Trip to Kashmir - Leh 2nd week of May 2010.

Hi,
We are 2 families consisting of 2 children each, so total of 8 people.
our air tickets to / fro, Delhi - srinagar, is booked on 9th May and 20th May (return) respectively.
After browsing the numerous posts here our schedule is as follows...
1)9th May Delhi / Srinagar - ETA 14.30 hrs, Proceed to Pahalgam directly, night @ pahalgam
2)10th May Pahalgam
3) 11th May proceed to Gulmarg for day trip (from Pahalgam) and return to Srinagar in the evening. night @ Srinagar
4) 12 May proceed to Kargil , stopping @ sonmarg and other fancy places on the way, night @Kargil.
5) 13th May proceed to Leh and see the fancy places on the way, arrive @ leh in the evening. night @ leh
6)14 th to 18th May we are @ leh , visiting nubra valley (overnight) and tsomoriri lake(overnight) + 1 day Hemis circuit.
is the long journey for 1 day trip to pooyong lake worth it ?

7)18th May ideally we would have liked to fly back directly from leh to Delhi but the #%@$# air price is high (around 11K ~12K per person, one way)so we return back to srinager by road night halt midway @kargil most probably.
8)19th May Proceed from kargil to srinagar, night @ Srinagar.
9) 20th may Take afternoon flight from srinagar to Delhi.

queries.
1) is the schedule ok.? keep in mind we are family with kids (age from 9 to 17 years, 3 girls/ 1 boy). should we spend an extra day @ pahalgam (11th May) , rather than visit gulmarg, and on may 12th proceed directly from pahalgam to Kargil.?

2) please suggest good family hotels at reasonable prices for the above places. i have the quotes for Himalaya house . Mantoo cottages, Alpine inn @ pahalgam, my query is are these good places for family stay ? please suggest other good hotels in the Rs. 3K range / double room / night @ pahalgam.

3)@ srinagar , is the JKTDC tourist complex a suitable place for family for overnight stay ? I mean since it is a government property the security would be much better here then other places @ srinagar i presume, although since it is government run the facilities and amneties would not be upto the mark and for which we are mentally prepared, but security is our paramount concern.

We have hired a TATA Winger (9 seater) for the whole trip. i.e. pick-up from srinagar airport on 9th may to drop @ srinagar airport (20h may) for Rs.30,000/-. (excluding the excursions @ leh, since it is not allowed), is the price right ?

When i spoke to the hotel guys@ leh he said the srinagar - leh road is currently open for military only, for civilians it will open in another 10 ~ 12 days.

I invite opinions/ feedback from expirienced travellers and local Kashmir members for the above trip, for which i thank them in advance.

i think the itienary is ok
mantoo cottages/island resorts/alpine inn all are very nice and comfortable for a family

in srinagar jktdc have two options jktdc cottages in tourist reception centre and the other hotel heemal both are fine so go ahead and enjoy

Thank You Sunnykashmir for the info.

you are welcome dear

Hi,

your itinerary is fine. I have done the whole circuit just last year on bike. Starting from Delhi....Manali ..Leh..and all the places you are planning to visit. Just a suggestion that It is better to keep some buffer time with you. Things are unpredictable because of weather. Me and my friend we got stuck for 3 days in snow on the North side of Khardungla.

Ladakh by far is the most beautiful landscape I have seen in my life. I will be doing this again this August. Let me know if you need more information.

Best,

Sam