This track was identified and mapped via high-resolution satellite imagery.
Leh to Chushul via Pangong Tso
A drive from Leh over the Chang La to Pangong Tso and along the lake's southern shore to Chushul, the corridor towards Rudok that General Zorawar Singh followed in 1841. From Karu and Sakti the road climbs to the pass at about 5,360 m, drops to Tangtse, reaches the lake at Lukung and runs past Spangmik, Man and Merak before crossing the hills to the wide plain at Chushul, where the Dogra and Tibetan armies fought in 1842.
Trail Map
Initialising Map Engine...
Trail Profile
General Instructions
About 203 km one way. The road over the Chang La is paved but often icy early in the day, and the shore road beyond Spangmik has rough, gravel stretches and stream crossings. Spend at least two nights in Leh first; the lake sits at about 4,250 m. Carry fuel from Leh.
Weather check
Sampling Micro-Climate...
34.1637, 77.5848
Slide to preview conditions across the entire route • Point: 34.1637, 77.5848 @ 3483m
Quick Stats
Highlights
- Stop at the Chang La, one of the highest road passes in Ladakh
- Watch the colours change on Pangong Tso from Spangmik
- Stay in a homestay at Man or Merak
- See the war memorial at Rezang La near Chushul
Field Radio Protocol
VHF-UHF Communication
Propagation Telemetry
Ridge Line
92%Gorge Floor
18%Sector Relay: Sector Alpha Relay• 12-18 KM Range
Regulatory Compliance
VHF/UHF frequencies are for monitoring and emergency coordination only. Transmitting on these bands may require an Amateur Radio License or regional government permits. Check local telecommunications laws before operation.
Technical Analysis
Total Ascent
+2928 m
Total Descent
-2059 m
Ruggedness Index
Terrain Roughness Index
Vertical displacement per km. Typical range: 0 (Smooth) to 100+ (Extreme Mountain).
24.5
Tortuosity Index
Route Curviness Index
Ratio of actual path to straight line. Typical range: 1.0 (Direct) to 3.0+ (Switchbacks).
1.75
Gradient Distribution
Surface & Hydrology
Surface Spectrum Analysis
Includes only technical water fords where the vehicle actively enters a stream or riverbed. Permanent bridges are excluded from this count.
Difficulty Analysis
Difficulty is determined by a technical multi-vector analysis of elevation profile, surface quality, and topographic intensity.
Bounding Box (WGS84)
Point Spacing: 60 m • Engine: TrailX Precision GPX ANALYTICS v1.0.0
Reviews & Discussion0
Expedition notes, route modifications, and surface updates shared by the community.
Log Expedition Notes
You must be signed in to contribute reviews
Authenticate IdentityBe the first to review
No reviews registered for this technical sector yet. Share your experience, surface observations, or gear recommendations!
Plan this trip
Before you go: Leh to Chushul via Pangong Tso
Best time to go
Jun–Sep
June to September is the realistic window. The Manali and Srinagar highways usually open between May and June and close again with the October snows, and even in summer, nights on the high passes drop below freezing.
More like this
Navigate it offline
Download this trail and its map in the free TrailX app for turn-by-turn guidance, off-route alerts and GPS recording without signal.
Open in TrailX appNearby
Trails near Leh to Chushul via Pangong Tso
Leh to Hanle Along the Indus
Under 1 km from this trail
- Distance
- 259 km
- Max elev.
- 4,259 m
Khardung La Pass Road
Under 1 km from this trail
- Distance
- 53 km
- Max elev.
- 5,346 m
Leh - Chang chemno trail
Under 1 km from this trail
- Distance
- 199 km
- Max elev.
- 5,575 m
Leh to Leh - Nubra Circuit
Under 1 km from this trail
- Distance
- 534 km
- Max elev.
- 5,369 m
Sub Sector North Karakoram Pass Trail
Under 1 km from this trail
- Distance
- 402 km
- Max elev.
- 5,370 m
Spituk Monastery Hike
8.6 km from this trail
- Distance
- 13 km
- Max elev.
- 3,366 m