Ladakh Lakes circuit and Wari La (needs revision)

[motographer]

Here's the route and tentative itinerary for my Ladakh trip this month. Please make necessary corrections where applicable. Would be great to have a Twiki so as to facilitate tracking and versioning...

Cheers,
Karthik

Leg 1: Delhi to Manali

Day 1 (Wed, 08/29): Delhi – Panipat – Ambala – Chandigarh – Solan – Shimla – Narkhanda
Day 2 (Thu, 08/30): Narkanda – Ani – Jalori Pass [10,575ft/3223m] – Banjar – Aut – Kullu – Patlikuhal – Naggar – Manali – Marhi (35)


Leg 2: Manali to Leh

Day 3 (Fri, 08/31): Marhi – Rothang Pass [13,050ft/3978m] (16) – Khoksar (20) – Sissu – Tandi (Petrol) (16) – Keylong (08) – Jispa (21)

Day 4 (Sat, 09/01): Rest day exploring Jispa or head to Darcha camp (11)

Day 5 (Sun, 09/02): Jispa – Darcha (11) – Patseo – Baralacha La [16,000ft/4880m] (41) – Bharatpur – Sarchu (36)

Day 6 (Mon, 09/03): Sarchu – 21 Gata Loops – Naki La [16,250ft/4950m] – Lachlung La [16,600ft/5060m] – Pang (79)

Day 7 (Tue, 09/04): Pang – More Plains – Debring (Detour to Tso Kar) (35) – Tanglang la [17,500ft/5328m] (40) – Rumtse – Upshi (60) – Karu – Leh (49)

Day 8 (Wed, 09/05): Leh (obtain inner-line permits at DC’s office and visit nearby tourist-y places)


Leg 3: Leh to Nubra Valley

Day 9 (Thu, 09/06): Leh – Khardung La [18,380ft/5602m] (40) – Khardung – Khalsar (52) – Tegar – Sumur – Panamik (52) – Sasoma/Siachen (northernmost point) – Back to Panamik

Day 10 (Fri, 09/07): Panamik – Sumur – Khalsar – Deskit – Hunder – Deskit – Khalsar – Arghyam – Tangyar

Day 11 (Sat, 09/08): Tangyar – Wari La [17,480ft/5328m] – Shakti – Karu – Leh

Day 12 (Sun, 09/09): Leh (Rest Day/Inner line/special permits for the 4th leg)


Leg 4: Leh to the Changthang/Rupsu Valley

Day 13 (Mon, 09/10): Leh – Karu – Chemre (50) – Takthok (08) – Chang La [17,800ft/5425m] (30) – Durbuk (31) – Tangtse (7) – Pangong Tso (40) – Spangamik (4)

Day 14 (Tue, 09/11): Spangamik – Lukung (8) – Ugro (8) – Phobrang (4) – Marsemik La [18,634ft/5670m] (20) – Phobrang (20) – Pangong Tso (17)

Day 15 (Wed, 09/12): Spangamik – Man (9) – Marek (10) – Chusul (28) – Tara (34) – Tsaga (8) – Loma (24) – Muth (15) – Nyoma Rap (7) – Mahe (25)

Day 16 (Thu, 09/13): Mahe – Puga /Sumdo (take right to Tso Moriri, left to Tso Kar) – Namshang La [15,748ft/4800m] – Korzok – Tso Moriri (54)

Day 17 (Fri, 09/14): Korzok – Tsaka La [16,500ft/5030m] (29) – Sumdo (13) – Polokongka La [16,140ft/4920m] (21) – Tso Kar (22) – Debring (35) – Tanglang la [17,500ft/5328m] (40) – Rumtse – Upshi (60) – Karu – Leh (49)

Day 18 (Sat, 09/15): Leh (Rest Day or service bikes, sightseeing & shopping)


Leg 5: Leh to Delhi

Day 19 (Sun, 09/16): Leh – Alchi – Lamayuru – Fotu La [13,600ft/4147m] – Namik La [17,500ft/5328m] – Mulbek – Kargil – Drass – Ghumri Camp

Day 20 (Mon, 09/17): Ghumri Camp – Zoji La [11,578ft/3530m] – Sonmarg – Srinagar

Day 21 (Tue, 09/18): Srinagar – Gulmarg – Srinagar

Day 22 (Wed, 09/19): Srinagar – Qasigund (71) – Verinag (10) – Jawahar Tunnel (17) – Banihal Pass (17) – Ramsu (15) –Ramban (22) – Patnitop (40) – Udhampur (46) – Jammu**

**Jammu to Delhi by train
Board train at Jammu to avoid the boring ride back to Delhi

[motographer]

Not that I hate smiling but is there any way we could disable smileys in this post. The problem is with characters "8" and ")"

[Yogesh Sarkar]

Motographer while posting there is an option to disable smilies in the post, I have gone ahead and done that.

With respect to your itinerary I have a few concerns about it, first is whether or not you will be permitted to go to Chushul, because I believe Cougar and Navnit were both denied the permission for this sector. Also Spangmik - Tso Moriri in one day might be a little tough considering the route conditionss described by Cougar in his trip log.

Apart from this every thing looks great, just one suggestion. Skip out Narkanda - Jalori and instead do Suru and Zanskar Valley, you will love it.

[motographer]

Thanks Yogesh. Yes, thats one of my concerns too but...

As for Spangamik-Korzok in one day: I Agree. That's why I have added a day's buffer.

Thanks for the suggestion but if you agree with me, Suru/Zangskar -- like most interesting circuits -- deserves at least a week, if not more. I have planned out a separate itinerary for Zangskar which -- from Leh -- will be Via Khalsi - skurbucen - Dha - Batalik and Hamboting La.

[Yogesh Sarkar]

If thats the plan then hats off to you man, don't forget to arrange for permits for Dah-Hanu and take enough petrol 600-650 kms and explore some trails from Padum, more about those once we are back from Ladakh .

Hope we will bump into each other in Ladakh

[navnit]

motographer : da spagmik - tsoriri in a days ride, could b chalenggin to urseld and da bike .. well gettin past spagmick could b tough , nyways u could use cougarz idea to get past dem . but the road are practically not motorable till Tsaga frm Spagmik Side ..

just wondering day3 is made 4 a ultra short ride from marhi to Rohtang and back .. wat bikes r guyz takin ?

[motographer]

We haven't decided what to do on Day 3. We might ride to Keylong or Jispa instead of Marhi...

Yes, that's a good idea!

[hitanshu]

and in which case, zanskar via mulbekh and out at drass

donno if either road is open to civvies or you'd have to do it the cougar way - charm and some white lies

[motographer]

What's a LIE? Is it somewhere near LEH?

[Prasham]

What everyone says but I thing I know is that you have crafted superbly detailed trip plan.
Best of luck!!!