Ladakh Mountain Passes: Khardung La, Chang La, Zojila and More

Ladakh's name is often explained as 'land of high passes', and crossing them is one of the highlights of any trip. Every route out of Leh goes over at least one pass above 5,000 metres, with prayer flags, army tea stalls and views of endless peaks at the top.

This guide covers the main passes you will cross, their approximate heights, and when they are usually open. Heights shown on signboards are sometimes higher than surveyed figures, so treat all numbers as approximate.

Khardung La is the pass between Leh and Nubra Valley, about 40 km from Leh. Signboards at the top famously give its height as 18,380 feet and call it the highest motorable road in the world; surveyed figures put it at about 5,359 metres (17,582 feet), and higher roads have since been built. It is still one of the most famous passes in the Himalaya, kept open most of the year by the army, though it can close for hours after snowfall. Stay at the top for only 10 to 15 minutes.

Chang La lies on the road from Leh to Pangong Lake, at roughly 5,300 metres. It is often snowy and very cold, even in summer, and the road on either side can be rough. There is an army tea stall at the top. Like Khardung La, it is kept open most of the year but can close after heavy snow.

• Rohtang Pass (about 3,980 m): the old gateway to Lahaul, now bypassed by the 9-km Atal Tunnel, which opened in 2020. Visiting Rohtang itself needs a permit from the Himachal authorities.
• Baralacha La (about 4,890 m): where the Himachal and Ladakh watersheds meet, near Suraj Tal lake.
• Nakee La and Lachung La (about 4,700 to 5,060 m): reached after the 21 hairpin bends of the Gata Loops.
• Tanglang La (about 5,300 m): the highest pass on the route, before the descent to the Indus at Upshi.

The Manali–Leh road usually opens by late May or June and closes in October or November.

• Zojila (about 3,530 m): the gateway from Kashmir to Ladakh, a narrow, unpaved section that is often the first to close in winter. A tunnel under the pass is being built.
• Namika La and Fotu La (about 3,700 and 4,100 m): between Kargil and Lamayuru; Fotu La is the highest point on this highway.

The Srinagar–Leh road usually opens in spring, earlier than the Manali road, and stays open until November.

Umling La (about 5,800 m) near Hanle is often described as the highest motorable road in the world; Kaksang La links Pangong with Hanle and Tso Moriri; Wari La is an alternative route between Nubra and the Pangong road; and Pensi La is the gateway to Zanskar. See our Hanle and Umling La guide.

Heights are rounded and approximate; signboards on the passes often show higher figures.

• Cross the high passes only after one or two days of acclimatisation.
• Spend no more than 15 to 20 minutes at the top; do not run or exert yourself.
• Carry warm clothes, water and snacks; temperatures can be below freezing even in July.
• Tell your driver at once if you feel dizzy, breathless or nauseous, and use the oxygen cylinder if needed.
• Start early, as passes are clearer in the morning and road works or snow can cause delays later.

Read our altitude sickness guide before you go.