Leh itinerary
This is the itinerary given to us by Vishal. I have included a few comments based on our experience which might be helpful for anyone.
Aug 08th- Pick up from Delhi (drive to Manali), Aprox - 550 Km/
Leave Delhi early afternoon, so that you can reach Manali early morning, then you will get enough time to rest in Manali (hotel will let u know), Have your early break fast, start your journey towards Serchu.
Our comment : If you are starting from Delhi in the evening, after you reach Manali next morning, please consider giving the Driver a good rest. It is very much necessary for the drive ahead! So instead of evening, if you start early morning from Delhi, you can find yourselves in Manali in the late evening. A nice sleep in the night will make you as well as the Driver refreshed and ready for the journey ahead!
Aug 09th- Manali - Serchu. ( MAPAI), Approx - 224 Km/ 8 to 9 hrs
Arrive Sarchu in evening in the camp site called CAMP BLUE POPPEY, Take complete rest no other work or visit, you will find weather little problematic so be prepared. good rest is advisable.
Our Comment: Once recharged, if you start early you can enjoy the scenery, stoping whereever you want for photography and still reach Serchu comfortably in the evening.
Aug 10th - Serchu - Leh ( MAPAI) / 240 Km 8 - 9 hrs
Have early breakfast in serchu. Drive up to Leh- In hotel new moon in proper Leh. 03XX room booked.
Our Comment: Idealy the thing to do is to get acclimitised for a day. Thats is what everyone advices on this journey. In Serchu, apart from enjoying the scenery around you, you can even do fishing. Who knows...? You might even get a good catch for your meal! But it is ok to move on if you are fit for it.
Aug 11th- Leh - Nubra (MAPAI)
After breakfast, leave for Nubra valley. Drive up to Khardung La; the highest motor able pass in the world. We stop here briefly and enjoy a cup of tea. Carry on and reach Tegar village. Check into your guest house. Drive to Panamik hot springs (40 km round trip) later. Night stay in hotel.
Aug 12th- Nubra - Leh (MAPAI)
Visit the sand dunes in Hundar village in Nubra valley. This is also famous for Bactrian camels (the double humped camels). You could take a camel ride across the dunes. Drive back to Leh later in the day. Night stay in hotel in Shey village.
Aug 13th- Leh - Pangong - (MAPAI) – approx 130 km one way (4 hrs)
Have your Breakfast, Leave for Pangong Tso. Reach Lake. Lunch at campsite Pangong tso resort. Pangong (the largest brackish lake in Asia which is 134 km long and only 1/4th of which lies in India, is a high altitude lake at 13900 ft).
Today, we leave early in the morning from hotel and drive to Pangong Tso.
An incredible drive from Leh takes the visitor past the picturesque villages of Shey and Thikse, and turns off the Indus valley by the side valley of Chemrey and Sakti. The Ladakh range is crossed by the Chang-la (18,000 ft/ 5,475 m) which despite its great elevation is one of the easier passes in Ladakh remaining open for much of the year even in winter, apart from periods of actual snowfall. Tangse, just beyond the foot of the pass, has an ancient temple. However, the main attraction of this circuit is the Pangong Lake, situated at 14,000 feet (4,267 m). A long narrow basin of inland drainage, hardly six to seven kilometers at its widest point up till which foreign tourists are permitted, is only some seven km along the southern shore from the head of the lake, but it affords spectacular views of the mountains of the Changchenmo range to the north, their reflection shimmering in the ever changing blues and greens of the lakes brackish water. The lake is about 70 kms long 3/4th of which is inaccessible since that lies in China. Above Spangmik are the glacier and snow-capped peaks of the Pangong range.
After visiting pangong, Dinner at campsite
03XX Swiss tent booked
Aug 14th Pangong - Leh
After lunch A half day monasteries tour around Leh., vesit the Leh Shanti Stupa and spend rest of the evening at leisure in Leh bazar.
Aug 15th- Leh - Serchu (MAPAI)
Drive back
Aug 16th- Manali (in manali its again short rest in hotel & drive down to Delhi.
Aug 17th - Delhi
LIST OF THINGS TO BRING
T-SHIRTS / SHIRTS (PREFERABLY LONG SLEEVED)
TROUSERS / JEANS/ TRACK PANTS
PULLOVER
WIND CHEATER
JACKET
THERMAL WEAR
GLOVES, MUFFLER, WOOLEN SOCKS
A WARM CAP IS A MUST
WELL WORN SPORTS SHOES
PERSONAL TOILET REQUISITE
PERSONAL MEDICATION
SUN GLASSES/ SUN BLOCK
KNAPSACK/ DAYPACK
CAMERA/ READING/WRITING MATERIAL
HIGH ALTITUDE:
At over 4000m, due to lack of oxygen and lower atmospheric pressure, one feels the mild effects of AMS in the form of headache, nausea, loss of appetite and breathlessness. AMS can also cause the brain to swell and the lungs to fill with water, but this is rare. The only cure is to acclimatise — do not ascend too fast. Drink plenty of water and avoid smoking and alcohol. Eating a little garlic with your food helps too. If extreme symptoms occur then descend immediately. Medicines reduce the intensity but the side effect is that if the altitude doesn't suit you, you won't get the warning signs till it's dangerously late. Once you reach Leh, spend the first 36 hours relaxing before you attempting any strenuous activity.
Hope every thing is in order, so go 4 it :)
Regards
Vishal Prasad
9910144351
Aug 08th- Pick up from Delhi (drive to Manali), Aprox - 550 Km/
Leave Delhi early afternoon, so that you can reach Manali early morning, then you will get enough time to rest in Manali (hotel will let u know), Have your early break fast, start your journey towards Serchu.
Our comment : If you are starting from Delhi in the evening, after you reach Manali next morning, please consider giving the Driver a good rest. It is very much necessary for the drive ahead! So instead of evening, if you start early morning from Delhi, you can find yourselves in Manali in the late evening. A nice sleep in the night will make you as well as the Driver refreshed and ready for the journey ahead!
Aug 09th- Manali - Serchu. ( MAPAI), Approx - 224 Km/ 8 to 9 hrs
Arrive Sarchu in evening in the camp site called CAMP BLUE POPPEY, Take complete rest no other work or visit, you will find weather little problematic so be prepared. good rest is advisable.
Our Comment: Once recharged, if you start early you can enjoy the scenery, stoping whereever you want for photography and still reach Serchu comfortably in the evening.
Aug 10th - Serchu - Leh ( MAPAI) / 240 Km 8 - 9 hrs
Have early breakfast in serchu. Drive up to Leh- In hotel new moon in proper Leh. 03XX room booked.
Our Comment: Idealy the thing to do is to get acclimitised for a day. Thats is what everyone advices on this journey. In Serchu, apart from enjoying the scenery around you, you can even do fishing. Who knows...? You might even get a good catch for your meal! But it is ok to move on if you are fit for it.
Aug 11th- Leh - Nubra (MAPAI)
After breakfast, leave for Nubra valley. Drive up to Khardung La; the highest motor able pass in the world. We stop here briefly and enjoy a cup of tea. Carry on and reach Tegar village. Check into your guest house. Drive to Panamik hot springs (40 km round trip) later. Night stay in hotel.
Aug 12th- Nubra - Leh (MAPAI)
Visit the sand dunes in Hundar village in Nubra valley. This is also famous for Bactrian camels (the double humped camels). You could take a camel ride across the dunes. Drive back to Leh later in the day. Night stay in hotel in Shey village.
Aug 13th- Leh - Pangong - (MAPAI) – approx 130 km one way (4 hrs)
Have your Breakfast, Leave for Pangong Tso. Reach Lake. Lunch at campsite Pangong tso resort. Pangong (the largest brackish lake in Asia which is 134 km long and only 1/4th of which lies in India, is a high altitude lake at 13900 ft).
Today, we leave early in the morning from hotel and drive to Pangong Tso.
An incredible drive from Leh takes the visitor past the picturesque villages of Shey and Thikse, and turns off the Indus valley by the side valley of Chemrey and Sakti. The Ladakh range is crossed by the Chang-la (18,000 ft/ 5,475 m) which despite its great elevation is one of the easier passes in Ladakh remaining open for much of the year even in winter, apart from periods of actual snowfall. Tangse, just beyond the foot of the pass, has an ancient temple. However, the main attraction of this circuit is the Pangong Lake, situated at 14,000 feet (4,267 m). A long narrow basin of inland drainage, hardly six to seven kilometers at its widest point up till which foreign tourists are permitted, is only some seven km along the southern shore from the head of the lake, but it affords spectacular views of the mountains of the Changchenmo range to the north, their reflection shimmering in the ever changing blues and greens of the lakes brackish water. The lake is about 70 kms long 3/4th of which is inaccessible since that lies in China. Above Spangmik are the glacier and snow-capped peaks of the Pangong range.
After visiting pangong, Dinner at campsite
03XX Swiss tent booked
Aug 14th Pangong - Leh
After lunch A half day monasteries tour around Leh., vesit the Leh Shanti Stupa and spend rest of the evening at leisure in Leh bazar.
Aug 15th- Leh - Serchu (MAPAI)
Drive back
Aug 16th- Manali (in manali its again short rest in hotel & drive down to Delhi.
Aug 17th - Delhi
LIST OF THINGS TO BRING
T-SHIRTS / SHIRTS (PREFERABLY LONG SLEEVED)
TROUSERS / JEANS/ TRACK PANTS
PULLOVER
WIND CHEATER
JACKET
THERMAL WEAR
GLOVES, MUFFLER, WOOLEN SOCKS
A WARM CAP IS A MUST
WELL WORN SPORTS SHOES
PERSONAL TOILET REQUISITE
PERSONAL MEDICATION
SUN GLASSES/ SUN BLOCK
KNAPSACK/ DAYPACK
CAMERA/ READING/WRITING MATERIAL
HIGH ALTITUDE:
At over 4000m, due to lack of oxygen and lower atmospheric pressure, one feels the mild effects of AMS in the form of headache, nausea, loss of appetite and breathlessness. AMS can also cause the brain to swell and the lungs to fill with water, but this is rare. The only cure is to acclimatise — do not ascend too fast. Drink plenty of water and avoid smoking and alcohol. Eating a little garlic with your food helps too. If extreme symptoms occur then descend immediately. Medicines reduce the intensity but the side effect is that if the altitude doesn't suit you, you won't get the warning signs till it's dangerously late. Once you reach Leh, spend the first 36 hours relaxing before you attempting any strenuous activity.
Hope every thing is in order, so go 4 it :)
Regards
Vishal Prasad
9910144351
Hey u better change your profession from tech writer to travel writer :o).
ReplyDeleteJokes apart consider sending your experiences to travel forums rediff, TOI +++