Ladakh in October (19th-30th)

Pmjariwala

Hi, I am planning to visit Ladakh between 19th-30th Oct. I intend to visit Leh, NubraValley, Pangong Lake and Tsomoriri Lake. Would like to know:
1) Would all these areas be accesible during this period? Would the Pangong lake be frozen by then?
2) Would accomodation be availabe at all places?
3) I would be flying into Leh, and going around by car? Are the inland roads accesible?

I know that it would be very cold out there, but I would be able to do this trip during that period only. Will appreciate inputs and advice from other users. Thanks

rickydee

I was in Ladakh last year in late Sep 2008. I think from 14- 26.
If going by Air there is no problem regarding reaching there.


As far as roads in and around Leh are concerned they remain open till november mid.


Going to pongong Tso or any other high pass will depand on weather on those perticular dates.


We could not reach khardungla around 20 sep due to heavy snow fall and had to return from just few Km before. Weather in Leh was totally pleasent that evening.


But next day going around in snow covered landscape to Tso moriri was amazing .


It does not snow uaually till oct but weather is not very preditable there. If going to cross any high pass keep two days spare in case of closer due to heavy snowfall while returning.


Accommendation will be availble where ever there are Hotels, and guest houses. Tent sites tend to wind their business around 15 sep.


Few shops and restaurants wrap up their business by the end of september in tourist area. But plenty are open, though service quality decline in budget hotel and guest house for lack of staff.


You should get good discount on Hotel teriffs and Taxi rental.
Hire 4X4 in this season. Experienced driver and sleeping bag is also must.


Good Perkha and woolen inner from good adventure sport supplier could be very helpful in case of bed weather. solid tracking shoe is also must.


You are going to enjoy this trip even if faced with few weather problem because Ladakh is SIMPLY AMAZING.


By the way I may also plan a trip in sep or Oct this year depanding on Leaves

Good luck

udayvir_1

guys....
any updates from anyone of you....m planning around the same dates...whats r ur plans...reach me at udayvir_1 AT yahoo DOT com

kainmustaine

Rickidee..
how r u..
We are 2 and planned to trip leh in october end...
the challenging and the amazing part is we are going on our bike.....its a good powered bike .....n want the other bikers to join us......we will definately gonna enjoy this together....if interested please contact me on mailmeynikhil.kain@rediffmail. com

Cheers....

kainmustaine

Uday...
then lets plan this.......5-6 guys will be great..

i ll update you on your mail id..
take care......

Dimitrz

Pmjariwala nothing more to add rickydee has put the matters very well.

Just be careful to ensure that Room heating charges are included in your room rent or negotiate the water heating charges before hand. usually they charge around 15 to 30 rupees depending on the location which is quite reasonable considering the shortage of resources.


Meals in Ladhak especially in isolated regions can be expensive - again mostly due to the fact that getting supplies in those parts are not as easy as in plains. ( for ex a meal of plain rice and dal can cost you 70 rupees )

If you go there knowing and acknowledging the fact that you might not be able to visit places which need pass crossing - then there wont be any disappointment and you will be able to really enjoy Ladhak at a time when according to most people it is at its most beautiful phase.

The only place where you will have accommodation problem would be Pangong Tso - you may have to come down to Khalste or Durbuk to get night accommodation- If in Durbuk try out Changla Queen a family run hotel with a very friendly family and a pleasant atmosphere.

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vikramkyy

hi Pmjariwala how are you..
you can go to between these days 19th oct to 30th oct.
but you need to take care about snowfall..
till 31st oct army will take care for roads after they will not take any reponsible for roads but before you can go to leh and aroud these places. but go with s.u.v ...
and avoide smoking and wine..and use dimox for AMS problem..

kainmustaine

Hi Vikram!!!
I need to know that if we carry fruits with rather than carrying a proper food.......will that work up there.....
can you make out with the possible chances as you said that we can driveto leh till 31st oct....
We are going on our bike on 20th oct from delhi..

vikramkyy

hi kain ..
you have no need to carry food with you but you can carry fruits with .. because after manali you will get food at rohtang(55km)
keylong( food+medical+stay)65km from rohtang
darcha and zing zing bar(food+tent stay)aroud 40-50km from keylong.
after darcha next stop will be sarchu there you can find army hospital+tent stay+Food( around 50km from darcha)
then you will moov for pang. in pang you will get food +tent stay(70km from sarchu)
after leh is only 150 km from pang in between you can fing one more place after more plaing where you can get food
after that you will reach upsi and after 55km you will be in leh ..
so dont worry about food only take care about weather that time . and you will get updates from localites and army about weather..

and you can go by bike but ma sure army will not be responceble after 31st oct .. thats the latest update i have..

and dont forget dimox ... and water.. because dimox and water is life line ofthis route... and if need any to ask any question can call at 09758231045

kainmustaine

Vikram..
Thanks man..
U really boosted me...i am definatey gonna follow your instructions...
Vikram if you can advise me the items required to carry on such trip.....well already i have made my itenirary but let see if i am missing out something.....
Cheers man....
Call you soon.......

udayvir_1

hello vikram...
dats some gud info...

thanks...

Dimitrz

Just to add on to Vikram's answer - its better to carry sufficent quntity of dry fruits and few satches of Oral rehydration solution is a good idea.

as Vikram put it if you guys time your movement properly then you wont need to have any food backup


drink plenty of water even though you dont feel thristy.

if one of you can carry a camping stove anothing better than that for 2 reason 1) it will give you warmth if you are stuck for the night somewhere not near inhabitation

2) You can prepare Maggi or ready to eat meals for a chnage or during emergency.

one of my friends found that very useful when their car's oil chamber got ruptured in an isolated region of Zanshkar - they had to wait for 2 nights 1 day before help arrived

Pmjariwala

Thanks Riky, Dmitriz n Vikram for your inputs...I have booked with a local travel agency who is going to take care of all the accomodation, food and travel. I will be travelling to Lamayuru, Nubra Valley and Pangong along with Leh, and have accomodated extra days for bad weather / pass clousure and rests as well.

Someone suggested a SUV to be hired. I have booked an Innova, is it gud or should I go for Scorpio??

Overly excited to experience Ladakh...3 weeks to go

Thanks once again!!!

Dimitrz

If you stick to normal Ladhak tourist circuit - there is no need for an SUV..... also in a package deal the organizers are not going to test their vehicle by taking other routes

Innova would do just fine- will be spacious and comfortable so no worries. Ladhaki people know what they are doing

What most people don't realize is that Majority of Scorpios (even the ones found in Leh) are not 4x4 - so they are not going to give you any edge over Innova.

how much are they charging you ? have they given you an off season discount ?

PS : There is a tendency of local taxi operators to speed in that terrain - be cautious and keep the speed under control.

vistet

No way ,daytime temperatures still well above zero.


Roads are rarely cut within the valley or to the Tso´s in the winter , in fact Ladakhi politicians have pushing for a road to Spiti via Tso Moriri because it would be a lot easier to keep open over the winter





There were buses running all the way up to Leh well in to December last year.Road disturbances in the valley are very rare.


This was a mild breath of the weather that rolled in the southern ends of the Manali-Leh and Manali-Kaza road at the same time :

“After a couple of hours on the bus, it started to snow. I didn’t think much of it at first, as the snow started to cover the boulders, and then stick to the road.

I pitched a tent with my friends Tomak and Yanka, though the first night was awful because we had to keep punching the snow off the top of the tent. As the snow piled up, it made breathing a problem as well, since there was no ventilation.


The next day, we woke up to four feet of wet snow, and it kept coming down. We found out we’d be there for quite a bit longer."

Snow in mid-September is highly predictable , last years in 2004 , 2005, 2008 and now three times in this month.



Lots of threads on this subject this year , for some reason. Some of the things I hear makes me concerned , please consider following :

*Right now Leh is having it´s first subzero nights. It will be considerably colder later and higher up.

* Even at +5 degrees bikers will have to deal with a wind chill factor of -15 degrees , riding at 30 km/h.Yes , it will be a lot warmer in the day (summerish , we´d say here ) - but only in direct sunlight , temperatures plummet the moment you enter the shade.

*The road has been out three times this month, with people stranded at various stretches.Everyone setting out at this time should be able to deal with the worst case scenario : overnighting in high winds and subzero temperatures. That means at a bare minimum very good clothes, preferably a sleeping bag, and being able to fix hot beverages , i.e. a camping stove with a wind shield. Obviously bikers will need a good tent and sleeping bag, and practice setting them up.

*Sarchu and Pang will close down soon , haven´t seen them open in mid-October. Darcha seems to to stay open a little longer.

* You can not rely on external help the same day , in fact the army had considerable problems reaching their own last year.

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