[hridayjyoti]

Hello, everyone! Below is my tentative itinerary.
Vehicle : Safari 4x2 (just serviced, ready to go, spares will be procured this weekend, ticked all check list given by tanveer)
People : 4 (all 4 can drive, however I will be driving mostly in hills/tricky sections!)

ITINERARY : LEH - LADAKH TRIP 2015

29/08/2015 - S - Day 01 – Delhi-Jammu/Udhampur
30/08/2015 - S - Day 02 – Udhampur-Srinagar
01/09/2015 - M - Day 03 – Srinagar-Kargil
02/09/2015 - T - Day 04 – Kargil-Leh
03/09/2015 -W - Day 05 – Leh (acclimatization and permits)
04/09/2015 - T - Day 06 – Leh-- Khardung La - Diskit - Hunder - Turtuk
05/09/2015 - F - Day 07 - Turtuk - Agham - Wari La - Durbuk - Pangong Tso (if route is closed then back to Leh)
06/09/2015 - S - Day 08 – Pangong Tso (want to explore the lake)
07/09/2015 - S - Day 09 - Pangong Tso - Chushul - Kakasang La - Loma – Hanle (If army don’t allow will come back to Leh and go to Tso Moriri)
08/09/2015 -M - Day 10 - Hanle - kyun Tso - Mahe - Chumathnag - Sumdo - Tso Moriri
09/09/2015 - T - Day 11 - Tso Moriri - Sumdo - Tso Kar - Debring - Sarchu
10/09/2015 -W - Day 12 -Sarchu - Baralacha La – Tandi -Kunzum la-Chandrataal
11/09/2015 - T - Day 13 – Chandrataal-Kunzum La-Rohtang-Manali
12/09/2015 - F - Day 14 - Manali - Delhi
13/09/2015 - S - Day 15 – Reserve day

Currently, we are keeping the plan flexible for misfortunes. Is anyone else planning with similar itinerary? Travelling together will be much comfort especially for Hanle.
Cheers!

[Sting]

Originally Posted by joybhowmik

I would suggest....

Originally Posted by //M

Attaching a pic of the same, clicked couple of months back.

Thank you gentlemen!that was reassuring..The Bonneville is raring to go

//M..that one picture sealed the deal!!

Cheers
Sting

[aviddenis]

Originally Posted by YCJ

I am planning a road trip to Leh and hence I want to know:
1) Are there any stretches which could not be done even with a proper 4x4 vehicle?
2) How many days would ideally be required to reach Leh from Pune? I plan to go via Srinagar and return via Manali.

1) I have just returned from Spiti and Leh circuit. I had Safari Storme 4X4 and I did not use the 4x4 option at all at any place except on one occassion when there was too much slush and deep slushy rut on a narrow road and I took to 4H only as a precautionary step.

2) I did Bangalore - Bombay in 1 day and Bombay - Jaipur in 1 day. Hence, if you are up for 13 hours kind of driving you can safely do Pune- Kishangarh in 1 Day. Kishangarh -Delhi - Ambala can be done on Day 2. Ambala - Srinagar in Day 3 (The distance is not much but it is trucking season as of now and long trains of trucks impact speed). Srinagar - Kargil on Day 4 and Day 5 you can be at Srinagar. You can easily do Srinagar Leh on Day 4 but I don't know if it will be wise because of AMS. Since we had taken the Kaza route to go to Leh, we did not face the acclimimatization problems at all.

[aviddenis]

Originally Posted by stormerider

Any inputs on this query? Planning the same with my Safari Storme 2wd, 75k done. Any pointers/help would be much appreciated.
Is there any map of petrol pumps, accomodation, restaurants, etc. like the one we have for Leh circuit?
Any inputs with regards to a 2 year old daughter would also be welcome.

Hi, I did a major part of the circuit you want to go in my new Safari Storme. Though it is 4x4, I did not need to use the 4WD option anywhere. My comments are pointwise below.

5th: Delhi - Kalka - Very Much doable

6th: Kalka - Chail - Theog - Narkanda - Sarahan - Karcham - Kalpa This is too too ambitious
My suggestion is that you try for Kalka - Theog. The Chail route is in not very good condition especially near Sadhupul. With a 2 year old, I would suggest you take easy. Next Day you should start early from Theog to reach Karcham. The road from Wangtoo bridge onwards to Tapri is in bad situation. From Tapri, the original road to Karcham has been washed off. The detour is through Urni which is the upper road. I would suggest do plan to be in Tapri by atleast 4-5 pm if you want to proceed to Karcham. Otherwise stay at Sarahan.

Sarahan - Karcham - Reckong Peo - Kalpa is possible in a day easily. Please stay at Kalpa or Reckong peo, otherwise the next decent destination is at Pooh which is another 4 hours away.

7th: Kalpa - Nako - Gyu Monastery - Tabo : Doable though depends on road between Powari and Akpa, and also on your stay at Gyu Monastry.

8th: Tabo - Dhankar - Mud (Pin Valley) - Kaza: Doable

9th: Kaza - Tashijong - Kibber - Rangrik - Losar - Chandratal: Not advisable. The roads from Lossar to Kunzum pass are not so great but there is practically no road from Kunzum La to Gramphoo. Multiple water crossings, big boulders and steep narrow roads with a fair amount of truckers between Kunzum La and Battal. My suggestion would be to do Kaza- Tashigong - Kee - Kibber - Rangrik on Day 1 and Rangrik to Chandrataal on Day 2. You can also include Dhankar Gompa on Day 1 though it is in different direction than Kee/Kibber/Rangrik

10th: Chandratal - Manali - Kasol: Doable

11th: Kasol - Manikaran - Bajaura - Parashar Lake - Mandi : No Idea as did not venture that side

12th: Mandi - Delhi: Doable from previous experience

Wish you all the Best!!! Have a Great Time with your family!!!

Originally Posted by hridayjyoti

Hello, everyone! Below is my tentative itinerary.
Vehicle : Safari 4x2 (just serviced, ready to go, spares will be procured this weekend, ticked all check list given by tanveer)
People : 4 (all 4 can drive, however I will be driving mostly in hills/tricky sections!)

ITINERARY : LEH - LADAKH TRIP 2015

29/08/2015 - S - Day 01 – Delhi-Jammu/Udhampur
30/08/2015 - S - Day 02 – Udhampur-Srinagar
01/09/2015 - M - Day 03 – Srinagar-Kargil
02/09/2015 - T - Day 04 – Kargil-Leh
03/09/2015 -W - Day 05 – Leh (acclimatization and permits)
04/09/2015 - T - Day 06 – Leh-- Khardung La - Diskit - Hunder - Turtuk
05/09/2015 - F - Day 07 - Turtuk - Agham - Wari La - Durbuk - Pangong Tso (if route is closed then back to Leh)
06/09/2015 - S - Day 08 – Pangong Tso (want to explore the lake)
07/09/2015 - S - Day 09 - Pangong Tso - Chushul - Kakasang La - Loma – Hanle (If army don’t allow will come back to Leh and go to Tso Moriri)
08/09/2015 -M - Day 10 - Hanle - kyun Tso - Mahe - Chumathnag - Sumdo - Tso Moriri
09/09/2015 - T - Day 11 - Tso Moriri - Sumdo - Tso Kar - Debring - Sarchu
10/09/2015 -W - Day 12 -Sarchu - Baralacha La – Tandi -Kunzum la-Chandrataal
11/09/2015 - T - Day 13 – Chandrataal-Kunzum La-Rohtang-Manali
12/09/2015 - F - Day 14 - Manali - Delhi
13/09/2015 - S - Day 15 – Reserve day

Currently, we are keeping the plan flexible for misfortunes. Is anyone else planning with similar itinerary? Travelling together will be much comfort especially for Hanle.
Cheers!

Hi,
Recently been through most of the circuit that you are planning to travel.

1. Everything till Day 11 is doable.
2. Day 12 - you can certainly go to Chandrataal but Kunzum la and back to Battal or Chndrataal is not doable.
3. Day 13: While returning from Chndrataal to Manali, Kunzum La will not be on the route. Kunzum La is on Chndrataal/Batal - Kaza route.

Wishing you well for the trip! Have good times!

[hridayjyoti]

Originally Posted by aviddenis

Hi,
Recently been through most of the circuit that you are planning to travel.

1. Everything till Day 11 is doable.
2. Day 12 - you can certainly go to Chandrataal but Kunzum la and back to Battal or Chndrataal is not doable.
3. Day 13: While returning from Chndrataal to Manali, Kunzum La will not be on the route. Kunzum La is on Chndrataal/Batal - Kaza route.

Wishing you well for the trip! Have good times!

Thanks, kunzum la is not important, already been there for trekking to chadrataal. I will try to cover while returning on day 13. Anyway I have a day in spare .

[Renjith_Mani]

Hi
We are travelling to Ladakh during first week of October 2015
Could anyone suggest the best places to stay at below places

03/10/2014 - One night at Keylong
04/10/2014 - One night at Leh
05/10/2014 - One night at Spangmik (Pangong)
06/10/2014 - One night at Lamayuru

Any suggestions or recommendations would help us in a great way please.

[tsk1979]

Originally Posted by Renjith_Mani

Hi
We are travelling to Ladakh during first week of October 2015
Could anyone suggest the best places to stay at below places

03/10/2014 - One night at Keylong
04/10/2014 - One night at Leh
05/10/2014 - One night at Spangmik (Pangong)
06/10/2014 - One night at Lamayuru

Any suggestions or recommendations would help us in a great way please.

Keylong has hpdtc and other hotels.
Leh, again many hotels

For Lamayuru and Pangong, just stay at whichever place you find best.

[Renjith_Mani]

I hope there is no need to pre-book any hotels during October 1st week.
Our only worry is that if we don't pre-book we would risk getting stranded with no place to stay.

[tazonahighway]

Hi All,

I have arrived at a tentative itinerary for my Ladakh trip in a couple of weeks. I will be driving in my own vehicle from Bangalore to Delhi and back. However, for ease of understanding, I have mentioned my itinerary from Delhi to Ladakh and back.

Vehicle : Scorpio 4x2
People : 4 (3 drivers)

Itinerary:

20/09/2015 - S - Day 01 – Delhi-Patnitop
21/09/2015 - M - Day 02 – Patnitop-Kargil
22/09/2015 - T - Day 03 – Kargil- Padum - Kargil
23/09/2015 - W - Day 04 – Kargil- Lamayuru - Leh
24/09/2015 - T - Day 05 – Leh (acclimatization and permits)
25/09/2015 - F - Day 06 – Leh-Khardung La - Diskit - Hunder - Turtuk
26/09/2015 - S - Day 07 - Turtuk - Wari La - Durbuk - Pangong Tso
27/09/2015 - S - Day 08 - Pangong Tso - Chushul - Kakasang La - Loma – Hanle
28/09/2015 - M - Day 10 - Hanle - Kyun Tso - Mahe - Sumdo - Tso Kiagar - Tso Moriri
29/09/2015 - T - Day 11 - Tso Moriri - Sumdo - Tso Kar - Debring - Sarchu - Tandi
30/09/2015 - W - Day 12 - Tandi - Batal - Chandertaal - Batal - Tandi - Rohtang - Manali
01/10/2015 - T - Day 13 – Manali - Delhi
02/10/2015 - F - Day 14 - Reserve day

I am assuming that I have to get permits for
1> Turtuk, Nubra, Panamik
2> Pangong Tso
3> Chushul, Tsaga La, Loma, Nyoma, Hanle
4> Mahe,Tso Moriri, Tso Kar

We will be carrying camping gear and hence it would be great if someone could suggest locations in my itinerary that I can look for camping opportunities.

Kindly let me know if this is doable and if there is anything else I must lookout for.

Thanks,
Taz

[Ritesh_Dogar]

Hello People,
So the plan to get Leh'd is all set and I have finalized the following itinerary:

12 Sept. (Sat) - Shimla to Manali, Stay in Manali
13 Sept. (Sun) - Manali to Sarchu, Stay in Sarchu
14 Sept. (Mon) - Sarchu to Leh, Stay in Leh
15 Sept. (Tue) - Leh Local (Acclimatization/ Permits/ Sightseeing within Leh)
16 Sept. (Wed) - Leh to Nubra, Stay at Nubra
17 Sept. (Thurs) - Nubra to Pangong Tso, Camping near the Lake.
18 Sept. (Fri) - Pangong to Kargil, Stay at Kargil
19 Sept. (Sat) - Kargil to Srinagar, Stay at Srinagar
20 Sept. (Sun) - Srinagar to Pathankot, Stay in Pathankot
21 Sept. (Mon) - Pathankot to Shimla.

We are 10 people in an XUV and a Thar, There are 6 drivers. Kindly let me know is there a need for pre-booking the stay for the night. I am assuming this would be kind of a lean season.

[tifosikrishna]

Originally Posted by Ritesh_Dogar

Hello People,
So the plan to get Leh'd is all set and I have finalized the following itinerary:

12 Sept. (Sat) - Shimla to Manali, Stay in Manali
13 Sept. (Sun) - Manali to Sarchu, Stay in Sarchu
14 Sept. (Mon) - Sarchu to Leh, Stay in Leh
15 Sept. (Tue) - Leh Local (Acclimatization/ Permits/ Sightseeing within Leh)
16 Sept. (Wed) - Leh to Nubra, Stay at Nubra
17 Sept. (Thurs) - Nubra to Pangong Tso, Camping near the Lake.
18 Sept. (Fri) - Pangong to Kargil, Stay at Kargil
19 Sept. (Sat) - Kargil to Srinagar, Stay at Srinagar
20 Sept. (Sun) - Srinagar to Pathankot, Stay in Pathankot
21 Sept. (Mon) - Pathankot to Shimla.

We are 10 people in an XUV and a Thar, There are 6 drivers. Kindly let me know is there a need for pre-booking the stay for the night. I am assuming this would be kind of a lean season.

Sarchu is at much higher altitude than Leh, if you want to acclimatize, option is to climb gradually (take an additional day and stay before Sarchu) or chose a place that is at lower altitude. If you don't have issues in Sarchu, there wouldn't be a need to acclimatize in Leh.

[rkg]

Originally Posted by tazonahighway

22/09/2015 - T - Day 03 – Kargil- Padum - Kargil
Thanks,
Taz

Karigil-Padum_kargil, is not possible in one day.
If you start early , can reach padum by evening, we started around 10.30 from kargil, could reach Rangdum by 4PM and Pazilla (Drung drang glacier) by 6.30PM. Padum is at least another 3 hours.

Permit required only for Hanle. Other places do not need any permit. The route you are planing from Pongong -Chushul-Hanle is mostly dirt track with no one guide you or any sign boards. I did this route last october in my ARIA.

[tazonahighway]

Originally Posted by rkg

Karigil-Padum_kargil, is not possible in one day.
If you start early , can reach padum by evening, we started around 10.30 from kargil, could reach Rangdum by 4PM and Pazilla (Drung drang glacier) by 6.30PM. Padum is at least another 3 hours.

Permit required only for Hanle. Other places do not need any permit. The route you are planing from Pongong -Chushul-Hanle is mostly dirt track with no one guide you or any sign boards. I did this route last october in my ARIA.

Thanks for that information about Padum. I will plan accordingly.

Regarding permits, are you sure it is Hanle only that I will require? Also heard that Chushul permits are very hard to get. Did you face any challenges or was it a straightforward thing?

Thanks,
Taz

[rkg]

Originally Posted by tazonahighway

Thanks for that information about Padum. I will plan accordingly.

Regarding permits, are you sure it is Hanle only that I will require? Also heard that Chushul permits are very hard to get. Did you face any challenges or was it a straightforward thing?

Thanks,
Taz

I got the permit for Hanle without any problem. You have to pay some Eco tax etc. You have to mention the route being taken to Hanle. thats all. No problem at all.

[Satish_BHP]

Hi Tanveer,
thanks for the detailed TL. It has inspired and immensely helped in planning my first driving trip to Himalaya's.

Hello Everyone,
We are a group of 4, planning to take early morning flight from Pune to Delhi. All of us have driven extensively, mainly in western-ghats, but not in the Himalaya's.
Vehicle : Rented 2WD XUV500 from Zoomcar at Delhi Airport

Considering this background, please let us know your comments on our plan below

22-Sep : Delhi (start by noon) - Ludhiana - Patnitop (Is this feasible considering the road condition ?)
23-Sep : Patnitop - Srinagar(stay)
24-Sep : Srinagar - Sonmarg - Zoji La - Dras - Kargil(stay)
25-Sep : Kargil - Zanskar (stay)
26-Sep : Zanskar - Kargil(stay) (Is it required to go back to Kargil or can we go to Leh directly? Tanveer has mentioned about a road being constructed to connect Padum to Leh at Confluence of Nimoo. Does anyone know if the road is ready now? Google maps is not showing this road)

27-Sep : Kargil - Dha - Hanu - Lamayuru - Leh(stay)
28-Sep : Leh (acclimatization and permits)
29-Sep : Leh - Khardung la - Diskit - Hunder - Turtuk(stay)
30-sep : Turtuk - Khalsar - Agham - WariLa - Sarkti- Chang La - Tangste - Pangong (stay)
01-Oct : Pangong - Chushul - Kakasang La - Loma – Hanle(stay)
02-Oct : Hanle - Kyon Tso - Nidar - Nyoma - Mahe - Sumdo - Tsomo Riri(stay)
03-Oct : Tsomo Riri - Sumdo - Tso Kar - Debring - Sarchu(stay)
04-Oct : Tsomo Sarchu - Jispa - Manali(stay)
05-Oct : Manali - Delhi (reach by 17:00)

Based on the circular of May-2014 on permits, I understand that ILP is not needed until Loma. Do we need a separate permit only for Hanle? Also, do we need any separate permit for the above itinerary?
Considering the late season, we do not plan to book any accommodation. This will also give us flexibility to manage any unforeseen issues. Would it be required to book accommodation?
Since we plan to enter & exit Leh only once, I’m expecting less trouble with the local taxi operators. Is this a safe assumption?
It would be good if we can get some guidance.