Organization of the travel to Zanskar

Formalities

You need a passport valid until at least 6 months after your date of return.
You need a tourist visa for India (visit https://www.vfsglobal.com/India/UK/).

Flight tickets

You need to buy your own air ticket to India, and from Delhi to Leh. You can fix your own travel dates after agreeing a date schedule for your trek with Lama Sonam.
When you arrive at Delhi International airport you can avail yourself of the free bus to make your transfer from the international flights terminal to the domestic flights terminal.

On trek

You will be accompanied by an experienced guide and a cook. You will get three meals a day, plus a snack and regular stops for tea ! The meals will be based on rice, pasta or vegetables, not heavily spiced, with meat where it is possible to obtain some, and seasonal fruits. You will be surprised at the inventiveness of our cooks !

Most trekking days require walking between 4 and 7 hours. On longer treks rest days are included in the schedule. In summer your baggage will be carried by horses, led by a horseman. In winter local Zankarpa porters are used. You will only need to carry a small day sack with whatever personal items you require during the day. In summer we sleep in two people tents, and eat in a separate mess tent. In winter we sleep in caves along the frozen river, and in the houses of local Zanskar people.

At Padum there are telephone and internet connections in summer time.

To help you to make your bagages, you can look at our suggested kit list :
Kit list for summer             Kit list for winter

Travel Insurance : INDISPENSABLE

You must have insurance to cover you against costs of rescue and repatriation up to at least 30,000 €. Make sure you carry your insurance documents with you, or at least the policy number and the phone number of your insurance company.

Altitude sickness

Leh is at an altitude of 3 500m, so anyone arriving there suddenly from near sea level may experience acclimatisation problems, or even more severe mountain sickness. The best prevention is to drink plenty of liquids (but not alcohol!) and to count on at least 2 days resting at this altitude, before starting on your trek. Be careful not to over-exert yourself in these two days and not to carry too much.

If in spite of these precautions you still get headaches or nausea, consider taking a course of Diamox. Inability to sleep well may also be a sign of poor acclimatisation. If such symptoms persist during your trek, despite treatment, you should return to a lower altitude as soon as possible.

Difficulty

These treks are suitable for walkers in good physical and mental condition, capable of between 4 and 7 hours of trekking per day. Remember that the physical effort, the altitude, the isolated surroundings and the inevitable change of diet combine to present a stern test of your physical and mental resources. Nights can be difficult too, especially if you are not fully acclimatised. In general, the longer the trek the more sustained effort will be needed. However rest days and/or shorter stages may be arranged to suit individual needs.

Prices

The prices indicated include full board and lodging and all transport from your arrival in Ladakh until your departure from Leh, Srinagar or Manali. Our staff will meet you at the airport when you arrive and will take you to your point of departure when you leave (airport at Leh or Srinagar, bus station at Manali). The cost of travelling between Delhi and Ladakh and of staying in Delhi is not included. We can help you to arrange accommodation in Delhi. Allow about 100 euros for your stay in Delhi (depending on the standard of accommodation you prefer). Our prices do not include your personal expenditures in Ladakh.