Kargil

Discover Kargil.

Scarred and storied, Kargil carries the memory of 1999 at its War Memorial in Dras, and the quiet grandeur of monastery towns like Lamayuru and Alchi along the way. History and high-altitude silence, side by side.

Tour packages

Amazing Ladakh with Kargil

7 Nights / 8 Days · Leh, Nubra Valley, Turtuk, Pangong, Kargil

₹33,600

Discover Ladakh

9 Nights / 10 Days · Srinagar, Kargil, Leh, Nubra Valley, Pangong, Sarchu, Manali

₹51,800

Best of Ladakh

9 Nights / 10 Days · Leh, Kargil, Nubra Valley, Turtuk, Pangong, Hanle, Tsomoriri

₹44,650

Ladakh with Zanskar

12 Nights / 13 Days · Leh, Kargil, Rangdum, Padum, Nubra Valley, Turtuk, Pangong

₹68,750

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Kargil

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Kargil

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Why stop in Kargil?

Kargil is a working town in a dry valley, with a bazaar, mosques and a culture shaped by Balti and Islamic traditions, quite different from Buddhist Leh. Most travellers meet it as the night stop on the Srinagar to Leh road, and it earns the stop twice over. It breaks a very long drive, and at about 2,700 m it lets your body step up before Leh. Nearby Dras carries the memory of the 1999 conflict, and the Suru valley opens the way towards Zanskar.

How do you get to Kargil?

Zoji La is a narrow pass where traffic is held and released in turns. The movement windows change with the day, the weather and the road work, so we do not print a timetable. We check the rules on the morning of the drive and hold the departure if it is not safe.

What is the Kargil War Memorial?

The Kargil War Memorial, also called Vijay Smarak, stands at Dras and was built by the Indian Army to honour the soldiers who died in the 1999 conflict. A memorial hall and museum tell the story of the operation, and the memorial overlooks the ridges where the fighting took place. Dras is often described as one of the coldest inhabited places in the world, and the wind alone makes you hurry back to the car.

Treat the memorial as a place of respect. Dress modestly, speak quietly and follow the staff's instructions on photography. Our Amazing Ladakh with Kargil package includes the visit, and the road trip stop at Dras takes only a short break.

What else is there to see around Kargil?

Where do you stay in Kargil?

Kargil has plain, comfortable hotels and guesthouses, though not the choice you find in Leh. Expect good local food, heaters in cold weather and simple bathrooms. Midsummer rooms fill quickly because the whole road trip passes through, so book early. Every Ladakh package that includes Kargil lists its hotels in four tiers; see our Ladakh tour packages page, and our Hotels in Leh page for the next night.

When should you go to Kargil?

How do you plan a day around Kargil?

1. Leave Srinagar at first light and drive to Sonmarg for tea; see our Sonmarg guide.
2. Cross Zoji La once the traffic is released, then stop at the Dras memorial.
3. Continue to Kargil by late afternoon, check in and rest.
4. Have an early dinner. Leave for Leh the next morning after breakfast.

What should you know about access, culture and safety?

• Srinagar, Dras, Kargil and the road to Leh are visited on photo ID. Permits are needed for places beyond Leh, such as Nubra Valley and Pangong; see our permits and ID guide.
• Kargil is a mainly Muslim town. Dress modestly, ask before you photograph people, and eat and drink discreetly in public if your visit falls in Ramadan.
• Do not photograph military installations or personnel, and follow instructions at checkposts.
• Altitude is milder than in Leh, but tell your driver about headaches or nausea. Our Kashmir safety guide keeps the dated picture.

Send your dates and group size through our contact page, and we confirm the pass, the hotel and the permits before you pay.