Leh Ladakh 9 nights 10 days

CLOTHES TO CARRY

The basic thing for making your Ladakh trip a successful one is that at any cost, DO KEEP yourself warm enough always with proper woollen clothing and always wear shoes all the time with woollens socks This helps you keep yourself warm and reduces the chances of getting hit by ACUTE MOUNTAIN SICKNESS or cold. You must always protect your chest from the cold winds as well, all the time. When the cold is severe it is also important to protect the neck portion as well using full Balaclava, may be.

The second thing on clothing is that you must carry clothes which can be worn in layers as it helps you adjust to the fluctuating temperatures in sun and shades, up there in Ladakh. Yes, in these start and end season months, when the sun is shining then everything appears good and suddenly you enter a shade portion with wind blowing, that is cold enough to have a jacket 🙂 …

Hence, take due care around it and avoid letting the cold flow inside the body in such cases as well.

Apart from that, following is the general list of clothes which I prefer to carry on Ladakh trip:

• 2-3 Pairs of Inner Thermal Suits.
• 2 sets of Heavy woollens in most part of the year except July and August where one can get away with light woollens.
• 1 heavy woollen jacket is always handy throughout the year even in the months of July and August (personally I feel) where it can act as a backup. But, you should carry 1 light woollen jacket as well in the month of June to August, may be, there could be days when you need just your light jacket only.
• 3-4 pairs of woollen socks. And if going to Ladakh in winters from November to March, you also might need good insulated shoes as well to protect your feet from the cold.
• Carry at least one or two caps to protect yourself from direct sunlight as it is too harsh in this region. Kids specially should wear caps or hats all the time when out there in sun. Especially, in the month of September and October the UV rays are harshest and you must protect your skin using Hats / Caps and a good high SPF sunscreen lotions.
• Carry at least 1 Balaclava too to protect yourself from cold entering the head.
• Sunglasses to protect your eyes from the reflections from snow especially from January to June when there is too much of snow and looking directly at reflecting sunshine from snow will cause sense of irritation in the eyes or watery eyes. So, do carry sunglasses for sure or photo chromatic spectacles.
• An extra pair of shoes/gum boots in case people are on bikes and are expecting a lot of water crossings.
• Hand Gloves, must have in the months of October to June. Always good to carry them with you.

In the end, it is always nice to take some candies, chocolates, books, pens, pencils, crayons etc. anything that you can distribute among the local children. Nothing but the smile on their face would be too much worth it.

DOS AND DONTS IN LADAKH

• You must take permission before clicking photographs of any person or monument. Remember photography is restricted in some of the monuments and monasteries in Ladakh.
•  Do not forget to take water bottles, water purification pills, energy drinks and eating items along with you.
• Don’t use plastic bags for carrying stuff as plastic is officially banned in Ladakh.
• Beware of the highly sensitive ecology of the region and make sure not to disturb wildlife during the trip.
• Avoid wearing Short clothes like skirts or sleeveless blouses or tops while visiting buddhist gompas.
• Ladakhi people are very friendly and welcoming. They love to interact. So interact with them and it will also help in changing your point of view.

ACUTE MOUNTAIN SICKNESS

What is Acute Mountain sickness?

Altitude sickness or Acute Mountain Sickness occurs when you cannot get enough oxygen from the air at high altitudes. This causes symptoms such as a headache, loss of appetite, and trouble sleeping. It happens most often when people who are not used to high altitudes or go quickly from lower altitudes to 8000 ft (2438 m) or higher. For example, you may get a headache when you drive over a high mountain pass, hike to a high altitude, or arrive at a mountain resort. Mild altitude sickness is common. Experts do not know who will get it and who will not. Neither your fitness level nor being male or female plays a role in whether you get altitude sickness.

What causes altitude sickness?

Air is "thinner" at high altitudes. When you go too high too fast, your body cannot get as much oxygen as it needs. So you need to breathe faster. This causes the headache and other symptoms of altitude sickness. As your body gets used to the altitude, the symptoms go away.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms of altitude sickness include:

• A headache, which is usually throbbing. It gets worse during the night and when you wake up.
• Not feeling like eating.
• Feeling sick to your stomach. You may vomit.
• Feeling weak and tired. In severe cases, you do not have the energy to eat, dress yourself, or do anything.
• Waking up during the night and not sleeping well.
• Feeling dizzy.

Can you prevent altitude sickness?

You may be able to prevent altitude sickness by taking your time when you go to high altitudes, using medicine in advance, and eating certain foods.

• If you are going to altitudes higher than 8000 ft (2438 m), try to spend a night at a medium altitude before going higher. For example, in the United States, spend a night in Denver before going to the Rocky Mountains.
• Do not fly into high-altitude cities. If this is not possible, avoid large meals, alcohol, and being very active after you arrive. Rest, and drink plenty of liquids. If you have symptoms, do not go higher until they have gone away.
• Sleep at an altitude that is lower than the altitude you were at during the day. For example, if you ski at 9500 ft (2896 m) during the day, sleep the night before and the night after at 8000 ft (2438 m). "Climb high, sleep low" is standard practice for those who spend time at high altitudes.
• One study showed that starting to take ibuprofen 6 hours before climbing to high elevations and then taking it every 6 hours while climbing may help prevent altitude sickness.1 Ibuprofen may also reduce the symptoms of altitude sickness if you do get it.
• You may consider taking acetazolamide (Diamox) or possibly dexamethasone before going to a high altitude.2 Talk to your doctor about this.
• Eat a lot of carbohydrates. This includes breads, cereals, grains, and pasta.