Ladakh is a treasure between the Himalayan and the Karakoram ranges. It is the coldest desert in the world. It is also the highest plateau lying at an altitude of 9800 ft. It is known for its extreme deserts, blue waters, freezing winds, glaciers, the Chadar trek and also the famous personality Sonam Wangchuk. It is completely isolated and hasn’t been urbanized completely. It is one of those places that has an ancestral spiritual connection and customs. It is a mysterious and captivating place that makes you want to stay there forever in spite of the challenges faced.
Before you read further, I just want you guys to know that I have never been to Ladakh! So why would you read further?
Because all the tips are given by a man who has a lake on his name in Spiti. You read that right! A man who discovered a lake in Spiti and the lake is named after him. He is also someone who runs a lot of initiatives like Spreading Smiles, Travel Pot, Bucket List etc.
The man I am talking about is Saurabh Sabikhi. The lake SS Tso in Spiti is named after him.
This blog is completely based on his travel experiences in Ladakh and all the photos are clicked by him. Do read till the end for a little brief of his initiatives which will put a smile on your face and will also persuade you to follow him on Instagram and become an active participant in his initiatives.
So, here are the top things you must know before visiting Ladakh.
1. Don’t Let Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) Spoil Your Trip!
We rarely focus on the effects of altitude sickness. Acute mountain sickness is a condition that affects high altitude travellers, typically above 3000m.
As the altitude increases, the atmospheric pressure decreases. And as a result, the oxygen pressure decreases. This might lead to hypoxia.
Irrespective of whether you take a road trip to Ladakh or go there by air, you can suffer from AMS.
And we all know how much a headache, dizziness or vomiting can spoil a trip. So, what to do?
Consult your doctor and start a course of Diamox at least 2 days prior to your departure.
2. Make sure that you don’t run Out of Money!
Carry enough cash keeping in mind the emergencies that might arise in the region.
There are very few ATMs in the Leh market which may or may not have enough cash.
Most restaurants and shops in Ladakh don’t accept debit or credit cards or even other forms of digital payments like PayTM and GooglePay. Also, some restaurants charge premium prices apart from the ones mentioned in the menu. So it is better to clear that with the manager before you order.
So, carry lots of cash and divide it if you have a large group.
3. Be a Responsible Traveller!
As dehydration at high altitudes can cause serious problems, travellers tend to consume more bottled water.
As a responsible traveller, one must carry a reusable water bottle and fill it up whenever possible and not loiter the beautiful surroundings.
It is also advisable to carry a small plastic or paper bag to collect all the plastic waste so that you don’t throw it there. Do keep the bag with you and when you come back to a major city or when you are at the airport, you can throw it off but don’t throw it in Leh or Ladakh because it is difficult for the locals to dispose it.
Just carry a reusable water bottle and a paper or plastic bag to carry your waste and become a responsible traveller.
4. What should your First Aid kid contain?
It is very important to carry basic medicines and first aid when you travel. But most travellers are not sure what they need to carry with them. Saurabh Sabikhi (called Saurabh Bhai hereafter) has been travelling to some amazing and unexplored places in India and here is what he suggested to carry in a first aid kit.
→ Bandages: You never know when you might get a minor cut while you are travelling. There are various types of bandages and you can get blister bandages in case you are trekking or travelling at high altitudes.
→ Gauze: In case of a major cut or wound, gauze can be used to stop bleeding and sterilise the wound. It can also help with dressing up the wound. So it is advisable to carry a couple of small gauzes in your first aid kit.
→ Surgical Tape, Small Scissors, Tweezers: Surgical tape and scissors are mainly required during the dressing of a wound. Tweezers are usually used for pulling out little stones, splinters and even thorns.
→ Antiseptic Cleaner: Most of you know what type of cleaner is required. I won’t write the brand because of obvious reasons. A small bottle of antiseptic cleaner is necessary.
→ Basic medicines for fever, headache, cough, motion sickness and diarrhoea.
→ Hand sanitizers, water purification tablets and insect/bug repellant are also necessary. You never know when you might need it.
→ Oxygen Cylinder (Small): Always carry a small oxygen cylinder if you plan to go on much higher altitude. Be it around Ladakh or anywhere else. It is very much required during emergencies and can save a life.
Carry medicines, sanitizers and a small oxygen cylinder (only if you plan to travel to higher altitudes)
5. Acclimatizing is very important!
When you travel by flight, you directly go maybe from sea level to that particular height. It is extremely important to rest the entire day in Leh.
If you have days at hand and are not in a hurry, then rest on the second day as well. Maybe roam around locally in Leh and its markets.
But on the first day, stay in the hotel. Get your body used to the surroundings and the atmosphere. It is extremely important in order to enjoy the rest of your trip.
Also, avoid consuming alcohol on the previous night of your long travel. It can end up spoiling your entire plan.
Take proper rest and get used to your surroundings. Acclimatize. That’s it!
6. Switch to Postpaid!
Most prepaid phones don't work in Ladakh and BSNL network is found almost everywhere except Nubra Valley and Pangong Tso and some other places too. Vodafone doesn’t work but Airtel does. Also, even though you might get reception of BSNL or Airtel, it is very weak. So get used to slow internet speeds and whenever your phone has reception, make calls to your loved ones.
In case you want to make any emergency calls, there are PCOs in Leh.
Prepaid phones don’t work. So carry a postpaid phone and make calls whenever the network is available. Also, get used to slow internet speeds and remember that you are there to enjoy and not post stories.
7. Know When To Travel!
It is better to avoid travelling in monsoons if possible. Since the past few years, it has started raining in and around Leh and because of that you might face road blockades and flights might get delayed.
So, avoid monsoons
8. Know About The Culture!
Before you go to Ladakh, try to know some basic things about their culture.
It helps you in mixing with them easily and it also makes them happy that you respect their culture. Also, as I previously mentioned, Ladakh is conserved spiritually and culturally. So it is very important to know about their culture.
You can also know some basic words like JULEY, which is a greeting in Ladakh.
Also, tip at the restaurants and your drivers and other local people. Their livelihoods depend on tourists like you. It doesn’t take anything to give a little extra.
Know what to do when. Respect their culture and know some basic words to ease your trip.
9. MOST IMPORTANT TIP!
Whatever IDs you have, make sure that you carry a lot of photocopies. Since Ladakh is a high tension area, you will need to present your IDs and submit photocopies in order to get permissions for sightseeing.
If possible, get in touch with someone beforehand to arrange for your permits. This will save you a lot of time and hassle. But yes, even though you get someone else to arrange for your permits, keep more photocopies with you.
Carry your IDs and a lot of photocopies!
Saurabh Bhai is an amazing person. I first started following him on Instagram @saurabhsabikhi and then got to know about the little things he does to give back to society. He runs a lot of different initiatives out of which my favourite is SPREADING SMILES.
Spreading Smiles, as the name suggests is to do little things to spread smiles on the face of little children in remote places of India.
He usually travels to offbeat places where the locals hardly see any tourists around the year.
With some savings and donations from people like us, Saurabh Bhai donates notebooks, pencils, erasers and a lot of other things to children in these remote places. It definitely puts a smile on every child's face and also on our faces whenever we see those smiles.
He also did a travel pot where someone who wants to travel but cannot afford to, gets a paid trip to a location in India.
He recently did a fundraiser to help guides, porters and drivers who rely on tourism and were suffering due to the ongoing pandemic. Ration and essentials were provided to families in Kareri Village in Himachal Pradesh and also to about 130 families in Shnonpdeng in Meghalaya, who were struggling for their everyday food.
I would like to thank Saurabh Bhai for sharing his travel experience in Ladakh and making this blog possible.
Please check out the amazing work he does on Instagram. His ID is @saurabhsabikhi
Also, with the ongoing stand-off between the Indian Army and the Chinese PLA, I would like to urge you to support our soldiers and do your bit by boycotting Chinese products. This blog would only be worth if we will be able to visit Ladakh. So, please please please support the Indian Army.
I support the Indian Army! Jai Hind!!
