Penzi La Pass — Suru Valley Upper Plateau Dispersed Camp

Just below the Penzi La summit (4,400 m / 14,436 ft), the Suru Valley’s upper reaches open into a broad, rolling plateau where overlanders and expedition vehicles have been pulling off and camping on the flat gravelly ground for decades. No facilities, no signage, no fee. The Drang-Drung Glacier hangs above you on the eastern flank — one of the largest glaciers in the western Himalayas and a proper jaw-dropper at dusk. Expect brutal wind, near-freezing nights even in July, and a sky full of stars with zero light pollution.

Access is via the Zanskar Valley Road (NH 301) between Kargil and Padum. The approach is rough tarmac transitioning to gravel and dirt — passable for high-clearance 4WD only. Road typically opens late June once snowpack clears and closes by October. No water source at camp; carry everything from Kargil or Rangdum. BRO maintains the road but conditions shift fast after rain. No cell signal.

Glacier views, brutal wind, pure Himalayan wild.