Tso Moriri is a serene, high lake in the Changthang plateau of Ladakh, quieter and more remote than Pangong, set among nomad lands and grazing kiang, the wild ass.
Because it lies in a sensitive border area, you need a Ladakh inner line permit. 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 at about 4,500 metres, so the height is serious.
Who needs a permit
You need a permit for every person to reach Tso Moriri, Indian or foreign, because it is a protected border wetland. You show it at the check posts on the long road from Leh. The rule matches the rest of Ladakh; this page covers Tso Moriri, and the main Ladakh permit page covers the whole system.
The lake, in plain words
You drive a long way from Leh, through the wide Changthang plateau, to Korzok village on the shore of Tso Moriri. The lake is a protected wetland, loved by birds such as the bar headed goose and the black necked crane, and by the nomad Changpa herders and their pashmina goats. It is calm, empty and beautiful, and you keep it that way by treading lightly.
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 Tso Moriri 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 Tso Moriri, 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
Tso Moriri is best from about May to September, when the roads are clear and the birds are on the wetland. Winter is brutally cold and the roads are hard. It is a high, remote place, so carry warm layers, fuel and water, and give your body days in Leh first to adjust, because you go straight to a great height here.
Common mistakes to avoid
- The biggest mistake is going to Tso Moriri without adjusting to the height in Leh first. The next is a foreign visitor trying to use the Indian online permit, which does not work. Do not disturb the birds or the nomad lands; this is a fragile wetland. Do not travel in winter without checking the roads.
Questions people ask
Do I need a permit for Tso Moriri?
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 Tso Moriri and your dates.
Can foreigners visit?
Yes, with a Protected Area Permit arranged by a registered agent, usually in a small group.
How is it different from Pangong?
Tso Moriri is quieter and more remote, a protected wetland with birds and nomad herders, far from the crowds.
When is the best time?
From about May to September, when the roads are clear.