2011 Leh/Spiti [Planning & Discussion thread]

[FairWorld]

2011 Leh/Spiti [Planning & Discussion thread]

@Kurt rules: saw your post after posting mine. Ok so breaking the journey from Chandigarh to 2 days will help and that neatly fits 9 days. Thanks guys I will let you know when our plan is finalized.

[enfro]

I plan to leave for Spiti on May 22,, tomorrow morning i.e.
There was nothing till yesterday morning but it is now.
Just went through the thread. @Kurt, @MG, @Ken, @Darknight and other people who are familiar with the valley, please suggest the neccessities/mandatories things regarding the snow and route. Your sugestions will be valuable. Have toured Leh no. of times but a complete noob when it comes to Spiti. Maximum have gone to Narkanda twice or thrice.

Have not fixed the route but my rough estimates, depending on weather wil go as follwoing-

May 22/Day 01 - Delhi to Rampur or Bhavnagar (dunno where to stay on Day 1, so will have to adjust)
May 23/Day 02 - Rampur/Bhavnagar to Nako
May 24/Day 03 : Nako to Kaza
May 25/Day 04 : Kaza-Loaser (via Kee,Kibber)
May 26/Day 05 : Losar-Chandratal
May 27/Day 06 : Chandertal-Manali
may 28/Day 07 : Manali to Del

I read somewhere that After Kaza it may be difficult as one can find snow blocked road especially at and around Kunjum.

Guys, I will be relying on your advice entirely. I know the place by map/s but have very less knowledge about the weather and night stay. . Sorry to ask at the 11th hour but the plan was made in hurry so spent last couple of days in getting bike serviced and arranging for stuffs.
You advice would be valuable and real a**-saver for me this time
Thanks

[enfro]

Anyone to help with the issues please??

[anujgupta777]

Hey,

I was planning to do a Leh ride from Delhi this season but the friend I was supposed to go with pulled out. I somehow am not too intrested in doing a solo ride. Just wanted to check if there are other fellow travellers from Delhi who are looking for company.

Though it will be my first time to Leh, I have done couple of >1500 Km rides and multiple 1000 Km rides.

PM me if somebosy else is intrested. I am planning to do it somewhere in seconf week of june or July when the route to Manali opens up fully.

Regards
Anuj
[email protected]

[Sachinnair]

Its time...Tomorrow we will get the bikes transported to Delhi via train.
Hopefully it will get packed well without any damages

[maxThriLL]

Hey Sachin,

If your going to get your bikes transported through Bombay Central station, just beware of this guy called Jeevan. He'll probably quote you Rs. 2500 and ask you to pay first and later make a receipt of Rs. 14xx. Also if you ask him to send it via Rajdhani, he'll assure you but he sent mine via Ferozpur Janta Express. Luckily the bike arrived without any dents/damages.

[enfro]

Just returned fro Spiti. Rohtang is closed. And people at Kaza said that Kunjum will take another 20-25 days to be open. Just some local folks. Not any official confirmation.

[antz.bin]

Just returned fro Spiti. Rohtang is closed. And people at Kaza said that Kunjum will take another 20-25 days to be open. Just some local folks. Not any official confirmation.

Rohtang opened today.. There was a tweet on the official Royal Enfield twitter channel.

Manali, May 25: Rohtang Pass, the crucial road link between this tourist resort town in Kullu district and Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh, re-opened for traffic today after remaining closed for five months due to heavy snowfall, an official said here.

"The snow-clearing operation is over and road connectivity with the Lahaul Valley has been restored," A.K. Dikshit, commander of the 38 Task Force of the General Reserve Engineering Force (GREF), told IANS.

GREF is a wing of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) that maintains crucial highways in the country.

More than a dozen villages in the Lahaul Valley were cut off from the rest of the country since late December last year after the closure of the pass.

"We are regulating the movement of traffic as the road is still slippery. Till May 31, only a few public transport buses will be allowed to ply between Manali and Keylong," Dikshit said.

The majestic 13,051-feet-high Rohtang Pass, located 52 km from Manali, lies on the Manali-Leh National Highway-21.

Another GREF official said the entire stretch of the 475 km Manali-Leh highway would be re-opened for traffic by the first week of June.

The idyllic and pastoral settings of the Himalayas beyond the pass have been drawing an increasing number of backpackers, especially foreigners, for adventure-related activities like mountain biking, rock-climbing and cross-jungle trekking.(IANS)

Source : Rohtang Pass reopens after five months

[Vivek100cc]

Itinerary Ladakh & Spitti 2011


July 2nd
New Delhi - Chandigarh - Roopnagar - Mandi - Manali (Distance 565km)
Will leave Dilli around 8pm so that we reach Manali till 11/12am.

Day 1:
Manali
Try to find guest house in old Manali (Veer Guest House) rent 250/300. Explore Manali: It's better to start early in the morning to avoid tourist traffic (6-7 a.m.). That would mean tanking up on fuel, checking air pressure etc in night and get ready for the ride of your lifetime. (Have Diamox)

Day 2:
Manali - Rohtang Jot - Kokhsar - Tandi - Keylong - Jispa (Distance 147 Km)
Leave Manali at 6-7am (To avoid traffic on Rohtang) Have breakfast at Rohtang Pass and fill up bikes/tanks in Tandi, It is advisable to carry extra fuel since most of the time one is riding in lower gears and taking frequent stops, and the quality of petrol is also not assured. (The next petrol pump is 365 kms away in Leh) Camping in Jispa. (Have Diamox)

Day 3:
Jispa - Darcha - Baralacha La - Bharatpur - Sarchu - Gata Loops - Nakee La - Lachulung La - Pang (Distance 170Km)
Pang is World's Highest Army Transit Camp to the rescue- at 15,640 feet above sea level. Camping will be fun. (Have Dimox)




Day 4:
Pang - More Plains - Tanglang La - Upshi - Karu - Leh (Distance 180 Km)
Wake up around 7am, Have breakfast and leave till 8am, Reach Leh around 3pm, find a good hotel (Most difficult job, Last year I stayed in Khan Manzil guest house, Rent: 400rs twin sharing, without TV, hot water on demand, very clean and simple room)

Day 5:
In Leh.
Rest Day: 10am Visit DC office for Inner line permit of Nubra Vally and Pangong Tso Lake, Bike checkup, Explore Leh (Shanti stupa, Monastery, German bakery, Leh palace) Have Diamox.

Day 6
Leh – Khardung La – Hunder – Nubra Valley (Distance 127km)
Will leave our luggage in hotel, breakfast in leh is must as we will be crossing world highest road K-TOP (Will camping in Hunder Desert + Camal safari) Have Diamox.

Day 7
Nubra – Khalsar -Agham – Shyok – Pangong Tso (120km)
Start early from Nubra somewhat at about 07.30 am reach Khalsar have breakfast and start the onward Journey via the agham shyok road …The roads are pathetic …….full rocks and pebbles but that’s a different experience riding alongside the shyok river if everything goes well will reach pangongtso by max 2oclock in the afternoon. Camp on the banks of pangong tso …………
If we start on 2nd July will reach here somewhat on 9th July 5 days prior to a full moon day ……… I have attached the link of a travelogue at the bottom of this itinerary where one can see the condition of the road………….


Day 8
Pangong tso - Changla – Shakti - Karu – Leh (160km)
Startafter having breakfast cross changla and reach leh by afternoon 3oclock……..





Day 9
Leh – Magnetic Hill – Leh (Distance 100km)
Will start our day late, I guess 12pm is good, Will return till 5pm (Bike check) Relax ur body/bike as our return journey will be very fast and furious. (Have Diamox)

Day 10:
Leh – Tanglang La – More Plains – Gata Loops – Sarchu (Distance 244km)
Will start our return journey around 7am sharp. Camping at Sarchu will be fun.

Day 11:
Sarchu – Baralacha la – Jispa – Keylong (Distance 150 km)
Leave around 7am Sharp and check in a hotel in Keylong check the bikes refuel for next days start

Day 12:
Keylong – Gramphu – Kunzum la – Losar – Kaza (Distance 185 km)
Leave at about 7 in the morning and cross Kunzum la the hardest stretch and reah kaza by 4 or 5 in the evening

Day 13:
Kaza – sumdo – Nako – (Distance 123 km)
Visit nako helipad enroute approach closes to china at a place called khab

Day 14:
Nako – shimla (Distance 320 km)
Start leisurely and reach Shimla by Night………it’s a easy drive so might even complete early !!

Day 15: End of Journey July17th
Shimla – Delhi (334 km)


Mine actual plan starts two days prior to start from delhi since i will be riding all the way from Mumbai to delhi and the same while coming back !!

What do you guys think about this plan ?? Inputs welcomed ...................

[piyush_merc]

Ladakh Trip 2011

Hey Guys,

This is Piyush from Mumbai. I am looking for riders for my Ladakh Trip this season. Since I am having an exam on 25th June, my travel date is anytime after 25th June. Those who are interested, kindly drop me a mail on [email protected].

[angelo_co]

Hi,

I am planning a 2 week trip to ladakh from mumbai. we will be taking a train to amritsar to save on leaves. Can someone help in getting information regarding transporting the bikes? what is the best way to transport them with minimum risk of damage? if anyone has any contact numbers of transporters in mumbai, please do share it.

Thanks,
Angelo

[xstunter]

Itinerary Ladakh & Spitti 2011


June 2nd
New Delhi - Chandigarh - Roopnagar - Mandi - Manali (Distance 565km)
Will leave Dilli around 8pm so that we reach Manali till 11/12am.

@ Vivek :- You think Manali route would open by 5th June as per your plan .


Regards,
Deepan

[Vivek100cc]

@ Vivek :- You think Manali route would open by 5th June as per your plan .


Regards,
Deepan

Oops a serious mistake i am starting on 2nd july from delhi not june and planning to return to delhi on july 17th

[Sachinnair]

Hi,

I am planning a 2 week trip to ladakh from mumbai. we will be taking a train to amritsar to save on leaves. Can someone help in getting information regarding transporting the bikes? what is the best way to transport them with minimum risk of damage? if anyone has any contact numbers of transporters in mumbai, please do share it.

Thanks,
Angelo

You can go to Mumbai Central and enquire at the counter.
Also Beware of agents as they will charge you Rs2500/- for the same job.

We paid 1200Rs. for Bike to be transported from Mumbai to Delhi + 300 rs for packing + 350 rs for bike to be put in the luggage. In total, Rs.1850 per bike.

In our group we have 4 bikes that were packed yesterday & it was transported today early morning 7.30AM.

Xstunter - please add more if I have missed anything.

[xstunter]

Would like to add just a point that as Max thrill mentioned Mr. Jeevan asks for exorbitant money. We had dealed with him and had to pay 1500Rs for all the bikes for loading into the train. Note he is a very smart guy and asks around 700 Rs per bike. Rest of the charges are as mentioned by Mr. Sachin Nair.

Also we sent the bikes through Firozpur Janta express (19023) and not be Rajdhani because we got to load all the 4 bikes in a single train which would not have been possible through Rajdhani.

Also if possible arrange a person at the destination railway station to get the bikes unloaded properly, so as to ensure no damage is done during unloading.

Regards,
Deepan.