Lakes in Ladakh

Needless to say, Ladakh Lakes are amongst the most important attractions of the newly made union territory. This paradisiacal destination in North India boasts a number of beautiful lakes surrounded by valleys. True, there are three most important and popular lakes in Ladakh: Pangong Tso, Tso Kar, and Tso Moriri.

Being at such astonishing heights, the thrill of visiting these high-altitude lakes in Ladakh is an experience in itself. Some change colors throughout the day whereas some have extensive fauna around. In fact, not many know that the Pangong Tso changes colors with every hour and turns from an emerald green color to varying hues of the sky and velvet blue. The best time to visit these lakes is in the summer season (May to September). Visiting any of the lakes in Ladakh, where some of them are situated at high altitudes, will be at least thrilling. Some of these, like Pangong Lake in Ladakh, offer a chance to stay in camps, which is an experience of a lifetime.

During the winter, these lakes freeze and offer activities like walking on the lake. This is not it, there are a lot more things to know and understand about the Leh Ladakh Lakes. This page enlists and elaborates on the famous lakes in Ladakh. So, while you plan on a trip to Ladakh, it's crucial to keep these lakes on your itinerary for good reasons. They are not just attractions, but experiences that will stay with you for a lifetime.

However, booking your tour with Leh Ladakh India ensures a hassle-free trip with tailor-made packages and expert care for all your travel needs. Our experts will take care of everything, letting you thoroughly enjoy the breathtaking beauty of Ladakh Lakes without any worries.

Everything you need to know about Ladakh Lakes

Pangong Lake

Pangong Lake in Leh Ladakh is the most popular and amusingly beautiful lake. Another high-altitude lake that is only ⅓ of its portion in India. The rest of the lake lies in the Chinese area. With stunning mountains in the backdrop, Pangong has a lot of naturally beautiful landscapes. This saltwater lake is located at an astonishing altitude of 4350 m. The lake is almost 5 km wide and 134 km deep. It is believed that the lake is nearly 328 feet deep.

Location: Leh District, Ladakh

Distance from Leh: 224 km (approximately)

Attractions of Pangong Lake: Apart from the beautiful landscapes, the flora and fauna of the place make it unique.

Best time to visit Pangong Lake: You can visit here yearly. The beauty remains intact and doesn’t change much.

Tso Moriri

Tso Moriri is one of Ladakh's famous lakes and probably the place you shouldn’t miss out on at all costs. Located about 250 km from Leh, this majestic lake is lovely and peaceful. The lake is supposed to be 7 km broad and approximately 19 km long. This is a high-altitude saltwater lake and one of those that lies entirely in India. The Tso Moriri Lake, Ladakh, is a protected wetland, which means you cannot camp around the lake, but indeed, staying at an option some km away will be good enough.

Location: Changthang Region of Ladakh

Distance from Leh: 221 km (approximately)

Attractions of Tso Moriri:

• Almost 34 species of birds can be spotted here, and 14 are water birds.
• A 400-year-old monastery lies on the lake's western bank- Korzok Monastery.
• Shakyamuni Buddha Statue.
• Korzok Gustor Festival.
• The Buddhist painting by the Tibetan.

Best time to visit: The best time to visit Tso Moriri is during summer and monsoon season, which is between May and September.

Tso Kar

Tso Kar Lake is one of the offbeat attractions of Ladakh. This lake hasn’t received the much-needed attention as the other lakes mentioned above, but that’s precisely why it is a must-visit destination for travelers. Tso Kar can be a wonderful option if you wish to enjoy the serenity and pristine lake.

Location: Rupshu Valley of Ladakh

Distance from Leh: 154 km (approximately)

Attractions of Tso Kar:  Also called “The White Lake” of Ladakh, it is not the Snow that makes it white but the salt lining created at the circumference. This lake is just about 50 km from Tso Moriri.

Best time to visit: The best time to visit Tso Kar is between May and September.

Yarab Tso

Yarab Tso Lake attracts many travelers yearly to the Nubra region of Ladakh. It is one of the best lakes in Ladakh for many reasons, be it the natural beauty of the Nubra Valley or the rugged mountains nearby. To reach this lake, you will have to ride to the Panamik Village, and then there is a trek of approximately 20 minutes up the mountain.

Location: Panamik Village in Ladakh

Distance from Leh: 141 km (approximately)

Attractions of Yarab Tso: Some of the finest attractions of Ladakh are located near the lake. Here they are.

• Panamik Village
• Sumur Village
• Diskit Village
• Diskit Monastery
• Cold Desert of Hunder
• Maitreya Buddha Statue in Diskit

Best time to visit: The best time to visit Tso Kar is between May and September, but you can visit anytime throughout the year.

Lang Tso and Stat Tso

Popularly known as the twin lakes of Ladakh, Lang Tso and Stat Tso are fine places to visit. They lie at the end of the Pensi La pass, which connects Zanskar Valley with Zuru Valley. It is another breathtaking place with loads of wonderful sights to admire.

Location: Pensi La Pass, which connects Zanskar with Suru Valley

Distance from Leh: 369 km (approximately)

Attractions of Lang Tso and Stat Tso:

• Pensi La Pass
• Zanskar Valley
• Zuru Valley

Best time to visit: The best time to visit Tso Kar is between May and September. People also visit here during winter when the Chadar Trek starts.

How many lakes are there in Ladakh?

There are approximately 20 lakes throughout Ladakh, including all the popular, semi-popular, and secluded lakes. Rest assured, accessing the majority of these lakes is easy and permitted.

Which is the biggest lake in Ladakh?

Pangong Lake in Ladakh is the biggest lake in the entire region. It covers roughly 699.3 km², just 1/3rd of the lake's area in India. The widest part of the lake is 5 km. The lake is 134 km long and approximately 328 ft deep.

Which is the most famous lake in Leh Ladakh?

Pangong Lake is the most famous lake because it was used as a location in the movie 3 Idiots. Apart from this, the lake’s color-changing ability throughout the day, the cinematic background of the rugged mountains, and the camp colonies at some distance make it a wonderful place. This has made this lake one of the most popular and visited.

Which are the frozen lakes of Ladakh?

Almost all the lakes in Ladakh are at an astonishing height. When combined with the winter season, it becomes very cold. So, these two prominent reasons steer most of the lakes to become ice, at least for the cold season.

Which Lakes are famous for the Chadar trek?

Chadar Trek is not done on any lake; it is done on a frozen river instead. If you want to enjoy the Chadar Trek, then you should visit Ladakh by air in December and January and head to the Zanskar River in the Zanskar Valley. That’s where people enjoy the frozen river trek, which is popularly known as the Chadar Trek.

Which are the high-altitude lakes of Ladakh?

All the lakes in Ladakh are at high altitudes, but Pangong is at one of the highest points, an astonishing 4350 m above sea level. It is also the highest saltwater lake in the world.

Apart from this, Tso Kar is the highest lake, located at an elevation of 4530 m, and then it is Tso Moriri, which is 4522 m above sea level. All of these lakes are beautiful and surrounded by majestic landscapes. A few of these reserved wetlands also attract several birds, some of which are migratory.

Can I swim in Ladakh Lake?

No, it is not allowed to swim in the lakes. Most of these lakes get their water from melted glaciers, and they are freezing cold. Although not all the lakes are under supervision, you should still refrain from doing so at any lake for your own safety.

Is it reasonable to stay around Ladakh Lakes?

Absolutely! There are settlements around many lakes named camp colonies where you get everything you want. These camp colonies have average tented houses to Swiss tents. So, it is entirely safe and comfortable to stay around the lakes. But keep in mind there should be some civilization around it. You can wait around Pangong, Tso Kar, and Tso Moriri.