This is my first post on the forum, and just to make everyone aware there will be a few posts like these where I would like to find out about places of interest in Leh Ladakh. My first thread is to inquire about the Pangong Lake and my questions are: How far is Pangong Lake from Leh? Can we camp by Pangong Lake? Should we take our tents or are tents provided there? Do we need to make bookings for the tent, because it is peak season in Leh? If camping is not allowed at Pangong Lake, what time do you suggest we visit the lake? Can we swim in Pangong Lake? Are there any places to eat near the lake?
Hello and welcome to the forum! Pangong Tso Lake is about 175 kms away from Leh via the Chang La Pass. This can take anywhere between five to six hours of travel time. You can camp nearby the banks of the Pangong Tso Lake. Some camps are just about 100 metres from the lake, which is quite near already. You can choose either one. An advantage of renting a tent by a camp there is that you won't have to set it up. The camp owners can also provide you with the meals, depending on what package you choose. The tents are also setup sturdy enough to withstand winds. Many of the tents are warm enough especially during cold evenings in the lake. Some tents also have attached bathrooms. The disadvantage is that it can be more expensive than just bringing your own ten. An advantage of bringing your own tent is that you can set it up in any place you like. However, you still need to ask permission from the village or camp owner. Some will ask you to pay a fee as well so you can set up your tent in their area. It is definitely cheaper to bring your own tent along with your own food. You can ask for help from other camps to pitch your tent as well. If you're not a pro in pitching your tent, strong gush of winds might remove it from the ground easily. If you opted for the more commercialised camps, like Himalayan Retreat or Pangong Camp Resort, then yes, you can make bookings in advance. However, the smaller camps don't have their own websites or even contact numbers so you cannot make reservations from them. It's such a shame because these are the more affordable accommodation options. Camping is allowed near the lake. You can visit it any time of the day although sunrises and sunsets here are mesmerising to watch. If you can time your visit during these times, then the better. Swimming in Pangong Tso Lake isn't allowed. This is to preserve the natural beauty of the lake. Meals for guests are prepared by the camp owners themselves. Being a remote place, you won't find any restaurants near the lake. But don't worry because the camps themselves do prepare delicious food anyway. Otherwise, you can just bring your own snacks for in-between meals. I hope this helps!
