[hvkumar]

All those in Srinagar area from second week of Aug onwards, please remember that around Independence Day (Aug 15), security is tightest and terrorist activity intense. May be the most prudent idea to simply skim through the Jammu-Srinagar-Sonmarg area. Once you cross Zoji La, you are in a peace zone.

[abk]

Originally Posted by Sha

The route I took was Korzok(Tso Moriri), sumdo village (need to be careful it's small village need to enter inside and it's gravel road till tso Kar), Tso Kar, Moore plain, Pang, Sarchu, Manali.

If you need map let me know.

Dear Sha, a map will be highly appreciated indeed

Originally Posted by hvkumar

All those in Srinagar area from second week of Aug onwards, please remember that around Independence Day (Aug 15), security is tightest and terrorist activity intense. May be the most prudent idea to simply skim through the Jammu-Srinagar-Sonmarg area. Once you cross Zoji La, you are in a peace zone.

Dear Kumar, we are leaving Delhi on the 13th Aug night. So that invariably rules out taking the Srinagar - Kargil route to Leh. We are, therefore, going to take the route via Manali. However, we would want to consider Srinagar route for our return journey. At this a few basic questions: Which route is more recommended on the basis of:

1. Sight seeing & photography
2. Road condition (we will be going in 3 cars - an OHC II, a Indica Vista & a Wagon R)
3. Amenities en-route like tea shops/hotels/tent accomodation

Thanks in advance!

[hvkumar]

we would want to consider Srinagar route for our return journey. At this a few basic questions: Which route is more recommended on the basis of:
Sight seeing & photography
Road condition (we will be going in 3 cars - an OHC II, a Indica Vista & a Wagon R)
Amenities en-route like tea shops/hotels/tent accomodation

Both routes are lovely, the return journey via Srinagar will be a good idea.
Road via Srinagar means some bad roads up Zoji La and some bad sections in the Lamayuru area.
You have hotels at Kargil, Dras and Sonamarg.

[MileCruncher]

Based on various discussions following is the route plan that I have come up with

[suman]

Originally Posted by MileCruncher

Based on various discussions following is the route plan that I have come up with

MC -

• Srinagar-Kargil is around 215 kms & Kargil-Leh is 230
• Leh-K'top-Leh is around 90 kms
• Leh-Pangong is around 155 kms
• Local sightseeing may take more than 30 kms, probably 50 (more if you go to Hemis)

You may need to update the distances in your spreadsheet.

[hvkumar]

You are scheduled to arrive at Leh on Thu night, which means you have to run on Fri morning to DC's Office to get your permits - check out whether it is a working Saturday so you may get some buffer.

I don't think you can drive from Pangong to Tso Moriri and onward to Sarchu in 1 day.

[Sha]

@MC- Leh-Pangong- Leh can be done in one day unless you want to stay near lake but I see you are staying in Tangste why? You want to take chusul route from tangste(if permit is given you can do this route but its gravel road i guess). if you return back to leh and leave next day early morning to Tso moriri it will take about 6-7 hr to reach spend around 1 hr and return back and stay in Tso Kar lake camps which is near to Moore plains or you can stay in Pang which has good dahaba camps (no privacy). From Pang or tso Kor you can reach manali but you have start early by 4 am.
In sarchu, camp rates start from 1000 Rs. so adjust your budget.

[MileCruncher]

Originally Posted by suman

MC -

• Srinagar-Kargil is around 215 kms & Kargil-Leh is 230
• Leh-K'top-Leh is around 90 kms
• Leh-Pangong is around 155 kms
• Local sightseeing may take more than 30 kms, probably 50 (more if you go to Hemis)

You may need to update the distances in your spreadsheet.

Thanks Suman. Excel updated. Actually I'm trying to broadly follow the route taken by you

Originally Posted by hvkumar

You are scheduled to arrive at Leh on Thu night, which means you have to run on Fri morning to DC's Office to get your permits - check out whether it is a working Saturday so you may get some buffer.

I don't think you can drive from Pangong to Tso Moriri and onward to Sarchu in 1 day.

Actually this is a big discussion point between me and Wifey in terms to whether we need to do two lakes as Pangong is supposed to be the grandest of the lot.

@ Sha: We want to stay in a tent by the Pangong Lake. Any idea hwo to book the tents and would the rates be lower in September both at Pangong and Sarchu on account of it being a off season

[abk]

Dear folks, after reading through advises and recommendations and reviewing the excels and Kumar's excellent pdf of routes, here is what I have drafted. I am sure this could be further refined:

Date Day Route Kms Nightstay
13-Aug Thu 1 Delhi - Manali (leaving Delhi at 9 PM) -
14-Aug Fri 2 Delhi - Manali (..continued) Manali
15-Aug Sat 3 Manali - Sarchu 215 Sarchu
16-Aug Sun 4 Sarchu - Leh 270 Leh
17-Aug Mon 5 Leh (sightseeing) Leh
18-Aug Tue 6 Leh - Khardung la - Leh 80 Leh
19-Aug Wed 7 Leh - Tangtse (Pangong Tso) 130 Tangtse
20-Aug Thu 8 Tangtse - Korzok 301 Korzok
21-Aug Fri 9 Korzok - Keylong 296 Keylong
22-Aug Sat 10 Keylong - Chandigarh 364 Chandigarh
23-Aug Sun 11 Chandigarh - Delhi 250


My queries and requirements:

1. Our aim is to cover glimpses of the Nubra valley and spend longish time at Pangong Tso & Tso Moriri. We are not too keen on seeing many gompas and monasteries.
2. We will be driving in 3 cars - a Wagon R, an Indica Vista & Old Honda City (II). Does the above itinerary looks feasibly comfortable?
3. Between Pangong Tso & Tso Moriri if we were to choose one which one should that be? I realise including Pangong Tso in the itinerary pushes the daily driving on day 08 & day 09 a little too far.
4. We are also open to swapping Pangong Tso / Tso Moriri with a nightstay in the Nubra valley (Diskit?). Any advices?

[hvkumar]

Don't miss Thikshey Monastery, very close to Leh.
You are not going to Nubra V?
Please bear in mind that if you do not get fuel in Karu, you may have to return to Leh for petrol. (Correct me if I am wrong, but the Upshi pump sells only diesel).
Since you are going to and fro via Manali, covering both lakes is a good idea, why drop one of them? I would not miss out on Pangong for any reason whatsoever.
Why not drive to Lamayuru (via Magnet Hill) and see the moonscape and the monastery there?

[anupmathur]

Originally Posted by abk

15-Aug Sat 3 Manali - Sarchu 215 Sarchu
......

I would recommend you stay the night at Keylong (Chandra Bhaga) or Jispa tents.
Sarchu leads to AMS problems for nearly 90% of the people who spend their first night there!

An early start from Keylong/Jispa and you can make it to Leh well within daylight hours.

[hvkumar]

Apart from the expensive Hotel Ibex at Jispa, now there is also the HPTDC resort where double rooms are available for as low as Rs 250 pd.

[suman]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Apart from the expensive Hotel Ibex at Jispa, now there is also the HPTDC resort where double rooms are available for as low as Rs 250 pd.

Where is this resort? Don't recollect seeing it when we passed.

[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by suman

Where is this resort? Don't recollect seeing it when we passed.

Never seen it myself, reported by my biker-friend who stayed there last week on his way from Manali to Leh. Very close to Hotel Ibex apparently.

However, I do not find references to the hotel in HPTDC web-site! Will give more details once the bikers return to Bombay this weekend (they are today driving from Kargil to Srinagar, having climbed Marisimk La also last Saturday.

[anupmathur]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Apart from the expensive Hotel Ibex at Jispa, now there is also the HPTDC resort where double rooms are available for as low as Rs 250 pd.

This would indeed be a much needed facility!
However, the price tag makes me suspect there is something very wrong with this news!