ON-TREK EMERGENCY CONTACT
*** Give this SATELLITE number to whoever might need to contact you on the trek ***
To send an SMS to our satellite phone, connect on-line to https://sms.thuraya.com.
Input our number (21274092). Write a short message and press ‘send’.
NOTE: We can call you back or email you back. If you want a return call or email include your contact info. You can send this in two SMSs if need be.
Kim Satellite +88216 (21274092)
Lhakpa Satellite: +88216 (87710076)
NOTE: If the battery is charged, you are free to use the sat phone. The rate charged by Thuraya is 175 IC per minute.
KIM’S MOBILE NUMBERS
Kim’s Mobile (All-India except J & K): + (91) 9313704931
Kim’s Mobile (Leh/J & K): + (91) 9596941771
KIM’S EMAIL
kamzang@project-himalaya.com, kamzangkim@gmail.com, kim@kamzang.com
KAMZANG FUND
Sponsoring Children's Educations & Giving Medical Assistance – Giving Back
http://www.kamzang.com/kamzang-fund/kamzang-fund.html
We help sponsor or find sponsors for kids in the Himalaya in Nepal, the Indian Himalaya & Tibet. We also help with medical issues.
http://picasaweb.google.com/KamzangKim/SingeeSPhotos (one of the boys in India we sponsor)
http://kamzangfund.blogspot.com/ (other photos of our kids)
We help sponsor or find sponsors for kids in the Himalaya in Nepal, the Indian Himalaya & Tibet. We also help with medical issues and provide logistical support for projects such as solar panels for community centers. Ask for more details!
PHOTOS
http://picasaweb.google.com/KamzangKim - Gallery of All Trek Photos & Kamzang Fund
Before You Leave …
HAVE A MEDICAL CHECK UP
Please have a FULL and thorough medical check-up BEFORE signing up for the trek. Review the itinerary in detail, discuss prior medical issues and review all medications with your doctor. People over 60 should consider a stress test.
http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinationIndia.aspx - Inoculations India
BOOK THE TREK
http://www.kamzang.com/kamzang-booking-form.html
INDIAN VISA
Everyone will need an Indian visa BEFORE arrival in India!
https://indiavisa.travisaoutsourcing.com/homepage
Check this
page for updates or to apply directly. Go to the Indian consulate or
embassy nearest you, or often your travel agent can arrange a visa
for you. You will now need a COPY of your Birth Certificate (for US
citizens they ONLY accept this) or school diploma. For Americans, a
10-year visa is available in San Francisco, perhaps at other
consulates as well. They will ask for contact details, and you can
give them any of our travel agents or hotels listed on this page.
Best to not list Jammu &Kashmir on your application, just write any
location. Delhi, Manali, Dharamsala, Rajasthan, etc …
NEW INDIAN VISA REGULATIONS
1 - If you plan to
enter India on your multiple-entry (now limited to 2-3 entries)
visa, there should be a gap of at least 2 months between the time
you leave India, and the time you re-enter. Transiting in India is
considered an entry.
2 - If you must
re-enter India from a bordering country (including Nepal) before the
two months have passed, you must obtain special permission (written
annotation in passport) from the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu or
Indian Consulate in Birgunj. Tourists may also request Immigration
Check Posts to annotate their passports upon exiting India that they
intend to transit back through India on their way to another
country. The tourist should present an itinerary and supporting
documents (flight bookings).
3 -
The Indian Govt
is now granting VISA ON ARRIVAL to foreign nationals from five
countries: Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand and Singapore. The maximum
validity is for 30 days with single entry facility. Tourist
Visa-on-Arrival shall be allowed for a maximum of two times in a
calendar year with a minimum gap of two months between each visit.
HAVE A MEDICAL CHECK UP
Please have a FULL and thorough medical check-up BEFORE signing up for the trek. Review the itinerary in detail, discuss prior medical issues and review all medications with your doctor. People over 60 should consider a stress test.
http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinationNepal.aspx - Inoculations Nepal
DEPOSIT & PAYMENT
For Deposits ($750 check or bank transfer/ $600 via PayPal) & balance payments.If paying the balance in Kathmandu, no bills smaller than $50s please, either in cash or TCs. Please pay in $US or Euros.
1 - CHECKS
($US only)
Kim Bannister
PO Box 1178, Rockport, ME 04856
Tel: (207) 236-2309
2 - BANK TRANSER USA ACCOUNT
Please assure that your bank and/or the intermediary bank assume all charges on your end; I pick-up the bank fees on my end. The amount of the trek is what should arrive in my account. We are not responsible for intermediary bank fees!
Kim D. Bannister
Bank of America
Checking Account # Inquire
Routing Transit 121000358
Swift code BOFAUS6S
Address:
Chestnut Street Branch
PO Box 37176
2200 Chestnut Street
San Francisco, CA 94127-0001
Tel: 650 615 4700
You might also need my physical address:
Kim Bannister
7 Spruce St
Rockport, ME 04856
Tel: 207-236-2309
2 - BANK TRANSFER NEPAL ACCOUNT
Kimberly D. Bannister
Account # Inquire
Standard Chartered Bank
Kantipath, Kathmandu
Nepal
Swift Code: SCBLNPKA
3 - CASH
$US, $US Travelers Checks, Euros, British Pounds
(Note: The exchange rate is based on the current, official BANK rate in India or Nepal if you change money, not the money changer rate).
4 - PAYPAL
We accept balance payments by PayPal (to Kim’s account, access directly from the PayPal button), but there is an extra 4% tacked on top, which doesn’t (unfortunately) go to us! There is NO extra charge to you for deposits paid by PayPal.
MONEY & CURRRENCY
http://www.xe.com/ - currency conversion calculations
TRAVEL MEDICAL INSURANCE
For adventure travel. MUST include HELICOPTER EVACUATION and treks over 4000 meters or over 10,000 feet! Ask your insurer if you are unsure …
Travel Insurance: We REQUIRE that everyone has travel medical insurance available from your local medical insurer or from some of the companies listed below (there are many other companies online, do some research to find which is best for you).
***Please bring a PRINTED PAGE with your name, address, personal emergency contact, insurance policy name & number and the overseas contact number to call in case of emergency for us to give to our local agents (we don't need the particulars, just a one-page copy of the policy).
Some suggestions, but check with your local insurance provider for the company best for your country and age. Or ‘Google’ travel medical insurance:
http://www.hccmis.com/health-insurance-plans/
http://www.internationalsos.com/en/
http://www.worldtravelcenter.com/
http://www.travelguard.com/
Also, I recommend joining (Free)
http://www.iamat.org/ - International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers
For Americans (every country has its own website – check your gov’ts)
http://www.cdc.gov/travel/ - Lists foreign requirements and certified travel clinics throughout the US
TRAVEL IMMUNIZATIONS
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/ - Center for Disease Control
ASIA TRANSIT HOTELS
http://www.i-escape.com/
http://www.asiarooms.com/
http://www.tripadvisor.com/
If you are arriving early in Delhi and are looking for a hotel or sightseeing, we will put you in touch with our agent in Delhi, and can give you hotel recommendations and/or book them for you.
DELHI AIRPORT TRANSIT HOTEL
Eaton Hotel
PACKING FOR THE TREK
Read the gear list below and get back to us with questions …
TEMPERATURES
Leh is usually warm (t-shirt, sandals, light pants or skirt weather) during the day, and gets chilly (light fleece or windproof top) in the afternoon. Nights can be cold enough for a light down jacket, or warm enough for t-shirts. It's almost always dry, but doesn't hurt to have an umbrella. We often sit outside in the restaurants in the evening
Trekking is a mixed bag of temperatures. Daytime temperatures can be scorching, so a wide-brimmed hat or baseball cap is essential. LAYERS are the key as hot can change quickly to FREEZING crossing the passes. Have a wide range of layer-able trekking clothes for summer to winter temperatures. Be prepared! See GEAR LIST below.
Dress conservatively as a rule. Shorts are OK if they aren't TOO short. Sleeveless Ts are also fine, but perhaps avoid tank-tops on the trail and in Leh. Super tight doesn't go over so well with the village elders. Many of the younger generation in Leh wear modern Indian Western-influenced clothes, but remember that you haven't signed up for a beach or surf vacation. Use your good judgment!
RENTALS
We have Northface, Patagonia & Marmot down jackets to rent for $1.50 per day. We also have good Kathmandu North Face down sleeping bags to rent (Approx 0 F) for $2.50, and one warmer Kathmandu North Face bag (Approx -20F) bag for $3 per day. Please inquire early, as we keep some stored in Nepal ...
LADAKH & ZANSKAR MAPS
http://mapsofladakh.blogspot.com/
The best maps to buy before you come to India are three maps of Ladakh & Zanskar produced by ‘Olizane’. He just came out with a revised series, and is working on other areas of the Himalaya. He also wants to distribute them in Ladakhi to the local schools.
www.olizane.ch
TIPS FOR THE CREW
We recommend $150 per person to go into the tip pool for the staff. It’s easiest to bring IC with you on the trek.
TIPPING IN GENERAL
Of course tips are always appreciated but they don’t need to be extravagant. 30 -50 IC to carry bags to/from your room is a good tip. The people who clean your room will be thrilled with 100 IC when you leave, and 100 IC is good for drivers/airport pick-ups unless it's a longer sightseeing trip when you'll want to give 200 IC or so. 500 IC for an overnight trip/guide is appropriate. Round up taxi/auto fares. 10% is included in most restaurant bills and if it’s not included it’s still expected. Check your bills. Feel free to give out small change to the beggars in the streets (2, 5, 10 IC is plenty as they do receive small change from others).
Arriving in Delhi …
Delhi Sightseeing
ARRIVAL IN DELHI
Most people will arrive at the Indira Ghandi International Airport. For information on the airport, see their official website: http://www.newdelhiairport.in/. Or the Wikipedia site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indira_Gandhi_International_Airport
NOTE: Flights to/from Leh and hotels in Delhi are NOT included in the price of the trek OR in the itinerary. Our treks are LEH to LEH. Some hotel recommendations listed below.
*** Please email your arrival details and plans as soon as you have them ***
AIRPORT TRANSFERS, FLIGHT BOOKING & TRAVELS
Prince & Rajesh of Dhruv Travels (contact details below) are recommended for international pick-ups and drop offs as well as flight booking, sightseeing in Delhi and excursions to Rajasthan.
Dhruv Travels (Prince & Rajesh)
Office: +(91) 11 6536 8764
Prince mobile: +(91) 9810 485897
Rajesh mobile: +(91) 98993 73886
travelorganiserindia@yahoo.co.in
DELHI AIRPORT TAX
The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA) has mandated an ADF (Airport Development Fee) levied on all passengers departing Delhi: For Domestic Travel - INR 221.00 (approx $5 USD)For International Travel - INR 1434.00 (approx $32 USD)
SIGHTSEEING IN DELHI
To do some sightseeing in Delhi, contact Prince & Rajesh of Dhruv Travels. The price is approx $20 per person for a half day, $25 per person for a full day, depending on what you want to see. (See the Delhi, Manali & Leh link for ideas of what to do in these cities).
NOTE: To bring Delhi alive, pick up a copy of William Dalrimple’s ‘City of Djinns’, a great read and well researched.
TAJ MAHAL & AGRA
There is a link on the website for one day or overnight trips to Agra & the magnificent Taj Mahal. Dhruv Travels will give you hotel and price options, and make all arrangements.
RAJASTHAN
A wonderful, romantic place to spend an extra week or two in India, and not far from Delhi. Dhruv Travels can set up any sort of itinerary for you, from an overnight trip to a two-week excursion. Don’t miss staying in the wonderful havelis, artistically converted merchant homes which are found in every city in Delhi.
Take a look on-line at the official tourism site: http://www.rajasthantourism.gov.in/
And at the Wikipedia site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajasthan
DELHI HOTELS & GUEST HOUSES
DELHI HOMESTAYS
Homestays are increasingly becoming popular in Delhi. Search on-line for a good one. They usually provide breakfast, and dinner if requested.
MID-RANGE DELHI HOTELS ($30-$100)
pahar ganj
Jyoti Mahal
Metropolis Tourist Home
Cottage Yes Please
carol bagh
Wood Castle
BOUTIQUE HOTELS
The Amber
Shanti Home
5-STAR DELHI HOTELS
The Imperial Hotel
If you want to treat yourself at a five-star hotel under $500 per night, book a room at The Imperial Hotel Delhi before or after the trek. It’s a great way to wind down from travels or after a trek! The Imperial has a spa, a pool, gardens and many cafes, restaurants and bars within the air conditioned complex. Room rates vary considerably depending on the season.
If you want to really splash out, try these:
Taj Mahal Hotel
Aman Resort
NOTE: There are MANY 5-Star hotels in Delhi.
Try Trip Advisor www.tripadvisor.com or other boutique hotel search sites such as www.i-escape.com
MEDICAL CENTERS
DELHI
Max Medcenter, N-110 Panchsheel Park, South Delhi
Tel: +91 001 2649 9870
24 Hour Emergency: 105 111
LEH
SMN (Government) Hospital, Leh
Tel: 252360/120
NOTE: There are also many private clinics in Leh which are better than the hospital.
MONEY & ATMS
IF you are bringing cash as a balance payment for the trek, please discuss with Kim before arriving in India. Bring $US or other foreign currency, not IC (Indian Rupees) please unless you arrange with Kim beforehand. You can change $1200 per day at a good rate at the bank in Leh. Dhruv Travels can take you to a good money changer.
You will probably want to change at least $250 into IC for the trek and for meals and shopping in Leh and Delhi. Many shops in both Leh and Delhi take credit cards, and there are ATMs in Delhi (many) and Leh (2 or 3). You can always change more currency (or traveler’s checks) in Leh if you run out; there’s lots of good shopping, and great food!
DELHI RESTAURANTS
zomato
(restaurant guide)
pahar ganj
The Metropolis Rooftop (Main Bazaar, Pahar Ganj - Indian, Tandoori, cold beers)
Jyoti Mahal - Rajasthani-styled restaurant on rooftop
connaught place & central delhi
Bhukhara (Sheraton, one of Delhi's most famous restaurants)
Olive Beach (North Indian, European, Italian, Chinese, Thai, Asian. A great 'beachy' setting and one of the best restaurants in Delhi.)
Q'BA ( European, North Indian, Italian, Thai)
Chor Bizarre (North Indian, Kashmiri)
Karim Hotel (Mughai, fantastic meats)
Shalom (Lebonese, Meditteranean)
Veda (North Indian)
Swagath (Indian Coastal/seafood, Eclectic)
Zing (Indian, Continental)
Taste of China(Chinese, Thai)
Amber Restaurant – N-19 Block, Outer Circle, Connaught Place (Indian)
The Embassy Restaurant – Corner of D & E Block, Inner Circle (Indian, classic restaurant)
Blue’s – N Block, Outer Circle, Connaught Place (Mexican, Lots of Other Food, Jazzy Atmosphere)
Banana Leaf – L-18 Block, Outer Circle, Connaught Place (South Indian)
United Coffee House – E- 15 Block, Inner Circle, Connaught Place (Indian, classic restaurant)
Berco’s – E-8 (Chinese, Asian, very popular)
imperial hotel restaurants
The Spice Route
1911
The Atrium
(Don't miss brunch ...)
hauz khas
Park Balluchi (Mughlai, Afgani)
Naiveydyam (Vegetarian)
... Google these if I didn't include a link.
elsewhere in delhi
Varq
www.tajhotels.com
MANALI HOTEL
(IF you are coming overland …)
Hotel Mayflower
Club House Road, Manali
Tel: +(91 1902) 252 104, 250 256
Contact: Mr. Dharmendra, Manager
Dharmendra mobile: +(91) 9816 341 914
Arriving in Leh …
Delhi, Manali & Leh
Indus Valley Adventures
Indus Valley Sightseeing & Monastery Tours
Exotic Rajasthan
ARRIVAL IN LEH
There are several ways to get to Leh, the easiest being booking your international flight directly to Leh, Ladakh. Expedia is an easy way to do this, or your travel agent can do it for you. If you’re using miles you might have to book your Delhi-Leh connection separately. You will often need a night in Delhi, but you can also opt to connect early in the morning to a Delhi-Leh flight.
Another option is to drive from Manali to Leh along the spectacular Leh-Manali highway, which crosses many Himalayan and Zanskar Range passes. If you are traveling in northern India (Manali, Dharamsala, Rishikesh etc) this is a great option. You can arrange a seat in a jeep which will take a full day (18-20 hours) to do the Manali Leh drive, or a private jeep (approx $400 for the jeep).
Let Kim know how you will will arrive in Leh, and when, and she will book your room at the hotel accordingly. We are happy to help with any arrangements. Dhruv Travels can also make any sort of travel arrangement for you.
ARRIVAL HOTEL
Hotel Shaynam
Old Road, Leh
Tel: +(91 1982) 252345
Contact: Rinchin
Rinchin mobile: +(91) 94191 79154
other leh hotels
*****The Grand Dragon Ladakh - Old Leh Rd (trying to be 5-star, nice rooms)
tel: 01982-250786, 255866, 255266
****Hotel
Gawaling International - Off Changspa Rd (a wonderful hotel in a quiet part of north Leh)
tel: 01982-253252, 256456, 251009
mobile: 09419178813
**** Hotel Omasila–Changspa Rd (wonderful atmosphere & rooms, in Changspa)
tel: 01982-252119, 251178
mobile: 09419 178815
****Hotel Dragon – Old Leh Rd (Ladakhi architecture, nice atmosphere, cultural shows, centrally located so can getloud)
tel: 01982-252139, 252720, 250919, 250786
***1/2 Padma Guest House - Off Fort Rd (great choice, good price, nice rooms; the best thing is the roof-top terrace & restaurant)
tel: 01982-252630, 252514, 00906981140, mobile: 09419178171, 09906982171
*** Hotel Snowland
- Upper Tukucha Rd (new, lawn/garden with tables, some rooms with terraces, Ladakhi style, clean)
tel: 01982-253027
*** Shynam Hotel - Old Road Leh (Ladakhi family-run guest house, great location, good rooms, garden, can be a bit loud)
tel: 01982-255990
mobile: 09906990444, 09419179154
**Atisha Guest House - Marpak (Ladakhi family-run, roof-top, nice atmosphere)
tel: 01982-251106
**Hotel
Munshi Continental - Fort Rd (new, good value, right in teh middle of town, quite nice)
tel: 01982-253607
mobile: 09906988901
*Norbulinga
Guest House - Chubu Rd (A family-run guest house where you'll stay for a while, great location, quiet, garden)
tel: 01982- 52941
*Dorje
Guest House - Upper Tukucha Rd (small)
tel: 01982-253460
mobile: 09419269780, 09419242858
ADVENTURES IN LEH
RFTING
Splash Ladakh arranges day-rafting excursions on the Zanskar or Indus Rivers. Kim can help arrange …
www.splashladakh@gmail.com
MOUNTAIN BIKING
Himalayan Bikers arranges day-trips around Leh, or multi-day trips, and rents bicycles. There is a fun half-day trip DOWN from the highest motor-able pass in the world, the Kardung La
www.himalayan-bikers.com
INDUS VALLEY JEEP SAFARIS & SIGHTSEEING
One of the don’t-miss things to do in Leh is to hire a jeep and driver and to explore the Indus Valley and its many villages and monasteries. There are set prices for visiting groups of monasteries and ancient fortresses. Kim can help to arrange …
On the Trek …
SATELLITE PHONE
We will have a satellite phone with us which you are free to use if the battery is charged. The international per minute fee is 170 IC (Thuraya rate).
KAMZANG DINING TENT
Our signature dining tent is our Tibetan Style Festival tent (called a Gur in Ladakhi), similar to a yurt but rectangular, a white canvas tent which opens up from the entire front end for amazing Himalayan views. Our ‘Central Asian’ style set-up inside includes patterned Indian dhuries (woven cotton rugs) over mats on the ground, camp chairs and a low table filled with all sorts of delicious food for snacks and meals. Open as soon as we get to camp in the afternoons!
TENTS
Everyone gets their own Mountain Hardwear or Big Agnes tent; singles have a 2 person tent and couples share a larger, 3 person version. They are new tents, easy to put up, airy, and have doors on both sides for great Himalayan views!
HORSES
We have a team of horses that carry all of our gear; all you need to carry is your daypack. Our horsemen are all amazing, have been working with us for years and know the routes in Ladakh & Zanskar better than most of the locals. They also help us get our campsite set up in the afternoon, and loaded on the horses in the morning.
STAFF
Our co-guide is Lhakpa Dorji Sherpa from the Everest region in Nepal. Lhakpa is an experienced mountain guide, has his own Nepal trekking website (www.khumbuadventures.com), has been working and trekking with us for many years in Nepal, India & Tibet.
Sherap, who owns the horses that we use during the summer, is a Tibetan living in Manali, invaluable in all respects on the trek and always ready with a smile and a helping hand. We also work with Sherap’s half-brother Sampal, always making a joke and a great horseman, and Hari Dhel from just outside Manali, who always has a smile on his face.
Our Nepali cook, Junar, is a genius in the kitchen (tent) and helps set up camp, cross rivers or anything else that needs to be done. Kiran is our assistant guide and ‘sherpa’, a wonderfully caring person. Suresh , all smiles, is our other ‘sherpa’ and helps with everything to do with our dining tent. Yam is our assistant cook, another lovely person.
All are great company and have many years of experience trekking, both with us and earlier with other Nepali companies. The rest of our India staff varies from year to year; we try to employ local Ladakhis, Zanskaris and Tibetans, and to use local companies whenever possible. I am extremely lucky to have such an amazing group of guys to work with in both Nepal and India …
GEAR
Layers are the ONLY option for trekking in Ladakh & Zanskar, as it can be baking hot in the morning (shorts/t-shirt) and snowing going over a pass and stormy/rainy in the afternoon; you don’t need quantity as much as quality, and it’s worth investing in some of the great, warm, lightweight gear available these days. I wear a t-shirt, a mid-weight shirt or fleece jacket/vest over that, and always carry a wind/rain jacket, either hard or soft-shell. If the weather looks stormy or it’s a pass day, I carry my down jacket with me. I always have a pair of gloves, wool hat, cap and extra pair of socks in my day-pack. Good trekking boots are essential. High boots are best, but you don’t need climbing or plastic boots (for crampons). You can also get away with low, sturdy trekking boot, which I wear quite often.
You also NEED a pair of WALKING SANDALS for river crossings. Not beach sandals, but something like a pair of Keens or running shoes which you can walk much of the day in. CROCS are also recommended to hang off your pack each day …
Nights are chilly to cold, so a down jacket or vest is important to have with you, and a WARM sleeping bag, which means 0 to -20 F (-18 to -28 C). Mine is -20 F, too warms at times, but I’m toasty warm in it on the cold nights, and the campsites near the passes can get COLD. Rentals available (see below). The dining tent is a Tibetan style ‘yurt’, with blankets and camp chairs on the ground; it’s warm, but still important to have a change of warm clothes for the evenings. I have down booties, which are nice when it’s cold, but a pair of thick wool socks also works.
Trekking poles are not absolutely necessary, but recommended, especially going down passes, which can be quite steep (if there is snow, you might NEED your trekking poles). Bring gaiters if you have them, but they’re not essential. Crampons and ice ax usually not necessary, but feel free to bring them if you have them. We’ll have at least one ice ax with us, just for emergencies (and they are great for digging toilet tents). It’s also good to have a pair of plastic sandals or Crocs for washing and the evenings; wear a pair of warm socks under them for going in and out of the dining tent. Tevas take a long time to dry. You can bring a pair of light sneakers/running shoes for the afternoons or easy days if you want.
Good sunglasses are essential; please bring an extra pair if you tend to lose them! Don’t forget a sun hat/baseball cap and plenty of sunscreen …
Bring extra large plastic bags in case of rain; you can pack electronics in them, or stash your sleeping bag and clothes in them. The weather is changeable in the Himalaya, so I suggest that everyone has a strong, WATERPROOF duffel with them.
GEAR LIST
(THIS IS MEANT TO BE A GUIDELINE, YOU DON'T NEED TO FOLLOW IT EXACTLY)
NOTE: YOUR DUFFEL BAG CAN’T BE ANY LARGER THAN A NORTH FACE XL (140 L, 32” x 19” x 19”)
ONE DUFFEL BAG PER PERSON PLEASE!
Strong, waterproof DUFFEL BAG (North Face are perfect, available online)
35-45 Liter Daypack (with Rain-cover)
WARM Sleeping Bag
Down Jacket
Trekking Boots
Thermarest/Air (or Down) Mattress
Sneakers/Light camp shoes (optional) or Crocs (for evenings & washing)
Good Hiking Sandals (REQUIRED ONLY for Ladakh, Mustang & Dolpo Treks)
2-3 Pairs Trekking Pants3 T-Shirts
3 Long-sleeve Trekking Shirts
Fleece Jacket and/or Vest
Soft or Hard-shell JacketGortex or Wind/Rainproof Jacket & Pants
Fleece/Thermal Top & Bottom (for the evenings)
Light Long Underwear (optional - to sleep in, or to layer under clothes)
4 Socks
Hat & Gloves
Baseball Cap and/or Wide-rimmed Hat
Sunglasses
Nalgene or Sigg Water-bottles (2) IN ADDITION TO a Bladder (Bladder optional)
Toiletries, Sunscreen & Personal medical supplies
Watch (or small clock with alarm)
Extra Batteries & Chargers
Headlamp
Water-purifying Tablets or Filter/Pump
Trekking Poles (optional)
Gators (optional)
Yak Trax or Microspikes (optional – see links below)
http://www.kahtoola.com/microspikes.php/
http://yaktrax.com/
Down Booties (optional, but recommended)
Compactable Washing Bowl (optional, for clothes)
Snack Food & Re-hydration/Electrolytes
Laundry Detergent (Kathmandu) or Bio-degradable Clothes Soap
Hand Sanitizer
Small Solar Panel (optional, recommended for iPods)
Book(s)
A SOFT roll of Toilet Paper/Tissues (optional)
NOTE: we supply toilet paper but it’s not soft! You’ll want something softer for blowing your nose …
Zip-lock
BagsRehydration/electrolyte powder
SNACKS!
SUGGESTED MEDS:
See Medical section. We suggest bringing with you as Western is much better than the Indian equivalent: Diamox, Azithromyacin, Ciprofoxin & Augmentin. Bring COMPEED BLISTER covers, bandages, good wrapping tape & knee or ankle supports if you tend to have issues. Bring good electrolytes (Emergen-C) and/or rehydration. The local versions aren’t very appealing.
DAYPACK
We recommend a 30-45 liter daypack (ask at your sporting shop if you’re not sure of the capacity of yours). Better to have it too large than too small, as on pass days you’ll want to carry more. Most have internal water bladders built in, which are good to have. Make sure it’s comfortable before leaving home. Mine are 35 and 45 liters, both made by Osprey.
In your daypack, you’ll be carrying 1 or 2 liters of water, a wind/Gortex/soft/ hard-shell jacket, wind/rain pants, hat & gloves, extra socks, sunscreen, snacks, water purifying tablets or filter, camera, a plastic bag or pack-cover and maybe a down jacket. Lhakpa & I carry small medical kits in ours.
RENTALS
We have Northface, Patagonia & Marmot down jackets to rent for $1.50 per day. We also have good Kathmandu North Face down sleeping bags to rent (Approx 0 F ) for $2.50, and one warmer Kathmandu North Face bag (Approx -20F) bag for $3 per day.
Please inquire early, as we keep some stored in Nepal.
AIR MATTRESSES
Required! (We have a few to rent if you don’t have one …)
TREKKING POLES
Trekking poles are very good to have for crossing rivers and going up/down steep passes, saving knees, but not essential.
CAMP CHAIRS
We have Crazy Creek camp chairs for everyone, and use them inside our dining tent on Asian style rugs and mats, very cozy and comfortable. Bring them outside by the stream with a book on a rest day, or out in the sun for breakfast if it’s nice …
PACKING
Duffels are the best for packing for the horses, and they can be picked up for cheap ($5 or $6) in Leh, Manali or Delhi although we recommend bringing a good, waterproof duffel such as a North Face. Weight limit on Leh – Delhi – Leh flights is 20 kilos, so try to keep this in mind when packing your back for India. Also, please bring something waterproof for your gear, as it does occasionally rain in Ladakh. A ‘hefty’ bag is fine to wrap around your clothes inside your duffel. We provide thick plastic bags to go over your duffels and help protect them from sharp rocks or thorns while on the horses.
EXTRA GEAR
If anyone has old/extra/used gear of any sort, bring it along if you have room in your duffels. We sponsor a few young boys & girls in the regions, so any clothes for ages 5 to 15 will find a good home! Our staff (and their kids) also appreciates ANY sort of clothing, from old shirts, jackets, pants, fleeces, shoes to your old trekking socks. We often have a raffle at the end of the trek, so you can use gear during the trek, and give it away afterwards. Nothing too heavy or bulky, please!
Most Ladakhis & Zanskaris (as well as our staff) are quite a bit smaller than their Western equivalents …
If you want to bring something for the Zanskari/Ladakhi children we’ll meet along the way, please don’t bring candy, or at least not big bags of it (although we do indulge them sometimes). Something interesting from your home town/country is great, something small; we try not to encourage begging, which there is starting to be some of in the more trekked villages. You can also bring pencils, sharpeners, erasers, pens, hair ties, socks and things for kids. Be creative but thoughtful as many of the villages are remote, and while we encourage trekkers to bring essentials, we don’t want to drop a load of junk on unsuspecting villagers. Balloon, pen and bon-bon are the cries heard on the trail these days.
For the local Ladakhi and Zanskari villagers (adults), or for the nomads, there are many things you can bring along if you’d like to. Some things that villagers like or need: sunglasses, soap, lotion, eye droppers and solution, band-aids, hair bands, toothbrushes (most of this available for cheaper than at home in India), toothpaste baseball or fleece caps, fleece gloves. We encourage villagers to trade products that they produce locally (tsampa – ground barley flour – or yogurt, for example) for things like sunglasses that our trekkers bring along.
NOTE: check your baggage allowance before leaving home!
WATER PURIFYERS & FILTERS
We bring MSR and Katydin ceramic purifying/filtering pumps along on the trek which everyone can use to pump fresh water in the evenings for the next day’s drinking water, ecologically the best way to get water in the Himalaya’s fragile trekking regions. Bring your own pump, UV purifier or iodine tablets to have the capacity for fresh water en route. Please bring at least TWO Nalgene, Sigg or other unbreakable plastic/metal water bottles. Camelbacks and other bladder systems are also good, but can leak, so as a back-up it’s best to also bring a Nalgene/metal water bottle.
SNACKS
You will NEED snacks hiking at altitude, even if you’re not a snacker. People crave unusual foods at altitude! Energy bars, ‘GU’ gels, chocolate bars, dried fruit & nuts, beef jerky (or whatever) are important to have along for long days, pre-lunch bonks and passes. Lemonade mix, Emergen-C or similar drink mixes are great to have for hot days in your water bottles, and it is ESSENTIAL to bring electrolytes with you every day.
Energy bars are not found in Leh although a delicious local variety is available at the health store in Leh. Chocolate bars are available in Leh. As Leh is part of old ‘Central Asia, there is a large variety of dried fruit & nuts available; less so in Manali, but you can get them.
Bring something to share in the tent in the evenings if you want. Maple syrup is a big hit, special cookies/biscuits, chocolate, nuts, Vegemite or whatever you come up with.
Cheese is great as a treat on a cheese-board before dinner (Blue, Stilton, Yarlsburg, good Cheddar, Brie, etc) although we have lots of delicious yak cheese with us for lunches. If you would like, bring a bit of your favorite and we’ll throw it on a cheese board for appetizers one night. Don’t worry about what happens to it in Delhi, it will be fine.
Nothing besides your personal snack food is required, but it’s fun to see what everyone comes up with …
TREKKING NOSH
Our food is perhaps THE best you’ll ever get on a camping trek anywhere in the world, no expense barred and (well, maybe) a money-back guarantee if you don’t gain some weight during the trek. We serve three home-made meals a day plus a snacks in the afternoon (and once in a while host a ‘Happy Hour’), use fresh produce (some of which we pick-up en route), all prepared by our amazing cook, Junar. And often assisted by Kim & Lhakpa. The meals are truly delicious and of the highest quality available in the region; some things even brought in duffels from overseas. Our meals are mostly vegetarian, but we do cook meat (in addition to the veg fare) once in a while. We try to provide as much of a ‘gourmet experience’ as possible, and I think most people come away from the treks remembering the great variety of food served, from Indian to Italian, Tibetan to Thai.
Fresh brewed coffee, Indian Chai & herbal teas are available in the dining tent from breakfast to late evening. Breakfasts include eggs, breads & toast, muesli, pancakes, French toast, cinnamon rolls and anything else you can come up with. Our lunches are packed, not cooked en route, and include bread, cheese, humus/beans, sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil, rice pilau/fried rice, fried noodles, samosas and other delicacies. Dinners range from Indian & Nepali to Mexican, Thai & Italian, often topped off with an apple/mango cobbler! We give boiled water in the evenings for you water bottles.
Note: Let us know about any dietary restrictions.
JAVA & CHAI
We serve fresh pressed French Roast from Himalayan Java in Kathmandu in the mornings. We also serve Indian Chai and/or Kashmiri. We have a large variety of herbal teas, flavored Dilmah teas, black tea and Jasmine tea as well as hot lemon and hot chocolate. Enjoy!
GROG & DRINKS
Cokes, juice, rum & Indian beer are often available at small ‘shops’ or parachute tent tea-houses along the way. Wine can be picked up from duty free at the airport in Delhi! A splash of Indian rum, sweet and delicious, is wonderful as a ‘sundowner’ in the hills and to warm you up in the cold evenings …
WASHING
We give you a warm bowl of water in the mornings (and the evenings if you want) for washing up, and there is always a bucket of water with soap and a towel next to the dining tent. There are always streams nearby, and a favorite past-time becomes finding the perfect wash-spot. A plastic, foldable wash bucket is a great idea for campsite. Bring a small bag of powdered soap from Kathmandu for your clothes, and you can always get one of our staff members to do your washing for you for a small fee if you want!
MEDICAL
We have a full medical kit with us including Diamox (for acclimatizing), antibiotics, inhalers, bandages, re-hydration, painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs etc. but please bring a supply of all prescription and personal medications. Kim has First Aid, CPR and Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certifications as well as many years of experience with altitude in the Himalaya but is NOT a qualified medic or doctor, so please have a check-up before leaving home, and inform us of any medical issues. This is for YOUR OWN safety.
DO bring all prescription medications and good rehydration/electrolytes. We advise bringing your own Diamox, Ciprofloxin, Azithromyacin & Augmentin. We have all of these with us but the Western versions are always better than the Indian equivalents.
RENTALS
We have Western down jackets to rent for $1.50 per day. We also have good ‘Kathmandu North Face’ super-down sleeping bags to rent (Approx 0 F) for $2.50, and one warmer Kathmandu North Face bag (Approx -20F) bag for $3 per day.
BATTERIES & SOLAR PANELS
Bring your camera battery chargers and an EXTRA battery or two for your digital camera. We have solar panels and inverters that you are free to use if they are free; satellite phone has first priority. If you have your own solar panel, DO bring it, especially if you want to charge your iPod.
ZIP-LOCK BAGS
They’re great for packing everything from food to toiletries – and they’re not available in India, so if you have some extras at home, please bring them along.
BOOKS
There are good bookstores in Delhi & Leh, and we bring a small ‘library’ with us on the trek that you are free to use …
THE BEST GEAR & ADVENTURE LINKS
OUR PARTNERS
http://www.patagonia.com/ - Great Clothing
http://www.ospreypacks.com/ - Great Packs
http://www.bigagnes.com/ - Great Steamboat, CO based Tents,
Sleeping Pads, Sleeping bags, etc
http://www.mountainhardwear.com/ - Great tents, gear, etc
http://www.sportsbasement.com/ - Great SF based Retail Gear Outlet
http://www.keenfootwear.com/ - Great shoes
http://marmot.com/ - Great tents & Gear
http://www.smithoptics.com/ - Great sunglasses (also prescription)
http://www.explorersweb.com/ - Expedition Update, Best place to
buy high-tech communication equipment
http://www.steamboatpowdercats.com/ - The best powder skiing out
West, USA
Also:
http://www.rei.com/ - Great store for all sporting goods
http://www.rei-outlet.com/ - Their Outlet
http://www.altrec.com/ - Great outdoors site
http://www.campmor.com/ - Great discounted camping gear
http://www.backcountry.com/ - Great outdoors site
OTHER HIMALAYAN LINKS
http://www.himalayanart.org/ - Himalayan Art
http://www.tbrc.org/ -
Buddhist Resource Center
http://www.jktourism.org/cities/ladakh/stay/agencies.htm/-
Local Agencies in Leh, Ladakh
http://www.snowleopardconservancy.org/homestays.htm/ -
Homestays in Ladakh
http://phukthar.com/index.htm/ Phuktal Gompa in Ladakh, India
http://www.shanglootravels.com/ - Trips to Kashmir
http://www.kashmiralpine.com/ - Skiing in Kashmir, India
http://www.state.gov/travel/ - US Gov’t travel alerts
http://news.bbc.co.uk/ -
Good source of Himalayan News
http://www.indiamike.com/ -
India Travel Research & Review
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nepal - Nepal Info
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India - India Info
http://www.alertnet.org/ – Reuters alert
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