Tso Moriri or Pangong: which Ladakh lake to choose
Journal / Mountains & treks
Tso Moriri or Pangong: which Ladakh lake to choose
Two high-altitude lakes, very different trips. Here is how they compare if you only have time for one.
~4,225 m
Pangong
~4,500 m
Tso Moriri
1 – 2 days
From Leh
Jun – Sep
Best season
Camps & homestays
Stays
Most Ladakh trips include Pangong Tso, and it deserves the hype: a long blue lake that changes colour through the day. Tso Moriri, south-east of Leh in the Changthang plateau, sees far fewer visitors. It’s higher, wilder and quieter.
Pangong Tso
- Easier to reach, over Chang La or via the Shyok road from Nubra.
- Plenty of camps and homestays along the shore.
- Busy in July and August, especially near the most photographed viewpoints.
Tso Moriri
- Higher, so only go once you’re well acclimatised.
- The village of Korzok on the shore has simple homestays.
- Look out for wildlife on the plateau, including kiang (wild ass) and migratory birds.
- Fewer facilities and patchy mobile signal.
| Pangong Tso | Tso Moriri | |
|---|---|---|
| Altitude | ~4,225 m | ~4,500 m |
| Crowds | Busy in peak season | Quiet |
| Access | Easier | Longer, rougher road |
| Stays | Many camps | A few homestays |
| Best for | First-time visitors | Second trips, wildlife, solitude |
Can't decide?
If this is your first trip, choose Pangong and add Nubra. If you've seen Pangong or want quiet nights and big skies, go to Tso Moriri.
Both lakes are cold at night even in summer, so pack a down jacket. Road conditions change with the weather, so ask locally the day before you set off.
Leh to Pangong Backpacker Trail
8 days with a small group, paced for acclimatisation.
The Strolling Backpacker
Slow traveller and budget nerd, writing honest guides about the long way round.
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