Leh - Tso Moriri - Kaza, possible?

Just wondering if anyone has done this route.

We would like to visit Tso Moriri from Leh but we don't particularly want to backtrack to Leh again. Looking on the maps it looks as if there is a road from Tso Moriri to Kaza - probably a pretty rough one. Is this possible?

I think one problem might be the Inner Line permits as this involves both Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal states. Are Himachal Inner line permits available in Leh ( I would guess not) and if not, is there any way around this problem?

Me again. There is some mention of this in Footprints India Himalaya Handbook, 2002. Much better is 'A Comprehensive Touring and Trekking Guide to The Indian Himalaya including Sikkim and Bhutan, by Manmohan Singh, published by Leomann, Springfield, USA, 2001. Page 150 describes the trek in detail. This is an old caravan route and is hardly ever used by trekkers. I imagine that it would resemble being an explorer..........

Iain.

Sorry Iain! Didn't make myself clear - not trekking, just wanted to know if its possible to go by jeep from Tso Moriri to Kaza.

IMHO, unless a new road has been made in the last eight months, there is no new jeepable road from Tso Moriri to Kaza. There is however a trekking route which is a trudge ... the crossing of the Parang La (5580m) into .... ultimately Kibber, which is claimed as the highest inhabited village in the World.

It is an old established route without any technical climbing challenges. You should be acclimatized properly. The Indian Army Expedition did this route in February in chest deep snow.

Yes, crossing the Parang La would req a Inn Line Prmt from BOTH Ladakh AND Spiti. However if your doing a road trip, you will be coming back to the Manali Leh road .... cross over Kunzum La (open from July to Oct 1st wk only) to Losar and Kaza. Now you will req an Inn line Prmt for Tso Moriri (issd at Leh) and for the road between Sumdo and Jangi (issd at Kaza). I assume your doin this road trip in July Aug Sep.

I will secnd Avidtrekker - there is no direct road. From Tsokar, you will join the Leh - Manali highway near the Morey plains till Gramphu and then carry on to Kaza over Kunzum La.

Hi,
No direct road from over the Tsomoriri to Kaza except for the old trekking route over the Parangla ..... However the Road journey is very interesting ...... Leh - Tsomoriri - Debaling (morey plains) - Pang (Ist night) Pang - baralacha la - Keylong (2nd night) Keylong - Chatru - Kunzum pass - Losar (3rd night) Losar Rangrik - Kaza ...... If you are an ardent road lover and dont suffer from occasional roadhogs you can also accomplish this in two days...... a good ride u sure will enjoy ....
agora

Thanks all

I'm beginning to get this trip figured out!

Definitely Manali-Leh with a side trip and stay in the Nubra Valley.

Then possibly Tso Moriri and then rejoining the Leh-Manali road, stopping at Keylong to get an Inner Line Permit and then over the Kunzum La to Losar and Kaza and then Tabo, Jangi etc and back down the Sutlej river valley to Shimla.

I have a couple more questions though. How easy will it be to pick up transport back to Keylong from the Moray Plains and does one ILP cover the places I've mentioned?

Just make sure to hit the roadside in good time (in the mornings otherwise they might take you for ghosts! :-) This will also give you more daylight and access to more vehicles plying on that road. Also I would advise it for July till mid Sep only. Try to ride on rooftop on the trucks....

What's this about ghosts? Sounds like there may be some stories about this area.

Top of trucks? We're getting a bit soft at our age! I know the view would be better but I was thinking more along the lines of the odd HP luxury bus.

It's all a state of mind my dear friend!

In the hills, there are always 'some' story - especially for a freak like me!

Alan, you don't need to stop at Keylong, except maybe to change buses. The InnLinePermit is issued at Kaza (the relevant district HQ of Spiti District)(Keylong is in Lahaul distt ..... no InnLnPrmt needed for the entire distt) for the road leg btwn Sumdo and Jangi. After Jangi no Inn Line P reqd. Stay at Rekong Peo (actually upper RekPeo = Kalpa)in a balcony facing the magnificent Kinnaur Kailash massif ..... you may want to stay forever. Do not miss the ancient wooden Bheemaakaalee temple at Sarahaan .... and stay inside the temple accom's ... not in a hotel outside ....