Rohtang Pass

Manali is the starting point of this dramatic journey and Rohtang Pass(13,000 ft/3,978 m), 51 kms away is the first important milestone on the Manali - Leh road as it is the gateway to the Lahaul and Spiti valleys.

Keylong

115 kms from Manali, Keylong is located along the Manali–Leh road, about 7 km north east of intersection of the Chandra Valley, the Bhaga Valley, and the Chenab Valley; on the banks of Bhaga River. Sights near Keylong include the Kardang, Shasur, and Tayul monasteries. This important road, which was once part of the ancient trade route between India and Central Asia.

Bara Lachha Pass

On the long Manali -Leh road and providing a route across the Baralacha range is the famous Baralacha Pass. The Baralacha Pass is a unique pass situated at a spectacular 16,400 ft above sea level. The pass itself is 8-km long, and is literally the pass "where many roads meet".

Here, routes from Zanskar, Ladakh and Lahaul meet, which have for centuries been used by ancient travelers and crossed in all directions. The two great rivers of Lahaul, the Chandra and the Bhaga, also arise from the huge snowfields on opposite sides of the pass.

Zanskar Range

A camping ground in Zanskar, little before Sarchu, Phalang-danda (a giant rock) marks the boundary between Lahaul and Zanskar. Sarchu has wide open places and treks to Phirtse la starts from here. Just 54 kms, ahead of' Sarchu the road crosses Tsarap Chu over a bridge. Then it climbs up to Lachalang la Pass( 16,600 ft/5,059m) Nearly 87 kms from Lachalang la pass is the Tanglang la pass-the highest point on this road. This pass is difficult to negotiate. By crossing this pass one enters the Central Ladakh.

It lies to the north of the main Himalaya. It acts as a backbone of Ladakh south of the Indus River, extending from the ridges beyond Lamayuru in the west across the Zanskar region; there it is divided from the main Himalaya by the Stod and Tsarap valleys, the Zanskar valley. On the east of the Zanskar region the range continues through Lahaul and Spiti. While on the North it continues across the Kinnaur before extending towards west across Uttaranchal. Some of the main passes are the Fatu-La, on the Leh-Srinagar road, while the main trekking passes into the Zanskar valley are Singge La, the Cha Cha La and the Rubrang La are.

Upshi

60 kms ahead of Tanglang La pass is Upshi--A junction on the Indus. The road bifurcates from here towards Rupshu and for Demchok, and little ahead at Kiari for Chang la.