Pangong Tso is the long, high blue lake on the border between Ladakh and Tibet, one of the most photographed places in India.
Because it lies in a border area, you need a Ladakh inner line permit to reach it. An Indian traveller books the permit online on the Leh permit portal. A foreign visitor goes through a registered Ladakh agent for a Protected Area Permit. The lake sits above 4,300 metres, so the height is real.
Who needs a permit
You need a permit for every person to reach Pangong, Indian or foreign, because it is a sensitive border lake. You show it at the check posts on the way, over the Chang La pass. The rule matches the rest of Ladakh; this page covers Pangong, and the main Ladakh permit page covers the whole system.
The lake, in plain words
You drive from Leh over Chang La, another very high pass, to the shore of Pangong, where the water changes through blues and greens as the light moves. Most of the long lake lies across the border in Tibet, and only the western end is open to you. You can stay the night in camps and homestays at Spangmik and nearby villages, and wake to the lake at dawn, which is the real magic.
How Indians get the permit, step by step
As an Indian traveller you book the inner line permit online on the official Leh permit portal, or through your hotel or a Leh agent. You pick Pangong and your dates, pay the small fee and the daily charge, and print the permit. Carry the printed permit and your original identity, because staff check them at the check posts. See the main Ladakh permit page for the full steps.
For foreign visitors
A foreign visitor cannot use the Indian online permit. You go through a registered Ladakh travel agent, who gets a Protected Area Permit for Pangong, and you often travel with at least one more person. Carry your passport. Give the agent time. See the Ladakh permit page for the foreigner rules. [Confirm the current foreigner rule with a registered agent. Last checked 13 September 2026.]
Season, so you plan the right months
Pangong is best from about May to September, when the passes are clear and the camps are open. In winter the lake can freeze and the road is hard, though some hardy travellers go for the frozen lake. Even in summer the nights are bitterly cold at this height, so carry warm layers, and give your body days in Leh first to adjust.
Common mistakes to avoid
- The biggest mistake is rushing to Pangong before your body has adjusted to the height in Leh. The next is a foreign visitor trying to use the Indian online permit, which does not work. Do not expect to walk far along the lake, because only the western end is open. Do not travel in deep winter without checking the road.
Questions people ask
Do I need a permit for Pangong Tso?
Yes, a Ladakh inner line permit. Indians book it online; foreigners go through a registered agent.
How do Indians book it?
Online on the official Leh permit portal, or through a hotel or agent, choosing Pangong and your dates.
Can foreigners visit?
Yes, with a Protected Area Permit arranged by a registered agent, usually in a small group.
Can I stay the night at the lake?
Yes, in camps and homestays at Spangmik and nearby villages, which is the best way to see it.
When is the best time?
From about May to September, when the passes are clear.