Leh - Last Week June - Please Supervise

[Prasham]

My plan for trip to Leh is as follows

June19: Catch Flight from Ahm to Delhi, Catch Raj Travels bus from Delhi to Manali in evening.

June20: Reach Manali by about 09:00 Hrs. Checkin at some GH and hire a bike for Rohtang. Visit Rohtang and back to Manali by evening.

June21: Depart early morning for Sarchu by Tavera/Scorpio/Qualis (Shared)

June22: Depart early morning for Leh, If possible pay little more to driver and visit Thiksey/Hemis/Shey before reaching Leh.

June23: Stay in leh. Get Permits. Visit Shanti Sutpa and Leh Palace.

June 24: Leave early morning for Lamayuru return by evening.Visit Lamayuru/Alchi/Likir on way. (I wish to do this on bike, How are the roady?)

June25: Leave early morning for Hunder via Khardong La. Overnight in Hunder.

June26: Leave Hunder early morning visit Panamik and reach Leh in the evening.

June27: Rest in Leh or visit nearby areas.

June28: Catch Midnight Taxi to Manali (One that makes to manali in single day). Overnight at Manali.

June 29: Catch Morning bus to Delhi. (If direct bus isn't available, should I go to Shimla and catch a bus from there to delhi or ambala?)

June30: Catch flight at 07:45 at delhi airport.


1) Does anyone know any reliable travel agent in manali who can book our seats in comfortable car? Except Antrek (Naushadbhai).

2) What should be done if I have only one day: Leh-Lamayuru-Leh or Leh-Pagong Tso - Leh.

3) Considering I have booked my flight tickets and Delhi-Manali-Delhi bus tickets, How much should be this trip's cost. (I prefer rooms that charge about Rs. 200-250/- for single). Can we three guys share the same room?

4) I may be travelling (on rented bikes) on bike for a couple of days for short distances? Apart from it we shall be in Car or bus. What all things should we carry?

5) I am vegetarian? Will I be able to get food in every town/route we are planning?

[Yogesh Sarkar]

Originally Posted by kotharitextile

June 24: Leave early morning for Lamayuru return by evening.Visit Lamayuru/Alchi/Likir on way. (I wish to do this on bike, How are the roady?)

Road to Lamayuru is quite good, as for Alchi it’s a 7-8km diversion from the highway but the roads should be good. Another suggestion, if possible visit Pangong Tso even if it it’s a day trip.

Originally Posted by kotharitextile

June 29: Catch Morning bus to Delhi. (If direct bus isn't available, should I go to Shimla and catch a bus from there to delhi or ambala?)

Don’t go to Shimla, it is out of the way and can delay you. Try and come down to Mandi from where you can get a bus to Chandigarh etc. which has regular bus service to Delhi.

Originally Posted by kotharitextile

2) What should be done if I have only one day: Leh-Lamayuru-Leh or Leh-Pagong Tso - Leh.

That’s a tough call, haven’t visited Lamayuru yet however if you are interested in photography then both are wonderful places. However I would any day head to Pangong Tso if I had to choose between it and Lamayuru.

Originally Posted by kotharitextile

3) Considering I have booked my flight tickets and Delhi-Manali-Delhi bus tickets, How much should be this trip's cost. (I prefer rooms that charge about Rs. 200-250/- for single). Can we three guys share the same room?

You will easily get rooms for Rs. 200-250 a night in Manali, Leh etc. and they can be shared by three people. Can’t really say how much every thing would cost because all this depends on the amount you will end up paying for transportation which is going to the most cexpensive thing on this trip.

Originally Posted by kotharitextile

4) I may be travelling (on rented bikes) on bike for a couple of days for short distances? Apart from it we shall be in Car or bus. What all things should we carry?

Don’t know if bike rental places will have the helmets for rents or not, however if they don’t then avoid it. As for essentials, don’t forget to carry all the usual medicines, Diamox, glucose, sun screen lotions (spf 30+), biscuits - chocolates for quick snacks, lip bam and the usual stuff you carry on long trips. Hope you are carrying warm cloths, best is to dress in layers as most of the coldness you will feel would be due to wind chill factor.

Originally Posted by kotharitextile

5) I am vegetarian? Will I be able to get food in every town/route we are planning?

I am also a vegetarian, as long as you don’t have problem in eating at the same restaurants which also serve non-vegetarian food you will be fine.

[ankitgoel10]

out of Lamayuru and Pangong Tso - Definitely Pangong Tso!
Lamayuru - NO WAY!

In fact, why dont you come down via Kashmir...
you dont need to stay in Kashmir...
Route is Leh --> Lamayuru --> Kargil --> Drass --> Sonmarg --> Srinagar --> Kud --> Jammu --> Delhi
It will take 2 days for you to reach Jammu

Day 1 - Leh to Drass (Visit Lamayuru and Kargil on the way)
Day 2 - Drass to jammu (Leave Drass by 4 AM - you'll reach Srinagar by 8 - Spend 2-3 hours there and leave for Jammu)
Since you dont have your own vehicle, you can catch the overnight bus/train to Delhi from Jammu.... simple!
it'll save you a lot of money, time and energy!

[ankitgoel10]

This is the change in plan I suggest...

June 24: Leh to Hunder (Khardung La)
June 25: Hunder to Leh (Panamik)
June 26: Leh to Tanksey (Pangong Tso at sunet)
June 26: Tanksey to Leh (Pangong Tso at sunrise)
June 27: Leh to Drass
June 28: Drass to Jammu
June 29: Jammu to Delhi

as i said earlier, if you can take overnight bus/train from jammu to delhi, you have an extra day - which you can now spend at any of the places
even Patni Top???

And you'll be glad to know that I am also covering this route in the end of june We'll be hiring a Tavera right from Delhi - back to Delhi...

Ankit

[Prasham]

Please give me address of Dozma Laundry, Leh. I have heard they provide clean drinking water along with good laundry service.

[hitanshu]

60 bucks a kg for laundry is frankly princely wash it yerself man

good water you should get in the form of bisleri or such.

can the leh veterans comment on quality of river water?
worth drinking?
/yes, would be quite a trek to get it in the first place, from the road!!

[Prasham]

Originally Posted by ankitgoel10

This is the change in plan I suggest...

June 24: Leh to Hunder (Khardung La)
June 25: Hunder to Leh (Panamik)
June 26: Leh to Tanksey (Pangong Tso at sunet)
June 26: Tanksey to Leh (Pangong Tso at sunrise)
June 27: Leh to Drass
June 28: Drass to Jammu
June 29: Jammu to Delhi
avera right from Delhi - back to Delhi...

Ankit

Big Thankyou to Yogesh, Ankit & Hitanshu.

From your comments/suggestions I have made some alterations in my plans.

June 22: We shall reach Leh by evening.

June 23: I shall hire bikes & Get permit for Nubra & Pangong Tso. Shall leave Leh in afternoon after lunch. I am planning to go as far as possible in direction of Pangong Tso. Should I stop at Thiksey/Karu/Hemis or somewhere els. What is the last point before Pangong Tso where good accomodation can be arranged? Where to stay?

June 24: Shall visit Pangong Tso and reach Thiksey/Leh by evening.

June 25: Shall leave for Deskit/Hunder. Camel Safari in Hunder. Overnight in Hunder. Where to stay at hunder.

June 26: Visit Smastaling & Deskit Monastery, Panamik and return to Leh.

June 27: Go for Lamayuru and return by evening.

June 28: Catch jeep that does Leh-Manali in single day.

June 29: Catch early morning bus for delhi.

Please suggest feasiblity of above program

[hitanshu]

yaar

unless you get some sadistic pleasures out of jeeps- hire bikes from manali.
manali-leh route is nice. no point doing it in a taxi - all that rolling/pitching movement will make you sick anyways. ride that fast behind that taxi instead.

Hire bikes from a good mechanic in manali/delhi instead. my mech in delhi used to give CBZ/bullets on rent. The CBZ he had was pretty good!

[Yogesh Sarkar]

Originally Posted by kotharitextile

June 23: I shall hire bikes & Get permit for Nubra & Pangong Tso. Shall leave Leh in afternoon after lunch. I am planning to go as far as possible in direction of Pangong Tso. Should I stop at Thiksey/Karu/Hemis or somewhere els. What is the last point before Pangong Tso where good accomodation can be arranged? Where to stay?

First off if you don’t have experience of riding in hills/ghats then I would suggest you take a taxi to Pangong Tso. Chang La is one of the most difficult passes to cross and on the final accent on both sides the bike struggles and rough terrain only adds to problem. Add to this in June there should be fair amount of snow on Chang La.

If you are confident that you can make it then I would you to stay around Thiksey since I didn’t see too many accommodation options in Karu. No traffic is allowed to cross Chang La after 5:30 however if you do manage to reach there before that then continue till Tanksey and spend the night there or you can go to Lukung on the banks of Pangong Tso and spend the night there. But what ever you do, don’t ride at night!

Last year road to Pangong Tso was damaged due to floods and some really rough alternative routes were made to bypass that. Though I expect those to be fixed by now, but can't say for sure.

Originally Posted by kotharitextile

June 24: Shall visit Pangong Tso and reach Thiksey/Leh by evening.

June 25: Shall leave for Deskit/Hunder. Camel Safari in Hunder. Overnight in Hunder. Where to stay at hunder.

Didn't stay at Hunder however did see few guest houses there along with a few camping grounds.

Originally Posted by kotharitextile

June 25: Shall leave for Deskit/Hunder. Camel Safari in Hunder. Overnight in Hunder. Where to stay at hunder.

June 26: Visit Smastaling & Deskit Monastery, Panamik and return to Leh.

If possible try to visit Diskit Monastery on the 25th, else you will be left gasping for air as you try cover both of them and Panamik and return to Leh.

Rest looks fine, but don’t try too hard to stick to it. Remember the fun of traveling is in the spontaneity not in getting exhausted to try to see every thing and in the end failing to enjoy anything.

[Prasham]

Originally Posted by hitanshu

yaar

Hire bikes from a good mechanic in manali/delhi instead. my mech in delhi used to give CBZ/bullets on rent. The CBZ he had was pretty good!

Can your mechanic give us 2 CBZs, what does he charge? Any Contact Details?


Thanks YOGESH.

Your suggestions are accepted. We shall do Leh-Pangong Tso-Leh in single day in a Car and rest on Bikes.

Thanks again.