[Aceninja]

Hi,
My wife and I were planning to travel to Leh from Manali. I wrote to a travel ageint in Leh to see if he could organize the room and board/sightseeing and this is what he wrote back:

31/07,arrive leh direct to guest house,Siliver cloud or a better one Glashear view G/H.attch bath room with hot n cold running water,with spectecular view.
01/08,drive to Nubra Valley over night at Guest house.
02/08,early mornning visit Hundar Monastry,and camel safari and back to leh O/N at guest house.
03/08,early mornning drive to Pangong Tso and drive back to leh O/N at guest house.
04/drive back to Manali with shares Taxi.

Total price for guide, guesthouse and transport back to Manali, for two people = Rs. 23960. Does that seem a bit steep for you guys? How much would it cost to do it own my own? Are permits a pain in the ass to get? Anyone who's been there done that plz reply...or anyone who knows anyone...er well u get the point

[sees]

Aceninja, on Jun 10 2006, 05:51 PM, said:

Hi,
My wife and I were planning to travel to Leh from Manali. I wrote to a travel ageint in Leh to see if he could organize the room and board/sightseeing and this is what he wrote back:

31/07,arrive leh direct to guest house,Siliver cloud or a better one Glashear view G/H.attch bath room with hot n cold running water,with spectecular view.
01/08,drive to Nubra Valley over night at Guest house.
02/08,early mornning visit Hundar Monastry,and camel safari and back to leh O/N at guest house.
03/08,early mornning drive to Pangong Tso and drive back to leh O/N at guest house.
04/drive back to Manali with shares Taxi.

Total price for guide, guesthouse and transport back to Manali, for two people = Rs. 23960. Does that seem a bit steep for you guys? How much would it cost to do it own my own? Are permits a pain in the ass to get? Anyone who's been there done that plz reply...or anyone who knows anyone...er well u get the point

The over all value of 23000 rps depends on what your are getting. For example, there are a number of different "types" of jeeps. Some are very worn down and some are luxsury vehicles with AC, leather seats etc. For 23000 rps it should be an absolutely top end trip (considering the short period of time). To put it in perspective, the bus going into the Nubra (not much slower than a jeep) is about 100 rps one way. And it is impossible to spend more than about 150-250 per night for accommodation in the Nubra. A shared taxi from Leh to Manali is about 550-900 rps depending on your seat and barganing skills. Also, the shared taxis to Manali are usually real crowded. It isn't a pleasent experience. Personally, I would find your own way to Leh (very easy to do rom Manali), then arrangeyour trip to Nubra Valley once you're there. It can be done at a fraction of the price you're being quoted.

The permits are easy to get and a complete formality. I'm not condoning this, but I over stayed my permit to Nubra last year by over a week and no one cared. The record keeping for those entering and leaving the valley is so lax that the whole process of permits is fultile.

[Aceninja]

I am actually finding my own way to Leh. That wasn't part of the deal. I called the Manali Taxi Union and was told that for a private Tata Sumo (non/ac) one way it would costs us 10,000 Rs. That sounds a bit steep, but even on the internet I coulnd't find anything better. I dont mind sharing the taxi with 2 other ppl, but no more than that, as we want to stop and take pics along the way etc. The price was for the sightseeing and accommodation and way back on a toyota qualis non ac shared. Also where do u get the permits from and how long does it take? You need one for Nubra valley as well as pangong lake, right? How much do they cost?

Also what does a "Deluxe bus" by HPTDC look like? and how crowded are they? I was told there were deluxe buses from Manali to Leh - dont wanna do that going there..but maybe on the way back.

Edited by Aceninja, 11 June 2006 - 05:18 AM.

[sees]

Aceninja, on Jun 10 2006, 11:46 PM, said:

I am actually finding my own way to Leh. That wasn't part of the deal. I called the Manali Taxi Union and was told that for a private Tata Sumo (non/ac) one way it would costs us 10,000 Rs. That sounds a bit steep, but even on the internet I coulnd't find anything better. I dont mind sharing the taxi with 2 other ppl, but no more than that, as we want to stop and take pics along the way etc. The price was for the sightseeing and accommodation and way back on a toyota qualis non ac shared. Also where do u get the permits from and how long does it take? You need one for Nubra valley as well as pangong lake, right? How much do they cost?

Also what does a "Deluxe bus" by HPTDC look like? and how crowded are they? I was told there were deluxe buses from Manali to Leh - dont wanna do that going there..but maybe on the way back.

You need permits for the Nubra and Tso Pangong. I would eastimate that there is aproximately 50 - 75 agents in Leh who can arrange permits for you. I paid 50 rps last summer for a permit to Nubra Valley, which no one looked at. Do get one though. 10 000 is a bit steep. Believe it or not, they cram as many as 10 people in those Sumos. It is a funny quotation though considering they were charging 750 per person last summer. Of course that is 7500 if ther is 10 people. The one I took back to Manali only had 5 in it. No disrespect to Leh, but the place has turned into an absolute tourist trap. I mention this in part to point out that there are jeeps, guides and travel agents gallor. It is a buyer's market. It would be extremely easy to find a better deal for a private jeep. If you want the comfort of having all of those arrangments made before you arrive in Leh, you'll have pay a premium.