To the mystical land of high passes

Flight Included:

Onward – DEL-IXL 29 Aug  0830 0955

Return –  IXL-DEL  08 Sep   1125 1300

Reach and leave Delhi accordingly.

• Ladakh is a high altitude cold desert. So while the temperature may not exceed 25 degrees C, the afternoons can still feel extremely hot due to the sharp sun.

• Mornings and Evenings will be cold, especially near Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri with temperatures as low as -3 degrees C in the night. In other words, typical cold desert summer weather – warm days and cool nights in Leh/Nubra(~3000m) and very cold night at Pangong(~4500m).

• You may get slight rainfall that may bring the temperature down further. Sudden drizzle is common in high mountains.
  

  *Please note that now a days, climate/ weather is dependent on many factors and unpredictable hence above information might be subject to change during your actual travel days

• Homestay – Simple but clean accommodation (twin sharing) and extremely hospitable local people.

• Canvas room tents at Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri. The tents will have cots, blankets and attached bathroom.

• Simple Indian food such as rotis/dal, rice etc. Toast/Omlettes will be available.
• If you have special dietary requests, please let us know beforehand.
• It would also be a good idea to carry some meal packets with you if you have special requirements. While a variety of food is available in Leh, the options will be limited when we are on the move to far flung places.

• You HAVE to be physically fit – Leh is a high altitude desert and portion of our journey will be through some of the highest roads in the world ~ 4000 m above MSL.
• Please consult your physician before booking the trip. Please note that we will be staying in certain places where no medical help is available.
• You will have to produce a physical fitness certificate. Also, you need to sign an agreement with F5 that you are undertaking this trip at your own risk.
• The first two days are strictly for acclimatisation. We expect all travellers to follow the guidelines.
• This is a non-smoking and a non-alchoholic trip. We absolutely do not encourage alcohol at high altitudes.
• Expect traffic jams! (especially enroute Khardungla and Changla)
• The rafting charges are not included in the package. This is because, although rafting is mostly operational throughout the season, the actual weather on that particular day will finally decide its run that day.
• We are taking the newly functional Shyok route from Nubra to Pangong, avoiding coming back to Leh. This will save time. However, in case there is a problem with the route (as is common in regions like Ladakh), we will have to return to Leh that day and do a day trip to Pangong the next day

Tips to physically prep for trip:

One has to earn her journey to the mountains. That is one reason we remain cautious about fitness ofour participants for a trip like Ladakh. The oxygen is rare at higher altitudes and can cause a bit of headache. The best way to deal with it is to acclimatize and descend. We have planned our itinerary in a way that gives us ample time to do that. So, it might look like we are not doing a lot in a day but that is because we are not travelling to plains.

The trip lead will have all medical necessities and in case of emergencies, there are army first aid centers at higher altitude. We have conducted two very successful trips to Ladakh and understand that fitness required for the trip. If you are involved in some sort of physical exercise regularly, you should be fine. If you have any pre-existing conditions, please let us know in advance. We have had an asthamatic person travel to Ladakh without any issues.

Headache and nausea are common on high altitudes. Please do not mistake it for Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). There is no need for panic if you are feeling tired or having a headache as we drive towards, say, Khardung La. That is natural and will not cause any serious problem. The trick is to keep yourself hydrated and not completely empty in the stomach. Diamox is a preventive medicine to take care of High Altitude Sickness. You can start taking this a day before the trip (one after breakfast). We recommend it but please consult your doctor before taking it.

We will take frequent breaks in case you feel uneasy. The trip lead is there to help you in every case. There has never been a case of someone not acclimatizing, if the first day in Leh is spent resting, eating and drinking water.

If you are still worried, start brisk walking half an hour each day, or take stairs to the office. This is recommended anyway, whether you are travelling to Ladakh or not!