Originally Posted by faustus77

When driving from Drass to Srinagar in September 2011 I was directed to go above the Zojila as the main pass was totally closed for traffic.

Even I drove on that road that goes the above the usual Sonamarg to Zojila road. I was told by some truckers that since that stretch was very narrow and steep, it was made one-way, i.e., traffic from Sonamarg towards Zojila only was allowed and for the opposite direction, the high-altitude road was to be used for climbing down, although there were no signages, which said so. However, one MS Alto squeezed through the army of trucks that were climbing towards Zojila. I took the road that went above the one-way road and drove down on the scary, very steep slopes.

[Swift Express]

Originally Posted by J.Ravi

Even I drove on that road that goes the above the usual Sonamarg to Zojila road. I was told by some truckers that since that stretch was very narrow and steep, it was made one-way, i.e., traffic from Sonamarg towards Zojila only was allowed and for the opposite direction, the high-altitude road was to be used for climbing down, although there were no signages, which said so. However, one MS Alto squeezed through the army of trucks that were climbing towards Zojila. I took the road that went above the one-way road and drove down on the scary, very steep slopes.

I guess The Rock blasting that was being carried out last year in June 2012 was to increase the width of this very road that you are mentioning. The Army guys were mentioning then that the road was only open to light vehicles till last year and work was going on to widen it.Vehicles were stopped for 2-3 hours so as to counter the risk of resultant landslides

Btw i had also come across some reports that they are building a all season /weather tunnel near Zoji La that will ensure that ladakh is connected all year round. Does any one have any updates on this ???. Considering the geologically poor terrain , i guess it will take a long time

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nationa...cle3965022.ece

[anandpadhye]

Hi,

We will be making a trip to Leh (from Pune) in last 2 weeks of June 2013.
Here is the tentative plan (screenshot):




Here is the excel sheet. It has two tabs: Route and TODO list.

Leh Trip Planning_2.xlsx

Please review and provide suggestions.


A BIG THANK YOU to ~Shutterbugger for that excel sheet

Cheers!

[Rahulk76]

Originally Posted by anandpadhye

Hi,

We will be making a trip to Leh (from Pune) in last 2 weeks of June 2013.
Here is the tentative plan (screenshot):

Attachment 1086072


Here is the excel sheet. It has two tabs: Route and TODO list.

Attachment 1086074

Please review and provide suggestions.


A BIG THANK YOU to ~Shutterbugger for that excel sheet

Cheers!

How are you accounting for the Inner Line Permits to visit to these locations ? Are you getting them arranged already ?

[anandpadhye]

Originally Posted by Rahulk76

How are you accounting for the Inner Line Permits to visit to these locations ? Are you getting them arranged already ?

Yes, trying to get the permits via a travel agent. let me know if you also want to apply for permits and I will connect you with him.
Or if you have some contacts, let me know. I am checking which area need permit and will try to apply for all of them...

[faustus77]

Originally Posted by Swift Express

I guess The Rock blasting that was being carried out last year in June 2012 was to increase the width of this very road that you are mentioning. The Army guys were mentioning then that the road was only open to light vehicles till last year and work was going on to widen it.Vehicles were stopped for 2-3 hours so as to counter the risk of resultant landslides

Btw i had also come across some reports that they are building a all season /weather tunnel near Zoji La that will ensure that ladakh is connected all year round. Does any one have any updates on this ???. Considering the geologically poor terrain , i guess it will take a long time

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nationa...cle3965022.ece

Swift Express
Hi
I have been reading about it for the last few decades. Nothing has happened as yet. The last announcement was a few years back when it was said that it would be strengthened to take the load of the battle tank T 72.
When I drove there in September 2011 it was a far cry. Forget a T 72 even the truck traffic was not going smoothly. A few trucks pass and the road again becomes cratered.
Regards

[rjalihal]

Further to the Leh queries posted, we have hit a problem. Trip has been postponed to July due to some work related issues. Parceling jeeps also looks very unlikely as we are down to 5 people now, down from 8 people and 2 jeeps. 5 in a jeep is not that comfortable! So as a back up, we are now thinking of hiring a taxi (yuck!). But I am adamant and if need be, I shall bear the cost of transporting the jeep myself! I would like to share my tentative itinerary with you guys for your suggestions and inputs, especially the points mentioned in the parenthesis ()!!

• July 02 - Fly from BLR to Chandigarh. Spend the night there. (can someone tell me the best sector to chill the evening out. My 1st overnight trip to Chandi!)
• July 03 - Drive from Chandigarh to Manali. Stay in Old Manali @ Drifters Inn (any reviews about this place. Last time I was there, it was full)
• July 04 - Local Manali sight seeing. (Can Solang be done along with Vashisht in 1 day?)
• July 05 - The big day! Drive to Sarchu. Stay the night. (How long in advance do I have to book the tents?).
• July 06 - Continue to Leh. Hope to arrive by nightfall. (Anyone know good places along Changspa?)
• July 07 - Local Leh sight seeing. Nearby monasteries.
• July 08 - Aichi & Lamayuru. Back in Leh.
• July 09 - Drive to Nubra valley. Stay in Diskit. Sumur safari.
• July 10 - Hunder & head back to Leh. Stay overnight.
• July 11 - Drive to Pangong Tso. Stay overnight. (How is Camps of India? Any other suggestions?)
• July 12 - Head back to Leh. Stay overnight. (This is because one of my friends is flying directly to Delhi next day for some commitment). 4 man team now!
• July 13 - Drive to Tso Moriri. Need advice on road. There are 2 routes, one via Upshi, Kere & Mahe while the other is via Tanglang La, Tso Kar. We would like to see both, Tso Kar and Tso Moriri. Overnight in Tso Moriri. Which route would you guys suggest?
• July 14 - Leave Tso Moriri, Overnight @ Sarchu/Jispa or whenever it gets dark.
• July 15 - Continue to Manali & chill overnight.
• July 16 - Drive back to Chandigarh, drop jeep & stay the night.
• July 17 - Fly back to Bangalore

So this is our trip. I plan to add 2 days as a safety net just in case roads are closed. Thanks Tanveer for the videos you posted and the travelogues. I found them very useful. This is going to be a legend trip of our lives and perhaps the last one as a bachelor . Am hoping to make it at no matter what cost. How is the weather in July.

Thanks a ton for taking time to read this post and replying with your recommendations/suggestions/changes/critics/ et all!!

Cheers!
Rohan

[anandpadhye]

Originally Posted by rjalihal

So as a back up, we are now thinking of hiring a taxi (yuck!). But I am adamant and if need be, I shall bear the cost of transporting the jeep myself!

Hire a taxi????

BTW, I am told Sarchu is not a good option to stay on the way to Leh - too cold and AMS hits fast there. At least that's what my friend who has been to Leh before is telling me, so are moving our stay to Jispa...

[cataclysm]

Originally Posted by rjalihal

July 02 - Fly from BLR to Chandigarh. Spend the night there. (Sector 35 for eateries and Sector 17 for shopping or just looking around.)

July 03 - Drive from Chandigarh to Manali. Stay in Old Manali @ Drifters Inn (Great place, great food.)

July 04 - Local Manali sight seeing. (Can Solang be done along with Vashisht in 1 day?Yes, easily!)

July 05 - The big day! Drive to Sarchu. Stay the night. (How long in advance do I have to book the tents?No idea, I've always stayed in cheap dhaba tents and you don't need to book those. Drink loads of water and carry a portable oxygen cylinder. Sarchu is about 14,500ft).

July 06 - Continue to Leh. Hope to arrive by nightfall. (Shanti Guest house or Zeejeed Palace, both are slightly ahead of Changspa.)

July 13 - Drive to Tso Moriri. Need advice on road. There are 2 routes, one via Upshi, Kere & Mahe while the other is via Tanglang La, Tso Kar. We would like to see both, Tso Kar and Tso Moriri. Overnight in Tso Moriri. Which route would you guys suggest?(Go via Upshi-Chumathang because you'll be going back from Tso kar route since you are going directly to Sarchu.)

How is the weather in July.
Great! Gets a bit chilly after sunset. You would definitely need a jacket.

My answers in bold. Also, don't forget to carry enough spare fuel for the Tso Moriri-Sarchu/Jispa segment.

[PGNarain]

Originally Posted by rjalihal

Trip has been postponed to July due to some work related issues.

This advice maybe a little late in the day, and for that my apologies - but if you can try to reschedule the trip towards the mid-end of September. The roads will be in the best possible condition and you will have skipped the tourist season, so will encounter minimal to zero traffic on the roads and more importantly in Hotel / Tents / places to stay.
There will be no need to book in advance and you can get to stay at really good places at dirt cheap prices!!
Weather would also have cleared up and chances of rain are minimal along the way, as compared to July, when monsoons are in full force.

On the down side - you will hardly see any snow and have very few water heart stopping moments in water crossings and when roads/bridges get washed away!!

Originally Posted by rjalihal

July 04 - Local Manali sight seeing. (Can Solang be done along with Vashisht in 1 day?)....

....July 05 - The big day! Drive to Sarchu. Stay the night.

Since you seem to have traveled to Manali before and I assume you may travel again, I would suggest you to start for Leh on 4th of July and break the Manali - Leh sector into three days!! This route begs to be traversed leisurely, photographed thoroughly and absorbed. If you rush through it, believe me you will be left with a nagging feeling that you have left something behind!

Also, if you stop over at Keylong or Jispa for one night - your body will be far better acclimatized. IMHO - carrying small portable Oxygen bottles doesn't really help. I had carried two of them last year, though we did'nt really use it - some people travelling with us had them and were struck with AMS while crossing Changlangla - all the bottles expended to no avail - they had to finally descend and get to a hospital!!

Originally Posted by rjalihal

July 05 - The big day! Drive to Sarchu. Stay the night. (How long in advance do I have to book the tents?).

In July - If you arrive early in the day you can haggle for rates and get accommodation. By about 15-1600hrs tents start filling up and getting accommodation may be tough. If you book in advance - you pay higher rates, additionally you will leave no leeway or room for any eventuality that may delay or upset your itinerary.
My advice - when in the hills and especially when travelling to Leh - you can't dictate your own terms. Don't book in advance, Don't set over ambitious in terms of setting targets of xxx KMS to be covered in a single day, take it easy - travel light and enjoy. Don't drive after dark and aim to make it to home base by 1700 everyday.

Originally Posted by rjalihal

July 11 - Drive to Pangong Tso. Stay overnight. (How is Camps of India? Any other suggestions?)

Plenty of places to stay at Pangong, especially at Spangmik. Last year saw at least two "Pucca" Hotels coming up. one pic is posted below along with a Map from BCM touring that i used as a guide last year.


Hotel being constructed, by the side of the Pangong Tso - we were told that they will be operational by 2013 season.



Several other Hotel / Tents.



Hope this helps!!

Best of Luck

[Mik]

I have some queries from people who have done the Hanle circuit.

Ours is a 10 day plan and by day 4 we would be done with the permits and sitting in Leh (coming from the Srinagar side)
Our must do for this year is Hanle and Tso Moriri but dropping pangong would be a sacrilege.
Beyond this, we have 6 more days to get back to Delhi.
A big problem is that we don't cannot have a range of more than 350km on a tankful and carrying more than 10 liters on the bike is not feasible for us. So, our effective range is limited to around 600km max.
Distance wise, we can do Karu - Pangong - hanle - Tsomoriri - Chumathang - Karu which is approximately 600km. Would like to know, how much is this whole route in hours at a farely moderate pace ?

Karu/Upshi - Darcha - Day 8
Darcha - Mandi - Day 9
Mandi - Delhi - Day 10

Second part of the question.
My wife would be riding pillion with me so what about any decent toilets in places like Nyoma, Hanle and Tso Moriri ?

[Rahulk76]

Originally Posted by tsk1979

Have patience guys.; A full ladakh travel guide from a driving POV is in the works, with all routes, distances, etc.,
Should be up by next week!

Tanveer,
Eagerly looking forward to reading this guide .
Is it still work in progress? or
Thanks.

[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by Mik

Distance wise, we can do Karu - Pangong - hanle - Tsomoriri - Chumathang - Karu which is approximately 600km. Would like to know, how much is this whole route in hours at a farely moderate pace ?

I am told that they may not issue permits this year for the Pangong-Man-Merak-Chushul-Tsaga-Loma route, which means you will have to take the Pangong-Karu-Upshi-Mahe-Nyoma-Loma-Hanle route.

We did Pangong-Hanle in a full day's drive without breaks.
Hanle-Tso M is half a day's drive.
If you are forced to go via Karu from Pangong, also budget a full day's drive to Hanle.

Second part of the question.
My wife would be riding pillion with me so what about any decent toilets in places like Nyoma, Hanle and Tso Moriri ?

You must be jokinh
There are no hotels (or toilets) in Hanle, we had to squat in the fields since the homestay has no toilets (unless you are staying in the Observatory guest house, with prior permission from their HQ in Bangalore).

Although NYoma is supposed to have some seedy lodges, I never saw any. Ad definitely no toilets.

Tso M is a proper place of stay with all toilet "facilities"

Your wife will have to get used to the great wide outdoors. And please advise her to drinks lots of water to avoid dehydration & AMS - since women are always wary of taking in water because of the fear of no toilets!

[tsk1979]

Permits for chushul are being denied. Same story as last year.

@rahul the Guide is wip and nearing completion

[Nonstop-driver]

Originally Posted by tsk1979

Permits for chushul are being denied. Same story as last year.

@rahul the Guide is wip and nearing completion

Tanveer,

Request you to please make it fast as I've now shifted my plan for August