How to reach Ladakh? 1) By Air:

There are daily flights from Delhi to Leh; Indian airlines, Jet airways and Kingfisher Airways operate these flights. You can check availability, fares and do online booking for flights by logging onto:

www.indianairlines.nic.in
www.jetairways.com
www.flykingfisher.com

2) By Road:

Another options are coming by road either from Srinagar or Manali. Both of these takes two days with one night stop on the way. These roads are mostly open from May to October.

What about Booking/Reservation for International & Domestic Flights?

We can always arrange your flights for both international and Domestic with best available offers for the following airlines:

International Flights:

Qatar Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, Austrian Airline, KLM, British Airways, Air India, Qantas Airways, Emirates, Kuwait Airways and many other airlines also.

Domestic Flights:

Jet Airways, Indian Airlines, Kingfisher, Go Air, Spice Jet.

How safe is Ladakh?

Unlike other tourist destinations in India, Ladakh is considered one of the safest place for tourist, you just need to take good care of your belongings. Even if you are a lone traveler/Women you can go ahead without wasting time in looking for companions. In Ladakh you will always feel at home.

To check about the safety measures you can contact our clients in testimonial page
www.shantitours.com/lonelyplanet

Whom should I have to contact at Shanti tours and travel?

Your contact will be Mr. Tsering who is the owner and the trekking manager (cell No +91 9419178760) info@shantitours.com

How long does it take to get acclimatize?

Most people abruptly going to a height of 3500mts naturally feel a difference. Your body reacts and behaves differently in rarified air at high altitude. Allow some time for these adjustments in your body to less oxygen (hypoxia) by slow physiological process called Acclimatization.

Time taken for acclimatization varies from person to person; usually you have to take complete rest for the 1st day even if you are feeling fine. Drink plenty of fluids at least 34 liters . Diet should be high in carbohydrates, less oily and predominantly vegetarian. Avoid excess of alcohol and tobacco in any form.

What about Time Difference?

The Indian Standard Time (IST) is 5 hours and 30 minutes ahead of London, 4 hours and 30 minutes ahead of Paris and about 10 hours and 30 minutes behind the New York City.

Am I fit enough for adventure traveling?

The trips organized by Shanti tours and Travel will be enjoyed by anyone who has an enthusiasm for the outdoors, different cultures and overseas travel and is prepared to be open minded and flexible at times! Our trips are fun, informal and attended by a wide range of people.

How can we make a reservation with Shanti travels ladakh?

We encourage you to book as early as possible to ensure you get the holiday you would like. And have kept the terms and conditions simple. To book a place on a trip, please follow these steps:

1. Choose the trip and ask for a DaybyDay Itinerary and email us to ensure the trip is running for your dates.
2. Confirm your trek by sending an email to us at info@shantitours.com OR shantitours@shantitours.com
3. Once we confirm your place, pay a deposit of 30% of the total amount in our bank in Leh as an Advance/Security Deposit, which will ensure your place for the trek with us.

We are always looking for ways to improve our services so please give us feedback on your return from the trek either in our Leh offices visitor book or by sending an email.

What about travel insurance?

You must take out adequate insurance in the unlikely event you become sick or injured and a medical evacuation is required, and evidence of insurance must be shown to us before departure and you have to provide us the photocopy of the same.

What we do with the garbage’s that are produced during the trek?

As we are an Eco friendly and being a local trekking company we are very keen to keep Ladakh clean, that's why we strictly instruct our staff to bring back all the garbage’s produced during the trek.

Why are some treks more expensive than others?

If we have to organize a trek near Leh than it's less expensive for transportation and same is for the horses, as we have to send them to the starting point. Even after finishing the trek we have to pay for the horses for reaching Leh. That's why there are different rates for different trek routes.

What about drinking water during the trek?

For the first day we will provide you mineral water, but from 1st evening of the trek the cook will supply boiled water, which would be pure just coming from the glaciers, supply will continue till the end of the trek.

What kind of food is provided to our trekkers during the trek? Breakfast...

Porridge, Cornflakes, Muesli, Bread, Apricot Jam, Honey, Butter, Peanut Butter, Cheese, PanCake, Omelet, Tea and Coffee.

Lunch...

(You will have Packlunch while trekking)
Sandwiches, Boiled Eggs, Boiled Potatoes, Fruit Juice, Chocolate Bars, Biscuits and Peanut Candies.

Tea Time...

You will have Instant Noodles, Tea/Coffee with Biscuits, when you ends the day trek.

Dinner...

Soup, Rice, Curry (Veg. Mushroom, Paneer, & Dal) Noodles (Thukpa & Chowmien) Veg Momos, Tuna Momos, Spring Rolls and for Deserts Custard and Fruit Cocktail. And continental food

Please Note: All of the above items are served different on different days and the items are subjected to the availability in the market.

What we will provide?

All camping gears and food necessary to successfully complete your trek excluding your personal gear.
Supplied camp gear includes:

• Tents suitable for mountain travel
• Sleeping pads
• All cutlery, plates, cups, bowls etc.
• A complete cooking kit including pots/pans, stoves, fuel
• All food for three meals a day (consult with us on your needs or dietary restrictions prior to trip)
• A small folding table and chairs for your use in camp
• A kitchen tent
• Wash bowls
• A toilet tent (for larger groups, as required)
• Boiled water for your use in washing or for water bottles
• containers for all the camping gear, excluding your personal gear (see duffel bag in personal gear above).

What you should bring?

• A medium sized day pack, with plastic bag liner
• Well broken in trekking boots
• Stream crossing sandals – e.g. Eva’s or reef runners
• A medium sized day pack, with plastic bag liner
• Water bottle(s),1 liter size – 2 bottles recommended
• Insulating layer(s) – fleece jacket, wool sweater
• Wind/rain proof layer – any company but jacket who keep protect
• Gloves – insulating
• Sunscreen – SPF 30, and lip salve
• Sunglasses
• Water purification – pills, drops, filter etc.
• Personal trail medications (if required)
• Reading glasses (if required)
• Emergency First Aid kit including blister bandages
• Toilet paper in a plastic Ziploc and lighter (purchased in Leh)
• An alcohol based gel to sanitize your hands (e.g. Purell)
• mergency trail food such as granola bars, chocolate bars etc.

Essentials on the body:

• Long sleeve hiking shirt
• Long quick dry hiking pants
• at (sun), with retention cord for windy days

Optional Gear in the Pack:

• Camera and accessories
• Guidebook, maps
• Trekking poles
• Extra pair of hiking socks
• Light emergency tarp
• notebook and pencil

In your duffel bag:

• A sturdy waterproof duffel or zippered bag to contain your personal items. This bag will be roped to a horse, so ensure the contents are “crush” proof. Sleeping bag
• Mattress (optional) e.g. Thermoses is good
• Complete spare set of clothing including:
  • Underwear regular and long
  • Quick dry long sleeve shirt
  • Durable hiking pants
  • Inner and outer socks
  • Insulating layer (another fleece or sweater)
  • Insulating hat
• A backup pair of running shoes/camp shoes in case your boots give you trouble
• Toilet kit with your own soap, toothbrush, etc.
• Towel
• Medications
• Books
• Glasses (spares)
• Headlight/flashlight
• Water purification spares
• Batteries for cameras, GPS, etc.
• and sanitizer "spares"

Our guide, cook and pony man will load all of your personal gear each day and unload it at the end of the day. They will provide you with all your meals, including a packed trail lunch. You can assist by having your duffel bag packed and ready for loading at the beginning of each trekking day.

If you need water during the day it is recommended you seek a fast flowing, clear source then treat the water with a water purification method of your choice prior to drinking.

Asks your guide for advice on the route, scenic landmarks, mountains, pass and, most importantly, the people and culture of the valleys through which you are passing. Our guides are pleased to share with you their knowledge of the country and their own experiences in Ladakh.

How is a typical trekking day like?

Our typical day of trekking is based on the average level of client's physical fitness coupled with the nature of our weather and terrain. This could include very warm days during summer, high passes and the need to move between campsites, which ensure adequate grazing for the ponies.

06:00 Bed tea is served to your tent. A great way to warm up before packing up your gear.

06:30 Hot water is provided for your morning wash.

07:00 Breakfast is served as per our trekking menu.

08:00 your personal packing is complete and your trail lunch is available to place in your daypack. Your guide will go over the day’s travel plans highlighting those areas along the route you will want to visit.

08:15 off on the trail with your guide, or with instructions as to the route and where he will meet you if he needs to assist with pony packing (dependant on party size).

12:00 Lunch along the route, often in a meadow or beside a stream. A typical lunch might consist of a sandwich, juice box, cheese, boiled egg, boiled potato, and apple, cookies or chocolate bar. Some times hot lunch will be served.

17:00 in camp with a pot of tea after a great day of sights and trekking. The tent is up and you are making notes in your journal and taking photos of the picturesque landscape.

18:30 Supper is served. Time for more tea and, perhaps, an early bed.

Expect to have rather lengthy days of travel with plenty of time to take photos and look at the scenery, visit tea tents or local villages as you pass through. You will have plenty of time in camp each evening to meet with other travelers, compare notes, read a bit, take photographs or visit surrounding villages or sites either before or after your supper is served.

By starting early you will have made substantial progress in the cooler part of the day, and will be able to take your time ascending the passes which can be up to 17,000 feet (5,180 M) on some routes, arriving at your next camp with some reserves of energy for the evening.

Your personal level of fitness and the time you have allowed for acclimatization around Leh will greatly enhance your enjoyment of the trek. Allow at least 4 days sightseeing in the Indus valley prior to starting your trek to any significant altitude. Dreamland Trek and Tour can provide you with ideas or packages that will enhance your acclimatization period.

You may also wish to ask your doctor or a travel clinic as to the benefits of high altitude drugs such as Diamox taken before and/or during the trek. Know how and when to administer any prescription drugs you bring with you on the trek, and their possible side affects. Be aware of the signs of HACE (High Altitude Cerebral Edema) and HAPE (High Altitude Pulmonary Edema) in both yourself and others in the trekking party.

How We Look After the Environment? Economic

We make every effort to purchase locally grown fresh vegetables and employ local people and ponies during the trekking season.

Whenever we camp in a village or a pasture we pay a fee for each trekker using the campsite. Grazing fees are also paid to the local people for the ponies used during your trek.

We will make stops along the way at tea tents run by women’s group. Here you can dehydrate, buy locally grown or produced products and help Ladakhi women join the cash economy.

Reducing Environmental Impact

Our guides will make every effort to pack out what we pack in. You should do the same with any nonperishable items. Give any garbage you do not wish to carry to your support staff.

As a responsible member of the local travel operators, comprised of most Ladakhi trekking companies, we send a team of staff and ponies through the popular trekking routes at season end to collect any garbage thoughtlessly left by others. Shanti travels.

We encourage the use of the typical Ladakhi composting pit toilets in established campsites. They are quite sanitary, with little odor as a result of the dry climate. After the waste has composted adequately it is used as a valuable source of fertilizer for fields.

If you are forced to use the outdoors along the route, please follow these simple rules:

• Dig a shallow pit with your boot or stick at least 100 feet from any running water.
• Do your business.
• Burn any toilet paper used, being careful not to cause a widespread fire.
• Bury the remains
• se an alcoholbased hand cleaner to prevent spread of nasty bacteria. Maintain your health and that of the others on the trek.

Do not:

• Make your toilet near a watercourse
• eave toilet paper around the countryside

How we look after your health while trekking?

Our Shanti guides, cooks are careful to prepare your meals with your enjoyment in mind. Typically these plentiful meals will be primarily vegetarian in nature with some meat or protein in the form of canned fish or tofu. This is typical of the Ladakhi diet in general.

Our guides are encouraged to use hand sanitizers such as alcoholbased gels prior to food preparation. You are encouraged to do the same.

Dishes are typically stainless steel bowls and pans and are cleaned after meals with scrub pads and soap.

Our staff will provide dehydrating liquids in large quantities throughout your trek. Take advantage of tea, coffee, juice and water whenever you can.

At altitude it is natural not to feel much hunger or thirst. Make sure you stay adequately fit and drank plenty of fluids both at meals and along the trail. During summer, heat can be a real factor requiring significant intake of liquids while you trek. So always carry 3 liters of water with you.

Our guides will make every effort to pace your day so you are not pushed to your physical limits. This means you will be getting up and away in good time so your day will allow a consistent but moderate pace.

If you have any preexisting medical conditions such as asthma or other chronic illness it would be wise to let SHANTI TOURS know of this condition prior to leaving Leh. This way your guide will understand that you have medication along with you should someone other than yourself have to administer the drugs.

Preparation for altitude during the trek is vital. Acclimatize in Leh prior to departure on your trek. Take at least 4 days doing tours or other easy to moderate physical activity prior to beginning your trek. If possible start low and go slowly for the first few days of your trek. Some routes will not allow this, so acclimatization is even more important in these cases.

Prior to your trek meet with your doctor and discuss your overall physical condition and your doctor’s recommendation for high altitude medication. You may also wish to discuss treatment and medication for traveler’s diarrhea as you experience new foods and bacterial environments.

With these simple ideas in mind, your trekking experience will be most enjoyable for you and other travelers along the way.

Who carries the things/gears, and food during the trek?

In Ladakh normally you have to trek around the height of 4000mts and the passes are around 5000mts so its very difficult to carry heavy loads at this height, that's why we provide horses/ponies they will carry everything, trekkers will have to carry only the pack lunch, water, camera, note book, and some delicate things which they don't want keep with the horses.

Which are famous mountaineering peaks in Ladakh?

The famous mountaineering peaks in Ladakh are, Sasser Kangri 7627mts in Karakuram range Nun 7135mts Kun 7085mts Zanskar range Kangyatse 6400mts Stok Kangri 6150mts in ladakh range.

Where do I need a special permission?

As Ladakh is surrounded by China in the east and from south west it's covered by Pakistan, there fore doing sight seeing or trekking near to these boarder areas you need to apply for inner line permission, which you can obtain just with in a day through any local travel agent based in Leh.

Foreigners are required to carry a valid permit visiting Dha Hanu, Nubra, Korzok, Samad Karnak and Pangong Tso, Permits can be obtained travel agent, paying a small fee.

Are there any dangerous areas to consider!!!!

• From Tantse just before Kuru
• Opposite of lchar
• After crossing bridge from Pentse
• From Lartsa (Gongmaru La) to Chuskyurmo
• From Shang Sumdo to Martselang
• From Wanla just before Phanjila
• From Phanjila before Hinju on bridge stones falling
• Between Phukthal and yata
• From Dungdungchen La to Chilling: From Sanak take left if raining
• During period of rainfall between Sumdo and Machu
• Between Henaskut and Kanji

Are there any difficult areas to consider?

• Startsabuk Tso in June because of flies
• Between Startsabuk Tso Khar up to the middle of June because of melting snow and ground giving mud
• Before Hanupata from Phanjila stay with ponies because of track along steep ravine
• Between Sumdo and Ashuta large part of the trail difficult because of low, overhanging rocks
• Avalanche danger just before Hanamur on the way to Padum on the Chadar trek

Are there any notorious areas for steam/river crossings?

• Between Stongde and Shade Go only after beginning August
• Between Shade and Satak Go only after August
• Chubchak and Nyari Nyarsang (on the Go only after 1st week September“Zhunglam” trek)
• Between Lung and Panggok Go only after August
• Between Shilla and Nyigutse Go only after July
• Between Dibling and Lingshed Sumdo Go only after September
• Between Machu and Sengge La Go only after September
• Between Shingo and Skyu
• Between Nyeraks and Pharkunsa
• Between Chuskyurmo and Lartsa (Gomgmaru La)

Most importantly enjoy the highly varied scenery, animals and village life as you make your way through amazing Ladakh.

Have a great trip during your holiday any where in this world!!!

For further questions email us at: shantitours@shantitours.com OR info@shantitours.com