Leh in April?

Guys, is this feasible? I am planning to go to Leh in the last week of April. And any idea, how weather, specially the sky will be? I am thinking in terms of Photography. (you can check my stream here: www.flickr.com/photos/ayankhasnabis )

And during that time, is the Manali - Leh road open? My plan is to enter from Manali side, then come back by flight from Leh.

Please let me know guys. I am depending fully on your response.

Rothang La opened on April 22 in 2004 , but that was extremely early , think mid-May , in a few cases later . I´ll post the next opening as usual here, the road guide is here - if you stick around that long.

Srinagar-Leh was open mid-April this year , but I suspect that the BRO are not keen on repeating that experience.

Your only safe bet in April is fly in , fly out (how long do you plan to stay? )

Yes, what vistet has said is true. Normally the Manali - Leh road doesn't open up before mid May.

Thanks very much Vistet. I am flying both ways, but I am thinking if the inner roads will be ok. Frankly, I am getting only 5 days in Leh and wish to go to only Pangong lake and Nubra velley side; do a night stay at both the places.

Plan is like this:

1st day: reach leh in the morning. local sight seeing.
2nd day: drive to Nubra valley, stay.
3rd day: back to leh
4th day: drive to Pangong lake, stay.
5th day: back to leh
6th day: back to delhi.

I have very less time, I know that is injustice, but can not help. Sorry folks. I will come back for at least one month later.

For the current trip, I have few doubts:

1. If this plan is ok in terms of road connectivity.
2. Where can we stay at night? What are the options? Shall we carry tents?
3. Pangong lake, I have finalized. But I am not sure about Nubra valley. My main intention is to do photography. So I want to go to any place in Ladakh (which may be Nubra velley as well) which will offer beautiful view. I am not sure.. can you please guide?
4. How much cab will cost for these trips? Say we will take it for 2 days (one day going to the place + second day coming back). We are 5 in group.
5. Can we go to Nubra valley directly from Pangong lake? If that is ok and takes not much time; then we will gain one day.
6. If possible, how long it takes to reach Pangong lake from Leh and to Nubra valley.

7. Last, I am really sorry for so many questions. Will the sky be clear with some clouds .. in April 4th week... that is the photograph that I see when close my eyes and think of Ladakh.


Thanks a ton in advance.
Ayan

Hey even i was trying to get to leh in the month of jun or jul, but just lemme know how u r plannin to get der coz i got ma enfield ready for that and we are 4 of us for this trip. what say...

We will be covering in cab.

Plan A:
If AMS does not hit us hard... I am scared.. so many people are telling to take rest for 2 days...

1st day: reach leh in the morning. local sight seeing.
2nd day: drive to Nubra valley, stay.
3rd day: back to leh
4th day: drive to Pangong lake, stay.
5th day: back to leh
6th day: back to delhi.

Plan B:
If rest for first 2 days is compulsory then...
1st day: reach leh in the morning. local sight seeing.
2nd day: monasteries around Leh.
3rd day: drive to Nubra valley, stay.
4th day: Nubra to Pangong (**** I am not sure if this is doable) stay
5th day: back to leh
6th day: back to delhi.

In April, inner roads will be ok, I got confirmed. But Nubra to Pangong in 1 day.... I am not sure if someone already did it..

Rest is the wrong word, Acclimatization is the correct term...

I personally don't think Leh is the right height to do it. People generally do it in Manali etc, but since you are flying in to Leh then I guess you have no option..!!

Best of Luck

Acclimatization is about nights above 2000 meters , when you lie down the oxygen content in the blood drops low enough to stress the body to among other things regulate breathing in a different way. There is a threshold level involved , somewhere around 2000 meters .. which makes Manali problematical , the only part that lives up to the hyped 2050 figure commonly quoted is Vashisht. Some have started to acclimatize as they set out on the road , others not. A few hundred meters here can make a lot of difference , like going via Shimla first.


Broken record part : count nights , not days.You acclimatize to a altitude , not altitude in general. Even locals may get altitude sickness if they go high enough , fast enough and stay over night , like for example from Keylong (3096) to Sarchu (4253). This does not mean you can´t go to Pangong Tso from Leh, but that you need to sleeep lower. If I remember it right Tangtse is about five hundred meters higher than Leh , which is within the safety standards - just.

if I interpret correctly, we should visit places at higher altitude and sleep low. What are the places for staying at night then when I think about Nubra Valley side and Pangong Tso?

I dont want to take risk as I am going in group and I am planning everything.

Dear Khasnabis...best season to visit leh is april to september...and if your choice 2 reach leh via manali that would b gr8 for photography bcoz there r many passes rohtang-La,Baralacha-la, lachalung-la,and second highest tanglang-la..but if u wanna enjoy real adventure than make it august-sep but this time is little risky...but u will really get best of mountains ....u can c sm pics in my orkut a/c "blame it on k10" u cn get me there.

thnx

Going to Nubra means going over the Khardung La and sleeping at the same altitude or lower than Leh, not a problem. Don´t remember if there are any passes involved between Leh and Tangtse , but it´s around five hundred meters higher , should be manageable.

In the world ? Not. Khardung La highest ? Not. India has some other stuff in the worlds highest department to be proud of , though.

This has been said so many times ( and is part of the terms agreed on when signing on here ) no SMS speak on the forum. Most of us here use English as a second language , it can get confusing enough without adding this factor.

Moderator Note:

We do not accept SMS or text-language(u, 2, gr8, r) Abbreviations in posts.

Our members and readers come from many different countries,
with many different mother tongues and age groups. Please take
the trouble to spell out your posts in English so that
all may easily understand.

Thanks very much for this.
Another information, in case we do not get any accommodation in Nubra/ Pangong; can we get tents from leh? Is there any restrictions on pitching a tent there?

You can find tents for rent in Leh , in season. April - no idea. I carry my own tent , but I´ve never had to use it outside the trekking context , when there is a village there will be a way.

Just one.
I need to collect permits for Khardung La and Pangong Tso. I read somewhere it is to be collected from DM's office. Is that open on Saturday - Sunday too? If someone can enlighten!!

Thanks in advance
Ayan