Leh Travel Forum

Thanks so much for the advises.. Last lap to go in planning my itinerary.. I have some questions..

1)Can anyone tell me wat is the difference between Pungong and Tsomoriri Lake? Which should i visit if i can only choose 1?

2) Is it advisable to stay over for a night either at Pungong or Tsomorri lake during winter? Are there any hotel or guesthouse with room heater?

3) Is there any reliable tour operators that helps to plan customized tours?

3) Is this itinerary do-able?

Day 1 : Delhi - Leh (afternoon or evening) Hall of Fame, Leh Palace & Shanti Stupa. Evening free at Leh bazaar
Day 2: Leh - Nubra Valley
Day 3 : Nubra - Pungong/Tsomoriri Lake (Can we travel to Pungong or Tsomoriri Lake directly from Nubra and stay there for the night instead?)
Day 4 : Pangong Lake - Leh
Day 5: Alchi, Likir monasteries & Sangam (Zangskar/Indus)
Day 6 : Leh - halfday tour of Indus Valley, Stok Palace Museum, Shey Palace, Thiksey Monastery and Hemis Monasteries.
Day 7: Leh - Delhi (Flight)

My guess is that you need at least twice the time for your itinerary. Maybe a lot more!

Leh is at a high altitude and you should not plan on doing anything for about 24 hours after arrival while your body gets use to the altitude. Generally flights to high altitude airports operate in the morning, so you may not have an option of an afternoon or evening flight.

We had a great custom tour of Ladakh arranged by Wisdom Adventures
http://www.himalayas-travel.com/ladakh-cultural-tours.html

Another contact for you in Ladakh is our treking guide Gyal who lives
in Thiksey and who can arrange your travel in Ladakh

"Gyal Nawang" <gaitsen@yahoo.co.in>

Highly recommended!

Tell him that Dave and Susie sent you.

A short answer would be "not a chance". But let's see. After the flight to Leh from Delhi (I assume you're flying, you can go by bus which takes two days and another to recover from the experience) you will need to acclimatise. Not much more than a walk around the town and drink lots. Your Day 6,the tours of the monasteries could easily fill up three days. Go gently up to Tsomoriri,again you will be ascending. Make sure that your driver does not approach the lake with a vehicle as the delicate ecosystem there is being destroyed by over-tourism. Ladakh is fantastic but don't rush it. The way of life is very relaxed and you will only become disillusioned if you try to fight against it.
Adam

if you are planning for pangong or tsomorri i would go for pangong....
nubra is north of leh
PLACES OF TOURIST INTEREST



Major attraction of Nubra is the highest motorable Khardongla pass (18,383ft.) majestic peaks and glaciers enchanting valleys and villages. Diskit and Samstanling Gonpa, Panamik hot spring, double hump camel safari, river rafting, trekking and Sunbathe at Hunder are also a great source of attraction for the tourists.



FACILITIES AVAILABLE



There is a well-maintained road to Nubra from Leh. Tourist can avail the facility of P.W.D. Rest House at Khardong, Khalsar, Diskit, Sumoor and Panamik villages. There are private guesthouses and Tented camps (Identified as cam ping sites) at Khalsar, Khardong, Diskit, Hunder, Tisrit, Sumoor Tegar, Tirisha and Panamik. Besides there are shops and small restaurants/tea stall at places enroute to Nubra valley. Some Hotels are also coming up at Diskit, Hunder, Tegar and Panamik. There is road head right up to Panamik and Hunder. Though the state of road stretch between sought Pule and North Pulu is rough yet travelling and passing through world highest motorable bus Khardongla (18,383 ft.) is the most exciting part of journey to Nubra.

Pangong is east and tsomorri is south east........we did a day trip to pangong 14 hrs to and fro.....most probably you'll get a tent accom but i am not sure (in pangong)

i went during june so weather was fine we went by flight so first day is doable reach leh have food sleep for few hours get up around 3 pm and then you can go about i am not sure as it is winters how cold the place will be shops start to close around 8-8.30 pm...
to go to nubra and back takes two days 9including khardungla)
pangong one day
alchi,likir samgam one day
if you start early you can do the monastries also
read the below post
http://www.indiamike.com/india/ladakh-and-zanskar-f31/manali-leh-mega-post-t14647/