[Indizen010]

Beautiful photographs, and a very interesting narrative style as well. All in all, a very readable blog. Please list the tariffs of all the hotels where you stayed. Do you have a break of of all the total costs that you incurred for the trip?

[v&v]

Originally Posted by Indizen010

Beautiful photographs, and a very interesting narrative style as well. All in all, a very readable blog. Please list the tariffs of all the hotels where you stayed. Do you have a break of of all the total costs that you incurred for the trip?

Thanks indizen. Regarding cost breakup, will compile and post it.
As for hotel tariff , my booking were managed by a travel agent at leh. He managed the bookings from Srinagar to Sarchu. Average cost for 2 adults & 2kids was 3500 per night with all meals plan.

Only lakeview srinagar was expensive @ 7k per night (MAP).
Other costing will compile post soon.

[v&v]

Day - 10-11 25/26th June - Saturday/Sunday - Leh - Nubra Valley - Leh


Start at 0830 in the morning. So finally today we will ascent the Highest motorable pass and i was little excited. Here also 2 copies of permit is required to be submitted at South and North pullu. Road after South pullu to North pullu is bad. Last 4 kms really test the driving skills from both side. Post North pullu the roads are good.

Start : 08.30 am
Ganglar : 23 kms - 09:15
South Pullu : 12Kms 09:40 Permit Checkpost. (Medical / Wet Canteen)
Kardung La : 16 kms 10:35
North Pulu : 15kms 11:50 (15 min stopage due to GREF at work) (Hospital/Tea coffee shops)
Khardung : 18kms 1220
Khalsar : 24km 1300
Diskit : Holtel Olthang : 20km 13:40

Hotel was at the entry to diskit town oppsite diskit monestry. Hotel was good with 30 odd rooms.staff were very friendly. Food was average.During the whole trip the Dal - Chawal comby was untimate. Post lunch by around 3.30 went to Hunder which was another 10kms from hotel. Spent the evening at Hunder with kids enjoyed the camel ride. By 6 pm we visited Maitreya (Future budha),beautiful idol. One can get a good view
of Nubra from here.

Return journey on sunday was unevenful wasnt much traffic too. Were at Leh by 1 pm. We skipped Sumur,Panamik. May be next time.

[lordofgondor]

Hey mate, nice log with cool pics to accompany it. Thanks for the info on Leh/Ladakh as presented in the pics. BTW, me's kinda surprised on such little snow at the high passes (Chang La/Khardung La). Did you get to check the reason for that? I guess a lot less precipitation this time around.

[v&v]

Originally Posted by lordofgondor

Hey mate, nice log with cool pics to accompany it. Thanks for the info on Leh/Ladakh as presented in the pics. BTW, me's kinda surprised on such little snow at the high passes (Chang La/Khardung La). Did you get to check the reason for that? I guess a lot less precipitation this time around.

Thanks lordof. Even i felt the same. It was pretty hot at leh and nubra. Tanglala and barcha la had lots of snow.

[contactme27]

Excellent photos and trips seems possible with my kids if climate is good as it shown in pics

[PPS]

Excellent pics & a nice travelogue. I'm planning to go to Leh in the 2nd week of August for 4days. Planning to fly to Delhi, hire a car with a driver and travel by road to Manali & Leh. As you mentioned roads are not that great before Leh.
Can you tell me how many hours it would take from Delhi to Manali & then from Manali to Leh ? Also what kind of weather to expect in August, i assume it wont be too cold & less rain perhaps ?? Thanks in advance.

[v&v]

@contactme27 : Thanks and it is certainly possible with kids. IMO route via srinagar will considerably reduce the chances of AMS rather via Manali. June - July should be ideal time for travelling with kids.

@PSS : Thanks , 4 Days i am assuming a typo. As for driving hrs Delhi - Manali took 13hrs, Manali - Sarchu - 7 hrs, Sarchu - Leh - 8 hrs. Manali - Leh route is bad shape. Try to take a break at Jispa and do Jispa - Leh in a day if your are travelling alone. This will reduce the effect of AMS considerably. IMO August will not be too cold. Can expect snow at passes. Rohtang will be in bad shape even when we came back it was in worst condition. My safari got couple of underbody hits. Anyway these uncertainties make Leh trip exciting. All the best for your trip.

[v&v]

some more photographs of Diskit & Nubra Valley.


View from our hotel




Diskit Monestry

[laluks]

Picture 4313 is definitely a keeper. Loved it.

[v&v]

Day - 12 27th June - Moday - Leh - Sarchu

Finally started our return journey. We were mentally perpared for the tough day as roads were bad + over night stay at Sarchu. Hotel guys timely packed our lunch by 7.30am we too were ready to depart 7.45 am.


Start : 07:45
Upshi : 08:40 - 65kms It was real fast. Roads were good. A fter Upshi Toll : Rs 70/- was paid. Road after upshi till Tanglala is bad intermittently. Widening in progress.
Lato : 08:50 - 8 kms
Rumtse : 09:40 - 20 kms
Tanglala : 11:00 - 28 kms - from last 15kms before tanglala till mori plans from the pass is in bad shape. Very bad. Lot of snow.
Mori Planis : 11:45 - 25 kms - Widening and repair in progress. Dusty and in bad shape. After 20 odd kms road is good.
Pang : 13.10 - 50 kms - World highest army transit camp @ 15768 fts. Good resting place. We took lunch break. (After pang road is even worse)
Kanglajal : 14:30 12 kms (This water cross is difficult. There was lot of water and scary. I rate it as most difficult.
Lachlungla : 15:15 14 kms - Bad roads
Nakila : 15:45 13 kms - Ditto
Gata loops : 16:20 - Intersting . Roads were better. Jumped couple of them. 21 hair pins
Twing Twing bridge : Roads are good after gata loops.
Sarchu : 45 kms : 17:30.

Tiring journey , Sarchu was windy and chilly. Checked to Goldrop swiss tents. Freshened up and went around and sun down we were back to our tents.

Some photos process till Tanglala.

Road after Upshi



Around Tanglala

[v&v]

Shots processed for Mori Plains. Good place for good wide angle photography.

At least 4 to 5 trucks were stuck there. Was bit scary initially for me too. We took the middle lane which was very muddy.

[v&v]

View of Pang (Worlds highest transit (army) camp)





Lunch break just after pang. Also cleaned the safari.





Shots some at Lachungla, Nakeela












Gata loops








Last few kms before sarchu

[v&v]

Some final shots at Sarchu. The sun set was very scenic.

Pana shot

[lordofgondor]

Well, the return journey is somehow always tiring as you leave the heavenly lands and get set to to return to the bedlam. Leh to Sarchu in less than 10 hours, considering the road conditions, I say you made good time mate. The last coupla sets of pics, especially around Sarchu, have reminded of my Ladakh travel big time. And it's nice to see so much snow on Tanglang La. Would have been traveling to Ladakh again in a fortnight, had my Safari not been stolen.

Anyway, awaiting the logs for the travel ahead from Sarchu.