India - Manali Leh

[FLV]

Got some time off work. Planning to go to India and have a go at the Manali - Leh Highway and a good look about the Leh area. 3-4 week trip.
Planning to go in August.

Anyone been and got any tips on culture, conditions, must haves and dont needs?

[acousticmotorbike]

I did this road on an Enfield motorbike in July 2009, my visa expired on 17th July, so I borrowed the motorbike and spent two weeks in the region.  It was pretty chilly on the way up and there was lots of standing snow, but most of it had melted on the return ride, which meant that the rivers were trickier to cross.  My mate broke his leg after hitting a rock and he was pinned in the river by his motorbike, that happened at the worst crossing, but they have now put a bridge over that particular river.

There are a few tents set up along the way and you can get food / accommodation there, but I recommend that you bring a tent and stock up on food as and when you can.  I found the people here to be nicer than the ones in the lowlands, might be to do with the Nepal / Tibetan mix. 

The road from Manali to Rothang La (the first pass) was pretty muddy when I was on it, can't image how it would have been the next day as it rained for 24 hours solid.  You can see a video of my descent of the pass here, this will give you some idea of the conditions and traffic.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xERRyfHAqY

Aidan

[FLV]

Sounds like a good trip.

Looks like I'd better pack the down jacket and thermals too then...
I've been hoping it wouldnt drop below about 5 degrees, guess the wind chill could lower how that feels significantly up there.

[FLV]

just watched the video properly. Looking at that, I might take some mud tyres never mind the specialized hemisphere commuter tyres I just flippin bought at the weekend

[acousticmotorbike]

I have Marathon XR on my bicycle and they would probably do.  I can imagine you having problems with mud clogging up the mudguards and brakes, so may be an idea to leave the mudguards at home (or in guesthouse in Manali).  It's a fantastic road, I wish I could have gotten more video footage, but the sections before that were far too ropey to try and video, but that was probably more down to the speed I was riding at.  You'll be fine on a bicycle.

I've got some photos of the ride on my blog:  http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=RrzKj&page_id=118623&v=7A

[FLV]

This really is first rate info ta. Its really good to see what the road is actually like at the right sort of time of year.

I got some of these cheap from a bike shop I used to work at, the armadillo versions. So they'll have to do the job now 

[mateusz]

We cycled around Leh two years ago for two weeks in late May early June. The weather was splendid then, the roads were just being opened, or almost rebuilt. We did Leh-Kargil, Kargil-Panikhar, Leh-Kardung La-Numbra Valley-Panamik (do stop for a local beer in Kardung Village - rough stuff!); Leh-Chang La (the toughest pass for me)-Pangong Tse;
We had a mix of bikes, one Audax 9kg semi-road bike, one Giant touring tank, two MTBs and a generic treking one. We landed in Leh, left the camping stuff in a B&B and travelled as light as possible.
On higher passes be prepared for sub-zero temperatures, don't forget spare brake shoes, as the decent from Kardung-La is on a flooded rough road for 1.5h, eating brakes like crazy. Got my feet wet, my blood hypoglycemic on the hellish ascent to Chang-La which I found much more difficult than the nominally higher Kardung - either start very early from Leh on sleep somewhere before the final ascent.

Pictures, GoogleMaps track, a 30mins movie are all at our page www.szczurek.com. But as all text is in Polish, you might have problems navigating it:

Pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/agnieszka.szczurek/Ladakh

A 30min film http://www.szczurek.com/  - dialogues in Polish, but gives you a feel. First part in HD on http://www.vimeo.com/5581583
Track in google maps: http://maps.google.pl/maps?f=q&hl=pl&geocode=&q=http:%2F%2Fwww.szczurek.com%2Fimages%2Fladakh.kmz&ie=UTF8&ll=34.353946,77.18084&spn=0.865633,2.503454&t=p&source=embed
And a special bonus, Border Road Organisation roadside wisdom:

Alcohol-related
After whisky driving risky
Run on horsepower not rumpower
Enjoy it, but not behind the wheel
Don't drive drunk
Drink and drive, your won't survive
If drunk while driving, the mountains can shrink your living

Family
If married divorce speed
Do not gossip let him drive
Love your neighbour but not while driving
Your family is waiting drive slow
If you sleep your family will weep
Darling i like you, but not so fast
Be soft on my curves
I am curvacious, drive slow
Feel the curves, don't test them
Safety on the road means safe tea at home

Patriotism
Bro in service of the nation
Himank
Ladakh pride of our country
Bro – the mountain tamers

PhilosophyWork is worship
When the going gets tough, the tough get going
Without geography you are nowhere
You never lose until you admit it
A child is a father of man
The price of greatness is responsibility
He who dares wins
Alert to life, rough to death
Smile please
God helps those who take care of themselves best
If you can dream it, you can do it

Technical
Sinking area road wavy drive slow
Sorry for inconvenience
Inconvenience regretted

Pro-life
Be mr late than late mr
Alert today alive tomorrow
Time is money, but life is precious
Life is short, don’t make it shorter
Heaven, Hell or Mother Earth, the choice is yours for making
Let your insurance policy mature before you do
Speed thrills but kills
Better late than never
Drive like hell - you'll be there

General
Always alert avoid accident
Alert avoid accident
Peep, peep do not sleep
Don't be a gama in the land of lama
Sharp bends ahead blow horn
Go slow
Slow go
On my curve check your nerve
Be cautious on curves
Lower gear bend is near
Speed and safety never meet
This is a highway not a runway
Drive not fly
Danger lurks on blind curves
All will wait, better be late
The curves are stealthy, keep away to stay healthy
Mountains are a pleasure, only if you drive with leisure
Driving faster can cause disaster
Time is not rally or race, drive with grace

[FLV]

Good info ta. I like the video too 
Looks like you had a great trip.

I'll be taking a thermal shirt and a water/windproof jacket, a down Jacket, Down Sleeping bag, Warm sleeping mat and a 3 season tent. I might throw a lightweight fleece in or a light down vest too for good measure. Warm socks and gloves too.
I think this should be ok

[snow9runner]

See the page referenced below for an account of the Manali to Sarchu (about halfway) account of the ride. It was written in about 2005 and the photos have disappeared now that it has been archived, but it is a useful reference.

http://web.archive.org/web/20051227201113/http://geocities.com/_suri/trip_account.html