Ladakh Travel Guide

[Vikram M N]

Sir, nothing specific to suggest. The plan looks overall ok. The only thing to keep in mind is - August is full monsoon time. So inquire about the route before you go out. The Jammu-Srinagar and Srinagar-Kargil route is frequently closing down at certain stretches due to rainfall and landslide. So, expect delay en route, and keep one or two buffer day in between to adjust.

You do not need any "permit" as such. There's a form available at any photocopy shop at Leh. Collect 4-5 forms there. You just need to fill it up and submit to the checkpost at different places. It's good to carry one or more identity card and photocopies, but nowhere you'd be asked to produce that.

Last but not the least, recently Leh has been a point of concern due to the hostile attitude of the Taxi Union. They are randomly stopping and attacking people and their vehicles who are coming on their own. They are putting pressure to the local administration to ban all private vehicles - two or four wheelers - to roam within Ladakh. Anyone who reaches there have to hire bullet or taxi from Leh. Not sure if the Authority has yet given in or not. It's good to inquire before you start.

Thank you Bondhutto. Once we reach Leh we're planning like below.

Day 1 - Leh to Nubrah
Day 2 - Nubrah to Pangong
Day 3 - Pangong to Tso Kar
Day 4 - Tso Kar to Keylong
Day 5 - Keylong to Manali.

Is it doable. if so can you please suggest the routes.

We're taking our bikes. i really dont know what to do. is it safe at least till we reach Leh from Srinagar. Worst case we'll park our bikes and hire bikes there.

 

[shekharites]

Thank you Bondhutto. Once we reach Leh we're planning like below.

Day 1 - Leh to Nubrah
Day 2 - Nubrah to Pangong
Day 3 - Pangong to Tso Kar
Day 4 - Tso Kar to Keylong
Day 5 - Keylong to Manali.

Is it doable. if so can you please suggest the routes.

We're taking our bikes. i really dont know what to do. is it safe at least till we reach Leh from Srinagar. Worst case we'll park our bikes and hire bikes there.

Hey vikram
Take at least a day in leh after reaching there
From leh to nubra its OK
Nubra to Leh leh is also OK but from pangong to tso kar or tso moriri its kinda hard as you need to obtain permit from leh DC office firstly .secondly there is no guarantee that the itbp or army guys on chusul check post will allow you to pass through despite having permits and last the most important you need to carry lot and lots of fuel with you as there are no petrol pumps after leh or karu.the next petrol pump will come only at tandi which is 400 kms approx and which ever bike you use don't rely on the average or efficiency it gives you on plains that will be cut to half due to lack of oxygen and driving uphill so look at the way to carry the lots of fuel with u

Happy riding

 

[Vikram M N]

Thanks Shekharites. Yes this plan is after one day acclamatization in Leh.

In your post, you mean to say. Leh to Nubrah and Nubrah to Pangong is Ok? Will we have petrol pumps till then. It'll be an issue only if we go to Tso Moriri directly huh?

 

[shekharites]

Hey vikram
Last petro pump you will see will be at karu which is 35 kms towards pangong from leh

There is no pump in nubra valley nor in pangong or enroute any areas

So you will have to manage that how much fuel you could carry with you.tell me which bikes you are using

Happy riding

 

[Vikram M N]

Hey vikram
Last petro pump you will see will be at karu which is 35 kms towards pangong from leh

There is no pump in nubra valley nor in pangong or enroute any areas

So you will have to manage that how much fuel you could carry with you.tell me which bikes you are using

Happy riding

Avenger, fz and Thunderbird 350. I guess it's not possible then.

 

[shekharites]

Avenger, fz and Thunderbird 350. I guess it's not possible then.

Can be done
Tell me bout the tank capacity and efficiency of the bikes

 

[Vikram M N]

Avenger has 14L (3.4 reserve), Thunderbird 20L (3.5 reserve), Fz 12L (2.5 reserve). We can safely assume that in city conditions these bikes give 35KM/L. How much extra fuel we should be carrying if we need to do. Leh to Nubrah to Pangong to Tso Moriri to Manali. If the entire trip is not feasible we'll skip Tso Moriri. Kindly Let me know the better option.

 

[Vikram M N]

Completed the Ladakh ride as per schedule. Luckily roads opened on the day as per our plan. Will provide the detailed write up soon.

 

[cpk6667]

Hi..Yogesh ,
we are planing to Manali - Leh trip on 25 Sept to 4 Oct. want to know the weather conditions....is that weather changing period???

 

[Robin Hood]

Guys !!
First post, and dont want to put in a lot of questions And since so much info is already available, dont want to create yet another thread !

So, I am right now in a process to make an plan - from Delhi to Leh to Delhi.
Total Available Days - 2 weeks off + Sat/Sun = 15 days total.
Period - tentative right now, probably 11th June to 25th June ( hope by this time rains/loose slush would be no more ? )

Day One - 11th June 4AM start
Delhi to Pathankot - 500kms
night stay @ Pathankot
(or maybe stretch to Jammu ? )

Day Two - 12th June
Pathankot to Jammu - 110kms
Jammu to Srinagar - 300kms
night stay @ Srinagar

Day Three - 13th June
One day rest @ Srinagar

Day Four - 14th June
Srinagar to Sonmarg - 85kms
Sonmarg to Drass via Zozilla Pass - 60kms
Drass to Kargil - 60kms
Night stay @ Kargil

Day Five - 15th June
Kargil to Lamayuru - 110kms
Night stay@ Lamayuru

Day Six - 16th June
Lamayuru to Leh - 125kms
Night stay @Leh

Day Seven (17th June) @Leh - Shanti Stupa, Leh Palace, Main Market, Polo Ground
Day Eight (18th June) @Leh - Leh – Phyang – Khardung La (40kms) - and back to leh
Day Nine (19th June)@Leh - Leh – Karu(45kms,1 hour)
Karu - Shakti - Chang La (35kms/steepest climb)
Chang La - Tanksey (55kms) - have lunch here
Night stay @Tanksey

Day Ten - 20th June
Tanksey - Pangong (30kms) and back to Tanksey
Night stay @Tanksey

Day Eleven - 21st June
TRIP BACK HOME

Now when I am back at Tanksey, do I have to go back to Leh, and then onto Manali Highway ? What would be the route of returning ? I will have couple/three days to return back.

Also, please let me know if any stretch is not doable by Ciaz ?