Hi all,

With about 3 weeks in the area, we don't have too much time to waste. After seeing Yogesh' report we want to get to the the mountains fast. Essentially, we don't want to lose too much time in Delhi as we don't like the crowds, the rains and the traffic horror stories....

Can anyone comment if it's a better idea to rent a bike from Delhi and cross the plains ourselves or take a bus up there and rent a bike in Manali.
Some sources (Adventure motorbiking handbook and others) told us that the bikes in Manali are more expensive and of poorer quality. Other sources told us that it's possible to drive from Delhi to Leh and fly back, without having to return the bike to Delhi.

Don't get me wrong, we LOVE to ride and that's why we choose to go to Ladakh, it's just that our time is short and we want to get as much quality riding time as possible.

On a different note: The Kargil - Srinagar road: is it accessible for foreigners? How is the general safety situation there? It's hard to find truly reliable information as Departments of foreign affairs and the classic guedebooks are usually overcautious, and the travelers who didn't run in trouble are usually at the other end of the scale with advice.

Finally, any advice on reliable maps?

Thanks

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