What is AMS or High Altitude Sickness?

AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness), commonly referred to as High Altitude Sickness, can be evident in higher mountains (9000+ ft). During this type of sickness, a person starts to feel headache, irritation, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, or even unconsciousness. Also, the brain tends to react more slowly. Although on several occasions, it became very fatal and dangerous. Don’t worry, shortly we are going to discuss how you can fight AMS or High Altitude Sickness. But before that, we should know why AMS or high Altitude sickness happens?

Why does AMS happen?

AMS or high Altitude sickness happens because of a lack of oxygen to breathe. Above 9000 ft, the oxygen proportion in the air becomes thinner due to limited or no greenery. As we all know, oxygen is the most important fuel for our brain and other vital organs, too. Lack of it makes the brain more stressed, hence our brain starts to malfunction or become disordered.

Who should face High Altitude Sickness?

Everyone is likely to face AMS or high-altitude sickness. Although the chances of an active person getting affected are lower. An active person means those who do cardio once or more in a week, walk regularly, or are involved in physical activities daily. This does not mean, a relatively less active person will face AMS. In many cases, AMS does not work as this theory goes, which is why you should know how to fight AMS or high Altitude sickness.

How to fight High Altitude Sickness?

Dealing with AMS or high Altitude sickness is pretty easy; there are a few tips below to follow from the very moment you start climbing the altitude.

1. Don’t gain altitude rapidly. Instead, break your journey into days so that you give your body enough time to acclimatize.
2. Once you reach high altitude destinations like Leh, take a full day’s rest for better acclimatization.
3. Refrain from high-intensity activities like running, carrying heavy loads basically cardio-related activities.
4. Drink plenty of water and/or ORS throughout the day. Don’t let your body get dehydrated. Carry hot water while on the move.
5. Control your food; you should consume less and easily digestible foods. Try to avoid spicy and red meat items.
6. Don’t starve; have some food at regular intervals.
7. Whenever possible, try to have hot food. This helps maintain body temperature and also feels better during AMS.
8. Always try to keep the car window open, so that you get accustomed to the weather and the oxygen level change. Otherwise, you will probably get sick once you reach the destination and come out of the car all of a sudden.
9. I strongly recommend that, do not consume Alcohol or Smoke in high altitude areas. Alcohol may slow down your response time, and the rate of oxygen infusion in the blood may also cause digestive problems.

What if AMS or High Altitude Sickness hit you?

Don’t panic, this can happen to anyone. Remember, surrender is better in these kinds of situations. Tell others that you are not feeling good. Initially, you can halt and consume hot water (works best), ORS, or hot food like noodles or soup. Wait for 10 to 15 minutes; if not better, move to a lower altitude immediately, and contact the nearest health center. In some border regions like Ladakh, North Sikkim, you can seek help in an Indian Army camp; they always help.

AMS can ruin your entire trip and enjoyment; don’t take it lightly. Preparations can lower the effect of AMS or high Altitude sickness drastically to even zero.

Medicines for High Altitude Sickness

I never recommend taking medicines for preventing or avoiding AMS or high Altitude sickness. Instead, I will suggest focusing on the above practices.

I have not carried medicines below during the Kolkata – Leh – Kolkata Ride, following the above points helped me a lot to not face any of the symptoms of AMS or high Altitude Sickness.

If you still want to know about medicines, here you are

• Coca 6 or Coca 30 (Homeopathy)
• Diamox (not recommended for sulfur allergies)

These medicines make the blood thinner so that oxygen can be absorbed easily. The only downside, you may bleed more in case of injury. You can also carry a portable oxygen cylinder for emergency purposes.

Also, check out our Recommended Medicines for a Ladakh Trip, a list of other necessary medicines for any trip.

P.S. We are not medical practitioners; all the above-listed medicines are the outcome of our research and generic opinions. Always consult the doctor before taking any mentioned medicines.

Which are the places in India can AMS happen?

There are many high altitude destinations and passes in J&K (Jammu & Kashmir), Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Nepal, Bhutan, Arunachal Pradesh & Sikkim, etc. The most famous are Leh-Ladakh and North & East Sikkim.

Lastly, don’t be shy, but safe. Remember, preparations are the only key to success.

These posts are for both riders and non-riders. Hope these make your trip successful and memorable, get Leh’ed soon.

Being a remote place, visiting Ladakh needs lots of preparation, it mentally, physically. Do check out links below to make this trip successful, I am sure you will never regret.

• How to prepare for Ladakh
• Medicines needed in Ladakh
• Mobile Network Connectivity in Ladakh
• Inner Line Permit Procedure for Ladakh
• Things to carry in Ladakh Trip
• Complete Guide for your Ladakh Trip

Conclusion

If you are doing a road trip to Ladakh, you may find my Kolkata – Ladakh – Kolkata on a Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350 journey helpful, here.

Follow Us

Although we are in the process of queueing up the next post shortly. Till then, subscribe to the Rider Escaped Newsletter and connect with us on Social platforms to get future updates quicker.

Don’t forget to check out our Ladakh Ride Blog.

Certainly, if you loved the content, share this with your buddies. Also, if I’ve missed anything, please let me know in the comments section. I will include it in the post.

Thanks! Have a great day ahead.

The post How to fight AMS or High Altitude Sickness in Ladakh? appeared first on Rider Escaped

Nowadays, the process to get a Leh Ladakh Inner Line Permit has become very easy; now you can go online and fill out the form. We will be detailing the procedure in a bit. Before that, let’s discuss routes or places that require an ILP (Inner Line Permit).

We have discussed stays, foods, and sightseeing in Ladakh Trip Complete Guide before; the only thing left in this context was the inner line permit for restricted areas. This Leh Ladakh Inner Line permit is mandatory for anyone who is visiting restricted places in the Ladakh region except a resident of J&K and children below 12 years.

Ladakh Inner Line Permit Restricted Areas

• Nubra Region – Khardung La, Diskit, Nubra Valley, and Turtuk are a few famous points in this route, but you will also be getting a permit for till Tyakshi on the Turtuk side and Warsi-Yarma on the Panamik side.
• Pangong Region – Karu, Chang La, Durbuk, Tangtse, Lukung, Spangmik, Chushul till Man Merak
• Tso Moriri Region – Upshi, Debring, Tso Kar, Tso Moriri
• Hanle Region – Upshi, Chumathang, Mahe, Loma, and Hanle. You need to mention Hanle while the permit is being issued.
• Dha & Hanu – Khalsi, Skurbuchan, Hanu, Baima, and Dha.

Ladakh Inner Line Permit Procedure

1. The J&K government officially announced its online portal quite a long ago. To apply Leh Ladakh Inner Line Permit, click here.

2. Once you open the portal, you will need to click on the “Issue” button, then select either Overseas Clients (Foreign Nationals) or Domestic Clients (Indian Nationals). There are three more options, and the functionality is mentioned below in the screenshot.

3. On this very page, you have to fill up the exact details as per the Voter Card or Aadhar Card, or Driving License. In the case of foreign nationals, Passport no., Passport type, Visa no., and Visa type need to be mentioned mandatorily. For a Domestic client, you have to choose Direct in the Issue Permit section, but foreigners have to mention a Tour Agency. Click Submit once Done.

4. On successful registration, it will pop up like below.

5. You will have two options now: either choose the Issue Group to permit or the Issue Individual Permit. For the “issue Individual Permit” option, you have to list other members’ names, IDs, and genders, followed by Submit as per the screenshot below.

6. Now you have to tick all the routes you are intended to visit, enter your stay duration, and finally, apply for a Permit. Once applied, it will give you options to take a printout, and also note the reference number so that you can get that printed later.

7. After you reach Leh, visit the DC office and submit one hard copy for each route. They will ask you to make payments. Once done within an hour maximum, you should get your permit in hand.

8. Lastly, you need to have 2-3 photocopies of each permit, so that you can submit them at checkpoints.

Note

1. Online Payment is not yet functional at the time of writing this article.
2. Issuing of permits can be suspended without prior notice in case of an emergency.
3. Even if you possess a valid Leh Ladakh Inner Line Permit, you may not be allowed for security reasons.
4. Always confirm all the places you are intended to visit with the official person issuing your permit.
5. All the above screenshot is taken from http://www.lahdclehpermit.in/.
6. Dates mentioned in the permit cannot be altered, so plan your itinerary carefully. In case you have to do so, you can apply for the permit with alternate IDs, although we have not verified this information.
7. As of 2018, an offline permit application was not acceptable.
8. If you are planning for Hanle, be careful, you have to get the Leh Ladakh Inner Line Permit manually stamped from the DC office, Leh.

Ladakh Inner Line Permit Charges

• Red Cross: INR 100 each person.
• Environmental fees: INR 300 each person.
• Permit/Wildlife fees: INR 20 each person per day.

Leh DC Office Timings

The DC office remains open from 10:00 AM to 05:00 PM, Monday to Saturday. They should accept permit applications before lunch break. Generally, it took between 15 to 45 minutes to issue a permit, but it may take longer during rush or peak season. Somehow, I was extremely lucky to get it in 10 minutes. Location of Leh DC Office here.

Alternatives options

Although if you feel this entire Inner Line Permit procedure is complex, just visit any cyber cafe in Leh and they will apply for your permits for some nominal charges between INR 50 to 200, depending on the number of permits.

Suggestion

Foreigners have to get a permit through a tour agency. So, there is no point in filling out the online version as the tour agency can do so with ease. You can apply for all the routes in case of any doubts.

These posts are for both riders and non-riders. Hope these make your trip successful and memorable. Get Leh’ed soon.

Being a remote place, visiting Ladakh needs lots of preparation, it mentally, physically. Do check out the links below to make this trip successful, I am sure you will never regret.

• How to prepare for Ladakh
• Medicines needed in Ladakh
• Mobile Network Connectivity in Ladakh
• How to fight with AMS or High Altitude Sickness in Ladakh
• Things to carry in Ladakh Trip
• Complete Guide for your Ladakh Trip

Conclusion

If you are doing a road trip to Ladakh, you may find my Kolkata – Ladakh – Kolkata on a Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350 journey helpful, here.

Follow Us

Although we are in the process of queueing up the next post shortly. Till then, subscribe to the Rider Escaped Newsletter and connect with us on Social platforms to get future updates quicker.

Don’t forget to check out our Ladakh Ride Blog.

Certainly, if you loved the content, share this with your buddies. Also, if I missed out on anything, do let me know in the comments section. I will include it in the post.

Thanks! Have a great day ahead.

The post How to get Leh Ladakh Inner Line Permit appeared first on Rider Escaped

Ladakh is considered as one of the most beautiful cold deserts in the world. Beautiful lakes, the highest motorable passes, and picture-perfect landscape made this region quite famous among the tourists & travelers.

Almost every year thousands of foreigners and Indians visit this place to just fulfill their adventure wishes. Riders across the globe wait for the season so that they can ride to places in this region.

Today, in this Ultimate Ladakh Trip Guide, we will discuss all the famous spots in this region, local sightseeing along with accommodation and food, also we will provide basic itineraries to cover places. You can definitely re-work on these itineraries as per your needs.

Basic info on Leh, Ladakh

We often mistake between Leh and Ladakh. Leh is a town in the Ladakh region, to be more precise in Leh used to be a district of Jammu and Kashmir state but now since 31 October 2019, Ladakh is announced as a Union territory.

Certainly, Ladakh is one of the most beautiful states of the country where you can see the diversity of barren lands, snow top mountains, lush greenery, and deserts. Due to some border-related issues, these Ladakh and J&K have always been in the news. Although this does not affect tourism rather everyone seems always excited to be there.

There are tons of information available on the internet about Leh-Ladakh Tour and obviously, this post is not different then why this Ultimate Ladakh Trip Guide is exceptional? Because it is exactly what you must know in your Leh Ladakh Tour.

How to Reach Leh

You can either take a flight and reach Leh at Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport or take a Road trip from Srinagar or Manali. There are bus services as well for solo travelers but that becomes too hectic. As per recent news, the Indian Railway is planning to connect Leh through trains. Proposed plans say the journey time will be reduced by 50% (20 hours), source.

Recommended Accommodation around Leh-Ladakh

• Sonamarg – Hotel Barzman, Sonamarg
• Kargil – Silk Route Inn
• Lamayuru – Hotel Niranjana
• Leh –  Hotel Ladakh Heaven (Highly Recommended)
• Diskit – Hotel Olthang
• Turtuk – Ashoor Guest House & Restaurant
• Sumur – Hotel Namgyal Villa
• Pangong Lake – Pangong Lake View Camp
• Hanle – Hanle House
• Tso Moriri – Tsomoriri Camp And Resort
• Keylong – Hotel Dupchen Inn

Although I have personally stayed at Kargil, Leh, Diskit, Pangong Lake, other hotels are shortlisted based on locations and reviews. If you need any details, leave a comment, we will reply at the earliest.

Food Options in Ladakh region

You will get food of almost every cuisine, not all but most of the dishes in any nearby restaurant in Leh. Generally, we would recommend to try out momos, thukpas, noodles, and parathas. Food is a little bit costly compared to other places in India which are quite normal because of transportation costs.

Transportation in Leh Ladakh Tour

For sightseeing, you have to either rent a car/motorcycle or share Force Traveller, as per your budget. As we traveled with our own motorcycle we are not sure about the transportation charges. But once we get the update, estimated car cost will be added here.

Acclimatization is Very Important in Ladakh

Ladakh is all about high altitude areas mostly above 11,500+ ft. where you can become sick just because of low oxygen density. It is always recommended to take rest for a day or two and then go out for sightseeing. But people mostly rest only the day they arrive which is not advisable. Learn about AMS or High Altitude Sickness and its prevention, must-read.

High Altitude Passes to cover in Ladakh Tour

• Khardung La (18,379 ft)
• Chang La (17,590 ft)
• Fotu La (13,478 ft)
• Namik La (12,200 ft)
• Zoji La (11,575 ft)
• Tanglang La (17,480 ft)
• Nakee La (15,547 ft)
• Lachung La (16,616 ft)
• Baralacha La (16,040 ft)
• Rohtang La (13,050 ft)

Local Sightseeing in Ladakh Trip

There are many places near to Leh city like Magnetic Hill, Shanti Stupa, Leh Palace, etc. You should cover all these places in two days. Many people tend to cover almost every spot in a day which can be very hectic in high altitude regions.

Leh Palace

Leh Palace is a former royal palace overlooking the Ladakhi Himalayan town of Leh. Mountain range view from the roof is spectacular. Entry fee for Indian INR 15 and foreigner INR 100. Parking available for free.

Shanti Stupa

This complete white Buddhist Shanti Stupa is located at the outskirt of Leh town and the terrace provide a beautiful panoramic view of the surroundings (Leh City). Visit the stupa once in the evening also to witness how the lighting makes this Stupa look even more beautiful. Also parking available for free.

Thikse Monastery

Thikse monastery is a twelve-story complex and houses many items of Buddhist art such as stupas, statues, thangkas, wall paintings, and swords. At a distance of approximately 20 kilometers from Leh town, this is one of the must-visit places in Leh, entry fees INR 20. Parking available for free.

Shey Palace

Shey was the summer capital of Ladakh in the past and place was made for the retreat by Kings of Ladakh. The view is pretty good from here too. Parking is also available for free.

Hemis Monastery

Hemis Monastery is one of the oldest monasteries in Leh Ladakh region, located at a distance of 45 kilometers from Leh. Parking available for free.

Druk White Lotus School (Rancho School)

Druk White Lotus School got famous due to the movie “3 Idiots”, you can visit a few designated areas there with guides and the Rancho cafe inside the premises serves yummy coffee & sandwich. Parking available for free.

Magnetic Hill

Magnetic hill is famous because of a phenomenon that here gravity does not work or rather gravity works opposite. Generally, drivers put their cars in neutral and the car starts to move towards uphill. You can ride also an ADV bike for the adrenaline rush.

A few more must-visit places in Leh Ladakh regions are Gurudwara Pathar Sahib, Leh War Memorial, Zorawar Fort, Alchi Monastery, Likir Monastery, the confluence of Indus and Zanskar river, etc.

Real Attractions of Leh Ladakh Trip

Ladakh has many beautiful places like Hanle, Khardung La top, Nubra white desert, Pangong lake, Tso Moriri & Tso Kar lake, etc. But many people thing Ladakh means Khardung La & Pangong Lake, so be aware of all the places, research well and then only prepare the itinerary otherwise you have to miss a lot of more majestic vistas.

Khardung La

Leh-Ladakh is also known as Riders paradise, hence every rider is well known about this famous pass, at an altitude of 18379 ft, this was the world’s highest motorable pass until Umling La (19,300 ft) was conquered. Still all riders dream of conquering this mighty Khardung La. The craze to conquer the top spread across all the tourists over time. This pass is almost 40 kilometers away from Leh city and takes almost 2 hours to reach, although people spend a lot of time en route to capture nature. All the tourists need a Leh Ladakh inner line permit to reach the top and beyond. You can have tea, coffee, or snacks in the south Pullu cafeteria or K-Top cafeteria.

Due to very high altitude and lower oxygen level, staying more than 15 minutes may cause AMS or Acute Mountain Sickness like breathing problems or a mild headache, in that case, descend either towards the north Pullu side (Dikit/Nubra valley) or south Pullu side (towards Leh). Most importantly, be prepared for AMS, I will insist you, check out our How to fight AMS or Acute Mountain Sickness guide. Don’t forget to visit the souvenir shop and click a selfie before the K-Top board.

Nubra Valley

Ladakh is a cold desert, so you can experience a double hump camel ride in Hunder sand dunes. Being in a lower altitude, greenery is more hence you should not face AMS problem here. You got to see Diskit Monastery and a Buddha statue there, the view from the terrace looks stunning, barren land, Shyok river, and mountains all of these in a single frame.

Turtuk Village

Turtuk is the last village on the Diskit side, approximately at a distance of 90 kilometers, Turtuk is getting sheer popularity among the tourists these days. You may experience the village by spending a night or do sightseeing from Diskit/Hunder.

Pangong Tso

At an altitude of 14,270 ft, Pangong is one of the highest altitude lakes in India. It is famous for its unmatched beauty throughout the day, the color of the lake keeps changing almost every hour due to sunlight reflection. This lake is 134 kilometers long and shares 60 percent of its presence in China territory. The lake water is saline and crystal clear to see everything underwater. During the extreme winter, this lake freeze, few local and adventure seeker people visit to experience riding and walking on the frozen lakebed. During the tourist season, the surroundings reach sub-zero frequently and the wind coming from the lake makes that even colder.

There are plenty of tent options available now although many of the tents were demolished to maintain the ecosystem here, a good option could be to stay in Merak (approx 20 kilometers away), as it still considered as offbeat spot.

Hanle

Hanle is famous for one of the highest astronomical observatory in the world, the sky looks very clear at nights even milky way and galaxies can be seen from here. Spend some time here at night and I promise, you will never forget the sky for your life. Many tourists avoid this place for being so remote. Getting accommodation for a stay would not be a difficult task despite having limited options. I suggest to book prior to your visit or ask your driver to book on behalf of you to avoid any time waste.

Tso Moriri & Tso Kar

Tso means Lake in Ladakhi language, while the first one, Tso Moriri is more popular for the dimensional beauty in the middle of mountains and barren land, the second, Tso Kar is kind of smaller but nowhere lacks to mesmerize visitors. The fact is Tso Moriri is the largest high altitude lakes in India and both of the lakes are located at an average altitude of 14,800 ft. You have options to stay here at Karzok, but I would rather advise staying back in Leh or Sarchu/Pang.

Lamayuru

Also known as Moonland of Ladakh, is a beautiful place to be, some people suggest to spend a full moon night here. Once you reach the Lamayuru Monastery you will definitely be surprised to see the golden mountain everywhere, these are nothing but made of Multani Mitti. The egg biriyani in Hotel Niranjana, adjacent to the monastery was very different but awesome.

Things You must NOT Miss

• Shanti Stupa at Evening
• Selfie in front of Khardung La board
• Drink/eat something from Changla Cafe
• Double Camel riding at Hunder
• Clear Sky in Pangong Lake & Hanle

Best time to Visit Ladakh

Nowadays people are likely to visit Leh throughout the year, even if the Leh-Manali and Leh-Srinagar highways are closed, people fly there and enjoy the winter Ladakh. But for a road trip to cover the complete Srinagar – Leh – Manali circuit, you need to plan in between June and mid-October.

• June to Mid July – Generally, snow remains on road in places. During, daylight snow melts and becomes slush. Surrounding remains whiteout, in a word mesmerizing.
• Mid-July to August – Road becomes cleaner, the weather gets brighter and sharper. This is the peak session for tourists to visit Ladakh.
• September to mid-October – Weather starts becoming cold and dry, a clear and vibrant vista of surroundings. Occasional snowfall and rain may happen. This is considered to be the perfect time for photographers.

Suggested Day-wise Itinerary for Ladakh Trip

Below suggested itineraries do not have acclimatization day off mentioned. It is always advisable to take a day or two rest before exploring Ladakh.

Itinerary 1 (Shorter Duration)

1. Reach Leh, take rest to acclimatize (minimum)
2. Leh Local Sightseeing (War memorial, Zorawar fort, Shanti Stupa, Leh Palace)
3. Leh to Nubra Via Khardungla (Khardungla Top, Diskit Monastery, Double Hump Camel Ride)
4. Nubra to Pangong Lake (Sky at night)
5. Pangong Lake to Tso Moriri
6. Tso Moriri to Leh
7. Leh Sightseeing (Thikse Monastery, Hemis Monastery, Shey Palace, Rancho School, Moti Market)

Itinerary 2 (Moderate Duration)

1. Reach Leh, take rest to acclimatize
2. Leh Local Sightseeing
3. Leh to Nubra Via Khardung La
4. Turtuk Sightseeing or stay
5. Nubra to Pangong Lake
6. Pangong Lake to Hanle
7. Hanle to Tso Moriri
8. Tso Moriri to Leh
9. Leh Sightseeing

Itinerary 3 (except Dah & Hanu & Zanskar)

1. Reach Srinagar, stay at Sonamarg (via Dal Lake)
2. Sonamarg to Lamayuru (via Zero Point, Drass war memorial, Namik La, Fotu La)
3. Lamayuru to Leh (via Alchi & Likir Monastery, Gurudwara Pathar Sahib, Magnetic Hill)
4. Local sightseeing Leh (War memorial, Zorawar fort, Shanti Stupa, Leh Palace)
5. Continue local sightseeing (Thikse Monastery, Hemis Monastery, Shey Palace, Rancho School, Moti Market)
6. Leh to Nubra Via Khardungla (Khardung La Top, Diskit Monastery)
7. Nubra to Turtuk (Double Hump Camel Ride)
8. Turtuk to Panamik/Sumur
9. Panamik/Sumur to Pangong lake via Agham-Shyok Road (See sky at night)
10. Pangong Lake to Hanle (magnificent Pangong, Hanle observatory, the sky at night)
11. Hanle to Tso Moriri
12. Tso Moriri to Pang/Sarchu.
13. Pang/Sarchu to Keylong
14. Keylong to Manali

The next updated version of this Leh Ladakh Trip Guide will have Zanskar Valley included in itineraries.

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Conclusion on Leh Ladakh Trip Guide

Being a remote place, a lot of preparation needed before Leh Ladakh Tour, be it mentally or physically. Don’t forget the weather in the Ladakh region is extreme and most of us are not accustomed to it. So, be prepared and everything in your Leh Ladakh tour will definitely go well. In addition to this complete Leh Ladakh Trip Guide, check out below generic posts to make your Leh Ladakh trip successful and memorable. I am sure you will love it.

• How to prepare for Ladakh
• Things to Carry in Ladakh
• Medicines needed in Ladakh
• How to fight AMS or High Altitude Sickness
• Mobile Network Connectivity in Ladakh
• Inner Line Permit Procedure for Ladakh

Conclusion

If you are doing a road trip to Ladakh, you may find my Kolkata – Ladakh – Kolkata on a Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350 journey helpful.

Lastly, get Leh’ed soon.

Follow Us

Although, we are in a process to queue up the next post shortly. Till then subscribe to Rider Escaped Newsletter and connect with us on Social platforms to get future updates quicker.

Facebook Twitter Youtube Newspaper

Don’t forget to check out our Ladakh Ride Blog.

Certainly, if you loved this detailed Leh Ladakh Trip Guide, share this with your buddies. Also, if I missed out on anything do let me know in the comment section. I will include it in the post.

Thanks! Have a great day ahead.

The post Most Comprehensive Leh Ladakh Trip Guide appeared first on Rider Escaped

It is always advisable to travel with less luggage to avoid different issues. We should only have essentials in our bag, but in high altitude mountains like Ladakh, we should be more careful. Below is the list of things to carry for your Ladakh trip.

Clothes

• 2 X Cotts Wool set (Both upper and lower)
• 3 X Jeans
• 3 X Shirt/T-Shirt
• 2 X Warm Jacket
• 1 X Windcheater
• 2 X Joggers
• 2 X Shorts
• 5 X Underwear
• 2 X Woollen Gloves
• 2 X Hat
• 5 X Socks
• 2 X Woollen Socks
• 5 X Hankerchief

Toiletries

• Soap
• Face Wash
• SPF 40+ Sunscreen Lotion
• Body Moisturiser
• Vaseline gel/ Boroplus / Boroline
• Shampoo pouch
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste

Miscellaneous

• Comb
• Sun-glass

Camera & Accessories

Get yourself a Digital SLR or a handy point & shoot camera as per your budget. Ladakh and its surrounding places have a lot of beauties to capture. These photos will further help you to nourish your memories in the future.

• 1 X Camera
• 2 X 16 GB Memory cards
• 2 X Battery if possible (In cold climates, batteries drain faster)
• 1 X Tripod & UV Filter (If you are a professional photographer)

Mobile

• 2 X Phone charger (In case one malfunctions)
• 1 X Power Bank minimum 10400 mAh
• 1 X Spare phone (if possible)

You should download all the maps on your phone. Google Maps and Here Maps are both feature-packed. In case you are riding or driving yourself, keeping offline maps downloaded on your phone is a must; you can use them for reference.

Tools and spare parts for your bike

Check out our detailed article on How to ready your Vehicle for Ladakh and what spares you should carry.

Foods & Water

Keep lots of ORS sachets, dry fruits, biscuits, and cakes of your choice. You may carry protein bars. Every hour or so, you should take a little bit of food and water. Try to drink lots of ORS water to keep yourself hydrated.

Waterproof

You should buy yourself a good quality, lightweight, and breathable rainwear if you are riding else keep an umbrella. The weather is quite unpredictable in the mountains.

Riding Gear

Riding gear is very important to keep yourself protected while falling. These are the most neglected parts for many, but can be a lifesaver in situations. Below are the musts

• A helmet with DOT/ECE certification and an anti-fog visor is a must. A Dual visor helmet is recommended. Check out our Helmet Buying Guide
• Riding Jacket and pants with certified protectors and thermal liner recommended. I had a very good experience with the Rynox Urban riding jacket. Check out my review.
• Two riding gloves, one for regular use and the second one for waterproof & winter use. Both of the gloves should have good-quality protectors.
• In case you are riding, try to use a Tank bag and Saddlebag makes luggage management easier. I had a Rynox Optimus M tank bag.

In case you are not ready to have riding gear or a good quality Helmet, I do recommend you to read my story, How a Helmet Saved My Life.

Note: It is advised to break in all leather gear before the ride and get used to with Helmet, Jacket & pants in advance, else during the ride you may feel uncomfortable.

Maps

As advised earlier, download offline maps for the entire trip route. J&K will have limited internet connectivity. If possible, note down the routes on paper and keep 2-3 of those in a separate place. You can carry a paper map of all en-route states (Optional).

Documents

• Voter card / Passport / Aadhar Card / Driving License (Any two)
• 5 X Passport-size photos
• Emergency contact noted in a paper
• If riding or driving, carry below
  • Driving License
  • Registration Certificate of your vehicle
  • Pollution Certificate
  • Tax Token
• If the vehicle belongs to another person
  • Consent letter from the owner.
  • Identity proof of the Vehicle owner (Self-attested)

These posts are for both riders and non-riders. Hope these make your trip successful and memorable. Get Leh’ed soon.

Being a remote place, visiting Ladakh needs lots of preparation, it mentally, physically. Do check out the links below to make this trip successful, I am sure you will never regret.

• How to prepare for Ladakh
• Medicines needed in Ladakh
• Mobile Network Connectivity in Ladakh
• Inner Line Permit Procedure for Ladakh
• How to Fight AMS or High Altitude Sickness
• Complete Guide for your Ladakh Trip

Conclusion

If you are doing a road trip to Ladakh, you may find my Kolkata – Ladakh – Kolkata on a Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350 journey helpful, here.

Follow Us

Although we are in the process of queueing up the next post shortly. Till then, subscribe to the Rider Escaped Newsletter and connect with us on Social platforms to get future updates quicker.

Don’t forget to check out our Ladakh Ride Blog.

Certainly, if you loved the content, share this with your buddies. Also, if I missed out on anything, do let me know in the comment section. I will include it in the post.

Thanks! Have a great day ahead.

The post Things you must carry in Ladakh Trip appeared first on Rider Escaped

Disclaimer: This post, “Which Mobile Network is best in Ladakh?” post is completely unbiased and based on my personal experience. I had Vodafone and Airtel postpaid SIMs & Jio prepaid SIM during the trip.

In all states except Jammu & Kashmir, getting a mobile network is not a challenge; all major operators have most of the places under coverage. In my case, Jio outperformed Airtel & Vodafone in all the places except Jammu & Kashmir (being a Karnataka prepaid sim).

Jio got better coverage, and very minimal call drop was observed, then Airtel, which was OK in most of the places but not reliable at all. Either it got stuck in 2G or 3G most of the time, it was not an issue with the handset (tried with different mobiles). Call drop rate and slow internet performance have been observed for a good amount of time and in different states, too.

Lastly, Vodafone, trust me, it was a pain to have your primary no in Vodafone. Almost every time I faced no internet or slow internet problems, the call drop rate was low, but coverage was poor in major cities, even in Delhi. So, out of J&K, Jio was the best mobile network, per my experience.

Now in J&K, it was a different experience, quite shocking. Being a Karnataka prepaid SIM, Jio stopped working as soon as I entered J&K, done. Vodafone and Airtel were working fine till Srinagar after Srinagar, Vodafone also stopped working. Airtel was working fine in the whole J&K, got 4G coverage in Kargil, Leh, etc, else you have mostly 2G coverage, which was OK for calls and WhatsApp text messages. En route, in a few places, there was no network coverage, like Diskit, Pangong, etc.

As per locals, BSNL postpaid will give you better network coverage than others, and it worked in Diskit too. Pangong has a telephone booth for Rs. 5/min, we used it for a few minutes to inform our stay to our stay.

Best Mobile Network in Ladakh, as per my experience

Get BSNL/Airtel postpaid before going to J&K, the first one will give better coverage for calls & text, and the second one will give you better internet experience with a little bit less coverage. Locals say Jio works well in Leh and Kargil, although I have not experienced it. Vodafone simply does not work for me. So, for me best mobile network in Ladakh is either BSNL or Airtel.

Being a remote place, visiting Ladakh needs lots of preparation, it mentally, physically. Do check out the links below to make this trip successful, I am sure you will never regret.

• How to prepare for Ladakh
• Medicines needed in Ladakh
• How to fight AMS or High Altitude Sickness in Ladakh
• Inner Line Permit Procedure for Ladakh
• Things to carry in Ladakh Trip
• Complete Guide for your Ladakh Trip

Conclusion

If you are doing a road trip to Ladakh, you may find my Kolkata – Ladakh – Kolkata on a Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350 journey helpful, here.

Follow Us

Although we are in the process of queueing up the next post shortly. Till then, subscribe to the Rider Escaped Newsletter and connect with us on Social platforms to get future updates quicker.

Don’t forget to check out our Ladakh Ride Blog.

Certainly, if you loved the content, share this with your buddies. Also, if I missed out on anything, do let me know in the comments section. I will include it in the post.

Thanks! Have a great day ahead.

The post Which Mobile Network is best in Ladakh? appeared first on Rider Escaped

We occasionally get confused about what medicines we should carry for a trip. Although nothing is worse than having health issues middle of a trip. However, you should always keep below recommended medicines for any trip.

• Fever (Paracetamol like P650, Crocin, etc.).
• Cough & cold (like D-Cold, Cetzine, etc.).
• Body pain (Paracetamol like P650).
• Headache (like Aspirin, Disprin, etc.).
• Upset stomach (like Darolac).
• Acidity (like Pan D, Aciloc RD, etc.).
• Vomiting (like Ondem).
• Bandage.
• Waterproof Band-Aid.
• Antiseptic cream (like Boroline) and liquid Betadine ointment.
• Portable Oxygen Cylinder.
• AMS-related medicine (like Coca 6, Coca 30 Diamox, etc.).

We always recommend consulting with your doctor. Especially, before using any AMS or high altitude sickness-related medicines and oxygen. Diamox is not advisable in case you are allergic to sulfur. You should also check out AMS or High Altitude Sickness and how to deal with it.

Important Notice: We are not medical practitioners. The above recommendations are based on what we usually carry during a trip.

Lastly, don’t forget to carry any other regular medicines prescribed by your doctor. During the trip, if you feel ill or uncomfortable, visit your nearest health center immediately.

Follow Us

Although we are in the process of queueing up the next post shortly. Till then, subscribe to the Rider Escaped Newsletter and connect with us on Social platforms to get future updates quicker.

Don’t forget to check out our Hotel Booking Tips.

Certainly, if you loved the content, share this with your buddies. Also, if I missed out on anything, do let me know in the comments section. I will include it in the post.

Thanks! Have a great day ahead.

The post What Medicines to carry for a Trip? appeared first on Rider Escaped