In this post we are using Open Street Maps and Waymarked Hiking Trails to plan a traverse across 18 passes in Lahaul-Zanskar-Ladakh-Spiti-Kullu. Click on the links below to review maps for the individual sections and elevation profiles. For each section a blog post on ultrajourneys.org provides additional details.
Manali to Darcha – 145km (road)
Start at Manali
Cross Atal tunnel – highway
Tandi village – highway, junction with beautiful Pangi valley -> Kishtwar (J&K)
Darcha to Zanskar Sumdo – 22km, 870m+
Darcha – highway, take bus / hitch ride – food/stay
Take left (Leh is straight) – start hiking from here
Reach Zanskar Sumdo (base of Singo La), road
Shingo La – 51km, 1690m+
Climb up from Zanskar Sumdo
Cross Shingo La – road, 5100m pass into Zanskar
Descend to Kargyak village
Cross Kargyak river to left side near Shing
Lalung to Pukhtal Gompa – 20km, 800m+
Trail through villages of Lalung, Ralta, Kuru, Testa, Yal – small shops
Cross Kargyak river to Purne – food/stay
Follow trail on right side of Tsarap river
Cross Tsarap river to left just before Phukthal monastery – food/stay
Optional – Phukthal to Shade – 21km, 500m+ (x2)
Follow trail left of Tsarap river
Cross over to right near Goklung
Proceed on right side to Shade, one of most remote villages – food/stay
Return to Phukthal monastery – food/stay
Phukthal to Padum – 54km, 2400m+
Follow trail right of Tsarap river to Cha village
Cross over to left side of Kargyak river (right side is road)
Trail through villages of Zamdang, Kyalbok, Sule
Cross over to right side at Ichar
Hitch ride on road to Padum – food/stay
Padum to Linghsed – 71km, 2800m+
Hitch ride on road to Zangla (right of Zanskar river)
Cross Zanskar river to left near Pidmo
Follow trail to Hanumil – food/stay
Follow trail left side of Zanskar river
Cross over Parfi La pass – 3900m
Descend, cross over Orna river
Cross over Hannumula pass – 4700m
Descend to Lingshed village – food/stay
Lingshed to Photoksar – 39km, 2500m+
Follow trail to Stayangs
Cross over Singe-La pass – 4950m
Follow trail/track to Photoksar village – shops?
Photoksar to Kanji – 42km, 1800m+
Cross over Sirsir La pass – 4800m
Leave road, cross over Song Nala via trail
Cross over Nigutste La pass – 5100m
Cross over Yogma La pass – 4700m
Follow trail to Dumbur
Reach Kanji village – food/stay
Hitch ride / walk road to Hanitskot (Leh-Srinagar highway) – 20km
Hitch ride on highway to Lamayuru – food
Prinkti La – 6km, 500m+
Leave highway into trail
Cross over Prinkti La pass 3700m
Reach Shilla village
Shilla to Panjila – 10km, 450m+, road
Follow road to Wanla – food
Hitch ride on road to Panjila – food
Panjila to Chilling – 47km, 3300m+
Hike to Tsumpata, Hinju village
Cross over Konzke La pass 4900m
Descend to Sumda Chemno
At Lasgo cross over Dungduchen La pass 4600m to Chilling
Markha Valley – 37km, 1800m+
Walk on road to confluence of Zanskar and Markha rivers
Hike through Markha valley
Trail goes through villages of Kaya, Skiu, Nakdi, Sara, Chaluk, Markha, Umlung – many homestays/shops
Reach last village of Hankar (last village)
Option 1 – Konmaru La – 34km, 1600m+
Cross over Konmaru La pass 5260m
Descend to Chogdo village
Option 2 – Phobe La – 24km, 1500m+
Possible snow early July
Cross over Pobe La – 5600m pass
Descend to Lato village (Leh-Manali highway)
Option 3 – Ganda La – 21km, 1400m+
(preferred) return to Skiu village in Markha valley – food
Enter in side-valley towards Shingo
Cross over Ganda La pass 4950m to Rumbak – homestay/food
Option 1 – Exit to Leh
Option2: Stok La – 9km, 700m+
(prefered) cross over Stok La pass 4550m
Descend to Mankarmo (base of Stok Kangri pass)
Stok to Shang – 36km, 2200m+
Cross over to Shang La pass 4950m to Shang village
// Get inner line permit in Leh for Tso Miori area / Parang La
Shang to Miru – ???
Hike to Shang Sumdo – food
Proceed upstream to Chogdo
Cross over xxx pass 4700m to Miru village (Leh-Manali highway)
Hitch a ride to Rumtse – food
Rumtse to Tso Kar – 39km, 900m+
Cross over Kyamar La pass 5100m
Cross over Madalchan La pass 5200m
Cross over Shingbuk La pass 5300m
Reach Tso Kar lake
Tso Kar to Tso Miori – 59km, 1300m+
Cross over Kyamayuri La 5500m
Cross over Kostse La 5500m
Cross over Yalung Nyau La pass 5500m
Reach Karzok village at Tso Miori lake – food
Parang La – 100km, 2700m+
Cross over Parang La 5550m
Reach Kibber village – food
Follow trail to Tashigang village
Descend into Shilla Nalla
Climb up through gorge to Langza village
Langza to Dhankar – 36km, 2000m+
Follow track to Hikkim, Komic – food
Cross over Demul-Hikkim pass 4750m
Reach Demul village
Descend into gorge to Sanglung
Cross Lingti river at Rama – food
Follow trail to Dhankar village – food
Shingchiling to Mud – 40km (road)
Descend to Shinchling (Kaza highway)
Hitch ride to Lingti, cross over Spiti river into Pin river valley
Hitch ride to Mud village – food
Pin Parvati – 80km, 3400m+
Follow track on right side of Pin river
Cross Pin Parvati pass 5300m
Descend into Parvati valley
Follow trail to Kheerganga
Reach Pulga village – food
Sar Pass – 33km, 2000m+
Cross over Sar pass 4100m
Descend to Grahan village – food
Reach Kasol village in Parvati valley – food
Rasol Pass – 10km, 1600m+
Hike up to Rasol village
Cross over Rasol pass 3250m
Chandrakhani Pass – 14km, 1400m+
Hike up to Malana village – food
Cross over Chandrakhani pass 3700
Descend to Rumsu village – food
Hitch ride back to Manali