Essential Travel Tips for Leh Ladakh Trip

Visiting Leh-Ladakh is a dream of every Indian. The surreal landscapes, rugged topography, barren panoramas, intriguing soundlessness, & stunning high-altitude lakes have a unique charm that cannot be described in words. Unfortunately, it is not a destination where you can pack your bags and leave. Due to extreme climatic conditions and low oxygen levels, tourists should take a few precautions when touring Leh-Ladakh. The harsh terrain, scary remoteness, dangerous roads, patchy network, & lack of infrastructure make Leh-Ladakh a tough place for a holiday. A vacation in Leh-Ladakh requires careful planning and thoughtful consideration of every aspect of the trip.

After the success of the movie “3 Idiots”, there has been a surge in tourism in Ladakh. Thousands of people visit it every year, including families, solos, and honeymooners. After returning from a challenging trip to Leh-Ladakh, I decided to list a few essential tips for visiting Ladakh. Everyone must take precautions when visiting Leh-Ladakh to ensure a safe, hassle-free journey.

Get Acclimatized

Acclimation is the major problem that everyone faces in Leh-Ladakh. Ladakh is a high-altitude mountain region with an altitude ranging from 10,000 ft to 23,000 ft above mean sea level. This can result in Acute Mountain Sickness. AMS can cause nausea, vomiting, headache, breathlessness, lethargy, rapid heart rate, and lack of appetite. Even fit people can be severely affected by AMS. Your body needs to acclimate to low atmospheric pressure and low oxygen levels. If you have high blood pressure, asthma, or heart problems, consult your doctor before planning a trip to Ladakh. In severe cases, you may need oxygen or hospitalization.

Start taking a Diamox tablet 2-3 days before you come to Leh, especially if you are flying in. If you are driving, this shouldn’t be a problem, as the gradual ascent will give you time to acclimatize to higher altitudes. It can take your body up to 48 hours to adjust to low oxygen levels. So, relax in your room, drink plenty of fluids, eat light meals, and avoid alcohol/smoking. If you are experiencing severe symptoms, don’t hesitate to ask for oxygen or a doctor. You should reserve the first 2 days in Leh to acclimate to the changing conditions. After that, you can depart for Nubra Valley/Pangong Lake. Don’t over-exert yourself, especially on the high-altitude passes. If you notice any symptoms, take a rest and descend immediately to low-altitude regions.

Carry your First-Aid Kit

While traveling in Ladakh, especially outside Leh, instant medical help is not readily available. In certain remote hilly areas, it can be hard to find medical supplies. It is better to be well-equipped with your First Aid box. The First-Aid box must include medicines for vomiting, headache, motion sickness, fever, & stomach ache, as well as other medicines you need daily. Please bring enough stock to last the entire trip, and don’t rely on getting them replenished in Leh. It is advisable to carry a thermometer, sanitizer, & oximeter. You can also rent an oxygen cylinder locally for long, challenging road trips. In case of a medical emergency on the road, try to go to the nearest Army General Hospital or Army camp for help.

Keep some Extra Time

While planning an itinerary in Leh-Ladakh, do not limit yourself to strict timelines. Ladakh has rugged terrain, and roads are in poor condition due to heavy snowfall during winter. Landslides, snowstorms, roadblocks, repair work, and traffic snarls can prolong your journey by hours, jeopardizing all your carefully laid plans. In such a scenario, the only option is to wait for the roads to be cleared and reopened. If you are not able to recover from AMS quickly, it can also delay your onward journey. So, always keep a buffer of 2 days beyond your actual itinerary.

Pack Essentials

Whatever the season in Ladakh, always carry adequate warm clothes, as temperatures drop sharply after sunset. Layering is also always a good idea. If you are visiting Leh-Ladakh in winter, pack heavy winter clothing, boots, and windproof jackets. Pack suntan lotion, sunglasses, hats, toilet paper, car chargers, power banks, and other essentials. Keep a reserve of edibles like chocolates, snacks, dry fruits, biscuits, energy bars, packaged food, and non-alcoholic drinks with you when you are on the road. Remote areas have limited food options, and these items will come in very handy. You might not see a shop or café for hours, so you have to keep yourself prepared for hunger pangs.

Be Cautious on Road Trips

In Leh-Ladakh, the only option for transportation is on-road. You can self-drive or take a taxi. However, the roads are in an awful state in some stretches. Additionally, they are often impacted by landslides, traffic snarls & roadblocks. Before you leave for your destination, check that the route is open. Fill your vehicle with petrol/diesel, as you might not find any petrol pumps in far-off areas. Start early in the morning, as the average speed in Ladakh is very low, and it is best to reach your destination before dark. Carry an offline map in case Google Maps doesn’t work due to poor internet. 

Drive a car or motorbike only if you are well-equipped and at ease on the rough mountain roads. Several stretches face a real threat from stones falling from the hill down the road. Do not stop or slow down in the shooting stone area. Bikers must never travel without helmets. Be prepared with spare parts such as puncture kits, tire tubes, and cables, as vehicle breakdowns are common in Leh-Ladakh.

Lack of Mobile Connectivity

Leh-Ladakh is a sensitive area due to its proximity to the Chinese and Pakistani borders. It is also situated at a higher altitude and is very remote. As a result, you will find no network coverage in most inner areas. Only postpaid networks are allowed here, so your mobile may be unusable if it has a prepaid plan. Keep your family and friends informed of your plans so they don’t worry if they can’t reach you for hours. If you get stuck somewhere, remember that help is not just a phone call away. Keep that in mind and plan accordingly.

Permit Requirements in Ladakh

An Inner Line permit is a travel document issued by Indian authorities that allows you to travel to restricted areas. The government has recently scrapped the Inner Line Permit for Indian citizens. Foreign tourists still need a Protected Pass Permit to visit the protected areas. PAPs can only be obtained through a registered travel agent. The permit is issued only to groups of four or more overseas tourists.

Bonus Tips

• Do not travel with very young children, especially those who cannot speak when they are ill. It is simpler if the children are over the age of five. Infants under three months old should not travel to Leh because their lungs are not yet mature enough to withstand altitude sickness.
• If you are traveling with a child, be very vigilant about the child’s physical condition and give them time to acclimate slowly. Protect them from very high altitudes and bitter cold.
• There are a few ATMs in Leh, but nothing beyond that. These ATMs are also often non-operational. So, come prepared with sufficient cash as small eateries, shops, & hotels will not take cards.
• Check the weather before leaving home. If the weather is not favorable, a trip to Ladakh can be dangerous.
• May- September is the best time to visit Ladakh.
• Buses are available for inter-city transport. However, due to unpredictable weather conditions, their services are irregular.
• Try to travel in a group while visiting Leh, especially if you are visiting remote areas. A few routes, such as Nubra Valley to Pangong, are very remote and isolated. You won’t see a shop or a car/person for miles, and there is no network coverage. Finding help can be hard, and things can become worrisome in the event of a mishap.
• Leh-Ladakh is a plastic-free zone, so please do not bring any plastic bags. Do not litter.
• Avoid staying in Pangong Tso if you are prone to AMS. The lake is one of the high-altitude lakes in India, and the lack of oxygen makes survival difficult, especially in winter. Insufficient medical aid, nonexistent infrastructure, and the region’s isolation make a stay at Pangong Tso a risky proposition.
• Carry your original government identity card with you at all times – Aadhar card/passport copy/Driver’s License. Also, keep multiple photocopies of your IDs as you might need to submit them at various checkpoints.
• There are many areas, like airports and monasteries, where photography is strictly prohibited. Follow the rules.
• Power cuts are pretty common in the region, so carry a torch and a power bank with you at all times.
• Check if your hotel has oxygen supplies within the premises. It can be challenging to arrange for a cylinder when you are sick in bed if the hotel staff is not helpful. Do your research before booking accommodations.
• If you are prone to motion sickness, take the necessary medications before starting your long road journeys.
• It is difficult to find public toilets as they are few and far between. The only option is to use the washrooms attached to small eateries. Their hygiene and cleanliness leave a lot to be desired, so carry your sanitizer, toilet roll, etc.

The aim of listing these tips is not to scare anyone. Leh-Ladakh is a rustic, unspoiled, & striking destination that should find a place on your bucket list. But it cannot be denied that if you plan to visit Leh-Ladakh, you should be cautious and take all necessary safety measures.