Originally Posted by pramods (Post 1347629)

Its possible to do with Esteem, but you have to be extra careful, there are many water crossing nullahs because of the snow melting, but they are not too deep to say, while the road condition are bad, but they are still drivable

As the road from Rohtang till Leh will through you lots and lots of this type of situation, so its always better to start early and cross all these passes and hill in day light and before noon or atleast by 1-2 PM.

-Pramod

Originally Posted by pramods (Post 1347915)

Based on HVKumar suggestion and what I experienced, if you drive continuously and consistently, start at 5 from Manali and you would reach Sarchu by 3-4PM, provided you want to halt in tents, else you would want to stay at Jispa, where if you start at 5 from Manali would reach quit easily by 1 PM. Sarchu is at a height of 4300 m and temperature can go as low as -5, that's what I experienced 10days back not sure how it would be in next 30-60 days, but its need aclimatization , I had some problem in sleeping at night, headache and some breathless ness at this height and temparture. But it gives you approtunity to reach Leh early next day if you start at 6/7AM still can make it by 4/5PM.
-Pramod

Originally Posted by hvkumar (Post 1348734)

Staying in Pang is not a good idea because you don't have quality accomodation there. So try to push the first day's drive to Sarchu, and next day drive direct to Leh comfortably.

Manali - Sarchu was initial plan, but many people strongly advise against it (AMS issues). What's your take on that? I am planning to spend first night (reaching Manali) in Solang, start Diamox and do a short excursion to Rohtang. Maybe that would speed up acclamatization and enable to stay at Sarchu next day.

You need permits to visit Tso Kar/ Tso Moriri and those are available only in Leh which means you can do it only on return journey, assuming you are returning to Manali and not proceeding via Srinagar. The other issue is, even assuming you had the permit, you have to budget for a drive of over 500 kms from Tandi, the last petrol pump (before Keylong, when coming from Manali), which isos difficult for most cars without extra fuel being carried.

No sir, wont' be having permits before Leh, so will visit the lakes during the return leg.

Pramod, did you get fuel at Tandi? Did you carry extra fuel?

Will be carrying a jerry can of 20Lts which I plan to fill up at Manali along with topping up the car too.

Is there any problem with getting Petrol at Tandi? :Shockked:

Pagal Nullah is just before Lukung/ Pang, approximately 140 kms from Leh. Budget for 6 hours to drive from Leh to Pangong Tso. If you leave by 5 am, you can easily be there by noon, spend an hour or so and return to Leh by nightfall. Apart from the bad sections in Pagal Nullah, the only difficult sections on this route is the climb up and down Chang la which is over 5,300 metres high and has bad roads. Alternatively, you can stay at Tangtse the town just 1-1.5 hours before Pangong Tso, or at Lukung or Spangimik itself which have tent/ homestay accomodation.

I am planning to have a nightover close to Pangong. Probably will stay in a ten at Spangmik. Wish to venture onto Marismek La while returning. Hope it works out in my favor. :D

Originally Posted by lordofgondor (Post 1347549)

I'd asked this as I was thinking if it's possible to do Noida-Keylong in a single day. Guess it's out of question now.
would you say that an Esteem can do this journey without any big hiccups?

Originally Posted by breezydrive (Post 1349131)

Quite possible, start around 1-2 am from Noida, you'll be able to reach Keylong by 6-7 pm.

Esteem can definitely do this, best of luck!
But do get out of car to check the road conditions whenever in doubt (especially at Nallah crosssings).

Also, be careful about those unplanned excursions.
Last year while coming back from Gulmarg, I chose a small road (short cut) to reach Baba Rishi. This is small 3 km track and I remember somebody at the start itself saying something (probably he was advising against). Thinking that a small car should not have any problems, we started. Barely 100 mtrs down & the desend was too steep, the track was extremely slippery due to seeping water from hill side. I had to put first gear & handbrakes in semi-pulled state to control it. At bends it was extremely difficult to control a small car like Zen. Later on came to know that this track was being used by locals for bringing their ponies from the villages to Gulmarg.

Originally Posted by cutdcrap (Post 1349338)

For Tso Moriri, you will have to head back to Upshi. You can go to Upshi when returning from Pangong, and stay overnight. That ways you will save 100kms the next day when you start towards Tso Moriri.

BTW, I came back from Srinagar side. Did Leh - Srinagar in a day, and then the next day direct run from Srinagar to Delhi (on bike). That could be too much travel for some people, i believe.

Originally Posted by cutdcrap (Post 1349338)

Having returned from a 9 day bike trip from Leh on Sunday, let me give you a few inputs.
a. DC office is open on weekdays, so no problems there!

Try and see if you can do the following:
Day 10 : Leh Sightseeing - Hemis Gompas, Thiksey monasteries, Shay Palace, Shanti Stupa, Sindhu Darshan
Day 11: Leh – Kali Mandir (Spituk) - Pathar Sahab - Magnetic Hill - Lamayuru - Leh
Day 12: Leh - Sarchu
Day 13: Sarchu – Manali
Day 14: Manali - Noida

For Tso Moriri, you will have to head back to Upshi. You can go to Upshi when returning from Pangong, and stay overnight. That ways you will save 100kms the next day when you start towards Tso Moriri.

BTW, I came back from Srinagar side. Did Leh - Srinagar in a day, and then the next day direct run from Srinagar to Delhi (on bike). That could be too much travel for some people, i believe.

Originally Posted by hvkumar (Post 1349378)

Just one hitch to your Pangong-Tso Moriri plan. Most of our cars do not have the range, we have to return from Pangong to Leh for refelling, else we have to run almost 600 + kms on one tank + can fuel. Hence, maybe, it may be betetr to return from Pangong to Leh, refuel and set off for Tso Moriri.

Is there a place to stay at Upshi? Will appreciate info on that.

Very fast run indeed - a red rag for those who say your-are-too-fast!
What was your time schedule like for the Leh-Srinagar run? Tough for cars, imagine you doing it in a bike!

Originally Posted by hvkumar (Post 1348734)

Pramod, did you get fuel at Tandi? Did you carry extra fuel?