6 Quick Tips To Keep In Mind While Traveling To Leh – Ladakh

What we see on the mountains from here is not how it actually is. The snow, lakes and greenery at those serene places often attract us but what we forget to evaluate is the difference in the altitudes and sometimes don’t plan our trip accordingly. So, here are some quick tips to keep in mind while planning your trip to 10,000 ft.- 18,000 ft. above the sea level:

#1. Keep your warm clothes close & camphor closer

Right when you will land, you would feel loss of breath due to the low level of oxygen & since it’s freezing most of the time, you should keep your warm clothes along with camphor wrapped in cotton or a handkerchief. Camphor would help you breath well, though a lot of people rely on oxygen pumps and medicines too but that’s your choice what to choose. We recommend camphor as it’s the safest option to pick.

#2: Stay hydrated

Keep having lots and lots of water even if you do not feel thirsty. Because of low level of oxygen in the body, it’s very important to keep your body hydrated by having water in frequent intervals. You can always keep having juices or citrus drinks as substitutes too.

#3. Don’t sleep immediately after you land

You would listen in the flight announcements too that’s it advisable that you do not go to sleep right after landing and checking into your hotel. Give your body some time to get adapted to the environment. Take a walk around, have some coffee and read on the first day.

#4. You might get mild or severe headache but that’s okay

Reason behind this headache is again the low level of oxygen & the pain might last for the whole day. Best remedy would be to relax for 1 day, roam around in the local places only, stay warm and keep calm. Start exploring the places from the next day which means you must have at least 8-10 days in leh to be able to explore it to some level. Leh is full of beauty and different landscapes at every corner. You need time to make most of it.

#5. Keep some cash along if you are traveling during public holidays

People of Ladakh don’t rely much on plastic money and though there are enough ATM’s around, cash crunch could be an issue. We were there during a long weekend and due to power cuts and bank holidays either the ATMs were not working or out of cash. We had to manage 4 days with almost no money. Thankfully we decided to carry some before leaving from Delhi and that came handy and our cab driver was kind enough to offer us money if need be. If you do not carry it from your hometown there are a couple of ATMs at the Airport.

#6. You need permits for visiting lot of popular locations

You need to get your inner land permits done before starting your visit to different locations in Ladakh. It would cost you around 1k for 2 people for 5 days if you are an Indian citizen for. For Foreign Nationals this fee is a bit higher. It took use few minutes only as we had reached when the lunch hour was ending, though we heard that sometimes it can takes hours to get your permits done. If you hire a travel agent for the same they will charge a nominal fee to get your permits signed.So plan accordingly.

Language is not a problem as most of the guides, drivers and local people speak both Hindi & English.

One important tip, you must go a visit Leh and experience it’s untouched beauty before it is ruined with so much tourist footfall that has begun within the last couple of years.

Have a great trip to Ladakh!

While you are there, try and go to Turtuk too. Here’s some more details about the place:

Turtuk – Changing Nationalities