Leh Ladakh in August 2010 - not just riding but experiencing

[ron_7933]

this may seem a bit out of place, but since i've never been on a long trip such as the one being planned here, what kind of budget are we looking at?

[animeher]

this may seem a bit out of place, but since i've never been on a long trip such as the one being planned here, what kind of budget are we looking at?

Take it around 1200 per day, from Srinagar to Manali. The calculations are: 500 per night for stay, 500 per day for lunch, dinner and breakfast for two, 200 for bike.

The itinerary can be as follows (with valuable inputs from other site):

Day 1: reach Srinagar, collect the bikes and go for a shikara ride in Dal Lake.
Day 2: Srinagar - Kargil
Day 3: Kargil - Leh
Day 4: rest in Leh and get the permits made (at the same time you can visit Thiksey, Leh Palace etc.)
Day 5: Leh - Khardung La - Diskit/Hunder (Nubra Valley)
Day 6: Nubra Valley sightseeing and by afternoon, start heading back to Leh
Day 7: Leh - Chang La - Pangong Tso
Day 8: Pangong Tso - Chang La - Leh
Day 9: rest in Leh
Day 10: Leh - Upshi - Chumathang - Tso Moriri (Korzok)
Day 11: spend the day at Tso Moriri and if you want, move to Tso Kar in the afternoon
Day 12: Tso Moriri - Tso Kar - Pang - Sarchu
Day 13: Sarchu - Manali
Day 14: rest in Manali and take the evening bus to Delhi

Alternatively

Day 6: Nubra Valley sightseeing
Day 7: Nubra Valley - Wari La - Chang La - Pangong Tso (make sure to backtrack to Karu, after reaching Shakti, to fill up fuel)
Day 8: Pangong Tso - Chang La - Leh

I am leaning towards going in first week of Sept, to coincide with the Leh festival. Any inputs on this?

I asked Gati Cargo about the shipping of bike. Pune Shrinagar costs 3000rs, with bike to be submitted about 10-15 days before ( because I want a surety that bike will reach there before I do). I am comfortable with railway transport, as have already done that, but it goes only till Jammu. The railway transport will be cheaper (my guess: around 1500rs including everything), but then I will have to ride it till Shrinagar, thus sacrificing one day for that. So adding leave expense + hotel + petrol, the cost benefit is zero.

But while coming back, shimla office of Gati told the bike would cost some 3500-4000rs to ship back. Now this is bit too much. Any idea as to how can I tackle this? Maybe I can ride it to some nearest railway station and parcel it to Pune, and catch a plane from there?

The goal is to save leave days as well as not spend enormous amount on bike shipping. I request your inputs on the Leh festival matter and shipping matter.

[animeher]

Guys, the trip is ON! I have booked Kingfisher tickets for Mumbai Srinagar on 28 Aug 2010, because I want to be in Ladakh while the festival is on. This is the itinerary:

28 Aug Day 1: reach Srinagar, collect the bikes and go for a shikara ride in Dal Lake.
29 Aug Day 2: Srinagar - Kargil
30 Aug Day 3: Kargil - Leh
31 Aug Day 4: rest in Leh and get the permits made (at the same time you can visit Thiksey, Leh Palace etc.)
1 Sep Day 5: Leh - Khardung La - Diskit/Hunder (Nubra Valley)
2 Sep Day 6: Nubra Valley sightseeing and by afternoon, start heading back to Leh
3 Sep Day 7: Leh - Chang La - Pangong Tso
4 Sep sun Day 8: Pangong Tso - Chang La - Leh
5 Sep Day 9: rest in Leh
6 Sep Day 10: Leh - Upshi - Chumathang - Tso Moriri (Korzok)
7 Sep Day 11: spend the day at Tso Moriri and if you want, move to Tso Kar in the afternoon
8 Sep Day 12: Tso Moriri - Tso Kar - Pang - Sarchu
9 Sep Day 13: Sarchu - Manali
10 Sep Day 14: Rest in Manali
11 Sep Day 15: Ride to Chandigadh
12 Sep Day 16: Chandigadh sight seeing and parcel to mumbai

Anyone company?

[Ananz]

Guys, the trip is ON! I have booked Kingfisher tickets for Mumbai Srinagar on 28 Aug 2010, because I want to be in Ladakh while the festival is on. This is the itinerary:


Anyone company?

Good luck mate...
The only thing you'll miss in early september is the white showers from above. this is the peak of summer over there and there will not be an inch of snow in over 90% of the route...

and also this is the season when the traffic is at its worst.

but again i did'nt read the entire thread and in case you're travelling with your family.. this is the best time to do it.

Just my two cents.

- Ananth

[Aryan]

@Ani: I am very much interested in this plan of yours, but the only problem being I cannot really confirm right now.

[animeher]

Good luck mate...
The only thing you'll miss in early september is the white showers from above. this is the peak of summer over there and there will not be an inch of snow in over 90% of the route...

and also this is the season when the traffic is at its worst.

but again i did'nt read the entire thread and in case you're travelling with your family.. this is the best time to do it.

Just my two cents.

- Ananth

I am with my wife, so I'd actually like some company! That's why I am going in Sun. For experiencing riding on snow n all, I may go again, but on bike with wife, this year is now or never!

@Ani: I am very much interested in this plan of yours, but the only problem being I cannot really confirm right now.

No problem Aryan. As you are in Delhi, you have the luxury of planning the ride at the last moment!

BTW what do you recommend, ride to CHD and catch train from there, or ride to Delhi? How much time does it take from Manali to Delhi? How are the roads?

[Aryan]

@Ani: It depends on one's own comfort level. I would anyhow have to ride from Delhi to Chandigarh, which should roughly take about 4-5 hours or a trifle more. I would recommend you directly go to Chandigarh and start the ride from there, unless ofcourse you have some work purpose in Dehi/ want to just experience Delhi!

Manali - Delhi would take 12 hours approximately. The roads are good, with intermittent stretches on NH-1 where heavy construction is going on.

[animeher]

I want to send the bike as parcel in train to Pune. Mumbai Parcel office is den of thieves, and getting the bike out of there is too much hessle. I stay in Pune primarily, so if I can send the bike to Pune, then I am comfortable for any station.

Now I have 3 options.

1. Ride to CHD, and send the bike by train and catch flight or train for home.
Q: Can I send the bike from CHD to Pune, as there are no direct trains? Or Do I have to send the bike to Mumbai only?

2. Ride to Ambala, and parcel the bike there for Pune, as Pune trains pass through Ambala, then maybe return to CHD (1 hr away) to catch train/flight to Mumbai/Pune.
Q: As Ambala is middle station, can the bike be posted from there? Or will all the luggage bogies will be full?

3. Ride to Delhi and parcel the bike and myself to Pune.
Q: As it is too hectic, I'd like to avoid this option.

Pls advise.

[Aryan]

@Ani: If I were you, I would either send the bike from Chandigarh, or better still Delhi. However, since it would be hectic for you to ride all the way back to Delhi and THEN send the bike back to Pune, I would advise you ride back till Chandigarh and send the bike, and then you yourself can catch a flight or train to Pune.

[animeher]

But there are no direct trains from CHD to pune. Can I still send it and railway will bring it changing trains to Pune?

[Shivanshu]

well Railway people can send the bike to the required destination but that may take some time, depending on the railway people

[archistar]

Take it around 1200 per day, from Srinagar to Manali. The calculations are: 500 per night for stay, 500 per day for lunch, dinner and breakfast for two, 200 for bike.

The itinerary can be as follows (with valuable inputs from other site):

Day 1: reach Srinagar, collect the bikes and go for a shikara ride in Dal Lake.
Day 2: Srinagar - Kargil
Day 3: Kargil - Leh
Day 4: rest in Leh and get the permits made (at the same time you can visit Thiksey, Leh Palace etc.)
Day 5: Leh - Khardung La - Diskit/Hunder (Nubra Valley)
Day 6: Nubra Valley sightseeing and by afternoon, start heading back to Leh
Day 7: Leh - Chang La - Pangong Tso
Day 8: Pangong Tso - Chang La - Leh
Day 9: rest in Leh
Day 10: Leh - Upshi - Chumathang - Tso Moriri (Korzok)
Day 11: spend the day at Tso Moriri and if you want, move to Tso Kar in the afternoon
Day 12: Tso Moriri - Tso Kar - Pang - Sarchu
Day 13: Sarchu - Manali
Day 14: rest in Manali and take the evening bus to Delhi

Alternatively

Day 6: Nubra Valley sightseeing
Day 7: Nubra Valley - Wari La - Chang La - Pangong Tso (make sure to backtrack to Karu, after reaching Shakti, to fill up fuel)
Day 8: Pangong Tso - Chang La - Leh

I am leaning towards going in first week of Sept, to coincide with the Leh festival. Any inputs on this?

I asked Gati Cargo about the shipping of bike. Pune Shrinagar costs 3000rs, with bike to be submitted about 10-15 days before ( because I want a surety that bike will reach there before I do). I am comfortable with railway transport, as have already done that, but it goes only till Jammu. The railway transport will be cheaper (my guess: around 1500rs including everything), but then I will have to ride it till Shrinagar, thus sacrificing one day for that. So adding leave expense + hotel + petrol, the cost benefit is zero.

But while coming back, shimla office of Gati told the bike would cost some 3500-4000rs to ship back. Now this is bit too much. Any idea as to how can I tackle this? Maybe I can ride it to some nearest railway station and parcel it to Pune, and catch a plane from there?

The goal is to save leave days as well as not spend enormous amount on bike shipping. I request your inputs on the Leh festival matter and shipping matter.

Day 2: Srinagar - Mulbekh
Day 3: Mulbekh - Leh

Mulbekh is a lovely place having a very popular 'Chamba' statue. There are two-three private guest houses but do prefer to take the JKTDC rest house. It was my personal choice to stay in a peaceful place. Just a suggestion :P

I took THIS route, and will love to ride there again

[animeher]

Thanks for the input archiestar!

One questoin Is the station 'Kalka' between Manali and CHD? Because there is one direct train from Kalka to BDTS. For Vesta's safety, I might bring her as luggage with me to Mumbai, after reading some horror stories of bikes gone missing by railway parcels.

[dcs]

Kalka is enroute between Chandigarh and Shimla. Off-course, if you want to go to Manali via Nako- Tabo- Kunzum Pass, then we can say that Kalka is enroute to manali.

[animeher]

As there are no direct trains from CHD to Mumbai (all trains originate somewhere else), I think getting bike in the luggage bogie will be bit problem. That's why I am leaning towards coming by Kalka-Mumbai train, atleast the bike will be safe and will catch the train from the starting station, ensuring its place.