Zanskar Valley 7N/8D Summer Monastery & River Trek

Day-by-day Itinerary

Your journey, unfolded.

1. DAY 1

   Day 1: Arrive Leh — Rest & Acclimatization

   Arrive Leh airport. Transfer to hotel. Mandatory rest day at 3,524m. Light walk in Leh market in the evening. Briefing on Zanskar route.

2. DAY 2

   Day 2: Leh → Kargil via Lamayuru (220km, ~5hrs)

   Depart 7am. Drive along the Indus River through dramatic Ladakhi landscape. Stop at Lamayuru Monastery — one of Ladakh's oldest gompas, set in a moonland landscape of eroded mud pinnacles. Continue past Mulbekh Chamba — a 9-metre standing Buddha carved into a cliff face. Arrive Kargil (2,676m) by evening. Overnight hotel.

3. DAY 3

   Day 3: Kargil → Rangdum → Pensi La → Padum (220km, ~8hrs)

   The most spectacular drive day. Stop at Rangdum Monastery — a lone gompa in a vast open plateau surrounded by glaciers. Cross Pensi La (4,401m) — the dramatic gateway to Zanskar. The road descends through the Stod Valley alongside the Doda River. First glimpse of Padum's white monastery against brown cliffs. Arrive Padum (3,657m), capital of Zanskar.

4. DAY 4

   Day 4: Padum — Karsha Gompa & Village Exploration

   Morning drive to Karsha Gompa (8km north of Padum) — the largest and most important monastery in Zanskar. 150 monks study and pray here. Explore the multi-storey monastery complex: main assembly hall, gonkhang (protector chapel), and roof terraces with panoramic valley views. Catch morning prayers at 7am if you rise early. Afternoon: walk around Padum village, visit the Muslim and Buddhist communities that coexist peacefully here.

5. DAY 5

   Day 5: Zanskar River Rafting + Stongdey Monastery

   Morning: 1-hour Zanskar River rafting on the gentler class II-III section near Padum. The river is cold, fast and flanked by vertical canyon walls — extraordinary perspective from water level. Afternoon: drive to Stongdey Monastery, perched on a rock outcrop 800m above the valley floor. The 360° views from the roof are among the finest in Ladakh.

6. DAY 6

   Day 6: Full Day Phugtal Monastery Trek

   Drive 80km to Cha village (2.5hrs). Begin trek through the Lungnak gorge — 1.5hrs on a narrow cliff-face trail above the river. First view of Phugtal stops you in your tracks: a monastery built entirely into a cliff face, centred around a natural cave that has been sacred for 2,500 years. Explore the warren of monk cells, prayer halls and meditative caves. Senior monk shows you the 500-year-old thangkas and ancient texts. Return trek and drive. Overnight Padum — one of the most extraordinary days of your life.

7. DAY 7

   Day 7: Padum → Kargil (Return via Pensi La)

   Morning: Sani Gompa visit — Zanskar's oldest monastery with a sacred well and unusual cylindrical stupa. Depart Padum. Cross Pensi La again — the reverse view is equally spectacular. Arrive Kargil by evening. Comfortable hotel.

8. DAY 8

   Day 8: Kargil → Leh — Return (220km, ~5hrs)

   Morning drive back to Leh through the Indus Valley. Stop at Moonland viewpoint above Lamayuru on the return. Arrive Leh by afternoon. Trip ends. Depart Leh as per your flight.

— End of trip —