Leh Ladakh Tour: A complete travel guide.
How to reach:
1. By Airway:
The most comfortable way to opt for reaching Ladakh would be by
a flight. All the major cities are well connected to the Kushok
Bakula Rimpochee Airport near Leh. Several flights are available
throughout the year but sometimes the unpredictable weather in
winters might disrupt the schedule.
2. By Roadway:
Ladakh is well connected to Srinagar and Manali by road. Although
you can travel by road only for 6 months as the rest of the year
snow piles up and blocks the road. Here are the various options for
you to pick from.
i) Take a Bike trip
This is the most popular way among travel and adventure
enthusiasts. This gives you an added advantage of different
sightseeing along the way. The Manali to Leh route is most
preferred among travelers for its convenience and amazing
vantage points. On the other hand, Srinagar to Leh would
provide you with comfortable accommodation.
ii) Take a car/private transport
If you want to experience the same thrill as the bike trip but also
want to share it with your family, you can go for a car ride to
Ladakh.
The Srinagar-Leh route is about 434 km long while the Manali-
Leh route is 490 km.
iii) Public Transport
There is a direct bus service from Delhi to Ladakh but covering
1,203 km on a bus can be tiring.
3. By Railway:
If you are one of those persons who prefer trains over roads for a
long ride, then the nearest train station from Ladakh is in Jammu.
From there you can cover a 700 km distance to Ladakh by any of
the above roadway.
How to Acclimatize:
After reaching comes the acclimatization, meaning the process of getting
accustomed to a new climate or to new conditions. Most of the places in
Ladakh are situated at an altitude of 12,000 ft and above, tourists may
be prone to dizziness, nausea and Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). To
avoid these
problems, you should give yourself at least a day to acclimatize by
resting.
Several medicines like Diamox, Aspirin and dexamethasone are
suggested for the mountain sickness.
How to Plan your Budget:
The cost to Leh Ladakh tour packages can be anywhere between
28,000 to 45,000 INR. One should understand that there are many
factors around which the trip cost is measured. The airfare, type of
accommodation, meals, activities you participate in and miscellaneous
things like tolls, parking fee and entry fees. If you want to cut back on
cost, you can choose to stay in hostels or homestay rather than 3 star or
5-star hotels which approximately cost you 4000 INR per night. Similarly,
the meals at dhaba (150 INR per meal for a person) are comparatively
less expensive than in a restaurant. If you are planning to take a bike trip
you can measure the cost according to the average of the bike.
What to carry:
· Clothing: your regular wears plus light thermal wear,
windproof jacket, heavy woolen jacket, raincoat, woolen caps
and muffler, snow boots
· Accessories: sunglasses, gloves, Sunscreen, lip balm and
toiletries like paper soap, sanitizer, toothpaste, brush, comb
· Document: some places require Indian citizens to get an
inner line permit for security reasons, and foreigners to get
Protected Area permit. If you are traveling with an agency, they
will arrange it for you or you can just apply it online. Also carry
your photocopy and identity card.
· Electronics: Camera with extra batteries, power bank and
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spare charger.
· Medicines: your prescription if any, Diamox, Aspirin,
Paracetamol and Glucose/ORS.
· Eatables: Energy bar, dry fruits, water bottles, chocolates and
snacks.
What to see:
There are a number of things to do and see in Ladakh, from mountain
trekking to walking around the peaceful lakes. From visiting high altitude
monasteries to indulging in the adventurous river rafting here are the
things you can look out for.
1) Lakes: Pangong Lake, Tso Moriri, Tso Kar, Yarab Tso
2) Attractions: Leh Palace, Jama Masjid, Drass war memorial,
Magnetic Hill, Old town, Hall of Fame, Hemis National Park, Ice
Stupa
3) Passes: Khardung La, Chang La, Baralacha La, Zoji La, Tanglang
La, Fotu La
4) Monasteries: Diskit Monastery, Thiksey Monastery, Alchi
Monastery, Spituk Monastery, Lamayuru Monastery
5) Activities: Trekking, River rafting, Mountain biking, Jeep safari,
Camel safari, Ice skating, Camping and Festivals.
When To Visit:
· April to May: This is the peak tourist season; weather is
pleasant and you can enjoy outdoor activities. Also, the famous
Hemis Festival happens during this period.
· Mid-may to July: The ice starts to melt off from the road and
you can do that road trip with beautiful snow-clad mountains.
· August to September: Even though Ladakh falls under a rain
shadow region, this period is not ideal for travelling by road and
the scenery is a bit hazy.
· September to October: This season is best for road trips and
outdoor activities with fewer tourists as the winter is just about
to set in.
· October to November: The chilly wind in the air makes it
harder for people to acclimatize and very few tourists remain.
However, you can cut costs on accommodation in this season.
· November To March: Ladakh is at its coldest and the
Tourist’s population is almost sparse. Although some trekkers
visit to do the infamous Chadar trek in winters.
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