Gurgaon-Manali-Ladakh-Zanskar-Srinagar-Gurgaon in June end or July 2011.

Hi Friends,

After my EBC Trek finishes in May, I'm planning to do the above as a driving holiday at a leisurely pace, for proper acclimitisation, and, savoring the beauty offered, and picture taking!! Would like to do river rafting too, wherever possible. The rough Itinerary is as follows;

Day 1: Gurgaon - Chandigarh

Day 2: Chandigarh - Manali

Day 3: Manali - Jispa

Day 4: Jispa - Sarchu

Day 5: Sarchu - Pang - Debring - Tso Kar - Tso Moriri

Day 6: Tso Moriri - Tso Kiagar - Sumdo - Mahe - Chumathang

Day 7: Chumathang - Upshi - Karu - Hemis Gompa - Thikse - Choglamsar - Leh

Day 8
&day9: Leh - Sabu Village, Stakna, Matho, Stagmo, Thikse, Shey Palace, Spituk, etc - Leh

Day 10
&day11:Leh - Shey - Thikse - Chemre - Tangtse(Army Camp) - Lukung - Spangmik - Marmik La(Highest Pass in the world, beats Khardung la by 200') - Pangong Tso - Leh

Day 12: Leh - Sankar - Khardung la - Khalsar - Tigre - Sumur - Panmik - Khalsar - Diskit - Hunder - Leh

Day 13: Leh - Phyang - Pathar Sahib & Magnetic Hill - Nimmu - Basgo - Saspul - Likir - Alchi

Day 14: Alchi - Rizong - Khalsh - Lamayru - Khaltse - Dhumkar - Skurbuchan - Dha - Batalik ( Signal out post at Hambothing La, near Batalik) - Kargil

Day 15: Kargil - Shergol - Mulbekh - Kargil - Suru valley - Sanku - Panikhar

Day 16: Panikhar - Tangole - Parkachik - Rangdum

Day 17: Rangdum - Pensi la - Abrang - Ating - Sani - Padum - Bardan -Padum

Day 18: Padum - Stongde - Tsa Zar - Zangla - Padum - Sani - Ating - Pensi la

Day 19:
&20 : Pensi la - Kargil - Khaplu - Drass - Mina Marg - India Gate - Zoji la - Sonmarg

Day 21:
&22. : Sonmarg - Srinagar - Anantipur - Khana bal - Banihal Pass - Ramban - Batote - Patnitop

Day 23: Patnitop - Kud - Udhampur - Jammu - Pathankot

Day 24: Pathankot - Ambala

Day 25: Ambala - Gurgaon.

Please add/subtract if absolutely necessary as I want this to be a comprehensive travel to these areas.

Please indicate night halts which will be more realistic, scenic and where accommodation will be available. Can I have phone numbers or email for booking Government and Private accommodation?

Any other advice is extremely welcome.

Thanking you,
Sudhir Kochhar

>>Day 5: Sarchu - Pang - Debring - Tso Kar - Tso Moriri

How you are managing ILPs without reaching Leh? Tsomoriri and Chumathang Platue needs permit


>>Day 10
&day11:Leh - Shey - Thikse - Chemre - Tangtse(Army Camp) - Lukung - Spangmik - Marmik La(Highest Pass in the world, beats Khardung la by 200') - Pangong Tso - Leh

Are you driving your own car? As I know Masmerik la is extremely difficult and you need 4X4 to do that. Also I think you want to explore Masmerik La as that doesn't come your way to reach Pangong from Leh unless you take it willingly.

Thanks, kshil. Yes, I will be travelling by my 4x4 vehicle, and some defense friends will help with the necessary permits and permissions etc. You have done this sector? Do give more inputs

kshil out of curiosity
sudhir has mentioned marmik la and you have mentioned masmerik la.are they both one and the same
you also mentioned 4 by 4 for masmerik is necessary.
in case they are different is marmik la doable by normal car
tks
rgds

I have gone to Ladakh specially Nubra/Pangong circuit but this time planning for a Zanskar and Pangong/Tsomoriri/Hanle circuit. When you have an army friend and 4X4 why not trying for some new yet awesome places like Chumur, Kyon Tso, Hanley and even if you can manage permits for Dungti - Koyul - Fukche and then final push to Demchok which are usually still off bounds for civilans. Army contacts might be extremely helpful in touching the most controversial Indo-China border.

My planning thread is here, do comments/ share your experience,

Well we both have mis-spelt actually .

The correct one is Marsimik La and it's definitely a 4X4 affair. Even I read sometimes 4X4 need rescue from ITBP while attempting this. While going from Tangtse to Lukung, before Lukung road towards Phobrang diverts and that's where the last army post where your permits would be checked for Marsimik La.

That's what I thought, might as well use the contacts advantageously. In this you can help me by way of naming the places where we can go because of these contacts. Can you design an itinerary accordingly? Also, if you plan for June/July why don't we think of teaming up? Till now I am solo but will hire a driver as I'm not used to driving at such altitudes.
Thanks!

Sudhir if I start from Manali side and want to visit the less explored place with army contacts to get permits, my dream itinerary would be

1. From Debring move to Tso-Moriri and stay

2. From Tsomoriri to Chumur - Kyon Tso - Hanle and stay (Excellent place as I have seen in snap)

3. From Hanle - Loma - Dungti - Koyul - Fukche and stay (From Dungti onwards its completely a no for civilians, you need some contact to get permits of this place.

4. From Fukche to Demchok and back - Its completely an Army territory and without Army permission you can't go there as Dist Admin won't issue permit for Demchok. (Demchok is India - Tibet border from where it's a day journey by car to Manas Sarovar as I heard from locals and Leh admin is trying their best to open this route as a an alternative through present route through Kumayun which needs long trek through difficult terrain but Indian and Chinese sides are not interested probably because of disputed border here )

5. Fukche - Dungti - Tsaga La - Chusul - Stay

6. Chusul - Merak - Man - Spangmik - Stay (Do Marsimik La here by staying an extra day)

7. Spangmik - Lukung - Tangtse - Wari La - Panamik - Hundar - Stay

8. Hundar - Turtuk (Turtuk also opened last year only for visitors and POK, line of control is just 6 km from there) - Stay or back to Hundar and stay

9. Then cross Khardungla and come to Leh.

The main challenge is getting all the permits and that too for a longer period than usual duration of 7 days before you start your trip from Manali.

This time I would be taking part of this journey but someday I would try to cover this route.

Where is Dilliwala or HVK, the road experts of IM, they could throw better lights here as my plan is entirely based on my reading and no first hand experience in many of the above places except Nubra/ Pangong region.

I am quite keen to team up as you can see I mentioned that in my thread but problem is I would like to do this in Sep end / Oct begin and also because of time constraint I am not doing the Nubra part this time. In case if my family doesn't come, I may prepone it to June/July and would surely let you know. Thanks for the exciting offer.

But I am more keen doing it in Sept end /Oct begin because of less tourists, the famous brown grass of Zanskar and relatively drier weather as I have been observing for last few years during that period. Many roads are sandy in Chumathang region and drier the season would be, better be the driving conditions. River Crossing would be easier, Nallas having less water level from Sep onwards as the snow would be melted by then. Fresh snowfall is not frequent until Oct Mid in this region.

Btw, from where you are planning to hire a driver? From Delhi? Would they be experienced to negotiate such roads unless they have good solid prior driving experience in this region? Which car you are planning to use for the trip?

Thanks

October does sound better, but won't it be very cold? Besides this, I'm off to Tawang and Sikkim at that time.

No, I won't be hiring a driver from Delhi, I'll try to get someone from Ladakh, or, Manali.

My vehicle is the new MUV Skoda Yeti, which has a host of features like 4 wheel drive, hill descent etc. It's supposed to give 16-17 kms/l on highways, on diesel. Pretty economical. You can check it on the net.

I too hope we can team up.

Will it not be better to start from Srinagar side from the point of view of acclimatization? I'm sure this route won't compromise on the scenic beauty.

sudhir
your question at 16.31
pl do read vistet's post of 4th march 05:23 .
also read his earlier posts on mountain sickness.
they are pretty long and detailed specially for a layman but the message is very clear.
rgds

Will do, Faustuss. Thanks!

kshil
tks your post reg marsimik la.
rgds
PS 0345 hours you are an early riser or a late sleeper?

Tawang and Sikim are awesome but if you ask me my take would be to go there between mid nov to mid dec, the best possible weather you can get there, unhindered view of kanchanjhanga and high altitude Gurudongmer lake in Sikim or the PTSo / Sela Lake in Arunachal would be pure bliss.

Sep end would surely be colder than July but not intolerable as it turns out to be in end Oct in Ladakh. My friends have travelled in Sep end/Oct begin and they said its managable. Actually in any Himalayan region I would prefer dryness over cold as wet weather can cause snowfall, avalanches, road blocks and all nonsenses, cold may be tough but not as alarming as a wet atmospheric system.

Skoda Yeti sounds really impressive and I am not so much into fuel efficiency here rather would give more points to a car who would be good to handle this terrain and most importantly a fellow traveller would appreciate this arduous journey. I am really looking forward for a possible team up and lets see how things unfold here.

Always yes, no doubt Srinagar Leh is better way to start than Manali Leh because of

1. Acclimatization
2. Reaching leh first helps in arranging the logistics and permits better which can only be possible by covering extra distance while taking Manali - Leh route first.

If you see my plan in the thread, it's almost same as yours except Nubra leg.

Marsimik La - Thanks to you for correcting us.

Early riser or late sleeper ? Well both

The office work sucks and hope soon I can leave all these mundane things and be on road for good

hi sudhir
we too are doing same circuit from gurgaon only will start in june end to july 10th....i will be doing it for 4th time ....have done all basic but this time would attempt M la/tso moriri and wari la in case the roads are fine....will bedoing it 4*4 SUV.HOPE TO CATCH YOU
cheers...

Hi Vishal,
Great! Let's be in touch. Not doing Zanskar & Kasmir?