Srinagar to Kargil Tempo Traveller: A Group Road Guide

How far is Kargil from Srinagar, and how long does a van take?

Kargil is 204 to 206 km from Srinagar, and the Srinagar district website gives 5 to 6 hours for the drive. Treat that as the shortest day on the Ladakh road: the pass, the checks and a group's halts all come out of it.

Wikipedia adds that the 6.5 km Sonamarg tunnel, called the Z-Morh Tunnel, opened on 13 January 2025 between Gagangir and Sonamarg. The Zoji La tunnel above it is unfinished, and Wikipedia gives February 2028 as the revised completion target.

Which Tempo Traveller fits your group for Kargil?

The listed rates include fuel, parking, tolls and the driver's allowance on the car rental pages. They are for comparison. The Kargil run is quoted on its own, by the days and any waiting, and the price is confirmed on WhatsApp before you book.

Is the road to Kargil open in winter?

Not normally. IANS wrote on 19 March 2022 that winter shuts Zoji La from about the end of November, with the usual reopening in mid-April, and that earlier closures averaged 135 days. The Kashmir Reader of 1 April 2025 told of the pass reopening after 33 days, which other reports gave as 32. Wikipedia says the highways from Kargil to Srinagar and to Zanskar are often blocked by snow in winter, and that NH 1 towards Dras and Leh has temporary blockages in bad weather.

A third-party status site relayed a Kargil police advisory of 18 September 2026 with a regulated schedule at the pass: Minamarg towards Sonamarg from 0500 to 1000 hrs and Sonamarg towards Kargil from 1130 to 1730 hrs. It is not an official page, so confirm the day's timings with the district police. The dated closures from 2019 to 2026 are in the Kargil guide.

What can a group see at Dras and Kargil?

Wikipedia says the Dras War Memorial drew about 125,000 visitors in 2016. Opening hours quoted by travel sites differ, so ask at Dras. The Kargil guide covers the memorial, and the Rangdum and Padum guides cover the Zanskar side.

Where does a group sleep in Kargil, and how high is it?

Kargil is lower than Leh, so it is a gentler night for a group heading up. Leh stands at 3,500 m on the Ladakh Tourism advisory, which asks every visitor to Leh for at least 48 hours of complete rest before higher ground; the Ladakh Police page says 24 to 48 hours. Name the hotel type and the number of rooms in your enquiry, since a large party may be split over small stays.

The Ladakh Police page also says only postpaid mobile connections work in Ladakh and that ATMs are sparse outside Leh. Carry original photo ID for every traveller; the guide to permits across Kashmir and Ladakh sets out the rules.

One way, round trip, or on to Leh?

• One way: the van takes the group to Kargil and returns without them.
• Round trip: the same van and driver wait or return, so ask for the waiting days in the quote.
• On to Leh: the Kargil night is the halfway point of the Tempo Traveller from Srinagar to Leh.

A Leh tour operator's page says outside taxis can drop passengers in Leh but are restricted from sightseeing within Ladakh, so ask the quote whether the Srinagar van continues beyond Kargil. For cab parties, see the Ladakh taxi from Srinagar page and the ten-day Kashmir Ladakh Tour, listed at ₹21,550.

How do you book a Tempo Traveller from Srinagar to Kargil?

1. 1Send the date, the number of travellers, the luggage and the pick-up place in Srinagar.
2. 2Say whether you want one way, a round trip or the first leg of the Leh road.
3. 3Read the free quote for the van size, days and waiting.
4. 4Confirm on WhatsApp; support is open 24×7 if the pass or the weather changes the plan.

Where do the facts on this page come from?

Last checked on 6 November 2026. Distances and times come from the Srinagar district website's how-to-reach page (undated), Wikipedia's articles on Kargil, Dras, the Kargil War Memorial, the Zoji-la tunnel and the Sonamarg tunnel, and the Ministry of Tourism's Incredible India itinerary. The pass dates come from IANS of 19 March 2022 on Business Standard and the Kashmir Reader of 1 April 2025.

Rest and phone advice come from the Ladakh Tourism advisory and the Ladakh Police tourist safety page (both undated). The taxi rule comes from a Leh tour operator's page, and the convoy timings from a third-party status site relaying a police advisory of 18 September 2026. Van rates are Soun Kashmir's own. Roads and rules change, so confirm them before you travel.