Sarchu is a village on the ManaliLeh Highway in Ladakh. The place is 263 km from Leh and 222 km from Manali. Sarchu is on an altitude of 4290 m. When one travels from Manali to Leh, the journey takes 2 days. Tourists take a halt for a night at Sarchu which is a mid point of the journey. It is located between the passes of Baralacha La and Lachulung La. Nearby is the River Tsarap Chu. The Indian Army has a camp in the banks of the river. The area is blocked in the winter due to the snow. The trek to the Zanskar region can start at Sarchu.
Major Airport:
Leh airport is the nearest airport to Sarchu. It is at a distance of 263 km from Sarchu. There are flights to Delhi, Jammu and Srinagar. The flights are operated by Indian Airlines, Jet and Deccan. There may not be daily flights. Bad weather may delay or cancel flights and that has to be taken into consideration when the trip is planned.
Ladakh has a cold climate due to its altitude. Due to its dry weather conditions and the cool weather it is called a Cold Desert. The air is rarified and so some people may experience breathing problems. The summer temperature ranges from 8oC to 27oC. The minimum temperature in summer sometimes may go as low as -3oC. The winter is very cold. The range of temperature in winters is -20oC to -15oC. There is snowfall by late September. It is a must to rest on the day of arrival to Ladakh region to acclimatize with the environment here.
The best time to visit Sarchu is from June to September when the passes are open. Carry thick woolens, wind cheaters, sun glasses, sturdy shoes, caps and sun screen. The skin needs to be well protected against the harsh climate.
No permit is required for Indian nationals in Ladakh. For foreign tourists, registration is done at the airport or at Drass, Rumste and Sechru if they travel by road to Ladakh.
By road, you can reach Sarchu from Manali and Leh. It lies on the ManaliLeh Highway. The roads are open only from June to September and maybe blocked sometimes due to landslides or other conditions. The journey offers breathtaking views of the desert landscape.
Sarchu is a halting spot for an overnight stay. It does not have any Gompa or sightseeing spots. What one can see here is the view of the desert landscape, the valleys below and the snow capped mountains in the background. The River Tsarap Chu is also a nice place to spend the evening. You can also trek to the Zanskar region from here.
Tented accommodation is available in Sarchu. Camp Himalayan Saga has 25 Swiss cottage tents with attached toilets and good bedding amenities. They charge Rs 1800 per night per for a couple including meals. Camp Sarchu Heights is another tent camp with nice tents and good food. They charge Rs 800 per night.
