TRAVEL INFORMATIONS

1- Season
The great Himalayan mountains, lying to the south, forms a barrier to monsoon in summer. Due to this situation, Ladakh is a desert region with warm and dry summer and cold winter. During summer, the best season to visit Ladakh, the maximum temperature increases from 20 to 35 degre°C. Above 4000 m the weather is colder (0°C during night time).
From october to may there are heavy snow falls in Zanskar and Rupshu but the Indus valley is relatively spared.
Days are cold (0°C) and nights extremely cold (between -20 and -30°C).

2- Formality
For a visitor, Indian visa should be applied at the diplomatic missions in your country of residence or nearest
Mission en route.
If your passport is valid for a minimum of six months beyond the date of intended departure from India, you should accompany visa applications along with it.
Visa is given for 6 months normally, rest specifically depends on the country of residence.
The entry should be effective at least 6 month after issuing the visa

3 – Money
The indian currency is the roupie divided in 100 païsas.
Currency: INR
1 INR = 0,017 Euro
1 Euro = 58-100 rs
1 Dollar US = 44– 46 indian roupies
You can withdraw Indian currency with your bank card (cash machine) everywhere in the main cities of the country (not in Leh-Ladakh).
You will change money (cash or traveler cheque) easily in the exchange counters or in the banks.

4- Health: Visit your usual doctor or a specialist to check any recomandations concerning yourself.
Check that the usual vaccinations are on date (DTPolio type Revaxis, BCG).
Some vaccinations are advised: Hepathite A, Typhoide, Meningite (A+C).

- Acute mountain sickness (AMS):
Acute mountain sickness (AMS) occurs from the combination of reduced air pressure and a lower concentration of oxygen at high altitude. Symptoms can range from mild to life-threatening, and can affect the nervous system, lungs, muscles, and heart.
In most cases the symptoms are mild. In severe cases fluid collects in the lungs (pulmonary edema) causing extreme shortness of breath, which further reduces how much oxygen a person gets. Brain swelling may also occur (cerebral edema). This can cause confusion, coma, and, if untreated, death.
The chance of getting acute mountain sickness increases the faster a person climbs to a high altitude. The severity of the symptoms also depend on this factor, as well as how hard the person pushes (exerts) himself or herself. People who normally live at or near sea level are more prone to acute mountain sickness.
Symptoms: Difficulty sleeping, dizziness or light-headedness, fatigue, headache, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, rapid pulse, shortness of breath.

Prevention: Education of mountain travelers before ascent is the key to prevention. Basic principles include: gradual ascent (400m/day above 3000m), stopping for a day or two of rest for each 2,000 feet (600 meters) above 3000m; sleeping at a lower altitude when possible, drink enough fluids, avoid alcohol, eat regularly and learning how to recognize early symptoms so you can return to lower altitude before worsening symptoms occur.
Acetazolamide (Diamox) helps speed the process of getting used to higher altitude, and reduces minor symptoms. Therapy should start one day before the ascent and continue one to two days into the excursion. This measure is recommended for those making a rapid ascent to high altitudes.
People with underlying cardiac or pulmonary (lung) diseases should avoid high altitudes.

- Personal medicine: - high protection sunscreen, lip balm
- Antibiotic
- Paracetamol
- Immodium/tinidazole (diarrhoea)
- Betadine
- Rehydratation salt
- Throat tablets
- Bandages, tablets for water purification (type Micropur)
Don’t drink local water if it’s not boiled (tea, coffee, soup) or purified by tablets or filter.
Don’t eat fruits and fresh vegetables if they are not peeled.

5- Luggage during trekking: During trek your main luggage will be carried by pack animals (usually horses or mules). You simply carry a day pack with water bottle, camera, sun-screen, spare jacket, etc. - a small load that allows full enjoyment of the trek. A trek bag is ideal for your main luggage, plus a small lockable bag for travel clothes or anything that you do not need during trek which you can leave at hotel’s locker room/safe deposit box in Leh for free of charge.
All along the trek you sleep in tent.

6- Safety: It is our major priority, whatever the region, activity and level of difficulty. For all the program we provide pharmacy according the type of the trip. All our guides are professionnal, well trained on emergency, medical and technical safety.

Our circuits take gradual acclimatization into account.