Everywhere you travel in this world have some do’s and don’ts. Ladakh is nothing different. One should always respect the locals and their culture whenever you travel.
Below are few things which you must keep in mind when you are planning a trip to Ladakh.
1.Don’t get involved in any political discussion.
This thing have to be considered more cautiously when you are travelling through Srinagar route. Army and political thing is really sensitive topic in the northern state and everyone can have varied opinions. It is highly advisable and requested by our team to avoid some discussions to avoid any unwanted problems. Be a tourist/traveler and explore the place.
2.Respect and adhere Indian Forces
This is a sensitive region and related to national security. Please obey to rules and regulations laid down by the forces and local government bodies. Please don’t try to argue or break any rules with the security personnel as they are doing and asking you to doing something because of some reasons which might land you in some trouble.
3.Don’t drive after sunset
The entire region is sparsely populated with miles and miles of no sign of lives. It is highly advisable not to drive at night due to the risky terrains and sudden change in the weather which can lead you into any life risks. One should avoid crossing any passes in late evenings or anytime post sunset. There are sudden turns and in the dark you might miss those. The motive is to enjoy and live the life with adventure and not keep anything on risk. You might also get stranded in nowhere if your vehicle breaks down and trust me weather is something which will be really harsh on you.
4.Drink lots and lots of water
This will keep you hydrated and you’ll be less likely to get impacted by AMS. Drinking water will also help in coping up with the AMS symptoms. AMS can be avoided in multiple ways and one of them being choosing the correct route to complete the circuit – Ways to complete the Ladakh Circuit.
5.Do not overload/Do not over pack
As mentioned earlier, roads are really tricky and putting on extra weight on your car/bike can hamper the performance of your vehicle. It will also impact the center of gravity of the vehicle and might lead to disbalance on the roads and you might end up falling. Its highly advised to pack smartly. Here is a list of things you must pack to help you pack accordingly.
6.Don’t think of bathing in the beautiful lakes
The lakes in Ladakh are just alluring and you might get tempted to take a quick dip in the crystal clear blue and emerald lakes. But trust me, the lakes are freezing cold due to the altitude and the climatic conditions of the region. You might end up risking your health for just minutes of happiness. And when I say risking your health, I mean serious consequences like hypothermia. The lakes are also very deep which leads to deaths as well. People in overconfidence of knowing how to swim jump but the cold water doesn’t allow them to react and this leads to unwanted mishaps. Our team would highly request you to avoid such acts for your own safety.
7.Do not overspeed
Do not underestimate the terrains in the entire region. The roads suddenly turns and you might miss the turns on high altitude narrow roads due to high speed and would become difficult to apply brakes in time. Also there can be some incoming traffic which you will find only after taking the turn and might lead to accidents. The roads also seems very smooth and straight but trust me they are very bumpy at times and might lead to disbalance due to high speed and also the weight of the luggage you have along.
8.Don’t enter restricted areas
The region have 2 international borders in close proximity and there are sometimes tensions as well on the borders. The security personnel doesn’t want to risk any civilian life and hence they would not let you enter some zones. Also, in order to safeguard the civilian/travelers, there is a concept of ILP(Inner Line Permit) which is required to visit the places closer to the international borders. Here is a guide to understand what all places need ILP to enter and also how to obtain it. It is not recommended to enter any ILP protected zone without obtaining the documents or you might land into some serious troubles.
9.Do not litter
Ladakh is highly sensitive ecosystem which can be disturbed easily with careless intervention on modern lifestyle. The pollution here can hamper the entire ecosystem. Our team highly request you to keep the place clean and not litter with anything unwanted(unbiodegradable). Try to carry back all the plastic waste and reduce the amount of waste you generate during the visit. Being a responsible traveler it is our duty to keep the nature clean and untouched.
10.Do not drink alcohol/high caffeine
Alcohol and caffeine dehydrates you body and it might lead to some medical complications which might hinder your happy travel plans. It is advisable to avoid drinking while on the trip(Ladakh). Instead you can drink some lemon ginger tea with honey to soothe your soul in extreme cold conditions. This will help you to deal with AMS as well. Also, smoking should be avoided as the atmosphere is already thin with less availability of oxygen, smoking can lead to breathing issues on high altitude terrains.
11.Do not overplan
Entire Ladakh circuit is really vast and one might not be able to complete the entire circuit in the approved days of leaves by your bosses. In such situations, people tend to over plan in order to cover the maximum of Ladakh in limited time. This leads to exertion and also long stretch of continuous drives in order to reach a decided destination. This also leads to driving at nights. This must be avoided in all circumstances. I have already explained the reason in above pointers. You can always plan 1 more trip to complete the other parts of Ladakh.
12.Avoid exposing yourself to sudden temperature changes
You must not get exposed to sudden drop or sudden spike in the temperature. This can lead to cold like symptoms and can ruin your dream ride. For bikers, please wear woolen caps after taking off your helmets when taking a break or else your head might get exposed to sudden drop in temperature. If possible also cover your nose with scarf or mufflers. Avoid taking off your riding jackets to relax. For cars, it is advised to keep your windows down a bit without turning on your heaters and wearing thermal wears. In this way your body will be acquainted with the outside temperature and it will be not a shock to your body when you get down for a break or some insta post maybe.
13.Save water
Last but not the least, please understand that Ladakh is a rain shadow region and get very less to no rain fall. The locals have limited resource of water hence it is recommended to save water during your visit. Do you know why Ladakh is called cold desert? Click here to read more about Nubra Valley cold desert). Not just in Ladakh, its our duty to save water being in any part of the world.
Bonus tip: Avoid energy drinks(Red bull/Monster) as this let your brain think you are high on energy and as soon as the effect fades away you are extremely tired.