Today we were on the road all-day, covering the 230km from Karzok to Sarchu.
We had to backtrack for the initial 42km, going along the road that we had come in two days ago. At Sumdo we took a left, now following the Puga Nala through a stretch of wetland. Eventually we hit Tso Kar, a massive salt lake with an (unofficial) hiking opportunity for some and (lucky) crane-watching for others. In nearby Thukje we had a break for masala chai, before finally taking a left-turn onto the Manali-Leh highway proper.

We followed the highway along a plain at around 4700m above sea level; near Pang we descended 200m to the level of the Phirche Lungpa river. After a lunch break it was up again and over the Lachung-La (5065m, 16616ft) and Nakeela-La (4738m, 15547ft) high passes.

Now it was (finally) down via the Gata Loops, 21 hairpin bends towards the Tsarap River (now at around 4150m above sea level). Eventually we hit the border between Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh and after the formalities we were saying Goodbye to Ladakh and continuing to our tent camp near Sarchu (still at around 4150m above sea level).