Kashmir 2014 | Itinerary


    Mumbai airport

    coincidentally this month's issue of National Geographic Traveller
    magazine features Ladakh as cover story , the place I'm heading to.

    Mumbai - Srinagar Via Amritsar , 4 hours flight including 30min transit


    transit at Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport ,
    Amritsar , India.



    our original itinerary :

    Srinagar & Leh , Kashmir 10D/9N trip :
    13 April - 22 April 2014

    Day 1 : Srinagar  | Dal Lake houseboat , local sight-seeing
    Day 2 : Srinagar  | Mughal Garden , Chasm-e-shahi , Shalimar Bagh
    Day 3 : Gulmarg
    Day 4 : Kargil via Sonamarg
    Day 5 : Leh , Ladakh
    Day 6 : Thiksey , Hemis
    Day 7 : Leh - Nubra ,
                via Khardung-La ( highest motorable road in the world )
                stay at Nubra for one night
    Day 8 : Nubra - Leh , Disket Monastery
    Day 9 : Pangong Lake via Chang-La
    Day 10 : Leh Airport

    the costs : Rs23000 @ RM 1200
                     includes hotel , breakfast & dinner , transports
                     exclude flight ticket

flight tickets : Mumbai-Srinagar : Rs8000
                      Leh-Pune : Rs 6000

total costs : Rs23000 + Rs8000 + Rs6000 = Rs 37000


   

    the original plan , roadtrip from Srinagar to Leh , Ladakh via Kargil

    the road from srinagar to Sonamarg is closed due to heavy snow
    up to 30ft tall.
    this is the only land road from Srinagar to Leh , Ladakh.
    We were supposed visit Sonamarg and Kargil en route , but
    we have to re-route our plan and go to Leh via flight instead.
    this was the tour agent's fault , as they didn't look forward for
    the weather conditions beforehands , and didn't provide plan B for us ,
    and that in turn costs us time and extra money.

   ............................................................................................................
    the revised trip :

    Day 1 : Srinagar  | Tulip Garden , Dal Lake houseboat
    Day 2 : Srinagar  | Dal Lake , Gulmarg
    Day 3 : Pahalgam
    Day 4 : Lal Chowk , transfer to Srinagar Airport
    Day 5 : Delhi - Leh , Shanti Stupa , Leh Palace
    Day 6 : Thiksey , Hemis , Tibet Market
    Day 7 : Leh - Nubra ,
                via Khardung-La ( highest motorable road in the world )
                stay at Nubra for one night
    Day 8 : Nubra - Leh , Disket Monastery
    Day 9 : Pangong Lake via Chang-La
    Day 10 : Leh Airport

    with this revised trip , the roadtrip from Srinagar to Ladakh is cancelled.
 
   we have to buy flight tickets from Srinagar to Delhi ,
   then Delhi to Leh , and that adds up Rs9000 more to our trip total costs.

  ............................................................................................................

  the agent :
  Swastik Travels
 ( based in Delhi , bad agent , i don't recommend this )
  swastikleisureholidays@gmail.com | +919210669303

 however , its partner in Srinagar and Leh , Ladakh is good.

 our driver in Srinagar , Mr Jimmy was very good , and very helpful.
 he has his own travel agency too , and highly recommended :

 Around The Earth Tour & Travels ( recommended )
 based in Srinagar , Kashmir
 atearthtnt@gmail.com | atetourandtravel@yahoo.com
 9906614555 | 9906784470 | 9018385685

Auspicious Hotel , Leh , Ladakh ( recommended )
theauspicioushotel@gmail.com
9419177864 | 9910076255

 ............................................................................................................

quick tips :

- try to look for travel agents based in Srinagar / Leh itself , because they
  know the weather , road conditions etc of their place better.
- don't travel during winter ( December to march ) due to heavy snow.
  even in summer , snow is still available in Sonamarg throughout
  the year.
- best time to visit is during spring / summer , when Tulip Garden is
  reopened after winter , and road conditions are good.
  September/October is Apple season in Kashmir.
- i heard people saying ( and also stated in many flight websites )
  that hand luggage is not allowed to be brought
  onto the flight in Srinagar and Leh airport , but from my experience ,
  i have no problem with that. i brought a backpack along with my
  DSLR in it onto the flight.
- Srinagar and Ladakh are politically hot areas in India , with constant
  threat from terrorist ( so they say ) . but from my experience , i think
  these places are safe. police and army are everywhere to protect
  civilians.
- airport security is very tight. after check-in , we have
  to go into a special room to identify our luggage , and they will sign it off
  to be put into flight's cargo. Luggage will be thrown away
  if we failed to do so.
- bring passport when travelling in Ladakh.
  Ladakh is a border of India with Pakistan and Tibet , and travelling
  in ladakh will require permit. Hotel / Agents will help in obtaining
  the permit.
- no phone lines at all if we use service providers from other states
  of India. and no internet at all. internet is available at cyber cafes
  or hotel wifi . And if we use Kashmir SIM cards , only phone calls
  available , and no sms / internet . so make sure the hotel is providing
  wifi before checking in.

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2 Responses to Kashmir 2014 | Itinerary

  1. Anonymous says:

    ak nye agent org kashmir tu ok la. sbb ak tukar iternary aku last minit, xnak dua malam kat gulmarg, dorg boleh setelkan.xkene caj.

    klu guna agent yg base kat delhi ke mumbai ke mane ke confirm dorg mesti ckp kene caj lebih sbb cancel last min blbalabla.

    ~nadiahfatin

  2. Unknown says:

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