There was every reasonable prediction that our long drive back to Delhi – approximately 300km or so – would be a very long and gruelling one. In the end, the combination of an early start to our drive and the end of the Holi festival for 2025 make it much easier and quicker than any of us had thought.

My quick check on Google Maps the evening before leaving Sattal had suggested eight or nine hours for the trip and JP had thought much the same. In the end, we were back at our hotel in Delhi before one, so about six hours in total.

We’re here for less than 24 hours. Just long enough to have dinner and get some sleep before being up in the morning for our nine o’clock flight up to Leh.

Due to some bad planning, we find ourselves on a flight to Leh that leaves just after eight in the morning. This then requires being picked up from our hotel at a truly ungodly hour in order to make sure that we get to check-in on time. I’m rarely at my best in the early morning, but being rushed about just makes me worse. Still, security is straightforward and we’re soon on our Airbus A320 and flying high.