WHEN TO VISIT LADAKH

Ladakh is open for tourist throughout the year; while best time May to October. Tourist can also visit Ladakh during winter season; Leh Town has many centrally heated hotels. Matho, Stok and Spituk monasteries celebrate scared Monastic mask dance festivals in winter season. Most famous among them is the mask dance festival of Matho Monastery because two oracles make public appearance during the mask dance festival. 

Frozen River trek on Zanskar River and Snow leopard Photography expedition during the winter season of January to Mid-March is the most adventurous. During winter, national high way to Leh-Srinagar and Leh- Manali remain closed due to heavy snowfall on passes.

GUIDELINES FOR ACCLIMATIZATION & OTHER MEDICAL PROBLEM

Staying healthy during your tours is of utmost important as the altitude sickness can occur to some people in the region as low as 8,000 feet, but serious symptoms do not usually occur until over 12,000 feet. However, it is not just the height that is important; rather the speed with which you ascended to that altitude also matters.

General belief is that acute mountain sickness (AMS) is actually more common in aged people. However, the truth is that it usually occurs among fit young men because they are more likely to attempt a rapid ascent by racing up the mountain like some indestructible super hero! As a general rule, it is far safer (and more enjoyable) to avoid altitude sickness by planning a sensible itinerary that allows for gradual acclimatization to altitude as you ascend. Here are some tips on staying healthy.

PRECAUTIONS

Anyone with heart, lung and blood pressure abnormalities or a continuing medical condition should have a check-up and get a medical opinion before setting off. To make your tours pleasant and wonderful, we highly recommend you to rest for acclimatization before starting your treks and Jeep safari tours, especially when you have flown down to by aero plane.

 

FOR JEEP SAFARI TOURS.

For jeep safari tour, first couple of days is very necessary to acclimatize, first day we recommend a complete rest at Hotel, followed by light acclimatization’s sightseeing around Leh, main town of Ladakh on the next day. Third day onward we are ready to start your tours.

FOR TREKKING.

For trekking in Ladakh, you have to remember that you are trekking in one of the hostile and high altitude regions of the world with tough terrain. Therefore, we highly recommend you to rest at least three or four days in Leh and enjoy light acclimatization sightseeing tours around Leh.

PRIMARY SYSTEMS AT ALTITUDE

Don't expect to feel perfect at altitudes of more than 3000m. These are the normal altitude symptoms that you should expect but not worry about. Every trekker will experience some or all of these, no matter how slowly they ascend. Headache is the primary symptom to diagnose altitude sickness. However, headache is also a symptom of dehydration. A headache occurring at an altitude above 2,400 metres (8,000 feet) combined with any one or more of the following symptoms, may indicate altitude sickness:

1. Lack of appetite, nausea, or vomiting

2. Fatigue or weakness

3. Dizziness or lightheadedness

4. Insomnia

5. Shortness of breath upon exertion

6. Nosebleed

7. Persistent rapid pulse

8. Drowsiness

9. Peripheral edema (swelling of hands, feet, and face).

10. Diarrhea

SEVERE SYMPTOMS

1. Persistent, severe headache and fever

2. Persistent vomiting

3. Ataxia - loss of co-ordination, cannot walk in a straight line, looks drunk

4. Losing consciousness - cannot stay awake or understand things very well

5. Liquid sounds in the lungs

6. Persistent dry cough

7.  Rapid breathing or feeling breathless at rest

8. Coughing blood or pink goo or lots of clear fluid

9. Marked blueness of face and lips

10. High resting heart beat - over 120 beats per minute

11. Severe lethargy and drowsiness

12. Mild symptoms rapidly getting worse

Prevention:

1. Ascending slowly is the best way to avoid altitude sickness.

2. Avoiding strenuous activity such as skiing, hiking, etc. in the first 24 hours at high altitude reduces the symptoms of AMS. Take it easy and don't overexert yourself when you first get up to altitude. But, light activity during the day is better than sleeping because respiration decreases during sleep, exacerbating the symptoms.

3. As alcohol tends to cause dehydration, which exacerbates AMS, avoiding alcohol consumption in the first 24-hours at a higher altitude is optimal.

4. Avoid tobacco and other depressant drugs including, barbiturates, tranquillizers, sleeping pills and opiates such as dihydrocodeine. These further decrease the respiratory drive during sleep resulting in a worsening of symptoms.

5. Eat a high calorie diet while at altitude.

6. Stay properly hydrated. Acclimatization is often accompanied by fluid loss, so you need to drink lots of fluids to remain properly hydrated (at least four to six liters per day). Urine output should be copious and clear to pale yellow.