Tso Moriri is the only breeding ground of the bar-headed goose in India. The wetland is protected as the Tso Moriri Wetland Conservation Reserve, a Ramsar site, with a wildlife checkpoint at Mahe Bridge.
Source: Tso Moriri
Lake in Ladakh
Tso Moriri
A Ramsar lake at 4,522 m, home of the Changpa herders
Tso Moriri is a 26 km lake at 4,522 m on the Changthang plateau, about 220 km and 6–7 hours from Leh. Korzok is the only permanent village on its shore. It is a Ramsar wetland where bar-headed geese breed. Go only after five or more nights in Ladakh; the altitude is serious.
Photo: John Hill · CC BY-SA 4.0 · CommonsTso Moriri lies in a high basin on the Changthang plateau, ringed by peaks over 6,000 m. It is about 26 km long and a few kilometres wide, fed by snow-melt streams that form marshes at their mouths. The water is slightly brackish, and the lake has no outlet. It is quieter and higher than Pangong, and it feels much more remote.
Korzok, on the north-west shore, is the only year-round village. Around it the Changpa, semi-nomadic herders of Tibetan origin, move their yaks, sheep and Changthangi goats between summer and winter pastures. The fine winter under-coat of those goats is pashm, the raw fibre of pashmina, so the shawl in a Delhi shop window may well begin here.
The lake is protected as the Tso Moriri Wetland Conservation Reserve and listed as a Ramsar site. Black-necked cranes visit, and it is the only breeding ground of the bar-headed goose in India. All this sits at 4,522 m: sleep here only late in your trip, keep the first evening quiet and talk to your doctor before you plan it.
Say it like a local · Ladakhi / TibetanChangthang
northern plains, the high plateau of eastern Ladakh
What to do in Tso Moriri
Korzok village and monastery
Korzok's monastery, around 400 years old, sits above the village and the lake. Morning prayers, a small courtyard and views across the water make it the centre of any visit. Walk slowly; every step is at 4,500 m.
Changpa herders on the move
In summer Changpa families graze their animals on pastures around the lake. You may see goats being combed for pashm in early summer. Watch from a respectful distance and ask your homestay host before visiting any camp.
Birds of a high wetland
Bar-headed geese breed here, and black-necked cranes, brown-headed gulls and great crested grebes use the marshes. Stay on paths, keep well back from nesting areas, and bring binoculars rather than walking closer.
Tso Kar and the salt flats
On the way from Leh, a short detour leads to Tso Kar, a smaller saline lake whose white crust was once harvested for salt. Kiang, the Tibetan wild ass, often graze on the plains around it.
Kiang on the Changthang plains
The road from Mahe to Korzok crosses open grassland where herds of kiang graze. Ask your driver to stop, switch off the engine and watch; never chase animals with a vehicle.
Field notes
What most guides miss about Tso Moriri
Korzok is the only permanent village on the lake. Apart from army outposts on the eastern shore, everyone else around Tso Moriri moves with the seasons, mainly Changpa herders and their animals.
Source: Tso Moriri
The Changpa raise Changthangi goats whose under-coat produces pashmina, one of the finest goat fibres. They have been classified as a Scheduled Tribe since 2001.
Source: Changpa
Experiences
Three days worth having in Tso Moriri
Photo: Steve Hicks · CC BY 2.0 · Commons
Tso Moriri · 2 hours
Korzok monastery and village at 4,522 m
A slow walk through Korzok, the only permanent village on Tso Moriri, up to its monastery of around 400 years, with vie…
Monastery ₹30–50; village walk free
Photo: Vinay Goyal, Ludhiana · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Tso Moriri · 2–3 hours
Birdwatching on the Tso Moriri wetland
Tso Moriri's marshes are the only Indian breeding ground of the bar-headed goose and a summer stop for black-necked cra…
Free; binocular hire from camps ₹200–300 where available
Photo: McKay Savage from London, UK · CC BY 2.0 · Commons
Tso Moriri · Half day
Tso Kar salt lake and kiang plains
A detour to Tso Kar, a smaller saline lake with white salt crusts, on the way to or from Tso Moriri. The open plains ar…
Included in taxi hire; adds ₹2,000–3,000 to a union fare
Real prices
What things cost in Tso Moriri
ItemIndicative 2026
Bus Leh–Korzok (10th, 20th and 30th of the month)≈ ₹400–600 one way
Union taxi Leh–Tso Moriri 2 days₹15,000–18,000 a car
Homestay in Korzok with dinner and breakfast₹1,500–2,500 per person
Camp with attached bathroom, double with meals₹4,500–8,000 a night
Korzok Monastery donation or entry₹30–50
Local prices change with season and fuel costs. Check current status before you travel.
Getting there
How to reach Tso Moriri
Air
Fly to Leh. Plan Tso Moriri for day five or later of your trip, after Leh and preferably Nubra.
Bus
A bus runs from Leh to Korzok on about the 10th, 20th and 30th of each month, early in the morning. Most travellers share a taxi instead. Check current status before you travel.
Road
From Leh ≈ 220 km · 6–7 h via Upshi, Chumathang, Mahe and Sumdo. From Pangong ≈ 8–9 h via Chushul and Nyoma. From the Manali road, a track via Tso Kar and Polokongka La joins at Sumdo.
Where to stay
Sleeping in Tso Moriri
Saver: Korzok has family homestays and a few small guesthouses at ₹1,500–2,500 per person with dinner and breakfast, with shared bathrooms and very limited hot water. Comfort: several fixed tented camps near the village have attached bathrooms and buffet meals at ₹4,500–8,000 a double. Signature: there is no luxury hotel here; we choose the best camp available for one night and plan everything around rest and warmth.
Trips that stop here
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Photo: Anirvan Shukla · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Commons
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Questions
Tso Moriri, answered
How far is Tso Moriri from Leh?
About 220 km, a 6–7 hour drive via Upshi, Chumathang, Mahe and Sumdo. Most travellers hire a Ladakh Taxi Union car for two days, roughly ₹15,000–18,000. A bus runs on about the 10th, 20th and 30th of each month. Check current status before you travel.
Is Tso Moriri higher than Pangong?
Yes. Tso Moriri is at 4,522 m, a few hundred metres higher than Pangong at about 4,250 m. That makes it the highest place most visitors sleep in Ladakh. Plan it after five or more nights in the region, keep your first evening restful, and talk to your doctor before your trip.
Do I need a permit for Tso Moriri?
Indian citizens carry the online Environment and Development Fee receipt and photo ID. Foreign nationals need a Protected Area Permit through a registered Leh travel agency. There are checkpoints at Mahe Bridge and Sumdo. Rules change, so check current status before you travel.
Where should I stay at Tso Moriri?
Korzok has family homestays and small guesthouses at about ₹1,500–2,500 per person with meals, and fixed tented camps with attached bathrooms at ₹4,500–8,000 a double. There is no luxury hotel. Book ahead in July and August; most places close by late September.
What is the best time to visit Tso Moriri?
Mid-June to mid-September. The lake thaws in late May or June, camps open in June and birds breed in summer. By late September nights fall well below freezing and camps close. Winter visits need special planning and are not recommended for casual travellers.
Is there mobile network at Tso Moriri?
Coverage is weak. Postpaid BSNL and Jio sometimes work in Korzok, other networks rarely. Prepaid SIMs from outside Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh do not work at all. Expect to be offline for a day, and tell family your plans before leaving Leh.
Can I combine Tso Moriri and Pangong?
Yes. A road links Pangong to Tso Moriri via Chushul and Nyoma, about 8–9 hours, so a loop Leh–Pangong–Tso Moriri–Leh takes three or four days. It suits travellers who are already well acclimatised and comfortable with long, rough drives. Check current status before you travel.
Can families with children visit Tso Moriri?
It is possible but demanding. Children react to altitude like adults but may not explain symptoms clearly, and 4,522 m is high. Many families visit Pangong instead, or only go to Tso Moriri after a week in Ladakh. Talk to your doctor before planning it with young children.
What should I pack for Tso Moriri?
A down jacket, thermals, warm hat, gloves, sunglasses and high-SPF sunscreen, a head torch, cash, snacks, a refillable bottle and any medicines you need. Power can be limited to evenings, so bring a power bank. Pack out all your rubbish.