15 tips while traveling to Ladakh

Here is a list of 15 tips which can be helpful to get you around the land of passes.

1. It hasn’t been long before tourism developed in Ladakh. And the north western region is still sensitive. So the tourists who arrive from outside the country need special permits to visit the Inner Line area. These permits can be availed from local Ladakhi authorities.

2. Majority of the tourists in Ladakh comes for Trekking and Camping. So if you are

here for the same reason then you should pay attention to your physical fitness. Ladakh weather is chilling and for first timers here acclimatization can be a problem. So when you land in here give yourself a day to get used to the weather and high altitudes.

3. Lot of back packers who come here should make sure that they should fill their sacks with water bottle. Hydration at high altitude can keep you going strong for long. Though the weather generally get you to go thirsty it is highly advisable that you should. Apart from that carry a first aid kit, prescribed medicines and enough warm clothing.

4. Next you need to have in your must-haves are sunglasses, moisturizers and sunscre

en lotions.

5. Whether on a trekking expedition, Jeep Safari or hiking tour you should keep in mind that you have a responsibility towards the conservation of the place. You should contribute to the protection of environment by not littering, using paper instead of plastic and by creating less noise pollution in deserted areas.

6. Leh the capital city is well developed to provide you with basic amenities. The calling facility is good here though the STD’s booths close by 10 pm.

7. When you are sightseeing you’d be tempted to click pictures. But before taking your camera out read the sign boards well. Photography is not permitted everywhere.

8. Talking of photography, Ladakh is such a beautiful place you will not get tired of clicking pictures. So while you visit the places that allow photography or pass through the general landscape of the place, you have ample opportunities to click click & click. So buy extra batteries and lots of film rolls or extra memory cards.

9. While eating out in Ladakh, carry the Indian currency because majority of the hotels and restaurants do not accept credit cards.

10. Leh the big town has facilities for e-mailing and general surfing. In fact Leh is the only place where you can have access to the internet. So all your online work should be done in Leh before you proceed further.

11. Very remote regions of Ladakh do not have banks. Leh and Kargil have banks with ATM facilities.

12. Leh has hospitals but Kargil has a district hospital which has good team of doctors and modern equipments. Besides Kargil there are medical dispensaries at Trespone, Sankoo, Mulbek, Padum and Panikher. They all have basic health facilities.

13. The national park in Leh is a good place to sight Wildlife, especially if you are on trek. But do not disturb the animals there and neither pollutes the surroundings.

14. Water pollution is too much in Ladakh. It is advisable to carry purification pills. A better option is to carry your own water or drink packaged water.

15. Lastly respect the culture, the quiet locals, be friendly to them and make time to enjoy the place. Talk to the locals as they are the biggest source of information.

A typical Day on a Ladakh Trek

A typical day on Ladakh Trek begins at 6:00 am. Each member of the group is given warm water to wash. The breakfast is generally an hour after waking up. In between you do the morning ritual. The breakfast generally is milk/tea/coffee, porridge, bread-jam or eggs. While you have your food, the crew in charge of you wraps up the tents and loads them on the ponies or porters. You carry your lunch with you on your journey ahead. And if that is not the case then facilities for hot lunch have been arranged on the way.

You reach the next camping spot around evening time. When you reach your next halting point, you are welcomed with tea/coffee and snacks. Dinners are not at nine but immediately after sunset. No one minds because the smell of food after a long days trek is more than inviting. The dinner is very basic food items like bread, a vegetable, rice and Dal. Some places you will also be offered a drink at the end of the meal. It can be tea, coffee or hot chocolate.

Before reaching the camp the entire trek is an ordeal of carrying your rucksacks on your back. Trekking on a single day begins with deciding the route and leaning your camp with a trained guide. You maneuver through gorges, passes and narrow passages. You do series of ascends and descends. You are in a group so there might be people who would want to rest. While some rest some take time to click pictures.

Anyway after arriving at the camp and having some refreshments you are ready to sleep. Most of the people prefer unwinding instead of hitting the pillow. They gather together and play cards, read or write about their experiences. Sometimes everyone is asked to gather around camp fire and spend time singing, sharing jokes basically mingling with each other. By 9 pm everyone is inside their tent and by 10 pm latest every one dozes off.