Leh/Ladakh in 5 days or less
Quote:
I agree. I've seen hundreds of visitors fly to Leh. I haven't written the data, but my impression is that about 1 or 2 in 10 get AMS: a bad headache for a couple of days, starting the first night. It's more likely if they are very fit and couldn't resist running around the first day. A few get vomiting along with the headache. It definitely seems like the ones who start taking diamox before arrival don't get the headache and vomiting.
Originally Posted by vistet 
As with AMS in general , the effect of Diamox varies from one person to the other. Can´t recall seeing anyone being really badly hit though when taking Diamox and starting before the flyin - no guarantees , but should be rare.
As with AMS in general , the effect of Diamox varies from one person to the other. Can´t recall seeing anyone being really badly hit though when taking Diamox and starting before the flyin - no guarantees , but should be rare. I've seen very very few, maybe one in several hundred, get anything worse than this and need to go to the hospital. Three of the four I've seen had pre-existing heart or blood conditions. However, the latest I've seen, just this past week, had skyrocketing blood pressure after arrival in Leh, and had no blood pressure problem that he knew of before. He looks like a healthy young guy. He was planning to stay a few months but is leaving instead.
Captain,
I appreciate your commitment to this thread. You, NT, and vistet are doing good work preaching the gospel of AMS and acclimatization. It's very useful information.
I'm currently leaning towards going. My thinking is that even if I'm basically resting in bed for 2 days, that gives me 2 full days to walk around Leh and see some sights, and hopefully go to either Nubra or Chemrey. I'm hoping that those 2 good days will make the whole journey worthwhile. I basically have 4/5 days of my entire India trip unaccounted for (mostly in Kerala, have this portion starting from Delhi open and I want to avoid the miserable heat). I'm probably not going to be coming back to Ladakh so it's now or never.
I realize that if I'm sick for 3 full days then the gamble will have not paid off. I will definitely be taking Diamox (under doctor's consultation), and I'm hopeful that I'll start to feel good by the third day.
Questions: Should we go straight to Alchi from the Leh airport and spend the first night there? Do those 400m make a big difference? Is there a nice place to stay in Alchi? We were planning on spending the first two day at the Lotus Hotel in Leh and acclimatizing there; is that a nice place?
All help is greatly appreciated. Thanks so much in advance.
Rajeev
I appreciate your commitment to this thread. You, NT, and vistet are doing good work preaching the gospel of AMS and acclimatization. It's very useful information.
I'm currently leaning towards going. My thinking is that even if I'm basically resting in bed for 2 days, that gives me 2 full days to walk around Leh and see some sights, and hopefully go to either Nubra or Chemrey. I'm hoping that those 2 good days will make the whole journey worthwhile. I basically have 4/5 days of my entire India trip unaccounted for (mostly in Kerala, have this portion starting from Delhi open and I want to avoid the miserable heat). I'm probably not going to be coming back to Ladakh so it's now or never.
I realize that if I'm sick for 3 full days then the gamble will have not paid off. I will definitely be taking Diamox (under doctor's consultation), and I'm hopeful that I'll start to feel good by the third day.
Questions: Should we go straight to Alchi from the Leh airport and spend the first night there? Do those 400m make a big difference? Is there a nice place to stay in Alchi? We were planning on spending the first two day at the Lotus Hotel in Leh and acclimatizing there; is that a nice place?
All help is greatly appreciated. Thanks so much in advance.
Rajeev
rajeev,
I reckon you are not going to be so much sick - see above posts - as weary. provided you are prepared for that then go. As for Alchi, in theory that is fine the slower the ascent the better but I remember it as a 4-5 hour drive - others may correct me so its a long day from Delhi. i stll reckon you will be knackered on arrival in Leh afterwards. Most years I go to the everest region and fly to 2850, spend the night, walk to the same height for another night and then to a height of 3500. I am just as wasted as in ladakh. Its the need to spend time at altitude that is not negotiable.
I would go.
I reckon you are not going to be so much sick - see above posts - as weary. provided you are prepared for that then go. As for Alchi, in theory that is fine the slower the ascent the better but I remember it as a 4-5 hour drive - others may correct me so its a long day from Delhi. i stll reckon you will be knackered on arrival in Leh afterwards. Most years I go to the everest region and fly to 2850, spend the night, walk to the same height for another night and then to a height of 3500. I am just as wasted as in ladakh. Its the need to spend time at altitude that is not negotiable.
I would go.
Adding to the great (guru's) guys & JanbWans above :-)
LADAKH is the Only state in India which got 78% Extra Landscape (so you can Imagine the time travelling inside)
Good suggestions to be followed for Leh Ladakh
you have to definitely make 2 times trips to Leh Ladakh -
1st trip just for (Monastries / Palaces with your family)there is nothing great unless you are a spiritual guru or saint or ardent lover of Buddha ... You will get to know yourself a great deal as to what is AMS & Acclimatization etc when you make you next trip
2nd trip exclusively for Adventure / Trekking expedition /valleys and Lakes (12-15 days)... your Mindset for this trip should be 200% positiveness and 300% Determination is Important and 300% Never dying spirit and 200% Love to take all the Possible RISK factor of (Negative Happenings or Events = Road Block, Your vehicle repair or Sickness of your Health / Drastic climatic conditions / changes etc) in a very very Positive Cool Manner
1) Leh Ladakh needs minimum 10 - 15 days ... for enjoying .. the weather is very unpredictable & Travelling distance is cumbersome /// only state in India which got 78% Extra Landscape (so you can Imagine)
2) Determination and Never dying spirit is essential and very important to take
Adventure / Trekking task
3) If you are going for honeymoon (with short holiday duration) BEtter enjoy upto Manali / Keylong (in and around) & come back within 3-4 days without any Jhanjat of AMS and acclimatizations etc
I Hope my seniors here will agree with me ..... :-)
LADAKH is the Only state in India which got 78% Extra Landscape (so you can Imagine the time travelling inside)
Good suggestions to be followed for Leh Ladakh
you have to definitely make 2 times trips to Leh Ladakh -
1st trip just for (Monastries / Palaces with your family)there is nothing great unless you are a spiritual guru or saint or ardent lover of Buddha ... You will get to know yourself a great deal as to what is AMS & Acclimatization etc when you make you next trip
2nd trip exclusively for Adventure / Trekking expedition /valleys and Lakes (12-15 days)... your Mindset for this trip should be 200% positiveness and 300% Determination is Important and 300% Never dying spirit and 200% Love to take all the Possible RISK factor of (Negative Happenings or Events = Road Block, Your vehicle repair or Sickness of your Health / Drastic climatic conditions / changes etc) in a very very Positive Cool Manner
1) Leh Ladakh needs minimum 10 - 15 days ... for enjoying .. the weather is very unpredictable & Travelling distance is cumbersome /// only state in India which got 78% Extra Landscape (so you can Imagine)
2) Determination and Never dying spirit is essential and very important to take
Adventure / Trekking task
3) If you are going for honeymoon (with short holiday duration) BEtter enjoy upto Manali / Keylong (in and around) & come back within 3-4 days without any Jhanjat of AMS and acclimatizations etc
I Hope my seniors here will agree with me ..... :-)
Quote:
No one is a senior or junior here, if I understand IM.
Originally Posted by CASANOVAAA2011
I Hope my seniors here will agree with me ..... :-)
I Hope my seniors here will agree with me ..... :-)
Bike rides - Kashmir to Leh and Sikkim, Jungle safaris - Corbett,Chikhaldara, Kanha and Gorumara. Traveled through MP, Himachal, J&K, Maharashtra, W.Bengal, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Goa, Karnataka, AP . . . Yet feel so New to traveling in India.
Quote:
Yes, going straight from the airport to a lower altitude such as Alchi should help a little. There are some decent places to stay in Alchi, and a beautiful place in Uletokpo just past Alchi, called Uley Ethnic Resort. They have some nice short easy walks and things available right there, and river rafting and bicycling, though you shouldn't do those on arrival day.
Originally Posted by rananda My thinking is that even if I'm basically resting in bed for 2 days, that gives me 2 full days to walk around Leh and see some sights, and hopefully go to either Nubra or Chemrey. I'm hoping that those 2 good days will make the whole journey worthwhile.
I realize that if I'm sick for 3 full days then the gamble will have not paid off. I will definitely be taking Diamox (under doctor's consultation), and I'm hopeful that I'll start to feel good by the third day.
Questions: Should we go straight to Alchi from the Leh airport and spend the first night there? Do those 400m make a big difference? Is there a nice place to stay in Alchi? We were planning on spending the first two day at the Lotus Hotel in Leh and acclimatizing there; is that a nice place?
My thinking is that even if I'm basically resting in bed for 2 days, that gives me 2 full days to walk around Leh and see some sights, and hopefully go to either Nubra or Chemrey. I'm hoping that those 2 good days will make the whole journey worthwhile. I realize that if I'm sick for 3 full days then the gamble will have not paid off. I will definitely be taking Diamox (under doctor's consultation), and I'm hopeful that I'll start to feel good by the third day.
Questions: Should we go straight to Alchi from the Leh airport and spend the first night there? Do those 400m make a big difference? Is there a nice place to stay in Alchi? We were planning on spending the first two day at the Lotus Hotel in Leh and acclimatizing there; is that a nice place?
Diamox should help too.
NT - just as I was getting a falsely inflated sense of self importance..........
Casanovaaaa2011 - aint no-one senior here!
Casanovaaaa2011 - aint no-one senior here!
Quote:
Originally Posted by new_traveller Recently I see a lot of queries and itineraries which want to accomplish Leh, Pangong tso, Nubra and every other monastery in the region in 5 or lesser days. Just thought this might be a thread where such people can be referred to instead of giving them the same responses........
The Himalayas will call you soon. Trust me They will (I am still trying to figure out when do I go back)
Fellow IMers please add in if I am missing on something.
Recently I see a lot of queries and itineraries which want to accomplish Leh, Pangong tso, Nubra and every other monastery in the region in 5 or lesser days. Just thought this might be a thread where such people can be referred to instead of giving them the same responses........The Himalayas will call you soon. Trust me They will (I am still trying to figure out when do I go back)
Fellow IMers please add in if I am missing on something.
Quote:
New traveller i want your advice on my plan,i'll be leaving Delhi on Saturday Evening in Innova then reaching Manali and taking a day break over there,Starting early morning on Monday(taking permit to cross Rohtang on Sunday(if possible as i don't have much details yet)spending Monday night in Keylong.Then early morning Tuesday leaving Keylong and reaching Leh same evening taking night halt over there,Wednesday morning arranging ILP and going to highest motorable pass and returning back to Leh some local sight seeing again a night halt in Leh,Thrusday early morning leaving for Pangong lake and night stay at pangong,Friday early morning 6:00AM leaving for Tso Kar and Moriri lake direct route from Pangong reaching moriri at around 4:00PM night stay there,Saturday early morning 7:00 AM leaving for manali directly from moriri avoiding Leh and giving night stay somewhere towards manali,again on Sunday early start and reaching Delhi late night taling breaks in between to give Driver relax.Now will this be good enough considering height and everything? Secondaly i have about 10-14(2-innova) option and 8-10K per person would i be able to manage? Please advice me.if you can give any other solution you are welcome ranging from Bus service to Bikes.Anyone having exerience can help me out.Thanks
Last edited by aarosh; May 18th, 2012 at 14:15..
SP,
Wiith respect, the Man has answered this in his first post. No to Pangong.............
Wiith respect, the Man has answered this in his first post. No to Pangong.............
a short road trip to Leh
Hi everyone,
I am planning a road trip (on bike) from Delhi to Leh via Manali on 1 of june 2012. please suggest what all to know or carry on route. and whether it will be possible in 10 days as i am short of leave..
I am planning a road trip (on bike) from Delhi to Leh via Manali on 1 of june 2012. please suggest what all to know or carry on route. and whether it will be possible in 10 days as i am short of leave..
Quote:
Originally Posted by new_traveller Recently I see a lot of queries and itineraries which want to accomplish Leh, Pangong tso, Nubra and every other monastery in the region in 5 or lesser days. Just thought this might be a thread where such people can be referred to instead of giving them the same responses.
There can be 2 options to reach Leh
1. By air if you plan to do the usual hotspots in 5 days then you might be able to do some of the places
If you have 5 days in Leh then do something as suggested above.
Note - Keep 2 days for travel from Manali/Srinagar to and fro from Leh. A total of 4 days. (this will reduce your acclimitazation days to some extent)
For the newlyweds who are planning a romantic + adventurous +
trip to Leh - Why not evaluate some other options before thinking about this place which you can do later in your life.
Coz
Overall the entire concept of doing ladakh in 5 days might not be accepted by me or many others on IM.
But I thought this thread is essential as I am tired explaining the same things to every new IMer who JUST wants to see everything in Ladakh in his few (difficult to get) leaves.
Getting leaves is tough these days but then that is no justification in trying to cover ladakh in that short period. You might end up only travelling, and missing out the real charm of ladakh.
Understand that this is one of the places that needs time. If you do not have time then better not try to do this. If you cannot extend leaves do not plan to see everything, limit yourself to see only what can be done in those number of days and go back to your life.
The Himalayas will call you soon. Trust me They will (I am still trying to figure out when do I go back)
Fellow IMers please add in if I am missing on something.
Recently I see a lot of queries and itineraries which want to accomplish Leh, Pangong tso, Nubra and every other monastery in the region in 5 or lesser days. Just thought this might be a thread where such people can be referred to instead of giving them the same responses.There can be 2 options to reach Leh
- By air
- By road
1. By air if you plan to do the usual hotspots in 5 days then you might be able to do some of the places
OR
- Day 1 Reach Leh - Acclimatize, visit shanti stupa and get permits
- Day 2 Around Leh - Leh palace (which is not really interesting as per me, but then that is me) OR drive to magnetic hill and drass war memorial
- Day 3 Go to Nubra (And I would request experts to correct me here), This can be tricky as you might not be acclimatized. Read the AMS thread and know the risks. Stay in Diskit or Hunder
- Day 4 Back To leh.
- Day 5 - Hemis and other Monasteries and back to Leh
2. By Road - If you plan to have a trip from Delhi or manali and want to finish it in 5 days then the best bet is to forget the trip and plan something else.
- Day 1 and 2 same as above
- Day 3 Hemis and other Monasteries
- Day 4 Pangong Tso and night halt (Know AMS and the risks, This can be really risky and I am sure other IMers will find this day risky and a bad suggestion by me)
- Day 5 Back to leh
If you have 5 days in Leh then do something as suggested above.
Note - Keep 2 days for travel from Manali/Srinagar to and fro from Leh. A total of 4 days. (this will reduce your acclimitazation days to some extent)
For the newlyweds who are planning a romantic + adventurous +
trip to Leh - Why not evaluate some other options before thinking about this place which you can do later in your life.Coz
- You don’t want to be sick with AMS on your honeymoon
- You don’t want motion sickness to ruin your honeymoon
- You might not find the cold desert romantic as it appears in the movies or in the pictures. Ladakh is beautiful but it is also tough and harsh. It is a dessert. It is a long days drive to reach pangong tso. And the lake is a cold salt water lake. Just so you know.
Overall the entire concept of doing ladakh in 5 days might not be accepted by me or many others on IM.
But I thought this thread is essential as I am tired explaining the same things to every new IMer who JUST wants to see everything in Ladakh in his few (difficult to get) leaves.
Getting leaves is tough these days but then that is no justification in trying to cover ladakh in that short period. You might end up only travelling, and missing out the real charm of ladakh.
Understand that this is one of the places that needs time. If you do not have time then better not try to do this. If you cannot extend leaves do not plan to see everything, limit yourself to see only what can be done in those number of days and go back to your life.
The Himalayas will call you soon. Trust me They will (I am still trying to figure out when do I go back)
Fellow IMers please add in if I am missing on something.
UA,
welcome.
We will help but you need to do some searching on this site first, the query is too general - the answers you need are all here and there are plenty of biker posts. 10 days should be possible but it sounds like a lot of riding
welcome.
We will help but you need to do some searching on this site first, the query is too general - the answers you need are all here and there are plenty of biker posts. 10 days should be possible but it sounds like a lot of riding
NT, CB et al i found your thread very informative. Kindly reply 2 my query on my thread "Manali-Ladakh June 2012".
Quote:
Originally Posted by iDoc Finally managed to squeeze a 7 day leave out of work n planning to take my parents around himachal/ladakh
. I stay in chandigarh, plan this trip in june end - july start n v r 4 travellers. Being pretty new to north india n a very occasional traveller, i request fellow/ senior IMers 4 advise on plannaing this trip.
Wanna go 2 leh-ladakh via manali spending very little time in manali itself n dont wanna waste time on stopping at too many places on the way or getting stuck with AMS. If travelling manali-leh is gonna gobble time i can fly one way, but really wanna travel the picturesque manali-leh highway the other way. Can i get a one way 4WD from leh to manali n can i prebook it?
(need contact info)
Now considering the limited days in hand what wud b your advice- whether 2 make this trip at all or rather go chd-manali-dharamshala-dalhousie-chd as adviced by my travel agent
. Or am strongly attracted towards Spiti-Kinnaur after reading some threads here on IM n can i cover chd-manali-chandratal-sarhan-tabo-pin valley-chd in that time?
Finally managed to squeeze a 7 day leave out of work n planning to take my parents around himachal/ladakh. I stay in chandigarh, plan this trip in june end - july start n v r 4 travellers. Being pretty new to north india n a very occasional traveller, i request fellow/ senior IMers 4 advise on plannaing this trip.Wanna go 2 leh-ladakh via manali spending very little time in manali itself n dont wanna waste time on stopping at too many places on the way or getting stuck with AMS. If travelling manali-leh is gonna gobble time i can fly one way, but really wanna travel the picturesque manali-leh highway the other way. Can i get a one way 4WD from leh to manali n can i prebook it?
(need contact info)Now considering the limited days in hand what wud b your advice- whether 2 make this trip at all or rather go chd-manali-dharamshala-dalhousie-chd as adviced by my travel agent
. Or am strongly attracted towards Spiti-Kinnaur after reading some threads here on IM n can i cover chd-manali-chandratal-sarhan-tabo-pin valley-chd in that time? idoc,
NT says it all in his first post. 1 day each way on travel and you have got 5 left........
Fly in bus out is best/safest if you want to see the manali road. Can your parents stand sitting next to you for 5 days?. i know mine would have considered infanticde.........
Dharamsala sounds much better given the time allowed. Work on the boss for 2 weeks next year
enjoy
NT says it all in his first post. 1 day each way on travel and you have got 5 left........
Fly in bus out is best/safest if you want to see the manali road. Can your parents stand sitting next to you for 5 days?. i know mine would have considered infanticde.........
Dharamsala sounds much better given the time allowed. Work on the boss for 2 weeks next year
enjoy
Quote:
ha ha ha
Originally Posted by captain bruce idoc,
i know mine would have considered infanticde.........
idoc,i know mine would have considered infanticde.........
Leh - 6 or 7 days better?
I first thank the stalwarts like Captain/NT/vistet and countless others for posting so much valuable info here. I have read hundreds of your posts and have taken only what I wanted to hear/read Now to my selfish q's. Please bear with me.
We are a group of 4 - 2 adults & 2 kids (6 & 8). We will be (hopefully) making this trip in Aug, 2012. Prereqs - We r planning to visit a good(?) doctor in Delhi and start taking our dosages of Diamox before we start. We r not planning to run bersek once we get to Leh. No alcohol. Lots of water & glucose/gatorade. Now please take a look at my plans and let me know if one is better than the other, if either of the plans is feasible, or I am out of luck.
Plan 1 -
Day 1 Delhi to Leh. Leh to Alchi. Night stay at Alchi
Day 2 Alchi to Lamayuru and to Leh. Nite at Leh
Day 3 Local at Leh
Day 4 Khardungla, over nite at diskit or panamik - If everyone is fine, else wait another day
Day 5 back to leh
Day 6 Pangong Tso and back - If everyone is fine, else cancelled
Day 7 Leh to Delhi
Plan 2 -
Day 1 Delhi to Leh.
Day 2 Local at Leh
Day 3 Lamayuru/Alchi & back to Leh
Day 4 Khardungla, over nite at diskit or panamik - If everyone is fine, else wait another day
Day 5 back to leh
Day 6 Pangong Tso and back - If everyone is fine, else cancelled
Day 7 Leh to Delhi
I understand Tso Moriri is a bigger risk? If I can choose between Tso Moriri or Pangong Tso, which one should it be?
My original plan was to go to Manali from delhi on overnite volvo bus, and stay 4 days at Manali doing the Solang valley/rohtang pass/keylong trips. But found out in the last few days that August is not good for Manali. With my flight tickets to India already fixed for Aug, I dont have a choice. Please help.
Sampath
Now to my selfish q's. Please bear with me.We are a group of 4 - 2 adults & 2 kids (6 & 8). We will be (hopefully) making this trip in Aug, 2012. Prereqs - We r planning to visit a good(?) doctor in Delhi and start taking our dosages of Diamox before we start. We r not planning to run bersek once we get to Leh. No alcohol. Lots of water & glucose/gatorade. Now please take a look at my plans and let me know if one is better than the other, if either of the plans is feasible, or I am out of luck.
Plan 1 -
Day 1 Delhi to Leh. Leh to Alchi. Night stay at Alchi
Day 2 Alchi to Lamayuru and to Leh. Nite at Leh
Day 3 Local at Leh
Day 4 Khardungla, over nite at diskit or panamik - If everyone is fine, else wait another day
Day 5 back to leh
Day 6 Pangong Tso and back - If everyone is fine, else cancelled
Day 7 Leh to Delhi
Plan 2 -
Day 1 Delhi to Leh.
Day 2 Local at Leh
Day 3 Lamayuru/Alchi & back to Leh
Day 4 Khardungla, over nite at diskit or panamik - If everyone is fine, else wait another day
Day 5 back to leh
Day 6 Pangong Tso and back - If everyone is fine, else cancelled
Day 7 Leh to Delhi
I understand Tso Moriri is a bigger risk? If I can choose between Tso Moriri or Pangong Tso, which one should it be?
My original plan was to go to Manali from delhi on overnite volvo bus, and stay 4 days at Manali doing the Solang valley/rohtang pass/keylong trips. But found out in the last few days that August is not good for Manali. With my flight tickets to India already fixed for Aug, I dont have a choice. Please help.
Sampath
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