[Uprasenjit]

Hi All,

Is it ok to travel during second week of Sept to Ladakh ? I will be traveling alone with my wife in a EcoSport. Our plan from Kolkata to Kolkata is of 20 days which includes Saach paas and Zanskar.

Day 1/2 - Kol _ Agra
Day 3 - Agra - Dalhouise
Day 4 - Dalhouise - Killar
Day 5- Killar - Pahalgam
Day 6 - Pahalgam- Sonmarg
Day 7- Sonmarg - Kargil
Day 8 - Kargil - Rungdam
Day 9- Rungdam - Padum
Day 10- Padum - Kargil
Day 11 - Kargil- Leh
Day 12 - Leh
Day 13 - Leh - Turtuk
Day 14 - Turtuk - Pangong
Day 15- Pangong - Tso Moriri
Day 16 - Tso Moriri - Sarchu/Jispa
Day 17 - Sarchu/Jispa - Manali
Day 18 - Manali
Day 19- Manali - Delhi
Day 20/21 - Delhi - Kol

I need some advise if the plan looks ok. We might skip Tso Moriri and return a day early. We could also go directly to Kargil from Killar and take a buffer there, instead of Pahalgam and Sonmarg.

[SanScorpio]

HI All,
Have a query from a friend of mine who is travelling with family in a S-Cross to Jammu, Srinagar Leh and Ladakh in the middle of May.

With the current situation in J&K is there any places to be avoided.
He plans to night halt at Jammu-Pahalgam-Srinagar-Sonamarg.
Any specific precautions to be taken for this road trip.

Thanks in advance

[SajiNSalin]

Uprasenjit, mid September is a nice time to go to Leh. The tourist crowd would have thinned out and the beautiful Autumn colours in Rungdum-Padum will be great. The water crossings would also be manageable.

Your travel plan seems to Ok, as you are not driving very long distances, except Kol-Agra in half a day and Delhi-Kol. All the best and have a great drive.

[Dry Ice]

Originally Posted by Uprasenjit

Day 5- Killar - Pahalgam
...
We could also go directly to Kargil from Killar and take a buffer there, instead of Pahalgam and Sonmarg.

I think that's a bit over ambitious. You might need a day in between.

EDIT:

In fact, to me, Day 3,4,5 look over ambitious. You might have to stay on the road well over 12 hours on all these days, some may even need 16 hours. Skip a few destinations to make it relaxed and enjoyable. Carry on as-is if the sole purpose is 'driving'.

[Uprasenjit]

Originally Posted by SajiNSalin

Uprasenjit, mid September is a nice time to go to Leh. The tourist crowd would have thinned out and the beautiful Autumn colours in Rungdum-Padum will be great. The water crossings would also be manageable.

Your travel plan seems to Ok, as you are not driving very long distances, except Kol-Agra in half a day and Delhi-Kol. All the best and have a great drive.

Originally Posted by Dry Ice

I think that's a bit over ambitious. You might need a day in between.

EDIT:

In fact, to me, Day 3,4,5 look over ambitious. You might have to stay on the road well over 12 hours on all these days, some may even need 16 hours. Skip a few destinations to make it relaxed and enjoyable. Carry on as-is if the sole purpose is 'driving'.

Thanks, Kol-Agra is 2 days, which is Ok I think. Will also have enough time to rest in Agra.

After that I have changed it a bit -
Agra - Panthakot
Panthakot - Bairagarh
Bairagarh - Kishtwar
Kistwar - Pahalgam-
Pahalgam-Sonmarg - Then the rest as it is

This looks ok right ?

[Dry Ice]

Originally Posted by Uprasenjit

Thanks, Kol-Agra is 2 days, which is Ok I think. Will also have enough time to rest in Agra.

After that I have changed it a bit -
Agra - Panthakot
Panthakot - Bairagarh
Bairagarh - Kishtwar
Kistwar - Pahalgam-
Pahalgam-Sonmarg - Then the rest as it is

This looks ok right ?

Looks better, but Bairagarh - Kishtwar is again going to be a challenge. I would recommend Bairagarh - Killar - Kishtwar (w/ a night stay at Killar). Ensure you fill up at the last bunk before Sach (near Bairagarh). It would fall on your left. On the Killar - Kishtwar stretch, there are virtually NO facilities. You will find some small tea shops but better pack something as well before venturing here. There was road widening happening at many places, so not sure how it will be in september. Road on the Himachal side (upto Sansari) used to be just dirt and stones. On the JK side, same thing until about 10km before Gulabgarh. After that it was in good shape. Take a stop here, if you need to, and head within the town. No other facilities from here till Kishtwar as well. You can ask the locals about dhaba options, not sure if there is something on the main road now.

[Max63]

Hi Guys,

We are nearing our departure date for our Ladakh - Kaza expedition. We have finalised our route and here it looks like.

Day From To
1 Vasai Kishangarh
2 Kishangarh Jammu
3 Jammu Srinagar
4 Srinagar Sonmarg
5 Sonmarg Sankoo / Parkachik
6 Parkachik Padum
7 Padum Local / Parakchik
8 Parkachik Lamyuru
9 Lamayuru Leh
10 Leh Local
11 Leh Panamik
12 Panamik Pangong Tso
13 Pangong Tso Hanle
14 Hanle Demchok
15 Hanle Tso Moriri
16 Tso Moriri Sarchu
17 Sarchu Chandratal
18 Chandratal Kaza
19 Kaza Local
20 Kaza Nako
21 Nako Kalpa
22 Kalpa Chitkul
23 Kalpa Chandiagrh
24 Chandigarh Udaipur
25 Udaipur Vasai

Any suggestions on any alterations or modifications are welcome so that we can complete a hassle free drive.

Cheers

Keep revving

Subrata

[Shreyans_Jain]

Originally Posted by Max63

Hi Guys,

We are nearing our departure date for our Ladakh - Kaza expedition. We have finalised our route and here it looks like.

Day From To
1 Vasai Kishangarh
2 Kishangarh Jammu
3 Jammu Srinagar
4 Srinagar Sonmarg
5 Sonmarg Sankoo / Parkachik
6 Parkachik Padum
7 Padum Local / Parakchik
8 Parkachik Lamyuru
9 Lamayuru Leh
10 Leh Local
11 Leh Panamik
12 Panamik Pangong Tso
13 Pangong Tso Hanle
14 Hanle Demchok
15 Hanle Tso Moriri
16 Tso Moriri Sarchu
17 Sarchu Chandratal
18 Chandratal Kaza
19 Kaza Local
20 Kaza Nako
21 Nako Kalpa
22 Kalpa Chitkul
23 Kalpa Chandiagrh
24 Chandigarh Udaipur
25 Udaipur Vasai

Any suggestions on any alterations or modifications are welcome so that we can complete a hassle free drive.

Cheers

Keep revving

Subrata

There have been reports that civilian access to sensitive places like Demchok, Hanle, and the entire Man Merak Chushul route has been suspended.

This is after some bikers reached UmlingLa without permission and then uploaded pics as well as GPS coordinates online.

[Red Liner]

Is it possible to motorcycle from Nako to Chandrataal via Kaza in a day comfortably or are we pushing it?

[ToyotaFan]

Originally Posted by Red Liner

Is it possible to motorcycle from Nako to Chandrataal via Kaza in a day comfortably or are we pushing it?

It is possible but an early start is the key. You would not like to be stuck at Kuzum pass or the last 10-12km to chandratal late evening as the road is pretty bad. The last stretch is very narrow and it has some water crossings which may become a hindrance in the evening. I would advise you to start at 4am from nako or stay the night in kaza before going to chandrataal.

[Dry Ice]

Originally Posted by Red Liner

Is it possible to motorcycle from Nako to Chandrataal via Kaza in a day comfortably or are we pushing it?

Assuming before Nako, you will be somewhere in Kinnaur. Going from 2800m ASL (kinnaur) to 3200m ASL (Nako) to 4500m ASL (Chandertaal) in 3 days is a sure shot way of inviting AMS.

[Red Liner]

Originally Posted by Dry Ice

Assuming before Nako, you will be somewhere in Kinnaur. Going from 2800m ASL (kinnaur) to 3200m ASL (Nako) to 4500m ASL (Chandertaal) in 3 days is a sure shot way of inviting AMS.

I should be in Chitkul at 4500m ASL before that. It will be Narkand-Chitkul first. Then Chitkul-Nako.

[Dry Ice]

Originally Posted by Red Liner

I should be in Chitkul at 4500m ASL before that. It will be Narkand-Chitkul first. Then Chitkul-Nako.

Something wrong here. 4500m+ valley elevation is Trans-Himalayan territory - what Spiti is. Greater Himalayas have 'peaks' going up to that height and a little beyond. Chitkul cannot be at that height. It could be ~32-3400m or so.

Anyway, my point was plan your ascent well, and don't underestimate AMS

[Red Liner]

Originally Posted by Dry Ice

Something wrong here. 4500m+ valley elevation is Trans-Himalayan territory - what Spiti is. Greater Himalayas have 'peaks' going up to that height and a little beyond. Chitkul cannot be at that height. It could be ~32-3400m or so.

Anyway, my point was plan your ascent well, and don't underestimate AMS

I think the highest point there is 4550m. The village sits at 3450m.

Getting correct heights for different spots will probably help us plan our ascents better.

I have now revised the itinerary to spend 2 nights in Kaza which should help us acclimatise better.

[adimicra]

Considering the road conditions in Ladakh are going to be pretty dynamic, I have come up with the following itineraries based on different scenario. Hopefully these are final
Will appreciate feedback and some suggestions on what to see en route, which places to cover in each destination etc

Case I - direct route from Nubra to Pangong and Pangong to Tso Moriri open
Day 1 - Leh, rest
Day 2 - Sham valley tour, Leh local, overnight Leh
Day 3 - Leh to Nubra, Diskit monastery, camel ride, overnight Hundar
Day 4 - drive to Turtuk and back, overnight Hundar
Day 5 - Hundar to Pangong, overnight Pangong (anything to see en route?)
Day 6 - Pangong to Tso Moriri, overnight Tso Moriri (or, may be Chumthang??)
Day 7 - Tso Moriri to Leh via Tanglang La, overnight Leh
Day 8 - Leh local , monasteries, ,shoppiing etc (anything in particular to see?)
Day 9 - Fly back

Case II - Direct route from Nubra to Pangong open but Pangong to Tso Moriri closed
Day 1 - Leh, rest
Day 2 - Sham valley tour, Leh local, overnight Leh
Day 3 - Leh to Nubra, Diskit monastery, camel ride, overnight Hundar
Day 4 - drive to Turtuk and back, overnight Hundar
Day 5 - Hundar to Pangong, overnight Pangong (anything to see en route?)
Day 6 - Pangong to Leh, Hemis/Thiksey monastery??
Day 7 - Leh to Tso Moriri, overnight Tso Moriri
Day 8 - Tso Moriri to Leh,overnight Leh
Day 9 - Fly back

Case III -Direct route from Nubra to Pangong closed but Pangong to Tso Moriri open
Day 1 - Leh, rest
Day 2 - Sham valley tour, Leh local, overnight Leh
Day 3 - Leh to Nubra, Diskit monastery, camel ride, overnight Hundar
Day 4 - drive to Turtuk and back, overnight Hundar
Day 5 - Hundar to Leh (anything to see en route?), Leh local
Day 6 - Leh to Pangong, overnight Pangong
Day 7 - Pangong to Tso Moriri, overnight Tso Moriri (or, may be Chumthang??)
Day 8 - Tso Moriri to Leh,overnight Leh
Day 9 - Fly back


Case IV - both direct routes closed
Day 1 - Leh, rest
Day 2 - Sham valley tour, Leh local, overnight Leh
Day 3 - Leh to Nubra, Diskit monastery, camel ride, overnight Hundar
Day 4 - drive to Turtuk and back, overnight Hundar
Day 5 - Hundar to Leh (anything to see en route?), Leh local
Day 6 - Leh to Pangong, overnight Pangong
Day 7 - Pangong to Leh, overnight Leh
Day 8 - Leh local , monasteries, ,shoppiing etc (anything in particular to see?), overnight Leh
Day 9 - Fly back