Re: Getting Leh'ed - 2014 Planner

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Re: Getting Leh'ed - 2014 Planner

Good to see a planner here and most probably i will be riding with you.

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Re: Getting Leh'ed - 2014 Planner

My friend and I are also planning to do Leh this year. We might also join you. Thanks for opening up this thread. Plan is to get on train from Bangalore and start riding from Delhi.

Ps- it will be first ride for both (my friend and I) to Leh.

We both are also gathering information and prepping to create a to do list or checklist as of now.

Have you narrowed down to some dates or selected any particular week to start?


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Re: Getting Leh'ed - 2014 Planner

We are planning to do it in Mid June and taking the picturesque Srinagar route .
Right now the plan is of 12+2days. Making up all the lists now.

Re: Getting Leh'ed - 2014 Planner

Most just take kashmir (srinagar) for a night halt to Leh. You try to stay a whole day or two there. Your cam would be left satisfied
Will give you a list a places around srinagar that should not be missed.
Good that you started this thread. Early planning sure helps.

Re: Getting Leh'ed - 2014 Planner

Route :

The tentative route that have been planned as of now. (Map Link). Attaching Image too

Delhi - Pathankot -Srinagar - Kargil - Leh - Leh (Break) - Hunder - Leh - Pangong Tso - Sarchu - Manali - Delhi

Day 1 : Delhi to Pathankot
Day 2 : Pathankot to Srinagar
Day 3 : Rest at Srinagar, Roam around
Day 4 : Srinagar to Kargil/Drass
Day 5 : Kargil/Drass to Leh
Keeping Leh as base following places would be visited
Day 6 : Leh to Hunder and back on same day
Day 7 : Leh to Pangong So
Day 8 : Rest
Day 9 : Pangong Tso to Sarchu
Day 10 : Sarchu to Manali
Day 11 : Rest
Day 12 : Manali to Delhi
Day 13 and 14 : 2 days buffer in hand

Guys do guide me if this itinerary would be apt or not.

Riding Gears and bags :

I would humbly request my co-riders to start collecting these items before the ride, please don't keep anything left for the last minute.
1) ISI/DOT/ECE certified helmet. Change the helmet if you had a fall wearing it. Avoid those plastic motocross helmets.
2) Semi/Full Gauntlet leather gloves with Knuckle protection.
3) Touring boots, preferable water-proof. Avoid sneakers/sports shoes. Shoes should be atleast ankle high to save your ankle in case you fall.
4) Riding pants preferred, although I would be wearing cargos.
5) Knee Guards, to be worn on every day of riding, no exception.
6) Riding Jacket : Avoid any other jacket like leather etc. They wont save you in case you crash or fall.
7) Full Body Rain Suit.
8) Thermal Inner Gloves, or woolen gloves.

Now coming to bags.
Saddle Bags : I would be using saddle bags, but others can use any other trekking bag too, provided it doesn't take much space,hold everything.
Tank Bag : Optional, I am still not sure whether I would be using one or not. I would be carrying my DSLR and Lenses, so not yet decided where to keep it.


Clothing :
Honestly to each his own in this case. We would be experiencing different type of climates during the whole trip so plan accordingly. I personally dont feel that cold so this is what I would be carrying.
- 2 sets of thermal uppers
- 1 thermal lower
- 1 lower/track pant
- 4 pair of socks (more the better)
- Muffler if you need it
- 2 Jeans , 5 Tees
-Sandals/Slippers for walk-arounds



P.S : Will keep on adding to it

----consecutive posts auto-merged-----

Thanks buddy, took a break in Srinagar. Will bug you before the ride.

Re: Getting Leh'ed - 2014 Planner

I would be using cramster colt most probably.What about AMS drugs,you said you have B.P.

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Re: Getting Leh'ed - 2014 Planner

Delhi would be the meeting point,exactly 244km from my place.

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Re: Getting Leh'ed - 2014 Planner

A few points
1. Delhi to pathankot is too leisurely. It can be done in 8 hours of easy riding. Better to stay at Patnitop. (Assumption - you guys start at 3/3.30 in the morning to get off the plains as quickly as possible. It will be oppressive heat till Udhampur so the earlier the better)
Its better to push a bit on the first day since you guys will be fresh and its boring too
I have done gurgaon to Srinagar twice now within 19 hours so its not something too difficult on the first day.

2. Patnikot to Srinagar -- Enjoy the boat ride at Srinagar - Ask the Shikara guy to take you through the water villages and not just the touristy floating bazaar.

3. Check out whatever you wanna check out at Srinagar and stay for the night in Sonmarg which is really picturesque. Or chug along the whole day and make it to Drass. Earn the stars of staying the night at the second coldest inhabited place on earth

4. Sonmarg/Drass to Kargil/Lamayuru -- I would prefer Lamayuru as Kargil is just a dull expensive town. The hotel DZozilla is a rip off. Lamayuru is a lovely monastery village with cheaper accomodation and yes - beer is readily available ;-) Lamayuru will also give you the option of exploring the monastery on the next day comfortably without the thought of luggage on bikes. The Lamas can be seen practicing for the upcoming festival in June so you might get some awesome photographic moments.

5. Lamayuru - Leh --- Leisurely/idyllic - Gurudwara pattharsahib for the religiously inclined. Make it to Leh by the afternoon. Get the permits done on that day itself. IIRC, they open up after lunch at 2.30 and the whole process won't take more than an hour. Get your bike maintenance done that day. Get the wire in carb mod done if your carb bike faced problems in climbing up.
Enjoy the rest of the day at LEh. Do check out the awesome night life after 8 when the one-way restrictions are lifted. There is an amazing biker vibe in that city.

Day 6 -- Manageable but will require discipline.

Day 7 -- Hardly 4.5 hours if chang la doesn't have too much snow to block traffic. What do you guys plan to do the rest of the day. It would be worthwhile I guess if your visit coincides with the full moon. Don't start too early. If it had snowed fresh, bikes find it tough. Let the tourist innovas and xylos lay down the path for you first at Chang la.

Day 8 -- Rest where ? It will get incredibly boring. Maybe give marsimek la a try. Or think in terms of Hanle. Or ride down to atleast Upshi (Fill your steed up at Karu)

Day 9 -- Upshi to Sarchu -- Comfy unless weather plays truant. Pangong Tso to Sarchu -- That will require a lot of discipline. Remember to fill up at Karu.

Day 10 -- Doable in most circumstances. Sometimes can be tough. in 2011 it took us 20 hours over 2 days in August (thread on xbhp) while in 2012 it was a cake walk. (8 hours with hardly any slush)

Day 11 -- After what you have seen and 10 days on the road - Manali will be positively boring :-) It would be better if you make it to Chandigarh. Reason in next line.

Day 12 -- The HEAT. Its oppressive. I have seen my Casio give a reading of 48 degrees. With all that riding gear - Its horrible. We took bath under a tubewell, drank a liter of lassi, soaked the gear in the chilled canal -- but to no avail. So its best if you guys can make it Chandigarh/Kiratpur sahib the previous day. Start at 3/3.30 in the morning and reach home safely before it gets horrible.

Oh yes - Carry a tank bag. Since you will be carrying a DSLR, the ritual of getting down from the bag and untying luggage will be too cumbersome at many points. So, a tank bag is a must if you are trigger happy.

Hope that helps!

Re: Getting Leh'ed - 2014 Planner

Guys I am also planning for same destination. So glued to this thread. Any body raiding from Pune?

Re: Getting Leh'ed - 2014 Planner

@Mik : Thanks a lot. Will go through this too.

Re: Getting Leh'ed - 2014 Planner

I am interested. I wil join from hyderabad.
But thats too late.
Why not in 2013 ?


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Re: Getting Leh'ed - 2014 Planner

You mean this December? Try to find about weather during this time, you will get your answer.

Re: Getting Leh'ed - 2014 Planner

[MENTION=11584]Mik[/MENTION] Thanks for that info,i appreciate your guidance,we will try doing that.

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