Travelling Tips & How to Reach

Clothing: The Temperature in mid summer is pleasant and T-shirt and half pant in the daytime and in Evening temperature come down and need Jacket or pullover. While trekking above 4000m, you need warm cloth. Sometimes there is a rain or snow in early June therefore you need wind cheater or raincoat.  

Shoes: Good waterproof shoes are needed while trekking and extra pair of shoes and Sandal is useful while crossing the rivers.  

Sleeping Bag: Warm sleeping Bag. also available on hire in Leh @ Rs. 250/- Per day.

How to reach Ladakh

By Air: Indian Airways, Go Air and Jet Airways, Air Vista operates regular flight to Leh from Delhi, Srinagar to Leh, Jammu to Leh. Chandigarh to Leh

By Road: There are two routes:  Srinagar. National highway (NH1D)  to Leh road remains open from early May to November. The J&K State Road Transport Corporation operates some buses  deluxe and ordinary bus services. The Manali-Leh road remains open from mid June to early October. Himachal Pradesh tourism, HRTC and Manali private bus union, operates a a bus services but sometime it is not  100% reliable , which takes two days to reach Leh, after a night halt at Sarchu or Darcha. But it is always better to take Car/Jeep to Ladakh due to rough and moutainous road of this region.

By Taxi: Taxies are also available at Leh, Manali and Srinagar.

Services in Ladakh

Permit and Passport:  All Tourist require  a special permit from Distric Magistrate, Leh (Protected Area Permit (PAP) ; however, all foreigners are required to registered at Drass, Rumtse and Sarchu if they are traveling to Ladakh by road. Those traveling by air get themselves registered at the airport. The tourist are required to get aProtected Area  permit (PAP)  for restricted areas like Tsomoriri lake,  Pangong Lakes, Dha, Beema and Nubra Valley, which can be obtain through registered travel agencies. Make it sure to carry 5 or 6 photocopies of the Protected Area permit (PAP)  while traveling to submit at the Checking points. Even Domestic tourists does require Protected Area Permit(PAP), which can be obtain directly from District Maigstrate office or from any Registered Travel Agents.  

Money Exchange: All the money should be changed with authorized moneychanger, available at various places. You should insist for a receipt, which will help you in reconverting the money whenever you desire. 

Time Difference: the standard time of India is calculated from Alahabad, and is common to all cities in the country. Indian standard time (ISD) is 5 hours and 30 minutes ahead of London, 4 hours and 30 minutes ahead of Paris and about 10 hours and 30 minutes behind New York.

Credit Cards: Credit Cards are not accepted by most of the hotels and travel agents except some antique shops. ATM card machine of SBI, HDFC, AXIS ,ICICI,IDBI, J&K and PNB are available at all the places in the main market.  

Post and Telecommunication: Telephone & Fax and post facilities are available in Leh, Padum, Kargil and Nubra valley. Internet, Email services are available in Leh, Kargil and Padum only.

Avoid Acute Mountain Sickness :Acute mountain sickness can occur to anyone at an altitude above 10,000 ft. from the sea level. The most common symptoms of acute mountain sickness are headache, disturb sleep, loss of appetite, nausea, coughing, irregular breathing, breathlessness, lassitude and lack of concentration. Since Leh Town is situated at an altitude of 11,500 ft. above sea level. It is advisable to take the following precautions, so as to acclimatize your body properly.

Take complete rest for the first 24 hours of your arrival at Leh. However, this period may vary with different people. Your body should get used to the lower oxygen levels. Incase you develop any of the above-mentioned symptoms, please consult a Doctor.

Rescue and precaution for mountaineering and trekking in Ladakh :

Tourist undertaking mountaineering and trekking in Ladakh, whether in groups or individual, should take some precautions. There is no private aerial rescue agency in Ladakh and only as a life saving measure; engaging the Indian Air Force help in evacuation through your travel agent.

Government of India Ministry of Defence has authorized the station Commander, Air Force Station Leh, to airlift for rescue cum causality evacuation of members of mountaineering expedition and trekking parties in distress in the available IAF aircraft helicopter on the following conditions:.

• The evacuees should give an undertaking to the effect that payment on account of the cost of the aircraft for rescue will be borne either by the travel insurance company or by the individual concerned.
• The evacuees are also responsible for reimbursements of loss/ damage to the aircraft/helicopter while undertaking the task of rescue causality evacuation, deviation, diversion, return to base and for the liabilities due on above account-to IAF, as well as compensation to any individual including the aircrew, which may become payable as a result of any accident/incident.

The authorities empowered to place the demand for airlift of any causality require the following forms to be filled by the evacuees for settlement of bills with air force headquarter.

1. Form of guarantee of full payment.
2. Form of acceptance certificate.
3. Form of indemnity bond.
4. Photocopy of insurance policy card.
5. Photo of passport.
6. All the above forms can be obtained from Dy. Director, TRC Leh.

Tipping : Tipping has become common in Ladakh, as pony men, helpers, guides and cooks expect tip after finishing the tour. Big hotels and restaurants already charge 10% service charge. 

Photographing of People:   Take permission before you click a photograph of anyone. Don't take photo if they ask for money.  

Water purification:   Take water purification piles with you. And you can use boiled fresh water during the trek. Dzomsa and few more Shop sell high pressure boiled water for Rs.7 per liter. Bring your own water container to avoid plastic bottle menace in Ladakh.

Plastic Bags:  Do not use plastic bag since plastic is officially banned in Ladakh. Always  properly dispose off litter burns & burnable, bury biodegradable materials while trekking or touring in Ladakh.

National Parks:   Don't disturb wildlife during the trek; be aware of the highly sensitive ecology and the economy of the geographical and cultural landscape. Wildlife fees has to be paid in advance at travel agents.

Environmental Fees: A fees of INR.400 for all tourists  whiling  traveling to restricted area like Nubra Valley, Pangong lake, Tsomoririr lake, Dha-Beema.

 

SOME USEFUL TIPS WHILE YOU ARE IN  LADAKH  :

• "Julley" Means Greetings, Namaskar, Thanks etc while meeting people and receiving favors.
• Always put off your shoes before entering a monastery shrine.
• Always wear proper dress while visiting monasteries.
• Take Permission from the monks before taking photos inside the shrine.
• Always walk closewise while visiting monastery/Stupa.
• Taking intoxicating thing around the religious places is strictly not welcomed.
• Avoid offerings chocolate, pen etc to local children.
• Ladakh has no local beggars, we appreciate if you discourage outside beggars in the town.

Say No to Packed/Picnic Lunch  but ask for hot buffet meals at all the places in Ladakh!

LADAKH IS THE SAFEST PLACE IN INDIA AND PLEASE MAINTAIN IT , KEEP LADAKH NEAT, CLEAN AND PEACEFUL.