Getting there and away international travelers to the Indian Himalayas usually fly into the gateway city of Delhi. The flights arrive around midnight, and the domestic flights to Leh or other areas leave in the morning, so most travelers stay at least one night in a Delhi hotel.

BY AIR : Indian Airlines operates regular flight to Leh from Delhi, twice a week between Leh to Jammu and once a week from Srinagar. Jet Airways Operates daily flight between Leh to Delhi.

BY ROAD : The Srinagar to Leh road remains open from early June to November. The Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation operates regular deluxe and ordinary bus services.
The Manali - Leh road remains open from mid June to early October. Himachal Pradesh tourism, HRTC and Manali private bus union, operates a daily bus services, which takes two days to reach Leh, after a night halt at Sarchu or Darcha. Taxi- Taxies are also available at Leh, Manali and Srinagar.

VISA : An Indian visa is required and must be obtained from an Indian Consulate, preferably in your home country prior to travel. Permit and Passport- Tourist don't require permit for Leh; however, all foreigners are required to register at Drass, Rumtse and Sarchu if they are traveling by road. Those traveling by air get themselves registered at the airport. The tourist are required to get a permit for restricted areas like Tsomoriri, Tsokar, Pangong Lakes, Dhahanu and Nubra Valley, which can be obtain through registered travel agencies. Make it sure to carry six photocopies of the permit while traveling, to submit at the Checking points. We will arrange for these permits as part of our trip package.

PERMIT : In Ladakh, special permits are only required for restricted areas like the Nubra Valley and for summating certain peaks. We will arrange for these permits as part of our trip package. For Sikkim travellers, an inner line permit is required to enter the state and can be obtained free of charge in Siliguri after landing at the Bagdogra Airport. A passport size photo is required. For trekking in Sikkim, an additional trekking permit is required and must be applied for in advance or your trip. We will assist in obtaining these permits as part of our trip package.

WHEN TO GO AND FOR HOW LONG : Ladakh is surrounded by a ring of high mountains and snow-covered passes which, before the airport was built at Leh, effectively cut it off from the rest of the world for seven or eight months every year. Although the modem visitor can now fly into Leh at any time of the year, trekking is restricted to the five months when the region is free from the grip of winter. The great advantage of Ladakh as a trekking destination is that rainfall is rare. This makes it one of the only Himalayan regions in which it is possible and pleasurable to trek from late June to mid-September, when most other areas are suffering from the constant deluge of the monsoon.

JUNE-AUGUST : The trekking season begins in about the middle of June. This is a good time to come as there won't be many visitors, but you may have to fly in to Leh as the roads may not have opened and some passes may prove difficult to trek across if there is still a lot of snow around. Ladakh is at its busiest from the beginning of July to the end of August. This coincides with the opening of the Manali to Leh road, linking Himachal Pradesh to Ladakh, which is guaranteed by the government to be kept open from the first week of July until 15 September. The weather is good for trekking, with hot days and refreshingly cools nights, although at lower altitudes it can sometimes be too hot to trek in the middle of the day. A decade or so ago you could almost guarantee a completely dry summer but recent changes in the weather patterns of the Himalayas (thought by some to be the result of global warming) mean that a few days' rain is now a distinct possibility - come prepared. One drawback at this time of year is the number of visitors. The classic treks may be busy and popular guesthouses in Leh fill up quickly.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER : September is one of the best months to come trekking, as the number of people both on the trails and in Leh begins to tail off towards the end of August. If you come at the beginning of the month your stay will coincide with the Ladakh Festival. The temperatures are pleasantly warm during the day, without being too hot, but you should come prepared for cold nights, particularly when you're in the mountains. Many of the tea houses in the mountains will have closed and disappeared from the beginning of September and some tourist businesses in Leh shut down come mid September. This can be seen as a benefit as the locals have much more time for you and it is easier to get a sense of the real Ladakh without the commercial pressures of the tourist season. The Manali to Leh road is guaranteed to be open until 15 September and often remains open for much longer. Some years it can remain open throughout October but you should be prepared to consider flying if the winter snows come early. It's usually possible to trek right up until the end of October, although you will need to be suitably equipped for freezing temperatures after the sun has gone down.

NOVEMBER – MARCH : At the beginning of November the lasting snows of winter begin to fall and the streams freeze over for five months. The coldest months are January and February when temperatures fall as low as -40°C transforming the Zanskar River into a frozen trade route known as the Chadur. By March this savage cold has gone. For very experienced and well-prepared winter mountaineers and ski tourers the winter can provide some exciting possibilities. Read Guy Sheridan's account of the first winter journey from Kargil to Manila, through Zanskar and Lahaul, in Tales of a Cross Country Skier.

APRIL – MAY : It is still quite cold during these months and snowfall is not uncommon at the beginning of April, but by now the ground in the valleys has begun to thaw and activity has resumed in the villages. Trekking is feasible on low-altitude routes, such as from Likir to Temisgam and for those with winter walking experience some higher routes could be attempted. The snow still lies deep on the passes, but with an early start you should be able to cross most on the firm crust of the frozen snow. But if you leave it too late, you'll be sinking up to your chest. The roads into Ladakh will still be closed; so flying in and out is the only practical option. When to come? Ladakh is open for tourist throughout the year, while the best period for tour and trek is from June to October. Most of the trekking routes are closed after November due to heavy snowfall at high passes except the Liker to Kahltsey (Sham) trek. The best period for Chadar trek is from January to Mid-March. The festivals of Stok, Matho and New Year take place in winter. It is possible to visit monasteries in winter, as there are many centrally heated hotels in Leh.

CLIMATE : There's a saying that anyone whose head is in the sun and feet are in the shade in Ladakh will endure both heat stroke and frostbite at the same time. While this is something of an exaggeration, in summer the sun is incredibly powerful but step into the shade and you may need an extra layer of clothing. Night temperatures are comfortably cool. Altitude also plays a strong role in regulating the temperature. One day you can be trekking at 3000m in the stifling heat, the next you can be battling over a 5000m pass in a blizzard. Generally, summer days are a warm 20-25°C. Winter is a different matter. Even in Leh the thermometer rarely rises above freezing and has been known to drop as low as -35°C. In Zanskar and the far west of Ladakh temperatures as low as this are more frequent.

RAIN AND SNOW : Ladakh is dry in the extreme; a typical year sees under 150mm of rainfall, which produces the characteristically barren landscape. This is because the Great Himalayan Range forms an almost impenetrable barrier for the monsoon clouds that sweep up from the south across the rest of the subcontinent. Recent years have seen a slight change in the normal weather pattern with some rain-bearing clouds crossing the mountains in August and early September producing a few days of light rain. In central Ladakh little snow falls in winter while in Zanskar and the far west of Ladakh, especially around Drass, substantial falls are common. Valley travel becomes arduous without skis in the deep unconsolidated snow, and avalanches are a constant hazard in narrow steep-sided valleys.

MONEY : The official currency in India is the Indian Rupee. Travelers can change money at the airport or at the banks and official money exchanges in Delhi, Leh and other cities. These exchangers will readily accept cash. American Express travellers checks are usually accepted, but other brands of travelers checks are harder to exchange. Credit cards are accepted at some businesses. ATM machines are beginning to make their appearance, but they are not widespread.

ACCOMMODATION : A wide price range of hotels is available in Delhi, but generally, the better ones are expensive (as in most big cities). Lodging in Leh is much more reasonable and can range from guesthouses to Class A hotels. Most hotels in Leh have meal plans that are included with the cost of the room. We will gladly arrange accommodations to suit your budget. Please check it out with us about the standard of accommodation you are using before you make final booking.

TELEPHONE & E-MAIL : India’s telephone system works well. The traveler can make local and international calls from one of the many STD/ISD facilities. The country code for India is 91. The city code for Delhi 011 and for Leh is 01982. Internet service is widely available.

TIME : India is 10-hours and 30 minutes ahead of New York (5 hours and 30 minutes ahead of GMT).

ELECTRICITY : Voltage is 220 at 50 cycles AC. The central electricity in Leh usually is only available after dark. Many establishments have their own generators as a backup. Electricity is usually not available the rest of Ladakh.

WHAT TO BRING? The Temperature in mid summer is pleasant and t-shirt and half pant in the daytime and in Evening temperature come down and need Jacket or pullover. While trekking above 4000m, you need warm cloth. Sometimes there is a rain or snow in early June therefore you need Wind sheet or raincoat..

POST & TELECOMMUNICATION : Telephone & Fax and post facilities are available in Leh, Padum, Kargil and Nubra valley.

INTERNET SERVICES : Internet, Email services are available in Leh only.

AVOID ACUTE MOUNTAIN SICKNESS : Acute mountain sickness can occur to any one at an altitude above 10,000 ft. from the sea level. The most common symptoms of acute mountain sickness are headache disturb sleep loss of appetite, nausea, coughing, irregular breathing, breathlessness, lassitude and lack of concentration. Since Leh Town is situated at an altitude of 11,500 ft. above sea level. It is advisable to take the following precautions, so as to acclimatize your body properly.

• Take complete rest for the first 36 hours of your arrival at Leh. However, this period may vary with different people.
• Your body should get used to the lower oxygen levels..
• Incase you develop any of the above-mentioned symptoms, please consult a Doctor.

TIPPING : Tipping has become common in Ladakh, as pony men, helpers, guides and cooks expect tips after finishing the tour. Big hotels and restaurants already charge 10% service charge.

PHOTOGRAPHING OF PEOPLE : Take permission before you click a photograph of any one. Don't take photo if they ask for money.

WATER PURIFICATION : Take water purification piles with you. And you can use boiled fresh water during the trek. Dzomsa Laundry sells high pressure boiled water for Rs.10 per liter. Bring you own water container.

PLASTIC BAGS : Do not use plastic bag since plastic is officially banned in Ladakh. Always separate and properly dispose off litter burns burnable, bury biodegradable materials while trekking.

NATIONAL PARKS : Don't distrub wild life during the trek; be aware of the highly sensitive ecology and the economy of the geographical and cultural landscape.

BOOKS : Reach Ladakh by Tundup Dorjey is only Guidebook providing basic, Trekking and all other tourism related information on Ladakh. Cross road to high Asia by Janet Rizvi from oxford university press, gives through information on Ladakhi history and culture. Ancient Feature Learning from Ladakh by Helena Norbag gives information regarding farming system and culture in Ladakh. Getting started to Ladakhi by Rebecca Norman is recommended if you are interested in learning a few Ladakhi phrases. The Monasteries of Ladakh by Ge. Thupstan provides historical background of the monasteries.

OTHER GUIDE BOOKS : Detail trekking information is offered in a guidebook "Trekking in Ladakh" by Charlie Loram from Trail Blazer Publications. Reach Ladakh, trekking in Ladakh and Zangskar and Trekking in Indian Himalayan by Lonely Planet.

MAPS : Trekking Map of Ladakh by Sonam Tsetan and Reach Ladakh Trekking map provides detail information regarding trekking routes in Ladakh region.