Zanskar Special
Homestay Trek
An ancient village route
nobody else walks
This is not a tourist trail. The route from Shila Village to Phugtal Monastery has been used by local Zanskar villagers since ancient times to travel between their remote communities, Padum, and the monastery. It is not on any trekking map. The homestays along the way offer only basic facilities — but they are completely authentic. You sleep in the homes of families who have no other guests. This is one of the most genuine ways to experience Zanskar that exists.
What makes this special
This route has traditionally been used only by local villagers. The homestays are basic but completely real — families who have never hosted tourists before. You will be among the very first outsiders to walk this way as a guided trek.
Arrive in Srinagar. Sightseeing by car: Dal Lake, Mughal Gardens, local bazaar. Optional Shikara boat ride on Dal Lake. Overnight Srinagar.
Drive via Zoji La Pass — the Gateway of Ladakh — and stop at the Drass War Memorial en route. Continue to Kargil. Overnight Kargil.
Drive deep into Zanskar via Pensi La, stopping to see Rangdum Monastery and the Drang Drung Glacier — one of the largest glaciers in Ladakh. Arrive in Zanskar valley by evening. Overnight Padum.
Drive from Padum to Shila Village. Trek begins here. Your first trekking day is short and easy — a 3-hour walk to Shila Phu, designed to let you adjust to the altitude and pace before the longer days ahead. Overnight homestay.
The first real pass crossing. Climb approximately 400 metres to Shila Phu Pass and then descend about 600 metres to Pipcha. The route offers dramatic views of the surrounding Zanskar peaks. Overnight homestay in Pipcha.
Cross Gyaru La pass — another full day on the trail through this remote part of Zanskar. The landscape is dramatic and almost completely untouched. Overnight homestay in Munay.
A relatively gentle day compared to the pass crossings. The route passes through Icher Yulkha and reaches the small village of Icher. The trail follows ancient paths used by generations of Zanskar villagers. Overnight homestay in Icher.
Continue through this remote corridor of Zanskar via Gonpa Phu to Garashisa. Each day brings you closer to Phugtal — one of the most extraordinary monasteries in Asia. Overnight homestay in Garashisa.
Drive from Garashisa to Phugtal Monastery — a 12th-century gompa built directly into a natural cliffside cave above the Tsarap River. One of the most visually dramatic buildings anywhere in the Himalayas. Stay at the monastery guesthouse or in a nearby village. Overnight Phugtal.
Drive from Phugtal toward Leh. Route options depending on day and season: direct via Nimmu-Padum-Darcha Road (available Sundays and Wednesdays), via Singe La Pass, or via Kargil (longer). Arrive Leh by evening. Overnight Leh.
Morning sightseeing in Leh: Shanti Stupa and Leh Palace. Evening free for shopping in Leh Main Market. Airport transfer. Trip ends.