO KAR REGION → SARCHU → JISPA

Approx. 330 km | 9–11 hrs

Early departure
Upshi
Tanglang La
More Plains
Lachung La
Nakee La
Sarchu
Baralacha La
Suraj Tal
Keylong
Jispa
Overnight: Jispa

This is the longest driving day, so an early start is strongly recommended.

DAY 15 — JISPA → KEYLONG → SISSU → ATAL TUNNEL → MANALI DROP

Approx. 150 km | 5–6 hrs

Breakfast at Jispa
Keylong
Sissu
Atal Tunnel
Solang Valley
Manali drop

Tour Ends — Memories Last Forever.

🏔️ Route Highlights

Manali → Jispa → Shinku La → Padum → Pensi La → Kargil → Lamayuru → Leh → Khardung La → Nubra → Siachen Base Camp → Pangong → Chusul → Rezang La → Hanle → Umling La → Tso Moriri → Tso Kar → Tanglang La → Baralacha La → Jispa → Manali

Why this itinerary works
2 Leh stays before/around the major Ladakh circuits
Dedicated Leh sightseeing + acclimatisation
Zanskar and Shinku La included
Nubra + Siachen Base Camp
Pangong + Chusul/Rezang La
Hanle + Umling La
Tso Moriri + Tso Kar
Both Tanglang La and Baralacha La
Return to Manali, making it a true expedition loop

ZANSKAR VALLEY TOUR WITH PHUGTAL MONASTERY

07 Nights / 08 Days — Expert Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 01: Delhi → Manali

Overnight Volvo journey from Delhi to Manali.

Scenic journey through the Himalayan foothills.

Overnight Volvo travel.

Day 02: Manali Local Sightseeing

Arrival and hotel check-in.

Visit Hadimba Temple, Manu Temple, Vashisht Hot Springs, Tibetan Monastery and Mall Road.

Evening at leisure.

Overnight stay in Manali.

Day 03: Manali → Solang Valley → Atal Tunnel → Sissu → Keylong → Jispa

Early morning departure for the spectacular Lahaul Valley.

Drive through Solang Valley and cross the Atal Tunnel.

Visit Sissu and enjoy views of the surrounding Himalayan peaks.

Continue via Tandi and Keylong towards Jispa.

Evening beside the Bhaga River.

Overnight stay in Jispa.

Day 04: Jispa → Shinkula Pass → Purne → Padum

Early morning departure towards Zanskar.

Cross the spectacular Shinkula Pass.

Continue through rugged mountain landscapes towards Purne.

Drive through the remote Zanskar Valley towards Padum.

Experience dramatic gorges, rivers and high-altitude villages.

Overnight stay in Padum.

Day 05: Padum → Karsha → Stongdey → Zangla → Padum

Full-day exploration of the cultural heart of Zanskar.

Visit Karsha Monastery, one of the region’s important Buddhist monasteries.

Continue to Stongdey Monastery.

Explore Zangla and its historic surroundings.

Return to Padum.

Overnight stay in Padum.

Day 06: Padum → Sani → Zungkul → Drang Drung Glacier → Pensi La → Rangdum → Padum

Early morning drive towards Sani and Zungkul.

Continue towards Drang Drung Glacier, one of the most spectacular sights of the region.

Cross Pensi La Pass and enjoy panoramic Himalayan scenery.

Visit the Rangdum region, weather and road conditions permitting.

Return towards Padum.

Overnight stay in Padum.

Day 07: Padum → Purne → Phuktal Monastery Trek → Purne / Padum

Early morning drive towards Purne.

Begin the trek towards the magnificent Phuktal Monastery, dramatically built into a cliffside.

Trek through the remote Lungnak Valley with spectacular mountain and gorge views.

Explore the monastery and its unique cave architecture.

Trek back to Purne.

Overnight stay in Purne/Padum depending on the final operational plan.

Day 08: Zanskar → Jispa → Atal Tunnel → Manali → Delhi

Early morning departure for the return journey.

Drive back through the Zanskar–Lahaul route towards Jispa.

Cross the Shinkula route subject to road conditions and permitted traffic.

Continue through Keylong, Sissu and Atal Tunnel to Manali.

Evening departure by overnight Volvo bus towards Delhi.

SPITI VALLEY TOUR
8 Nights / 9 Days — Expert Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 01: Delhi → Shimla | Overnight Transfer

Evening departure from Delhi by Volvo/comfortable vehicle.

Overnight journey towards Shimla.

Travel through the scenic Himalayan foothills.

Overnight: Shimla / en-route, depending on arrival time.

Day 02: Shimla → Sarahan → Sangla / Chitkul

Early morning departure from Shimla towards Kinnaur.

Drive along the beautiful Sutlej Valley.

Continue towards Sangla Valley through the spectacular Kinnaur landscape.

Proceed to Chitkul, the last inhabited village near the Indo-Tibetan border.

Enjoy the traditional village atmosphere, Baspa River and surrounding mountains.

Overnight: Chitkul/Sangla.

Day 03: Chitkul → Kalpa → Khab Sangam → Nako

Morning exploration of Chitkul.

Drive towards Kalpa, famous for magnificent views of the Kinnaur Kailash range.

Continue towards Khab, where the Spiti and Sutlej rivers meet.

Drive through the dramatic landscape towards Nako.

Visit Nako Lake and Nako village, subject to time.

Overnight: Nako.

Day 04: Nako → Gue → Tabo → Dhankar → Kaza

Start the day with a scenic drive deeper into Spiti Valley.

Visit Gue Monastery and its famous ancient mummy.

Continue to Tabo, home to the historic Tabo Monastery.

Visit Dhankar Monastery and village, spectacularly positioned above the Spiti Valley.

Continue to Kaza.

Overnight: Kaza.

Day 05: Kaza Local Sightseeing | High-Altitude Villages

Full-day excursion around the high villages of Spiti.

Visit Key Monastery, one of the most important Buddhist monasteries in the valley.

Continue to Kibber, one of the highest inhabited villages in the region.

Drive across Chicham Bridge, one of the world’s highest motorable bridges.

Visit Langza, known for its Buddha statue and fossil-rich landscape.

Explore Hikkim, famous for its high-altitude post office.

Visit Komic, one of the highest villages connected by a motorable road.

Return to Kaza.

Overnight: Kaza.

Day 06: Kaza → Kibber → Chicham → Kunzum Pass → Chandratal

Early morning departure from Kaza.

Revisit/drive through the Kibber–Chicham region as the route permits.

Cross the spectacular Kunzum Pass.

Continue towards Batal and the Chandratal diversion.

Trek/drive to the breathtaking Chandratal Lake, subject to road and weather conditions.

Enjoy sunset views around the lake.

Overnight: Chandratal campsite.

Day 07: Chandratal → Batal → Atal Tunnel → Manali

Morning visit to Chandratal Lake, weather permitting.

Drive through the rugged Batal and Chandra Valley.

Continue towards Gramphoo and the Lahaul region.

Cross the Atal Tunnel.

Descend towards Manali.

Evening at leisure in Manali.

Overnight: Manali.

Day 08: Manali Local Sightseeing → Delhi

Morning Manali sightseeing.

Visit Hadimba Temple, Manu Temple, Vashisht, Tibetan Monastery and Mall Road.

Afternoon/evening free for shopping and leisure.

Evening departure from Manali towards Delhi by Volvo.

Overnight: Volvo journey to Delhi.

Day 09: Delhi Arrival | Tour Ends

Morning arrival in Delhi.

Your memorable Spiti Valley Expedition comes to an end.

Proceed for your onward journey with beautiful Himalayan memories.

⭐ Tour Highlights
Chitkul – Last Village of India

Kalpa & Kinnaur Kailash Views

Khab Sangam

Nako Lake

Gue Monastery

Tabo Monastery

Dhankar Monastery

Kaza

Key Monastery

Kibber & Chicham Bridge

Langza – Hikkim – Komic

Kunzum Pass

Chandratal Lake

Atal Tunnel

Manali

Important operational note: The Kunzum Pass–Chandratal section is highly seasonal and weather/road-condition dependent. During periods when the route is closed or unsafe, the itinerary should be modified rather than promising Chandratal access.