Trek Manali-Leh, need advice

Hi,
I'm planning a trip to India from the end of June to the beginning of September.
I was looking into things, and the trek from Manali to Leh looked very nice.

It would be the first trek that I've ever done, and wanted to ask a few questions.
I would especially like to hear from people who've done this lately.

-What is the best time to do this trek?
-how hard is it?
-are there tea tents along the way during this time of year?
-are the villages along the way populated at this time of year?
-whats the weather like?
-what should i bring with me from home? what should i get in India? (shoes, sleeping bag, tent?, anything else)
-any other tips\things i should know about? specific places you might recommend taking a day in the middle to go and see?

any questions you think i haven't asked and should have, id also be glad to hear.

thanks,
Eitan

I'm not sure if a get it right. You want to trek from Manali to Leh??? All the way??? That's quite a distance!!!

Distance between Manali and Leh : 473KM

Ok, after reading a few related threads, there really seem to be people doing it. Wow, wouldn't have thought so. But anyway, not for me. Enjoy.

maybe not from manali to leh,
but there is a trek starting at Darcha i think
ending somewhere before leh..
the specific route ill figure out when the time comes

many years back I did Manali to Rohtang La and then off towards Spiti and I have walked from Darcha to Lamayuru on a separtate trek. Its well worth it. Darcha - lamayuru is about 20 days with a day's break at Padum - you will need it! - and manali to Darcha would add 2-3 days. The problem is the Shingo La. The ascent from Darcha takes 2 days and reaches up to just under 5000 meters at the top - too fast, my companion got sick when we did it and if you are still sick on the otherside - its 4500+ then you are in trouble. preferable to fly to Leh, and walk south or be prepared to hang around acclimatising on a bare campsite for ana extra day

say i didnt want to do the full twenty days?
are there places in the middle of the darcha-lamyuru that i could get on a bus to leh? or a bus i could take to somewhere in the middle?
if i do decide to do only part, say half (a week and a half, two weeks) is there a specific part you would recommend highly, or does it not really matter?

more importantly, what things should i bring from home? what should i get there? tent and sleeping bag, can i rent these? warm clothes? what's the weather like? can i buy/rent appropriate clothing in manali/delhi?

will i be able to find a guide in manali/darcha? and people to go with?
are there different parts of the trek from darcha to lamayuru, that i could do part of this, but not the whole three weeks? say ten days, maybe two weeks.
if i do only part, is there a specific part you would recommend?
is there a bus from the middle to leh, or from manali to the middle? or something of the sort?
im in india for two months, and i dont yet know if i want to spend half on a trek.
i will probably decide once im there, but id be glad to know my options.

sleeping bag/tent- can i rent that in manali, or do i need to bring that stuff from home?
and what's the weather like there? clothes wise.
what things should i bring with me for a three week trek? and what should i wait and get in india?

Hi Eitan 256,
With respect you need to do some of your own homework. That's over a dozen questions here. I and others on this site are happy to help but some legwork by yourself on basic stuff is also necessary. Start with a guidebook Trekking in Ladakh' by Charlie Loram is out of date but generally accurate. The answers to most of your questions are in threads like these if you cant get it.
If you are having to ask what stuff you need for a 3 week trek you may not be up to this, this one is not for beginners, you might want to start with the Markha valley.
enjoy