Reaching Leh
Leh is well connected to New Delhi by a one-hour flight. Indian Airlines operates a daily flight during June through September and four times weekly during the rest of the year. Jet Airways operate twice daily service to Leh during summer months and once daily during the rest of the year. Air Deccan operates a daily flight throughout the year. These flights tend to be heavily booked and reservations should be made well in advance to get the best airfare package.

Road Journeys

Road Journey from Kashmir - The Srinagar-Leh National Highway is the main overland approach into Ladakh from Kashmir . This 434-km long highway broadly follows the historic trade route between Central Asia / Tibet and India . It runs across the Zoji-La (11,500-ft./3,505 m), the high pass in the Zanskar range of the Great Himalayas, which generally opens for vehicular traffic in May. This road journey provides the best possible introduction to the land and people of Ladakh region. At one stage , as you cross the Zoji-la watershed, you suddenly leave the lushness of Kashmir and enter into the barren contours of a trans-Himalayan landscape. Drass , the first township over the pass, inhabited by a population of mainly Dard origin, has the popular reputation of being the second coldest inhabited place in the world. But in summer when the pass is open, the standing crops and clumps of willow give it a gentle and pleasant look. After Drass, the valley narrows down to almost a gorge, opening up here and there to allow small patches of terraced cultivation, till Kargil town, the second largest  town of Ladakh and Headquarters of Kargil district. Here the journey has to be broken for an overnight stay.

On leaving Kargil, the road plunges into the ridges and valleys of the Zanskar range, passing through the valleys of Pashkyum and Mulek. At Mulbek, you will be able to see and admire the gigantic rock carving of Maitreya Buddha , dating to the 7 th or 8 th Century.  Two more passes, Namika-la (12,200 ft/3,719 m) and Fotu-la (13,432 ft/4,094 m), follow the exit of Mulbek valley. From Fotu1a, the road descends in sweeps and turns, past the spectacularly sited monastery of Lamayuru and the wind-eroded towers and pinnacles of "Moonland" feature, down to the Indus at Khalatse.   From here the road follows the river, passing villages with their terraced fields and neat whitewashed houses. At last Leh is visible from a ridge, dominated by the imposing 17 th century Leh Palace.

Road journey from Manali - The Manali- Leh Road (473 km) is open from early June through September. For much of its length, this road passes through barren areas that are entirely devoid of any settled habitation. Lahoul district, through which the road passes, is a typically trans-Himalayan landscape. The first major pass in this road, the Rohtang pass (13,000 ft/3,978m), cuts through the Pir Panjal range of the Great Himalayas. Lahouli houses are built in the Ladakhi pattern, out of sun-dried bricks. Whitewashed and flat-roofed, they stand among the irrigated fields of the villages, which cling to the mountain slopes. Beyond Keyl o ng, headquarter of Lahoul district, the road follows the Bhaga River up towards its source, passing a few more villages, the last till the territory of Ladakh is entered. Now it ascends the Baralacha-la (16,050 ft/ 4,892m), which is a tri-junction, with a trail from Spiti also joining in from the southeast. This is the crossing of the Great Himalayan Range , the watershed between the Indus and the Chenab Rivers .

The Zanskar Range , which lies next on this road, is crossed through two more passes, the Lachulung - la (16,600 ft/ 5,059m) and the Taglang-la (17,469 ft/5,325rn). Between these two passes , there is nothing but rock and sand, rolling hills and broad plains scoured by dust devils. In this area, seasonal camps are set up at Serchu & Pang at various points along the road to cater to the needs of travellers. Once over the Taglang-la, the descent to the Indus starts, and soon one passes the first village. The road follows the Gya River down to the Indus at Upshi , from where it is smooth driving to Leh, past the Indus valley villages of Karu, Stakna, Thikse, Shey, and Choglamsar , before entering the town.

Climate:
The climatic conditions of Ladakh are mainly dry with little or no rainfall. Summer temperatures rarely exceed 27 C in the shade while in winter they may even plunge to 15 C below zero. During winters, most parts of Ladakh are snow bound and all the land approaches out of the region are closed.

Altitude	:	3505 metres.
Temperature	:	Mean Max Mean Min. Summer 25 C 10 C Winter - 5 C - 15 C
Rainfall	:	6" average annual

 

Preparing for the Ladakh trip: 
Ladakh experiences considerable fluctuations in the day and night temperatures, even during the summer. While the days are pretty warm, sometimes even hot due to the landscape's desert effect, the evenings can become chilly, requiring additional clothing. It is, therefore, advisable to keep a pullover and / or an anorak or jacket handy. A sturdy pair of walking shoes with strong rubber or synthetic soles for grip, thick cotton socks (woollen for late autumn treks or glacier walks) are other essential items for the trip.

Following is a brief list of items advised for your Ladakh visit:

Dress / equipment:

• Comfortable trousers , preferably of warm material (cotton or wool mix) and / or Jeans.
• Thermal undergarments, sweat shirts / warm shirts (April-May / October- November).
• A full-sleeved sweater.
• Wind proof outer wear / jacket / parka, sun hat, a pair of good quality sunglasses with sufficient filter-factor to check the sun's brightness & ultraviolet rays.
• A cap or balaclava (in case the weather turns bad especially in higher places such as Pangong Lake , Tsomo-riri, Khadongla etc.)
• Comfortable walking shoes / sneakers / with thick cotton socks (avoid fancy shoes/sandals).
• For ladies: Trousers or Shalwar suite (worn over thermal inner or tights during April-May & Sept-October only), woolen sweaters / cardigans, a windproof jacket or a shawl, walking shoes with comfortable soles / sneakers (avoid sandals).
• And lastly, it will be most useful if one carried a flashlight.

Miscellaneous:

• All essential medicines, including those prescribed by personal physician (if any)
• Sun cream, lip- salve, moisturizers, antiseptic creams etc.
• Important - Take one Diamox tablets for 3 days prior to your departure for Leh by flight and continue the same for further 2 days within Ladakh to fight the effect of high altitude.
• Cash for purchase of commodities or services or souvenirs. Credit card charging is uncertain due to frequent connectivity problems in Ladakh.

Weather Forecasting: Please go to the " Weather Forecast for Leh " link on our website to learn about the weather conditions in Ladakh during your visit; you can get advance information of the weather conditions for a 15-day period, including temperature at different parts of the day-night cycle. 

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 .

The most common symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) are: breathlessness; coughing; disturbed sleep, headache, inability to concentrate; lassitude, loss of appetite, and nausea. The following precautions are necessary to avoid such problems:

• Take complete rest for up to 36 hours after arrival;
• Move about slowly and breathe deeply till your body can get used to lower oxygen levels.
• When trekking, do not permit your trekking guide to go any faster than you (and your group) can comfortably move.
• 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.

Inner line Permits : For visiting Khardungla, Nubra Valley , Pangong and Tsomo-riri Lakes and the Dah-Hanu area of Leh District, it is mandatory to obtain Protected Area permits from the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Leh. For Diplomatic personnel, this permission is issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India.

Useful Tips: In Ladakh, you will find a culture in rapid 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.