[Irish]

Hi Tanveer,

Please review this itinerary:

12-Aug-14
Delhi Sonmarg

14-Aug-14 (500 hrs)
Sonmarg Joji La, Kargil, Drass, Lamayuru, Magnetic Hill, Pathar Sahab Leh

15-Aug-15 LEH
Permits (it's 15 Aug??), Shanti Stupa, Local Market, Leh Palace

16-Aug-14
Leh Leh - Khardung La - Diskit - Hunder - Turtuk

17-Aug-14
Turtuk Turtuk - Agham - Wari La - Pangong Tso Pangong Tso

18-Aug-14
Pangong Tso Chushul - Kakasang La - Mahe - Loma - Hanle

19-Aug-14
Hanle Hanle - Kyun Tso - Nidar - Sumdo - Tso Kiagar - Tso Moriri

20-Aug-14
Tso Moriri Tso Moriri - Tso Kar - Debring Sarchu

21-Aug-14
Sarchu Manali

22-Aug-14
Manali Delhi


The Vehicle is XUV 500 with family and a kid (12 Years) on board. I am little skeptical about Kyun Tso route. If there is any problems in the above plan then please advise.

My friend will be leaving Delhi tonight.


Thanks,
Irish

[tsk1979]

Originally Posted by Irish

Hi Tanveer,

Please review this itinerary:

12-Aug-14
Delhi Sonmarg

Impossible, really
I would target
12th Delhi Patnitop, and then Patnitop Sonmarg on 13th

14-Aug-14 (500 hrs)
Sonmarg Joji La, Kargil, Drass, Lamayuru, Magnetic Hill, Pathar Sahab Leh

Tough but doable.

15-Aug-15 LEH
Permits (it's 15 Aug??), Shanti Stupa, Local Market, Leh Palace

Its a holiday, no permits

16-Aug-14
Leh Leh - Khardung La - Diskit - Hunder - Turtuk

17-Aug-14
Turtuk Turtuk - Agham - Wari La - Pangong Tso Pangong Tso

18-Aug-14
Pangong Tso Chushul - Kakasang La - Mahe - Loma - Hanle

19-Aug-14
Hanle Hanle - Kyun Tso - Nidar - Sumdo - Tso Kiagar - Tso Moriri

20-Aug-14
Tso Moriri Tso Moriri - Tso Kar - Debring Sarchu

21-Aug-14
Sarchu Manali

22-Aug-14
Manali Delhi


The Vehicle is XUV 500 with family and a kid (12 Years) on board. I am little skeptical about Kyun Tso route. If there is any problems in the above plan then please advise.

My friend will be leaving Delhi tonight.


Thanks,
Irish

Kyun Tso is not advisable without 4x4.
And permits are not available on 15th. Possible even 16th(though you can call their number from leh.nic.in)

alternative plan
12th Delhi Manali
13th Manali - Jispa
14th Jispa Tso moriri
15th Go to Nubra valley
16th Nubra Pangong
17th. Come to leh, get permits and rest
18th Hanle
19th Hanle - Kargil(doable easily via main road)
20th Kargil - Beyond Srinagar
21st Try and reach delhi

[ToyotaFan]

Originally Posted by manasmadaan

There could be a slight change of plans.
From pangong, we may come back to leh and then do the leh - hanle trip or directly go fron pangong to hanle leading further to tso kar and then directly to manali with a night stay at either jispa or sarchu.

Kindly comment on the above itenary and any difficulties that may be encountered.

Tso Kar to manali is very much possible. I did the same on 10th August in my Toyota Fortuner. I started from Tso Kar at 5 and reached Manali by 5. I got to experience sunrise at More plains(great experience) and stored for breakfast at pang and lunch at keylong. Just keep in mind road from keylong to sissu is in a mess (widening going on) and khoksar to rohtang top (first 15kms) is in bad shape so an early morning start from Tso Kar is a must.

[ToyotaFan]

Originally Posted by Traveller Nayak

I have been planning and planning and planning for past few months for the trip end of August. Today, I realised that I am actually grossly running late in implementing the plan.

Need help from the Fortuner owners who have done the trip in terms of what tool sets to carry? I have this weekend to scout around and buy. Next weekend is a short family outing. And, that doesn't leave me with enough time for buying the essentials and to also do the servicing!

help

I came back from ladakh on sunday and my Toyota Fortuner 4*4 gave no troubles and felt right at home in that terrain. Other than the things mentioned by tanveer in his guide I would advise you to get the 3 piece spare tire removing rod welded as many a times it does not fix well and a part of it may be left in the well making it very difficult to lower the spare. This has happened with me in the plains but at that altitude with sharp rocks increasing chances of tire damage I would recommend getting it welded. The AT Dunlop's performed remarkably well and I did not suffer a single flat.

At 2 degree Celsius in Tso Kar the car started in half a crank but taking jumper cables and a good tow rope is advisable when taking the car to these rare places.

[stormerider]

Originally Posted by Irish

12-Aug-14
Delhi Sonmarg

I agree with Tanveer here, this is almost a 24 hour drive with some essential stops. We did this with an overnight drive, with 3 drivers taking turns and 1 guys sleeping.

Originally Posted by Irish

14-Aug-14 (500 hrs)
Sonmarg Joji La, Kargil, Drass, Lamayuru, Magnetic Hill, Pathar Sahab Leh

Doable, check with the checkpost, if they will allow you to leave early morning, they had stopped us. Suggestion would be start ams medication on the night you reach sonamarg itself, rest should be fine.

Originally Posted by Irish

18-Aug-14
Pangong Tso Chushul - Kakasang La - Mahe - Loma - Hanle

Need permits, and then also depends upon Army. We were stopped at Chulshul, despite having proper permit. Would suggest you to take Chulshul-Tsagala-Loma-Hanle route if travelling in 4x2 vehicle. Kakasang La route is red, you would need 4x4, rest Tanveer can tell.

Rest plan is doable in my opinion.

[Jaguar]

Originally Posted by Traveller Nayak

Part sorted. Visited the service center. Bought all fluids and got a list of the essentials from the technician. Should be fully sorted by evening.

Can you post the list here? We are also taking a fortuner to Leh during Aug last week.

[Traveller Nayak]

Originally Posted by Jaguar

Can you post the list here? We are also taking a fortuner to Leh during Aug last week.

Have been neck deep in work. Give me 3-4 days and I will put up the list. Most likely during the long weekend.

[manasmadaan]

i will be giving my XUV FOR 20000 KMS service in a few days. Considering that we ll be leaving for LEH in about 25 days, what all should i get done in this service other than the normally done things?

[tsk1979]

Originally Posted by manasmadaan

i will be giving my XUV FOR 20000 KMS service in a few days. Considering that we ll be leaving for LEH in about 25 days, what all should i get done in this service other than the normally done things?

Ensure that only normally done things are done, and the abnormal stuff is not done. In modern cars, as long as you do whats mentioned in the service manual(no more no less) you are fine.
The problem happens when service center do not do what is required, and do what is not required.

Eg. forgetting to change gear oil, but doing engine flushing.

[manasmadaan]

Thanks for the reply.. i guess all the major oil and fluid changes ll anyways be occurring at 20000 km which is a necessity for LEh trip.

[Jaguar]

Originally Posted by stormerider

Need permits, and then also depends upon Army. We were stopped at Chulshul, despite having proper permit.

I am a bit confused. Are you talking about the Protected Area Permit (PAP)? Cause I believe Inner Line Permit is no longer needed.

Is the process of obtaining PAP same/similar to that of Inner Line Permit? I found this form online. http://www.lehladakhindia.com/inner-...ation-form.pdf Is this enough?

[stormerider]

Originally Posted by Jaguar

Is the process of obtaining PAP same/similar to that of Inner Line Permit?

For visiting protected areas you still need permits and they ask for these at every checkpost. I know for chulshul, tsagala and hanle atleast. Process is similar, you have to go to leh dc office. Will take hardly 30 minutes.

[ramsnavy]

Thanks Tanveer for an excellent guide. Really inspires me to take the plunge; hopefully next year. Definitely worth the 5-stars!!

[Traveller Nayak]

Originally Posted by Jaguar

Can you post the list here? We are also taking a fortuner to Leh during Aug last week.

Originally Posted by Traveller Nayak

Have been neck deep in work. Give me 3-4 days and I will put up the list. Most likely during the long weekend.

Sorry for the late reply. Here is the list from the service centre folks. They were kind enough to inform about good shops selling the Fuse, the basic tool kit and the Nuts & Bolts.

Fuse: 15 & 20

Nut & Bolt: number 10 & 12

Allen Key

Combination Plyer

Basic tool kit (spanner/keys)

Half quanity: Brake Oil/Engine Oil/Coolant - from service station

Air Filter (though I am due for a 30k service on 23rd. I want to carry a spare.) - from service centre

The above are what the service centre folks recommended. Then there is the bigger list which is available on this thread. Make sure to keep the receipt of the items brought from service centre as these (unused (hopefully)) can be used later. The folks at the service station mentioned if I can show the reciepts they will use the items (oils/coolant/filter).

Re; Fuse and nuts & bolts to be purchased not from service centre - I was told as long as one buys from a good spare shop there are no issues + there is some (though small) saving. I wasnt on saving money, but the service centre guys were adamant that i dont buy the Fuse and the nuts & bolts from the service centre. For them it was money being wasted!

Let me know if you need my laundry list and I will PM you.

Mods: if this needs to go someplace else please move this post.

[Traveller Nayak]

Dear All: after delaying in preparing the planner, I have finally been able to put together the planner. I had underestimated the efforts (thinking and the hours) this planner would need. There are few sections where I am not sure how to plan - you will notice these as you go through the below.

Travel dates: August 30th – September 13th

No of travellers: 02 – male

Vehicle: Fortuner Automatic / July 2013 / done 30k / re; tyres –city driven

*****

Day 1 / 30 August / Saturday

Delhi – Patnitop

Day 2/ 31 August / Sunday

Patnitop – Sonmarg

Day 3/ 1 September / Monday

Sonmarg – Drass – Kargil - Dha – Hanu – Lamayuru

(can one cross through Drass and Kargil in one day? + what if a visit is to the war memorial – can this still be doable?)

Or

Sonmarg – Drass – Kargil – Lamayuru

(can one cross through Drass and Kargil in one day? + what if a visit is to the war memorial – can this still be doable?)

Day 4/ 2 September / Tuesday

Lamayuru – Leh

(permits / sight seeing/ vehicle check up/ et all)

Day 5 / 3 September / Wednesday

Leh – Khardungla – Khalsar – Diskit – Hunder – Turtuk - Hunder

Day 6/ 4 September / Thursday

Hunder – Panamik – Khardung la – Leh

Day 7 / 5 September / Friday

Leh – Karu – Sarkti – Chang La – Durbuk – Tangste – Spangmik

(re; Pangong – should we stay 1 night or 2? – have leaves till September 13th )

Day 8 / 6 September / Saturday

Pangong – Maan Merak – Chushul – Tsaga La – Loma – Hanle

OR

What should be plan B if army refuses at Chushul to go Hanle – then

Pangong – Chushul – Pangong - ?

Day 9 / 7 September / Sunday

On the assumption – luck favors

Hanle – Loma – Mahe – Sumdo – Tso Kiagar – Tso Moriri

(Can one go upto Tso Kar on same day? And where can one stay? Or can one go upto Pang?)

Day 10 / 8 September / Monday

Tso Moriri – Tso Kar – Pang – Sarchu – Baralacha La – Suraj Tal

(should one do night halt at Sarchu?)

Day 11 / 9 September / Tuesday

Sarchu – Manali

Day 12 / 10 September / Wednesday

Manali - Delhi