If you are heading for Ladakh first Prepare Yourself Physically for this high altitude venture:
· Walk for 1-2 hour everyday and do some cardio exercise at least 4 times a week.
· Daily Breathing and stretching exercises are must.
· Consume quality food and enough fluid especially from a week before the trip.
· Avoid smoking and in-taking alcohol.
Clothing
1. Multiple layers of thin cotton based clothes are more effective and convenient than heavy, bulky wears. Full sleeves T-shirts gives protection from cold as well as harsh sun light. So carry 6-8 such t-shirts based on duration of the trip. This is particularly important since with the varying altitudes of the road level from 10,000 ft to 18,500 ft temperature may fluctuate from 35° to -15° or less. Also days are sunny while nights are freezing. So as per your requirement you can go on adding or reducing layers of protections.
2. Avail light snow jackets even if it costs more. Must carry muffler & monkey-caps even if your jacket has head cover. Also keep hat to shade from sun
3. Several pairs of socks, woolen gloves and snow gloves.
4. Keep many sets of thermal inner wears, tights, cotton trousers, track suits, and under garments. You may not get chance for washing and re-using.
5. Carry shorts or Capri in case you go for river Rafting.
6. Carry a Rain coat.
Other Accessories and useful
Items:
1. UV sun-glasses.
2. Sleeping bag, bed sheets and shawl.
3. A plastic sheet of about 2 meter × 2 meter may find use.
4. Good grip, thick soled shoes preferably with anklets and washable sleepers, spare shoe laces (optional).
5. Safety scissors, Pocket knife, spoon set, glass or mug.
6. Hand sanitizing liquid, liquid soap and shampoo.
7. Moisturizer, cold cream, lip guard, petroleum jelly and of course Sun-screen with high SPF.
8. Toothbrush and paste.
9. Towel and tissue papers.
10. A toilet paper role (even if you are an Indian).
11. Handy mirror and comb.
12. Shaving kit (for men).
Medical Kit:
Antiseptic lotion and cream, bandage, cotton, nebasulf powder.
Medicines including antibiotics, anti-histamines, gurgle, nasal drop to combat cough and cold.
Anti-vomiting, headache removing medicines, diamox or similar for altitude sickness, painkillers.
Antacids, medicines for diarrhea or stomach upset, digestive enzyme.
Personal medicines in regular use, camphor to relief breathing trouble.
Other Musts
- Must carry always
with you your photo identity proof like voter-id card/ driving license/
passport in original and their photo copies and at least 5 copies of
passport size photograph. These are required to avail permits in certain
frontier locations.
- Torch with spare batteries for trekking.
- Chain and locks for train journey.
- For air travel keep liquid items, sharp objects within check-in
luggage and not in your hand bag.
- Zip-lock bag (optional) for camera, spare camera batteries and
charger
- Adopter or spike-guard to get multiple sockets from a single plug
point.
- Spare batteries for mobile too since extreme climate causes faster
discharge.
- Dry food items, candies and bottled water. Purchase from local
market whatever quality foods are available.
Luggage and Packing tips:
- Zipped bags are preferred over molded luggage. Backpack is even
more convenient while walking. The main bag should be of 60 liters or so.
- Keep individual backpack of 35-40 liters for each family member to
carry camera, worm clothes, medicines, water bottle, torch, photo-id proof
etc.
- Small side bags for keeping money, tickets and documents. Keep
handy but essential items in this day pack.
- A responsible traveler should carry a Waste Pouch too.
- Using compression strap help keep things in place.
- All items should be securely wrapped by waterproof plastic or nylon
pouches.
Telecommunication:
BSNL connection is usually
available even in remote places of India. Post paid connections also functions.
But in most sites like Pangong Lake, Nubra Vally Sarchu mobile signals are not
at all available.
Emergency Money:
Always keep money for emergency and ATM card in
addition to the tour & camp fee. This is a reserve fund in case you face
any adverse climatic condition prolonging your stay and making you halt in a
location not included in your tour programme or medical emergency. Please don’t
mix it up with your shopping provision.
Precautions:
Keep
provision for buffer time because of unforeseen delay due to landslides,
climatic change or road conditions leading to traffic jam. Many rivers cut the
roads which are crossed without bridge. But with the progress of the day the
rivers swell up not allowing direct passage. Start your journey in the early
morning which is possible only if you reach the night shelter before 11am.
Don’t
exert much during first 2/3 days and allow your body to acclimatize with rapid
gain of altitudes. Air travelers landing directly in Leh should take complete
rest in the first day. You should go for thorough health check up before
commencing the journey. If possible carry oxygen cylinder for emergency in
addition to medicines.
Drink
plenty of water and non alcoholic fluids and eat even if you don’t feel like.
Empty stomach aggravates vomiting tendency and other symptoms.
In
Ladakh safari journey is as enjoyable if not more as the destinations. If you
choose to cross Kashmir valley enjoy landscape change from green meadows to
arid zone while crossing Zoji La Pass (11.200 ft). Have a thrilling trip to sensitive
Kargil and Drass sector (second coldest habitat place in earth), watch 30 ft
statue of ‘Matreya Buddha’ carved on stone cliff at Namkila Pass(12,204 ft),
cross Fatu La (13,479 ft), the highest pass between Kashmir and Leh, camp at
Ulhey Topko to enjoy rafting in Indus and many more. Another road rout is via
Manali to Ladakh valley. The entire journey is a lifetime experience. The tour
is hectic in both way and attempt if you are mentally and physically prepared
to fight odds of mountain region.