h Important Points
GENERAL INFORMATION
TEMPERATURE
The winter temp. Touches as low as minus 30 degree (Leh & Kargil) and minus 60 degree in (Drass) subzero temp. Prevails from December to February throughout Ladakh, whereas, zero degree temp. is experienced during rest of winter months. This result in freezing of all conceivable water resources. During summers the maximum temp. Increases from 20 degree C to 38 degree C in July and August
LANGUAGES SPOKEN
Ladakhi is the main language of Ladakh; other languages spoken are Balti, Shina, Brokshat and Changshat. In hotels and restaurants staff speaks English and Hindi, while tourist guides are are well versed with the language.
PERMIT AND PASSPORT
Tourist don't require permit for Leh, however, all foreigners are required to be registered at Drass, Rumtse and Serchu if they are traveling overland. Those traveling by air get themselves registered at airport. Tourists are required to get permit for restricted areas like Tsomoriri, Tsokar and Pangong Lakes, Dhahanu and Nubra Valley, which can be obtained from District Magistrate, Leh, through Travel Agents at Leh.
CLOTHING & ACCESSORIESCLOTHING & ACCESSORIES
- Track pants or trousers
- T – Shirts
- Sweatshirts
- Sweaters / Jackets
- Pair of woolen / Cotton socks
- Hat (wool if cold) and sunglasses
- Warm clothing (i.e. synthetic fleece)
- Comfortable footwear
- Toilet paper/tissue
- Camera and film
- Small notebook and pens
CREDIT CARDS & ATM MACHINE
Credit cards are accepted by very few hotels and tour operators but there will be 2.5% service charge. The Jammu and Kashmir Bank and State Bank of India has placed ATM Machine in Leh. The State Bank of India accepts visa and Maestro but this ATM is not very reliable. J&K Bank ATM is more reliable but accepts only Maestro. Now we have Punjab National Bank, HDFC Bank & Axis Bank ATM’S available in Leh Market
TRAVEL TIPS
Most of Ladakh is at an altitude of more than 3000m so you need to get acclimatized before you can set about. Your body needs to adapt to high altitude, as the higher you go, the air becomes rarified and the oxygen available for you to breathe becomes lesser. Even though your body is capable of adapting to 'thin air', you need to give it time to do so. This is what is called acclimatization. Acclimatization is essential to avoid acute mountain sickness (AMS). The symptoms include headache, lethargy, dizziness, and loss of appetite.
ACCLIMATIZATION - If you are traveling by air to Leh (alt: 3505 M / 11505 ft.), you must allow a day of complete rest for getting used to the high altitude and low level of atmospheric oxygen. High altitude sickness or Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) is a risky condition faced by tourists who do not allow sufficient time for acclimatization upon reaching Leh by air.
High Altitude Pulmonary Oedema (HAPO) and High Altitude Cerebral Oedema (HACO) are very serious forms of acute mountain sickness. These are life-threatening ailments and require immediate medical attention
- The most common symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) are: breathlessness; coughing; disturbed sleep, headache, inability to concentrate; lassitude, loss of appetite, nausea etc.
- The following precautions are necessary to avoid such problems:
- Take complete rest at least for a day after arrival;
- Move about slowly and breathe deeply till your body get used to the lower oxygen level.
- When trekking, do not permit your trekking guide to go any faster than you (and your group) can comfortably move.
IMPORTANT - It's generally suggested to take one Diamox tablet a day for 3 days prior to your departure for Leh by air and continue it within Ladakh, if required, to overcome the effect of high altitude. However, you must consult your doctor and confirm if you can take diuretic medicines like Diamox or Disprin tablets - If so, what the dosage is.
REMEMBER: You might feel 'normal' when you land at Leh, but that's an illusion as the effect of the altitude and low oxygen level hits slowly. It is important that you do not exert yourself on the very first day, as your body needs time to acclimatize itself. If you neglect to do this, then you might fall sick and spoil your much awaited holiday in the hills.
USEFUL TIPS - In Ladakh, you will find a culture in transition, yet one in which the traditional values are still largely intact. In order to make your visit to Ladakh more pleasant, both for yourself and for the host community, some general guidelines that may be helpful.
DRESS CODE: Please avoid wearing shorts and sleeveless shirts, blouses, tops, undershirts etc. in public and especially in monasteries, mosques, temples, gurudhwaras, and churches. The same holds true on the trekking routes. While short clothing is acceptable in camp-sites away from human habitation, they should be changed for trousers, slacks and sleeved shirts or blouses in villages where you might stop. Under no event should swimwear (and for women bikini tops) be worn in public as these may be taken as sexually provocative and be a cause of possible harassment.
BEHAVIOUR CODE: Please keep your affection for your partner as a private matter and confined to your own rooms or tents, but not for public display, on the street, in religious buildings, in restaurants or at public events.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Please do not take photographs of local people without seeking permission, nor of, or within, any religious building and of any religious ceremony, without permission of the official in-charge of the concerned religious place. Remember that the intense light of flash photography is damaging to ancient wall paintings and tapestries.
Do's:
- Always carry drinking water and dry food.
- Take Disprin with you if you want to go to Khardung La, as it is very high altitude of 5359m. Temperature in Ladakh is too low and if you will throw any biodegradable item, it will remain in the same state for very long time, especially in snow, people defecate and the shit remains in the same form for years, so please try the Ladakhi winter toilets. Interact with local people. They love to interact and it will also change your outlook. People there are very friendly and hospitable. Do not betray them and respect them. Carry warm clothes Make a first-aid box and carry proper medicines for headache, fever, and vomiting also in it (The Hotels & Camps we are using will be very much equipped with First Aid) Again remember to not use plastic in Ladakh. Vodafone connection does not work there and Airtel / Aircel / BSNL postpaid work well over there for roaming connectivity. There is electricity problem in Leh, so it is better to take extra batteries for digital products like camera, mobiles phones, etc. Charge them fully before leaving for the tour. You may not get electricity at some remote places and also because of the cold, the battery gets discharged soon.
Don'ts:
- If you reach Leh by air, stay that day and do not plan to go anywhere for that day, as you will need a minimum day to acclimatize yourself. Drink plenty of fluids (that does not include alcohol), do not move much for the first one or two days.
- Appeal: Ladakh is a "no polythene" zone. Kindly respect this and please carry back all the plastic you take with you.
- Help Ladakhi government and people to keep Ladakh clean.
- Refill your water bottles instead of buying new ones. Mountain water is good. If you have doubt, boil it and refill. Ladakhi guesthouse owners feel happy on refilling water for their guests.
- Please respect Ladakhi culture. Do not make fun of them. Do not try to influence them with your western outlook. They are happy the way they are, in their natural form of culture.
- Wear nice clothes covering your body while on roads, especially while visiting a Buddhist Gompa.
- Encourage local business by eating local food, buying local items, and support local economy because modern things can be bought from anywhere in the world, but Ladakhi items you will only get in Ladakh.
- People in Ladakh use to live interdependently and with multinational companies influencing them, they are being affected, so please support the local culture.
- RATES ARE DYNAMIC AND SUBJECT AVAILABILITY. IT WILL FLUCTUATE AS PER HOTEL INVENTORY, FESTIVAL PERIOD, PEAK DATES, CITY SOLD OUT DATES,ETC.
- Transportation consider Garage to Garage as per valid kms. Extra kms rate will be direct payable by guest only.
- Given cost is estimated, based on lowest hotel rates existing as of now. We Don’t Hold Any Confirmation For Hotels. It’s Subject To availability at the time of booking. Any difference in cost shall be borne by Passenger.
- In Hill station places (like shimla ,Manali , nainital , kausani , Munnar , Thekkady) the AC facility will not be there in the rooms.
- At some places & at some hotels the higher category rooms are there with AC but that will be possible with the supplement cost.
- The vehicle like tempo travelers are not of very good condition so rather opt for Innova.
- Check-in time at Hotel is 1400 Hrs& Check-out time is 1100 Hrs.
- Your tours and transfers are based on tour itinerary & not at disposal basis.
- Your Itinerary will be strictly on timings.
- Room Rates based on Standard Rooms. Supplement cost will be applicable for Valley Facing / higher category rooms.
- Breakfast will start from Day 2 of the itinerary.
- Services will be given in exchange of Original vouchers/Itinerary only.
- Portages and Driver Tips are extra
- Optional sightseeing has to be booked in advance on your own by paying an additional cost.
- There is No Refund for un utilized Service
- All cost are per person based on twin sharing
- Car cost is counted as per children & adults sharing a car
- On hilly areas the CAR AC will not work.
- During sightseeing the vehicle will go up to permissible point only, from that point any arrangement to be made all extra expenses shall have to be borne by the passengers.
- Extra bed in the room means only extra mattress.(no cot)
- Any govt. tax levied must be borne by the passengers only.
- Pre-ponement of journey is not allowed. It will be treated as cancellation & accordingly the cancellation charges will be applicable.
- If accommodation is not available in the identified / specific hotel for the particular package tour due to reason beyond our control, we shall make our best efforts to shift the clients to hotel maintaining / having more or less the same standard. No complaint or claim shall be made by the client in this respect.
- If any airline is delayed or cancelled, our company is not responsible for any compensation for hotels, meals, sightseeing or any other claim.
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