9 Days 8 Nights
Specific Tour
16 people
English, Hindi
BackpackerXP x @Jaipur.wala present Zanskar Story 2.0 – a 9-day offbeat photo-adventure expedition into the untouched wilderness of Zanskar Valley 🏔️. Taking you through mystical monasteries, surreal landscapes, and some of the remotest Himalayan villages, this journey is curated for creators, storytellers, and wild-hearted travelers.
🌄 Starting and ending in Manali, with all breakfasts 🍽️, dinners 🍛, and unique stays included 🏕️, this trip combines raw adventure with community vibes, soulful sunsets, and storytelling under the stars. ✨
This isn’t your regular itinerary—it’s an exclusive experience designed for those who seek more than sightseeing. With photography workshops by @Jaipur.wala, immersive cultural interactions, and surreal camping at locations like Gonbo Ranjan & Phuktal Monastery, you’ll capture moments that most travelers never get to witness.
📷 Whether you choose to ride your bike 🏍️, rent a 4×4 🚙, or bring your Drive, the adventure is fully customizable. Add to that the power of community, daily creative sessions, and unfiltered access to Zanskar’s spiritual soul—this is where stories are born. 💙 Secure your spot now for a truly transformative Himalayan escape! 🚀
📍 Starting Point: Manali (Delhi/Chandigarh options available)
⏳ Duration: 9 Days / 8 Nights
🎒 Backpackers & Adventurers – Explore the unexplored with an offbeat tribe.
📸 Photographers & Content Creators – From golden hour monastery shots to starry skies at 15,000 ft.
🏍️ Road Trippers & Riders – Ride or drive through the rawest Himalayan terrains.
🛕 Culture Buffs – Interact with monks, visit ancient gompas, and discover Zanskari life.
🌌 Spiritual Seekers – Meditate under the stars at sacred sites like Phuktal & Gonbo Ranjan.
🌡️ Temperature: Day 5°C to 20°C, Night -5°C to 5°C – Layer up for high-altitude chills! ❄️
⛰️ Highest Altitude: 4,200m+ (Phuktal Monastery Trek & Gonbo Ranjan) – Breathtaking views guaranteed.
🛕 Iconic Monasteries: Phuktal Gompa, Karsha & Shashur – Spiritual sanctuaries hidden deep in the valley.
🚗 Driving Terrain: From pine forests to riverbeds and barren mountain passes – perfect for 4x4s & bikers.
🏕️ Unique Stays: Homestays, monastery lodges & stargazing campsites under the Milky Way.
📶 Mobile Connectivity: Very limited – Jio/BSNL postpaid may work in select areas. Digital detox mode: ON.
🚆 Nearest Railway Station: Chandigarh or Joginder Nagar
✈️ Nearest Airport: Bhuntar (Kullu)
📅 Brief Itinerary – Zanskar Valley Adventure
🎒 21st June – 29th June 2025 | Starts & Ends in Manali
🔹 Day 1: 🏡 Arrive in Manali – Check-in, village walk, café hopping & photography jam with @Jaipur.wala
🔹 Day 2: 🚗 Manali ➡️ Sissu/Jispa – Cross Atal Tunnel, explore Sissu Waterfall & Sissu Monastery 🌄
🔹 Day 3: 🏔️ Hidden Lahaul – Visit Shashur Monastery, Meling Mahadev Temple & Tandi Sangam 📿
🔹 Day 4: 🌌 To Gonbo Ranjan – Off-roading to sacred God’s Mountain & camping under the Milky Way ✨
🔹 Day 5: 🥾 Trek to Phuktal Monastery – Hike along Tsarap River & stay in remote Purne 🧘♂️
🔹 Day 6: 🏯 To Karsha (Padum) – Visit Zanskar’s largest monastery & riverside photo ops 📸
🔹 Day 7: 📷 Explore Zanskar – Karsha Monk School, Drang Drung Glacier, Penzi La Pass & editing workshop 🎞️
🔹 Day 8: 🚙 Drive back to Manali – Final reflections, changing landscapes & group memories 🫂
🔹 Day 9: 💙 Departure from Manali – Say goodbye (for now) with a heart full of stories 🌄
🆔 Original Government ID (Aadhar/Passport) + 2 Photocopies
📸 2 Passport-size Photos (For permits)
👕 Quick-dry Tees & Hiking Pants
🧥 Heavy Jacket + Fleece Layer (Thermals recommended)
🧦 Woolen Socks & Innerwear
🌧️ Raincoat/Poncho – Sudden weather changes are common
🧣 Buff/Scarf for wind protection
🥾 High-ankle Trekking Shoes (good grip & waterproof)
🧢 Cap/Beanie for Sun & Cold
🕶️ UV-protected Sunglasses
🧤 Woolen Gloves
🎒 Sturdy Backpack (minimum 40L)
🪥 Toothbrush, Toothpaste & Tissues
🧼 Soap, Towel & Sanitizer
🧴 Sunscreen (SPF 50+), Lip Balm & Moisturizer
🪒 Razor (if needed)
🔋 Power Bank & Cables
📷 Camera or GoPro (Trust us – it’s worth it)
💊 Personal Medicines + Basic First Aid
🍫 Snacks/Energy Bars + 💧Water Bottles
📔 Travel Journal – For those mountain thoughts!
🎒 Backpack – Carry only what’s needed, keep it light
💧 Refillable Water Bottle – No plastic pollution
🕶️ Sunglasses & 🌞 Sunscreen – UV rays are stronger up here
🧢 Headgear – Sun hat or woolen cap, depending on the weather
⚕️ Medicines – For altitude, nausea, or headaches
🎵 Headphones – Music makes those long roads better
🧻 Toilet Paper – It’s gold in the Himalayas
Planning your Zanskar Valley adventure? First stop – Manali! Here’s how you can reach this popular Himalayan base:
📍 From Delhi/Chandigarh:
Take an overnight Volvo or HRTC/HPTDC bus from Kashmere Gate ISBT (Delhi) or Sector 43 ISBT (Chandigarh).
🕒 Travel Time: 12–14 hours from Delhi | 8–9 hours from Chandigarh
🛏️ Most buses are semi-sleeper/Volvo with reclining seats – perfect for a comfortable ride.
💡 Pro Tip: Choose a bus that reaches Manali by early morning so you can settle in and start exploring right away!
🚉 Nearest Railway Station: Joginder Nagar (143 km) or Chandigarh (290 km)
From there, take a bus or taxi to Manali. However, trains are not the most convenient option for backpackers heading to Zanskar – buses or flights are preferred.
🛫 Nearest Airport: Bhuntar Airport (Kullu – 50 km from Manali)
Direct flights operate from Delhi to Kullu. From the airport, you can hire a local taxi or catch a bus to Manali.
💡 Note: Flights are limited and subject to weather – book in advance!
Love road trips? 🚙 Drive from Delhi or Chandigarh to Manali via NH3 (Delhi–Ambala–Mandi–Kullu–Manali).
🛣️ Distance: ~530 km from Delhi
🕒 Travel Time: 12–14 hours
🧭 Route includes winding mountain roads – only recommended for experienced hill drivers.
🚌 All buses and taxis drop at Manali Mall Road or Private Bus Stand, from where you can walk or take an auto to your stay.
📍 Start Point: Manali
Arrive in the lush pine forests of Manali, your gateway to the Himalayas! Check into a handpicked offbeat stay nestled amidst apple orchards. This day is all about unwinding, acclimatizing to the altitude, and connecting with your fellow travelers.
🔹 Experiences:
✅ Village Walk & Old Manali Trails – Explore ancient wooden houses, hidden temples & colorful cafés
✅ Photography Meet-Up – Get introduced to mountain photography by @Jaipur.wala
✅ Bonfire & Storytelling Night – Share stories under a sky full of stars 🌌
🍽 Meals Included: Dinner & Next Day Breakfast
🏕 Stay: Offbeat Farmstay in Manali
📍 Route: Atal Tunnel → Lahaul Valley
🌄 Iconic Experiences:
🏡 Unique Stay:
🍽 Included:
🚙 Raw Adventures:
📷 Night Workshop:
🏕 Stay:
🍽 Included:
📍 Route: Purne → Phuktal Monastery
🚙 Drive: 80km | 🚶 Trek: 4 hours
⛰️ Altitude: 3,650m → 3,850m
🌄 Unforgettable Experiences:
🌊 Tsarap River wilderness trek
🛕 Phuktal Gompa exploration (cliff-carved wonder)
🧘 Monk interactions & spiritual immersion
📸 Photography Focus:
Human storytelling portraits
Monastery architecture details
🏡 Unique Stay:
Authentic Zanskari homestay
🍽 Included:
🍛 Traditional local dinner
🍞 Next morning's breakfast
📏 Distance: 80 km | 🕒 Duration: 6–7 hours
Continue deeper into Zanskar’s spiritual core. Today’s journey takes you through monasteries, hanging bridges, and riverside villages, ending at Karsha, the largest monastery in Zanskar.
🔹 Experiences:
✅ Karsha Monastery – Attend morning prayers and explore its murals
✅ Zanskar River Views – Stunning reflection photography opportunities
📸 Workshop: Framing stories with visual narrative
🍽 Meals Included: Dinner & Next Day Breakfast
🏡 Stay: Homestay in Karsha
📏 Distance: 50 km | 🕒 Duration: 4–5 hours
Today's route unveils some of Zanskar’s most iconic locations—from ancient glaciers to forgotten villages.
🔹 Sightseeing Highlights:
✅ Drang Drung Glacier – One of the largest in Ladakh
✅ Penzi La Pass – Panoramic Himalayan views
✅ Sani Village – Among the oldest continuously inhabited sites in Zanskar
✅ Padum – The vibrant cultural & administrative capital
📸 Workshop: Editing & post-processing in field conditions
🍽 Meals Included: Dinner & Next Day Breakfast
🏡 Stay: Homestay in Karsha
📏 Distance: 250 km | 🕒 Duration: 10–12 hours
The road home winds back through the Himalayan frontier—offering time to reflect, relive the journey, and capture those fleeting landscapes one last time.
🔹 Experiences:
✅ Changing Terrain – From stark valleys to lush slopes
✅ Group Reflection – Share your final stories with the tribe
🍽 Meals Included: Dinner & Next Day Breakfast
🏡 Stay: Offbeat Stay in Manali
After breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye to new friends and an adventure that now lives in your soul.
🔹 Wrap-Up:
✅ Self-Departure from Manali
✅ Optional group drop to Delhi/Chandigarh (if booked)
🍽 Meals Included: Breakfast Only
The best time to visit Zanskar Valley is between June and September. During these months, the roads via Shinku La Pass & Penzi La Pass remain open, and the weather is pleasant for travel. Winters (October to May) bring heavy snowfall, making most routes impassable.
This is a moderate to challenging expedition, covering high-altitude passes, rugged terrains, and long drives (up to 14 hours per day). Shinku La Pass (5,091m) and Penzi La Pass (4,400m) require proper acclimatization. While the trip is doable for adventure seekers, those with altitude sickness or health concerns should take precautions.
No special permits are required for Indian nationals traveling to Zanskar Valley. However, foreign nationals need to obtain an Inner Line Permit (ILP), which can be arranged in Leh or online via the Ladakh tourism website.
Member Since 2024
"From Vows to Valleys: A Photographer’s Dream in Zanskar with BackpackerXP"