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Getting Leh'ed - 2014 Planner

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  • jordan23_ash
    replied
    Re: Dream Tour - Delhi to Ladakh on Motorcycle - June 2014 - Need Advice

    Hello guys,

    Anybody riding to Leh in the last week of May or early June? I'd love to tag along from wherever you guys are at.

    I'll be starting from Bangalore myself. I haven't fixed exact dates but that's about the time that I will be travelling. I want to be back in Bangalore by about the June 25th.

    Also details - I ride a Duke 200. I've done plenty of long rides and upto 1250 KM in a day - Mumbai - Bangalore. No trips to the himalayas so this will be the first time I ride in the snow.

    If the dates align with some of you then please leave me a message here or at [email protected]

    Thanks!

    Leave a comment:


  • Hoodibaba
    replied
    Re: Dream Tour - Delhi to Ladakh on Motorcycle - June 2014 - Need Advice

    Hi all,


    To Add to the above details, there is a track from Agam to Durbuk via Shyok Village (on way to Pangong Tso) which is accessible by 4x4 (with high ground clearance). Whereas on the one hand it would be difficult to cross on Motorcycles, it might be too impassable in June as well. Better check with the local drivers before venturing any such crazy idea.

    Leave a comment:


  • Sunil Pradhan
    replied
    Re: Dream Tour - Delhi to Ladakh on Motorcycle - June 2014 - Need Advice

    Originally posted by Manna Chowdhury View Post

    20th June: Diskit-Hunder-Khardungla-leh (is there any way we can go to Pangong Tso directly from Diskit)



    Cheers

    Hi Manna
    There are two direct routes from Diskit to Pangong tso.

    You can find more details here

    Leh, Ladakh and Zanskar - The Ultimate Guide - Team-BHP

    Not sure if it will be opened in that season!!

    We too are planning for a leh trip in June from bangalore starting 1st June :-) and we too have similiar plans via the Spiti route.

    Some say that, the Kunzum la might not be opened by that time.

    The Manali route might well also disappoint us .

    so what we have is not a fixed plan.

    We would be visiting places according to the route chosen(depends on the condition of the route) and accordingly the combination of date and place change.

    "The plan is not to have a plan" and especially in Leh route, where anything can happen on any given day, we ought to have 4-5 backup plans

    Ride safe till then. All the best for the trip.

    Leave a comment:


  • Mik
    replied
    Re: Dream Tour - Delhi to Ladakh on Motorcycle - June 2014 - Need Advice

    Originally posted by Manna Chowdhury View Post
    13th June: Delhi to Rampur or any other place you suggest
    --- Rampur is just a river side boring town. You can go up till Sarahan (another 45 km ahead) -- but you should be ready to put in something like 15 hours of riding and reach before sunset to stroll around the kali temple there if you are religiously inclined.


    14th June: Rampur to Kaza or Chandertal

    -- Rampur to Kaza is again really pushing it. Most probably you guys can make it to Tabo. Or, since you might have days at hand. From Rampur head to chitkul and then stay in Kalpa. Its a beautiful little place.


    15th June: Day off in either of these two places mentioned above
    -- From Sangla/Kalpa go to Kaza. This will not be easy but can be done.


    16th June: Head to Keylong or Jispa or Sarchu for night stay.
    -- From Kaza, you can make it to Koksar (just ahead of Gramphoo)
    -- Chander tal is a detour.
    -- Biggest point --> Check if Kunzum pass is open. Generally opens up by mid june. Follow bcmtouring road status thread and members named 'jamaica' and 'top singh bodh's updates. If Kunzum doesnt open up, you guys would need to back track till Sainj (near Rampur) and take the jalori pass to manali and beyond.

    17th June: Keylong or Jispa or Sarchu to Leh
    -- Koksar to Pang would be good. AMS can strike. Take the precautions you will get to read about in various threads.
    18th June: Rest in Leh and take permits for Nubra Valley and Pangong Tso if possible some loacal sightseen
    -- Reach Leh. Reach before 3 PM (perfectly possible if you make an early morning start) and get the permits done that day only.

    19th June: Leh-Khardungla-Nubra-Hunder-Diskit
    -- Bike maintenance ? You will need that. I would say, get the maintenance done and then cross khardung la. Drop anchor till wherever you can make it.

    20th June: Diskit-Hunder-Khardungla-leh (is there any way we can go to Pangong Tso directly from Diskit)
    -- Check about Wari La. I havn't done that section but its possible. Time taken would be a lot though and the roads are not really pristine.

    21st June: Leh to Pangong Tso
    -- Assuming you reach pangong tso from leh.. this is an easy ride and also the most beautiful part of the ride.
    22nd June: Day off
    -- Unnecessary in my opinion. Keep the day in hand or potter around places.
    23rd June: Back to Leh
    --ok
    24th June: Leh to Kargil
    -- I would say, push to Drass. Reason -- Kargil is a boring place to be in. Drass is tiny but you are right in the midst of the theatre of war in 99.
    -- Don't and I say don't dare to miss the War museum in Drass. You will be damned if you do!

    25th June: Kargil to Srinagar
    -- No issues here. Comfortable ride. Drass to Srinagar will even give you time to take a boat ride in the Dal.
    26th June: Srinagar to Jammu
    -- ho hum. All boring. The taxis are aggressive and places like Ramban are not very welcoming (my personal opinion).
    -- If you have the heart, push till pathankot. Reason in next comment.
    27th June: Jammu to Delhi
    -- Now this is the important part. Start by 3 am. By 11 am the heat will kick in and haunt you all the way till 8 pm. But if you start by 3 AM you should be able to make it to Delhi by 2 PM.
    -- Alternative is to go to Amritsar.
    -- If you guys start from Pathankot at something like 3 in the morning. You will be in Delhi by 12 PM and will save yourself from the kickass heat.
    -- Or, just pray that it rains

    28 and 29 we keeping as a buffer
    -- Good.
    Let me know your thoughts on it

    Cheers

    Comments in bold.
    You have lots of days so don't be too stuck up on reaching a certain destination everyday. Keep all the information with you and just enjoy the ride
    Needless to mention - Be fully geared up.

    Leave a comment:


  • Manna Chowdhury
    replied
    Re: Dream Tour - Delhi to Ladakh on Motorcycle - June 2014 - Need Advice

    Originally posted by Mik View Post
    ^^ You really need to research a lot more. Baralach la is not a place -- Its a pass. What do you mean by Spiti Valley ? Which place ?
    Leh to Srinagar in one day is really stretching it. Doable, yes - Advisable -- Definitely no! On a good day you might need around 16/17 hours if there are no BRO distractions.
    Honestly man, you should read a few more travelogues and route planners. Make the effort read through this thread and the leh 2013 planner thread. There is a gold mine of information there.
    Also, download the Ramkys maps (2010) version. Check out numerous route planning advisories on bcmtouring. Read through the ladakh guide on team-bhp.

    About accomodation.
    Rampur: Its a small district town. Once I stayed in Hotel Satluj - its just beyond the main town square(some major mandir is there on the square) Advantage: The guy has lockable parking for bikes.

    Spiti Valley: No idea which place you mean. If you mean Kalpa/Tabo/Kaza -- Lots of accomodation is available at dirt cheap rates.
    The same is true for most places. You will always get accommodation. The only places where there could be a problem would be Kargil if you want to stay in the pricey D'Zozilla hotel.
    50k is more than enough. Assuming a 3500km run - around 110 liters. You are looking at 8k for petrol. Accomodation per day -- Average of 400Rs/person. Food is cheap everywhere. As in - Momo/Maggi/Paranthas/Mutton n Rice are good to have and cheap.

    Just make the effort and research more on the sites mentioned. You will get everything - from list of medicines to carry to distances to guest house contacts (though not needed), to permits needed.

    About your friend's bike:: That is a separate discussion on "what bike" section. CBR is a good option apart from its awful continental tyres. I had a nightmare on it in 2012 (due to the tyres) while it felt much easier on the 220 a year prior to that.
    Hi Mik,
    we digged more on the maps here we came up with new route map

    12th June: Reach Delhi and collect bikes

    13th June: Delhi to Rampur or any other place you suggest

    14th June: Rampur to Kaza or Chandertal

    15th June: Day off in either of these two places mentioned above

    16th June: Head to Keylong or Jispa or Sarchu for night stay.

    17th June: Keylong or Jispa or Sarchu to Leh

    18th June: Rest in Leh and take permits for Nubra Valley and Pangong Tso if possible some loacal sightseen

    19th June: Leh-Khardungla-Nubra-Hunder-Diskit

    20th June: Diskit-Hunder-Khardungla-leh (is there any way we can go to Pangong Tso directly from Diskit)

    21st June: Leh to Pangong Tso

    22nd June: Day off

    23rd June: Back to Leh

    24th June: Leh to Kargil

    25th June: Kargil to Srinagar

    26th June: Srinagar to Jammu

    27th June: Jammu to Delhi

    28 and 29 we keeping as a buffer

    Let me know your thoughts on it

    Cheers

    Leave a comment:


  • Sunil Pradhan
    replied
    Re: Getting Leh'ed - 2014 Planner

    Originally posted by Vinit Monga View Post
    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?


    Sent from my iPhone 5 using xBhp Connect mobile app
    Hey [MENTION=60795]Vinit Monga[/MENTION]!!
    Me too from bangalore :-).Me and my friend are planning to get Leh'd in june .i.e., June 2nd to 14th with 2 days reserve.

    And the route is still not decided because of the uncertainity of manali route.

    Have you guys zeroed in on a date?

    And how are you guys planning to transport your bikes ?

    Leave a comment:


  • narender
    replied
    Re: Dream Tour - Delhi to Ladakh on Motorcycle - June 2014 - Need Advice

    Originally posted by santosh.k View Post
    How feasible is it to carry a proper 2 person tent and use it all the way from Mumbai to Leh and back. Not using any hotel or guest house services. Making use of the tent and public washrooms for bathing and other purposes.

    I'm seriously thinking of this as an option which will help to save costs and will be an experience of a lifetime as well.

    Pls let me know how practical it seems. Is it do able??
    It is perfectly doable and people have done camping during their bike rides.
    But camping pitching tent after a tiresome ride is not a pleasant thing specially in high terrain of ladakh.
    At some places ,you may need a permission to pitch tents.
    Procuring food and water near your tent is an important aspect,you must keep in n mind.
    Ladakh circuit has plenty of budget stay options.In leh,you can easily get a room fro 700 bucks.
    At Pangong lake,you can rent out a bed for 200 rs,same goes for Manali-Leh Highway.
    In my personal opinion,i would advise against taking tents,it will keep your luggage light and save you plenty of time which you can utilizes in munching more miles and soaking in the beauty of place.Rest is your personal choice.
    Cheers.
    Last edited by narender; 03-14-2014, 09:49 AM.

    Leave a comment:


  • santosh.k
    replied
    Re: Dream Tour - Delhi to Ladakh on Motorcycle - June 2014 - Need Advice

    How feasible is it to carry a proper 2 person tent and use it all the way from Mumbai to Leh and back. Not using any hotel or guest house services. Making use of the tent and public washrooms for bathing and other purposes.

    I'm seriously thinking of this as an option which will help to save costs and will be an experience of a lifetime as well.

    Pls let me know how practical it seems. Is it do able??

    Leave a comment:


  • Mik
    replied
    Re: Dream Tour - Delhi to Ladakh on Motorcycle - June 2014 - Need Advice

    ^^ You really need to research a lot more. Baralach la is not a place -- Its a pass. What do you mean by Spiti Valley ? Which place ?
    Leh to Srinagar in one day is really stretching it. Doable, yes - Advisable -- Definitely no! On a good day you might need around 16/17 hours if there are no BRO distractions.
    Honestly man, you should read a few more travelogues and route planners. Make the effort read through this thread and the leh 2013 planner thread. There is a gold mine of information there.
    Also, download the Ramkys maps (2010) version. Check out numerous route planning advisories on bcmtouring. Read through the ladakh guide on team-bhp.

    About accomodation.
    Rampur: Its a small district town. Once I stayed in Hotel Satluj - its just beyond the main town square(some major mandir is there on the square) Advantage: The guy has lockable parking for bikes.

    Spiti Valley: No idea which place you mean. If you mean Kalpa/Tabo/Kaza -- Lots of accomodation is available at dirt cheap rates.
    The same is true for most places. You will always get accommodation. The only places where there could be a problem would be Kargil if you want to stay in the pricey D'Zozilla hotel.
    50k is more than enough. Assuming a 3500km run - around 110 liters. You are looking at 8k for petrol. Accomodation per day -- Average of 400Rs/person. Food is cheap everywhere. As in - Momo/Maggi/Paranthas/Mutton n Rice are good to have and cheap.

    Just make the effort and research more on the sites mentioned. You will get everything - from list of medicines to carry to distances to guest house contacts (though not needed), to permits needed.

    About your friend's bike:: That is a separate discussion on "what bike" section. CBR is a good option apart from its awful continental tyres. I had a nightmare on it in 2012 (due to the tyres) while it felt much easier on the 220 a year prior to that.
    Last edited by Mik; 03-11-2014, 11:59 PM.

    Leave a comment:


  • Manna Chowdhury
    replied
    Dream Tour - Delhi to Ladakh on Motorcycle - June 2014 - Need Advice

    Hello All.


    Finally one of our long awaited lifetime/dream ride is about to come true.
    Me & my friend have been always fascinated about visiting Ladakh and the neighbouring places.
    By looking at various travelogues, we have made the below itinerary.
    Please let us know if the below mentioned agenda need to be optimized with respect to health or any other factors. We would like to cover & see maximum places as we never know when we could again plan such a trip :-)




    FYI -


    -> Flight tickets have been booked already.
    -> We reside and will be travelling from Bangalore.


    Trip Date Frame:
    12th June 2014 - 30th June 2014.


    Trip Agenda:


    12th June - Thursday - Flight to Delhi from Bangalore. 10:30 AM we will land at Delhi. We take rest/roam around Delhi.
    13th June - Friday - We start early morning. Delhi to Rampur.
    14th June - Saturday - Rampur to Spiti Valley.
    15th June - Sunday - Full Day Halt/Rest at Spiti Valley.
    16th June - Monday - There are 3 route option. Goal is to reach Leh. Please advice which one is feasible.
    Spiti Valley to Jispa Valley OR Spiti Valley to Baralchla OR Spiti to Sarchu ?
    17th June - Tuesday - Jispa Valley OR Baralchla OR Sarchu to Leh.
    18th June - Wednesday - Full Day Halt/Rest at Leh.
    19th June - Thursday - Leh to Khardungla to Nubra Valley. Same day return to Leh.
    20th June - Friday - Leh to Pangong.
    21st June - Saturday - Full Day Halt/Rest Pangong.
    22nd June - Sunday - Pangong to Leh.
    23rd June - Monday - Leh to Kargil. Same day, Kargil to Srinagar.
    24th June - Tuesday - Full Day Halt/Rest at Srinagar.
    25th June - Wednesday - Srinagar to Jammu. (I had read somewhere that on some specific days, the roads are blocked either from Srinagar to Jammu or Vice Versa. Hence we have to keep a day buffer time. Please advice).
    26th June - Thursday - Jammu to Punjab.
    27th June - Friday - Full Day Halt/Rest at Punjab. Look around.
    28th June - Saturday - Punjab to Delhi.
    29th June - Sunday - If we have our own bikes then we will send it to train to Bangalore. Please advice on the process of transporting our bikes.
    30th June - Monday - Evening flight to Bangalore. 22:00 PM arrive at Bangalore.






    Query -


    0. Advice on Accommodation/Cost at Rampur/Spiti Valley, Any of 1 of the 3 places on 16th June, Leh, Pangong, Srinagar, Jammu, Punjab?


    1. Which places do we need permit?


    2. What should be the average budget(excluding air fare) for per person for the above itinerary? I am assuming 50k INR or more that that to be on the safer side?


    3. Any other instructions/advice that we should be aware of?


    4. We would be carrying 2 sleeping bags (recently purchased). 2 Jackets, few thermal wears etc.
    Any advice/recommendation on the right attire/shoe's/maps/bike accessory/medicines etc for 19 days?


    5. As we will transport bikes from Bangalore, we need to put them in Train in a manner it reaches before we land at Delhi in way we collect it before 12th June noon. Please advice on how do proceed the above bike transportation?


    6. I have Pulsar 220.
    My friend does not have a bike of his own. He knows to ride a geared bike. So he will have to borrow his friend's FZ16.
    Just in case is he does not get's it, can u advice a good place for getting good conditioned bikes on Rent from Delhi? We have done some research and realized that for Thunderbird/Classic 500, they charge min 1.3k INR per day. Out trip will be at least 18-19days. And based on that the amount will cross 20k INR. Any advice on lowering the cost?
    OR
    He is even ready to buy a bike. He has his eyes on CBR250R. As its a tourer. Given the road conditions, Will that be a good option for touring Ladkah and nearby places?
    Should he buy CBR250 OR any other good powered tourer within 2.2L INR OR just borrow his friend's FZ16, if not get rent bikes from Delhi?
    I told him instead to wait and buy CS400 which would launch in 2015. It will be new and more power when compared to its competitors :-)


    Leave a comment:


  • shashank ashwin
    replied
    Re: Getting Leh'ed - 2014 Planner

    Originally posted by Mik View Post
    Superb read! The reality is that each year, the road is getting easier and easier unless there is some major calamity.
    This is one aspect of motorcycle touring I always see. There is nothing to 'conquer' or 'explore'. If there is a road - obviously workers have laid it there. Office chatter is around 4X4 vehicles being required. Hahh! even a Nano has done it.

    I was suitably humbled on many occasions when i felt I had 'conquered' or 'achieved' something.

    2010 - Chitkul in early April : We reached chitkul and posed around feeling elated at having achieved something. Soon, we saw a group of bengali tourists (monkey caps and all) having a picnic there.
    2011 - First leh ride. Going up Khardungla I was having the feeling of 'conquering' something. Hahh! a 70+ year old man was cycling all the way to the top. Came to know he had been cycling from Manali. Nope, didn't have the heart after that to pose with an X :P
    2012 - Climbing up Chang La after visiting Pangong Tso on the CBR, I was feeling 'alone' and in a zen like mood. Then, I saw this guy on a Discover, with a big bedroll and a small pillion in tow, climbing up too. Rest assured, I felt very small at having thought that I was doing something 'interesting'.

    And then we have many crazy tourers who are literally living on the road. Puts our little excursions into perspective.

    Its a cycle all of us will go through. The first little ride to the commercialized hill station followed by tons of pointless pics and facebook updates (Orkut in my time :P). Then onto the 3/4 days 'big' rides and its stories of near death and non existent roads. Finally, the 'ride of a lifetime' basic Ladakh ride. But, those who will hold on to their love of motorcycles for a lifetime - will pass all these stages and truly immerse and surrender themselves to the beauty of nature.

    A long way to go! Not enough office leaves

    Its a cycle all of us will go through. The first little ride to the commercialized hill station followed by tons of pointless pics and facebook updates (Orkut in my time :P). Then onto the 3/4 days 'big' rides and its stories of near death and non existent roads. Finally, the 'ride of a lifetime' basic Ladakh ride. But, those who will hold on to their love of motorcycles for a lifetime - will pass all these stages and truly immerse and surrender themselves to the beauty of nature.

    TRUE, So true.

    Leave a comment:


  • Hoodibaba
    replied
    Re: Leh trip itinerary help

    Hi all (and especially Prateek)

    Hope this link will be of some help. Although my travelogue is also on xbhp but this is more comprehensive:
    Hoodibaba is back from Hunder and Pangong Lake - Solo ride on Caliber 115 !!!! - BCMTouring

    All the best to all


    PS: I might do a soloride in September from Manali. Dates not fixed. Hope to meet some of you in Leh or enroute. Would be a really really quick short trip
    J U L E YYYY
    Last edited by Hoodibaba; 03-06-2014, 05:32 PM.

    Leave a comment:


  • narender
    replied
    Re: Leh trip itinerary help

    Originally posted by Mik View Post
    Master ji, is petrol guaranteed here. As in, can one take the risk of not carrying extra
    My current ride (the KitnaThirstyMachine 390) wants petrol every 220 km and I cannot afford a tanker as yet. Also, will have an Army guy riding with us. Any chance the army outposts there will be obliging.
    Regards
    Yeah,petrol availability en route can never be predicted but most of the time you would get the petrol,i strongly believe.
    Yeah,army guy will be an added advantage in every aspect,be it accomodation,medical help,phone call or fuel.

    Leave a comment:


  • nelson_sanjoy
    replied
    Re: Leh trip itinerary help

    Originally posted by Mik View Post
    Master ji, is petrol guaranteed here. As in, can one take the risk of not carrying extra
    My current ride (the KitnaThirstyMachine 390) wants petrol every 220 km and I cannot afford a tanker as yet. Also, will have an Army guy riding with us. Any chance the army outposts there will be obliging.
    Regards
    Petrol is pretty much guaranteed in Sumdo ,Tangste and even tough the rate is high they don't adulterate much at least that's my experience.

    Leave a comment:


  • rachitkohli
    replied
    Re: Leh trip itinerary help

    Theres petrol also available in black at Pang in tents. I assume same should be the case with dharcha or sarchu. Ofcourse the rates will be quiet high but will be a savior.

    Leave a comment:

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