Ladakh trip in last week of May: Suggestions please

Anaamica

I am planning to visit Ladakh in the last week of May. I was planning to visit in the second week, but after Yogesh's recommendation (thanks once again, Yogesh) I have postponed it by two weeks.

I have made this itinerary after reading posts on this forum and searching on the net. Let me know if I have missed some place or can skip some place.


Day 1 Arrive at Leh early in the morning. Rest till early evening.
Visit the following:
Leh Market
Leh Palace
Hall Of Fame
Shanti Stupa
Stok Palace Musium

Day 2 Nubra Valley
Khardung La
Deskit
Hundar
On the way lunch at Khalsar Village
Stay at Deskit: Olthang guest house.

Day 3 On the way back, visit
Shey
Thiksey
Hemis
Thaktok
Back To Leh

Day 4 Leave early morning to Pangong Lake
Back To Leh

Day 5 Gurudwara Pattar Saheb
Magnetic Hill
Lamayuru
Moon landscapes
Back to Leh

Day 6 Tsomoriri Lake
Stay near the lake or back to Leh?

Day 7 If we return the next day, then drive Back to Leh. On the way can we visit something?

Day 8 Sangam
Zanskar (Rafting)
Back To Leh

Day 9 Board the flight and head back home


I have a few questions regarding this:

1. Day 5: Are these places significant? Can I skip these?
2. Is it a good idea to camp at Tsomoriri lake? Where can we stay there?
3. If we return from Tsomoriri the next day, can we visit something on the way?
4. Sangam, Zanskar and rafting: Recommended or can we skip it?
5. I am planning to stay at Khan Manzil guest house. A double room - Rs.550. Is this good enough or should I look for a cheaper hotel?
5. I called up a travel agent and he is charging quite a lot for a vehicle. Pangong lake - Rs.4900, Tsomoriri - Rs.7000. I find it very expensive compared to the hotel room!
6. I need a permit to visit Pangong, Tsomoriri, Zanskar and Nubra. Correct? How easy is it to get inner line permit on my own?

7. Any suggestions on making this a better itinerary. Have I missed something or can I skip something? Should I re-arrange things? etc.

Thanks in advance.

Anaamica

vinayverma

On day 8 after you finish your rafting you'll come back to Leh by road and you'll pass by most of the spots mentioned for day 5 (maybe except lamayuru). Its not worth a full day so while coming back from rafting you can stop at all these locations.

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vzzzbx

Are you aware that it's a 4-5 hour drive from Leh to Nubra. So a round trip is 8-10 hours by car. Just for a one-day visit this seems a little too much for me personally. I took a four day trip to Nubra. One day driving, 2 days in Nubra, one day driving back.

Your pace seems very high. On your way back you plan to visit Shey, Thikse, Hemis and Thaktok. That's a bit much, don't you think? Each has his own way of travelling, I like to take my time visiting a place or monasteries, to soak up the atmosphere a bit and not feel hastened to catch the next thing. Are you going by them like a "Japanese tourist", take a few pictures and hurry to the next place on the list? I prefer to visit fewer place well, than a lot of places in a hurry and without "really" seeing them, just having been there.

Sorry, I don't want to come across snobby, it's just my take on things.

nayan

Anaamica
I had been to leh last august. Its one of the most beautiful experiences of my life till date
I too did the jouney DEL-LEH-DEL via air.
1. you have not allocated enough time for acclamatization. Do not go out sight seeing on the first day itself. Post pone the first days program to the second day...... along with that you can maybe do Hemis and thiksey on the second day.
2. you will be travelling everyday 8-9 hrs on rough roads. you will be extremely tired.
3. given your limited time .... go to one of the lakes... not two.
below is the iteniery that I had followed
day 1..... reach leh in the morning... rest whole day
day 2 ..... rest till lunch.... then sightseeing in leh town(leh palace, shanti stupa etc)
day 3 .... rafting in Indus upto zaskar sangam
day 4..... jouney to pangong Tso and back to leh
day 5..... drive to khardungla and back
day 6 ...... journey to lamayuru and see alchi... likir on the way back to leh
day 7..... hemis, thikse in the morning... afternoon spent leisurely strolling the leh markets
day 8.....fight back to delhi in the morning

Anaamica

vinay: thanks for the suggestion. I will change the plan.

vzzzbx: One reason why I posted this here is so that people can give me their opinion. Don't worry, you didn't come across as snobbish. I didn't know it was a 9 hours drive. I will see if I can split it into 3 days. I too want to relish the journey, but time is a luxury and I want to visit as many places as I can.

nayan: I heard both the lakes are beautiful in their own sense. And personally, I would rather visit a lake than a monastery. No offence to anyone, but that is how I am. I prefer nature than museums and palaces. So, if possible I would reduce a visit to the monasteries than skip either of the lakes.

I will wait for more suggestions and change my plan accordingly.

vzzzbx

If you enjoy nature more than palaces, I would definitely recommend going overland to Ladakh from Manali. This is a breathtaking trip over the Himalayas! It takes two days however, so I don't know if you have the time for this. For me this was one of the highlights of my trip to Ladakh. It's like driving across the moon, with ever changing landscapes.

If you do this at the beginning of your trip, it's also a good way to acclimatize, because you sleep at high altitude half way at the Sarchu tent camp. There are also some 5000+m passes on the way, but after that it's downhill to Ladakh!

nayan

no offence taken... but do acclimatize properly.... that is at least one full day of rest.

Anaamica

Yeah, I have heard wonderful things about that route. Unfortunately, I can't travel by road. I live in Bangalore. I can't fly to Manali directly. I have to fly to Delhi and then to Kulu and then drive to Leh. The cost of the trip goes up really high. If I take a train to Delhi, then I have to plan for a longer vacation, which err... is also not possible.

I do find it tempting, but it is not feasible.

Anaamica

Can someone please answer my questions?

Abhay_Mysore

I did 18 day Bangalore-Manali-Leh-Srinagar-Bangalore trip last May in Innova car. Team of four friends. Round trip covering about 8000+ kms. It costed us about Rs.20K per head, all inclusive. This year too, I guess I would be there around end May or start June. Lets see...

solo_trekker

Hi, I had actually sent all the details to someone who is also from Bangalore and is planning a trip to Ladakh in June...

Do check out this link...! It's a suggested itinerary with alternatives cum valuable tips cum travelogue and everything else...

Cheers...!


Ladakh in 5 Days...???!!! (Or 6 or 7 or 10 or 15...!!!)

Khak

hi anamica
please keep the following into considerations

1) restrict yourself to light walking on the first day...... no pint in taking chance for in case you develop AMS, then whole vacation is lost

2) give yourself at least 1 working day for getting ILP (inner line permit)..you will need ILP for going pangong tso, khardungla, nubra etc.. I would suggest on 2nd day you plan to visit places that does not require ILP e.g. lamayuru or rafting.... that way your plans won't be upset in case you don't get ILP on first day itself

3)jeep rentals are very costly in Ladakh....... you have not mentioned what's the size of your group.... you can share the vehicle with others....... we were two people and we were on the lookout for notice boards at travel operators offices looking for travel partners....... that way we reduced the travel costs

4)the rafting course is 25 km and takes approx 4 hours to complete.. and once started you have to complete the course....... don't get fooled by the cheap rate of rs. 900/ per head. ...... don't do it in case you are not very adventorous

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ladagspa

Hi

Your Day 1 should be REST, Ask your Hotel guy to apply for the Permit, and then REST, DRINK lots of water, Tea, Coffee etc. and REST REST.

And then the plan for the day 1 to be done the Second day.

Nubra valley with night halt is adequate, But it is not possible to do Hemis on the way back, as Hemis is on the other side of Leh. On the way back is Leh only.

Pangong is fine for a Day trip, but the real fun is in the morning and evening when the sun angles and u enjoy the real hues and colors of the lake.

Day 5 Gurudwara Pattar Saheb
Magnetic Hill
Lamayuru
Moon landscapes
Back to Leh
It will be a long day but the painting at Alchi


I have a few questions regarding this:

1. Day 5: Are these places significant? Can I skip these?

Keep this day as padding, Maybe for a day exra at pangong or Nubra. and then skip day 5 else its a smooth ride on a good metalled road.

2. Is it a good idea to camp at Tsomoriri lake? Where can we stay there?

End of May the camps would not have started, so you can stay with locals at Korzok.


3. If we return from Tsomoriri the next day, can we visit something on the way?

You can do Hemis, Thiksey, Shey, Sindhu Ghat.

4. Sangam, Zanskar and rafting: Recommended or can we skip it?
Forget the rafting as the Indus will be at the minimum level.

5. I am planning to stay at Khan Manzil guest house. A double room - Rs.550. Is this good enough or should I look for a cheaper hotel?

Any good Guest House with attached bath and Hot/Cold Shower will be more than 500 per night for 2 person. I would suggest Stay there the first night and look around for some better/cheaper room. In May most GH will not be open and those which are open will be running empty. Scope for bargaining is there.

5. I called up a travel agent and he is charging quite a lot for a vehicle. Pangong lake - Rs.4900, Tsomoriri - Rs.7000. I find it very expensive compared to the hotel room!
Yes, The Taxi rate is very very expensive. 4900 for Pangong is a very good deal.

6. I need a permit to visit Pangong, Tsomoriri, Zanskar and Nubra. Correct? How easy is it to get inner line permit on my own?

All you need are 4 names and 4 Photo Identities. It cost almost nothing if you go yourself. An agent will charge arnd 100 each for permit. ANd do not confuse between Zanskar and Zanskar River. As Zanskar is 2 day drive from Leh.

Happy Travelling.

Angchuk (Ladagspa)

shahronakm

What about August ? Will it be worth rafting at that time ? Any other options ?

Ronak.

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MAS

Hi Anaamika
last year I went to the same place by my Santro car.Certainly, there is no substitue for the road journey to Leh. you can not come across to such a natural beauty and thrill altogather if you go there by some other mode.

http://triptoladakh.blogspot.com

wishing you all the best.
MAS