MIYAR VALLEY AND THE KANG LA

Transcription

1 A challenging trek over the rarely crossed Kang La to Zanskar Glacier trekking in the Indian High Himalaya Rarely visited villages and spectacular mountain scenery From Manali to Zanskar through the Miyar Valley The Hindu culture of Kulu-Manali and Buddhist Zanskar and Ladakh HOLIDAY CODE MVK India, Trek & Walk, 20 Days 13 nights camping, 4 nights hotel, 2 nights hotel with swimming pool, 19 breakfasts, 19 lunches, 19 dinners, max group size: 16, 10 days trekking, max altitude metres VIEW DATES, PRICES & BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY HERE

2 PAGE 2 Introduction This outstanding adventure in the Indian Himalaya is no ordinary trekking holiday. Beginning in the small town of Udaipur with its Hindu temples we follow the little trekked Miyar Valley with its pristine alpine pastures surrounded by snow capped mountains. This high altitude valley is carpeted with flowers during the short summer months of mid June to September. The wide open meadows soon give way to a stark alpine world of rock and ice. We ascend a snow covered glacier to reach the dramatic setting of the Kang La, our access to the Zanskar valley which then offers a total contrast of scenery. North of the main Himalayan chain this region lies in a rain shadow' and presents a moon-like landscape dotted with ancient Buddhist monasteries situated dramatically on cliff tops. Our journey ends in the Ladakhi capital of Leh after a superb trek which will live long in the memory. Is this holiday for you? This is a long and sustained trekking holiday. During the approach to, and crossing of the Kang La you will walk on moraine rubble and on snow-covered glacier requiring the wearing of crampons. During the climb to the Kang La and for part of the descent, the group will rope-up to safeguard our passage between concealed crevasses. You should only consider this trekking holiday if you have some previous experience walking in the mountains using crampons, preferably at altitudes over 4000 metres. Holiday Itinerary Day 1: Meet at the group hotel in Delhi. Transfers from Delhi Airport are provided. Meet at the group hotel in Delhi. Airport transfers are provided for all clients arriving on Day 1. KE Land Only package services begin with lunch. Afternoon at leisure, with the chance to enjoy the gardens and pool at our airport-accessible hotel. The tour guide will provide a briefing before the evening meal. HOTEL WITH SWIMMING POOL MEALS LD Day 2: Take the train to Chandigarh, then drive through Himalayan foothills and via Kulu to Manali (2050m). After an early breakfast at the hotel we transfer to the railway station to board the Shatabdi Express. Travelling in India is all part of the adventure and a rail journey is a fascinating way to get a hands-on view of Indian life, both frantic and relaxing almost in the same breath. After surviving the chaos of Delhi s busy rail terminus (just put your faith in your KE representative and all will be well), we settle down for the 4 hour journey to Chandigarh, watching the changing scenery roll by. Chandigarh is almost the end of the line, located at the point where the Indian plains meet the foothills of the Himalaya. Here we transfer to our waiting vehicles to continue our journey into the mountains, following the Beas River to enter the Kulu Valley, one of the most picturesque valleys in the Indian Himalaya. The road winds its way past pine-clothed mountain slopes giving glimpses of snow capped peaks, and through small settlements with their fields of rice and maize and little walled orchards. Eventually, we reach the upper part of the Kulu Valley and arrive at the popular tourist resort of Manali. Manali is approximately 300km from Chandigarh and the journey will take us around 6 hours. We check into our hotel and have time to clean off the travel dust before dinner.

3 PAGE 3 HOTEL Day 3: Rest and acclimatisation. Visit the Hadimba Temple and browse in the bazaars. Overnight in Manali. To help with our acclimatisation before we start trekking we spend the day in Manali at just over 2000 metres. This is a very popular tourist town and we will visit some of its famous sights while we are here. We can visit the colourful Hadimba Temple, the medieval wooden palace at Naggar with its own art museum and enjoy a soak in the Vashisht hot springs. It is also fun to walk around the sprawling bazaar. We spend a second night at our hotel in Manali. HOTEL Day 4: Drive across the Rohtang Pass (3978m) to the village of Udaipur. We travel along the Manali to Leh road, a journey which has almost legendary status among Indian travellers and which includes a crossing of the Rohtang La (3978m.), one of the highest road passes in the world. From the summit of the pass there are superb views of the Himalaya and we shall certainly stop for some photography before descending the long switch backs down to Keylong at 3100 metres. At Keylong we leave the main highway and follow a rough access road deeper into the mountains as far as the village of Udaipur (2650m). We may stay in a basic lodge here or we may opt to set up our camp. It is not possible to say exactly how long the journey will take today as there can be many hold-ups along the way for traffic and road conditions, but is likely to be between 5 and 7 hours. Day 5: A short drive to Changut (3000m), meet the crew and trek to Ugus (3320m). From Udaipur we drive for about an hour on a rough dusty jeep road following the Miyar Nala (river). The road becomes quite slow and there are several small river crossings which the jeeps will ford until about 2 km before Changut (3000m), where we reach the point where further passenger travel by jeep is either impracticable or too uncomfortable. After all the driving it will be good to stretch our legs and begin the trekking. We continue along the rough road through this highly scenic valley to the village of Tingrit which as we are now in Buddhist country, is marked with chortens and stupas and with a small gompa or monastery. We cross the river by a wooden bridge and pass through terraced fields and pastures. We make our camp tonight a little before Ugus village at an altitude of 3320 metres. TIME 3 HRS Day 6: Trek beside the Miyar River to the bridge at Chhaling, then ascend to the village of Khanjar (3685m). Walking through Ugus village we then continue along the jeep track for about an hour before crossing the Miyar Nala on a bridge in the scenically located Chhaling village. On the other side of the river the trail is rocky and we have to cross a field of boulders for about half an hour before the going gets easier as we follow the wide valley gently uphill. We reach the small village of Khanjar which will be the last habitation we encounter until we cross into Zanskar. From the village we climb steeply through alpine pastures to camp in a beautiful spot by a stream and surrounded by snow capped and jagged rocky peaks. Altitude at camp: 3685 metres.

4 PAGE 4 TIME 4-5 HRS Day 7: Trek to a ridge-top viewpoint and via small lakes to a riverside camp in the Miyar Nalla (3840m). Shortly after leaving camp, we cross a small river by a wooden bridge and trek through terraced fields against the backdrop of an unnamed peak. We climb up a ridge to a chorten where we get a wonderful view of nearby and distant mountains. The walk continues through high grazing lands, passing two small lakes and crossing several small streams on a variety of footbridges to a large meadow with clear spring water. Beyond here we cross the wide Gumba Nala on a footbridge and then continue what is a delightful walk through meadows up the wide Miyar Nala valley surrounded by high peaks. We make our camp by a small stream some way to the north of the Gumba Nala. Altitude at camp 3840 metres. TIME 5 HRS Day 8: Continue trekking with views of snowy peaks, to Phaplu (3985m) close to the Miyar Glacier. Climbing gently up from our camp, we continue through grassy meadows filled with flowers (in June), past a shepherd s hut and a high mountain tarn where yaks, cows and horses are brought for grazing. We hop across several small streams and use footbridges to cross the larger ones. Another pleasant day of walking with constant views of peaks and glaciers. We stop for lunch by the Miyar river and then follow it for around 2 hours to our camp. There are several possible campsites but we continue to the farthest one, known as Phaplu, a dry lake bed surrounded by mountains and several glacial lakes, just 1½ km below the snout of the Miyar Glacier. Altitude at camp: 3985 metres. TIME 5-6 HRS Day 9: Trek on moraine to camp on an open snowfield (4390m) in the middle of the Miyar Glacier. We make an early start for a longish day of trekking. Reaching the Miyar Glacier we have some awkward ground to cross as we negotiate the rubble of the moraine. Not many people come this way and the path is not very well defined on the rocky terrain. The climb continues over occasional snow fields and moraine debris, passing several glacial lakes to our camp which we will set up on a large snowfield in the middle of the glacier. This will be a tiring day with much rock hopping, but this evening we camp in a spectacular location, once again surrounded by snow capped peaks. Altitude at camp: 4390 metres. TIME 7 HRS Day 10: Continued glacier trekking, roped-up at times, to a camp (4870m) below the Kang La. We have another early start this morning to take advantage of the firm snow while it is still frozen. Depending on the conditions we rope up and may put on our crampons to continue our ascent of the Miyar Glacier. The anglke of the glacier is gentle and the climb itself is not particularly strenuous (other than because of the altitude). In early summer (from mid June) the route tends to be directly up the glacier but in late summer when the crevasses are open we spend more time weaving around these. Our camp today is at the foot of the climb to the Kang La. Altitude at camp: 4870 metres. TIME 6-7 HRS

5 PAGE 5 Day 11: A rest and acclimatisation day. Also serves as a contingency against delay in our schedule. Today is a contingency against delays to our schedule so far. If not required up to this point, we will use it as a well earned rest day and for further acclimatisation prior to our crossing of the Kang La. It is difficult to imagine a more spectacular place to spend the day. This is also a good opportunity to catch up on diaries, laundry etc and make final preparations for the pass crossing tomorrow. Day 12: Trek to the Kang La (5450m) for superb peak and glacier views. Descend to an off-glacier camp (4410m). We have a pre-dawn wake up and get ready for the big day. After a fortifying breakfast we rope up and leave camp by the light of our headtorches, walking along the middle of the huge snow covered glacier at a gentle incline for about 3 hours to the start of the final climb to the pass. After an hour or so of steeper climbing we reach a false summit and the angle eases as we make the final ascent to the Kang La ( 5450m). We are rewarded for our efforts with stupendous views of snow capped peaks and glistening glaciers all around. From the top of the pass we will stay roped together to descend along the right hand side of the glacier. All around us are tall peaks, many of them unclimbed and un-named. Once off the snow covered glacier we can walk unroped and we continue the descent to a junction of two valleys where we make camp in a small meadow. A long and demanding, but ultimately enjoyable, day in the mountains. Altitude at camp: 4410 metres. TIME 8-9 HRS Day 13: Descend into the stark landscape of the Zanskar Valley. Overnight at Bardan Gompa (3670m). From our meadow camp at the valley junction, we continue our descent, initially quite awkwardly over rocks and scree for about an hour and then more easily on an improving path as we follow the Tema River downhill. We trek through grazing grounds and meadows with flowers and then the landscape becomes more arid and starkly stunning as we enter the Zanskar valley in the rain shadow of the main Himalyan range. Soon we begin to see signs of civilisation and eventually find ourselves walking along a rough jeep track which takes us to the village of Bardan with its gompa set dramatically atop a riverside cliff. We make our camp here in the school grounds. Altitude at camp: 3670 metres. TIME 7 HRS Day 14: Drive to Padum, then trek to Karsha. The monastery here is the largest in Zanskar. Our vehicles will be waiting for us at Bardan to transfer (1 hour) along the road to Padum, the district headquarters of Zanskar. From Padum we trek for approximately 2½ hours on an easy trail, through villages and fields to the large village of Karsha. The monastery here is the largest in Zanskar and houses many statues and thankas (religious paintings), while its library contains priceless ancient Buddhist manuscripts. The monastery is very dramatically located high on the side of a cliff overlooking the fields of the Zanskar Valley 350 metres below. We set up our tents in the village camping ground. TIME 2-3 HRS Day 15: Drive via the Pensi La (4400m) to Rangdum, the first village in the Suru Valley

6 PAGE 6 It is now time to leave this wild and remote valley. We board our jeeps and drive on a rough road which climbs to the 4400 metre Pensi La, the gateway between Ladakh and Zanzkar. From the top of the pass there are close-up views of the Drung Drung glacier. Descending from the Pensi La we reach Rangdum (3657m), the first habitation in the Suru valley. Above the village is the Rangdum monastery, situated on top of a small 'sugarloaf' hill at an altitude of 4031 metres. We make our camp near the monastery grounds. Day 16: Drive through spectacular mountain scenery to Mulbekh, with its rock carvings of Buddha. Today's drive takes us through the fascinating 'big sky' landscape of Ladakh to the village of Mulbekh, famous for its 9 metre-high rock carving of Maitreya Buddha, believed to have been sculpted in the 8th century by visiting missionaries spreading the word of Buddhism. Close by is the monastery consisting of two gompas, one of the Drukpa and one of the Gelugpa sect of Buddhism. We camp here tonight. Approximately 6 hours driving. Day 17: Drive via Alchi Monastery to Leh, where a shower, celebratory dinner and a hotel bed await. We complete our trans-himalayan journey, driving on the National Highway to the Ladkhi capital of Leh. En route we will stop at Alchi Gompa, one of the oldest monastic complexes in Ladakh. Located on the south bank of the Indus River, there are four major structures including the three-story Sum-tsek, which contains a magnificent giant four armed Bodhisattva occupying two of the three floors. After our visit here it is a further 70km to Leh where we check into our hotel and can enjoy the trappings of civilisation with a clean up before sitting down to a celebratory dinner. Approximately 5 hours driving. HOTEL Day 18: A free day for sightseeing in Leh, with its imposing palace, many temples and colourful bazaar. A free day for sightseeing in Leh. This is a fascinating town dominated by the imposing nine storied, 17th century palace which resembles the Potala in Lhasa. It is possible to climb up through its many rooms to reach the roof for a sensational view over the city and to Stok Kangri, just one of the serated range of peaks that line the valley of the Indus. The charming 'Old Town' of Leh is a maze of streets and alleyways and is a great place to wander around. A popular staging point for trekkers, backpackers and tourists, Leh also boasts all the amenities a weary traveller could wish for. HOTEL Day 19: Fly to Delhi and transfer to the group hotel. City sightseeing tour after lunch, or relax at the hotel. We have an early breakfast before we transfer to the airport to catch our flight across the Himalaya to Delhi. Arriving at the domestic airport in Delhi, we transfer to our hotel in time for lunch. In the afternoon, a complimentary guided sightseeing tour of some of the city's highlights is provided. Alternatively, you may choose to do your own thing with independent sightseeing, shopping in the busy Connaught Circus or simply relaxing at the hotel. This evening we will have our final dinner in India.

7 PAGE 7 HOTEL WITH SWIMMING POOL Day 20: Departure day. Transfers to Delhi Airport are provided. KE Land Only package services end after breakfast at the hotel. Airport transfers are provided for all client departing on this day. There are lots of extensions that can easily be added to your holiday in india. Why not prebook a 1-day excursion to the fabulous Taj Mahal, or a multi-day Rajathan experience, or a beach hotel break in Goa or Kerala. Contact our office for details. MEALS B Extend Your Holiday Extensions When booking your holiday, you will be able to 'add an extension option'. Once we have received your booking we will contact you to discuss additional services required for the extension and to take any additional deposit. Agra And The Taj Mahal 1 Day Tour The Taj Mahal is the most famous man-made wonder of the world. Easily accessible from Delhi, the Taj can be visited in just one day. This one-day tour departs Delhi at 6am on the Shatabdhi Express train. On arrival in Agra you will be met by your driver and guide for your full day of sightseeing. With its laid-back lifestyle and immense wealth of architecture, handicrafts and jewellery, Agra is amongst the most remarkable cities in the world. Read more In the morning you will visit Agra Fort on the sands of the river Yamuna. After lunch at the Taj View Hotel you will visit the world famous Taj Mahal. There will also be time for souvenir shopping in the bazaar close to the fort. Agra is famous for its handicrafts, mostly inlaid marble-work, leather goods, jewellery and textiles. Return journey to Delhi is by private car or train - depending on whether you are departing Delhi the same night. Note: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) are responsible for the conservation of many monuments in India (including the Taj Mahal). This organisation will occasionally undertake work to

8 PAGE 8 restore the various monuments, but often without notice, so it is difficult to forewarn our customers of this work. It is possible that, at any time, monuments on this trip could be having work done on them. Agra and the Taj Mahal 1 day tour 1 day From 250 per person Delhi City Tour Old Delhi is centred on the Red Fort and is a labyrinth of narrow, bustling streets including Chandni Chowk bazaar. Must-sees here include the majestic tower of the Qutab Minar, as well as the Red Fort, built by Emperor Shah Jahan. New Delhi was the creation of the British Raj who wanted to show their ascendency over the former Mogul rulers with many grand buildings designed by the greatest ever British architect, Sir Edwin Lutyens. Delhi City Tour 1 day From 0 per person Agra, The Taj Mahal And Jaipur 3 Day Tour The Taj Mahal in Agra is the most famous man-made wonder of the world and easily accessible from Delhi. Our 3 day tour visits Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Jaipur and the Amber Fort. You will depart Delhi on the early morning express train to Agra where a full day's guided sightseeing includes the Agra Red Fort and the Taj Mahal and stay overnight in a hotel. In the morning you depart Agra by private car to Jaipur, stopping en route at the 'ghost' city of Fatehpur Sikri. On arrival in Jaipur you check-in to your hotel and have time to explore the famous 'Pink City'. Read more The following morning you visit the Jaipur City Palace and Palace of the Winds. After lunch you leave Jaipur for the impressive Amber Fort, a superb example of Rajput architecture, stunningly situated on a hillside overlooking a lake, reflecting its terraces and ramparts. In the late afternoon, you will make the 4-hour drive back to Delhi.

9 PAGE 9 Note: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) are responsible for the conservation of many monuments in India (including the Taj Mahal). This organisation will occasionally undertake work to restore the various monuments, but often without notice, so it is difficult to forewarn our customers of this work. It is possible that, at any time, monuments on this trip could be having work done on them. Agra, the Taj Mahal and Jaipur 3 day tour 3 days From 510 per person Agra And The Taj Mahal 2 Day Tour The Taj Mahal is the most famous man-made wonder of the world. Easily accessible from Delhi, this 2-day tour departs Delhi at 6am on the Shatabdhi Express train. You will have 2 days to explore the fascinating city of Agra. You will stay overnight at a (minimum) 3 star hotel on B&B basis. On day 1 you will visit Sikandra, Agra Fort and have a tour of the city. There will also be time for souvenir shopping in the bazaar close to the fort. Read more Agra is famous for its handicrafts, mostly inlaid marble-work, leather goods, jewellery and textiles. On day 2 you will visit the world famous Taj Mahal and the ghost city of Fatehpur Sikri, a superbly well-preserved, four hundred year old, temple and palace complex built by the third Mughal Emperor Akbar. Return to Delhi by private car. Note: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) are responsible for the conservation of many monuments in India (including the Taj Mahal). This organisation will occasionally undertake work to restore the various monuments, but often without notice, so it is difficult to forewarn our customers of this work. It is possible that, at any time, monuments on this trip could be having work done on them. Agra and the Taj Mahal 2 day tour 2 days From 0 per person

10 PAGE 10 Holiday Information What's Included A professional English-speaking local leader Delhi Airport transfers (on group arrival and departure days only) All land transport involved in the itinerary All accommodation as described All meals throughout the trip Guided sightseeing tour of Delhi Full trekking service including food and all equipment (excluding personal equipment) What's Not Included Travel insurance Delhi Airport transfers (other than on group arrival and departure days) Indian Visa Tips for trek staff Miscellaneous expenses - drinks and souvenirs etc. Joining Arrangements & Transfers We will rendezvous at the group hotel in Delhi on day 1 of the Land Only itinerary. All clients arriving in Delhi on day 1 of the Land Only itinerary will be met at the airport by a KE representative, who will arrange the transfer to the group hotel. Clients should let us know if Delhi Airport transfers are not required. Independent Delhi Airport transfers can be arranged to meet clients arriving prior to Day 1 at an additional cost. Hotel contact details and an emergency number will be provided with your booking confirmation. Meal Plan All meals are included in the holiday price from lunch on day 1 to dinner on day 20. Food & Water The food served during the trek is a mixture of local and international style dishes with the ingredients mostly purchased locally and cooked for us by highly trained trek cooks. The emphasis is on providing a highcarbohydrate and largely vegetarian diet, which we have found to be easily digestible at high altitude. In Delhi, Manali and Leh we take our meals in the group hotel or in nearby restaurants. Accommodation The group will have one night at conveniently located tourist standard hotel in Delhi at the beginning of the holiday and one night at the same hotel at the end of the trip. We will also have two nights hotel accommodation in Manali and en route, we stay 1 night in basic lodge accommodation in Udaipur. At the end of the trek we will spend 2 nights in a comfortable hotel in Leh before returning to Delhi. On trek there will be a total of 12 nights camping. All accommodation is allocated on a twin-sharing basis. If you are travelling by yourself, you will be paired up with another single client of the same sex. It is possible to hire a single tent while on trek for an additional cost. Depending upon availability it may be possible to arrange single rooms for the nights at the hotel in Delhi. For Hotel prices and single supplement costs please refer to the dates and prices page of the trip on our website.

11 PAGE 11 Group Leader & Support Staff The group will be accompanied by an experienced English-speaking leader throughout the trip, and on trek will have the services of a full trek crew, including a local guide and a team of pack-animals and their handlers. Altitude This holiday involves going to very high altitude. During the course of your trip you will be spending at least one night above 4000 metres and/or trekking to 5000 metres or above. This is not something that you should worry about; the human body is quite capable of adapting to a very wide range of altitudes, but it is important that we follow some simple rules in order to acclimatise successfully. Before coming on this holiday you should read the advice on trekking at high altitude. Unless you have previous experience of trekking above 4000 metres you should consult one of our trekking experts before embarking on this holiday. On this trip we carry a portable altitude chamber (PAC-bag) and/or bottled oxygen for use in emergencies. Spending Money Approximately (or equivalent in Euros, US dollars etc.) changed into local currency, should be allowed for miscellaneous expenses, including tips to local staff and soft drinks, etc. Since you will be changing the majority of your spending money into local currency on the day of arrival, we recommend taking this in cash rather than travellers cheques which can be difficult and time consumming to exchange. It is not necessary to purchase rupees before you travel. Sterling, US dollars and Euros are readily exchanged in Delhi. Credit and debit cards can be used to purchase many goods in Delhi and are particularly useful for more expensive souvenirs. It is possible to withdraw cash (rupees only) from cash machines in Delhi, Manali and Leh. Guidance On Tipping Tipping is an accepted and expected part of Indian culture, although you should only tip for services which are well done. Tips do not form part of the wages of your trek crew. KE always pays local crews the best rates of pay, no matter what country they are in and any tips they receive are seen as a personal thank you from group members. For our part, we advise local teams that tips are not a duty or a prerequisite but are a bonus and entirely dependent on the service that was given. Most people will want to give a tip to the local staff who work so hard to make the trip a success and we recommend that any tips are given from the group as a whole. As a rough guide, a contribution of around (in rupee equivalent) from each group member should provide a sufficient pool for tipping. At the end of a trek many people also like to donate various items of their equipment. Boots, gloves, hats, scarves and even socks (clean of course) are always warmly received by the crews. Free KE Gift We would like to give you a free gift as a way to say thank you when you book your holiday. Choose from exclusive KE branded t-shirts, caps, neckwarmers, trek bags* and more. Alternatively you can choose to make a 10 donation to the Juniper Trust Charity. You can make your selection in your MyKE account after booking. You will need to select your free gift at least 6 weeks before you depart and all items will be posted out at 5 weeks prior to departure. For all late bookings, we will endeavour to send your FREE gift to you before you travel, however this cannot always be guaranteed. Please visit our Free KE Gifts page for more details of all our KE Branded goodies on offer. * A trek bag is one of the free gift options available for this holiday. Delivery outside of the UK will be charged. Baggage Allowance

12 PAGE 12 Your baggage on trek will be carried by porters or pack animals. The packed weight of your trek bag whilst trekking should be no more than 15kg. Please note that the check-in baggage limit on all internal flights within India is now 15kg with a maximum cabin bagage limit of 7kg and you are responsible for any excess baggage fees that the airline may apply. From time to time cabin baggage (other than laptops, cameras and valuables) is not allowed on the Leh flight for security reasons. In this event, the limit for check-in baggage may be increased to 20kg at the discretion of the check-in staff. It is possible to leave travel clothes and any other items not required on trek at the group hotel. Group Size & Holiday Status For each holiday there is a minimum number of participants required to enable it to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to run'. You can check the trip status for each departure in Dates and Prices table. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will not cancel a trip once it has achieved this guaranteed to run status and so you are free to proceed with your international flight booking and other travel arrangements. Recommended Outdoor Retailers Many of the Equipment items listed above are available from Cotswold Outdoor - our 'Official Recommended Outdoor Retailer'. When you book a holiday with KE you will receive 15% discount voucher from Cotswold Outdoor and other retailers. >> Find out more General Information Passport & Visas A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required for visits to countries outside the EU. The information that we provide is for UK passport holders. Please check the relevant embassy or consulate for other nationalities. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Visa requirements and charges are subject to change without notice. If you are travelling outside the EU you should have at least 2 blank pages in your passport for each country that you visit. Visa India All nationalities require a visa. The visa fee for UK and US citizens is $100 and you need to apply for this online prior to departure at Please download the detailed information document: Visa PDF India Health & Vaccinations You should contact your doctor or travel clinic to check whether you require any specific vaccinations or other preventive measures. You should be up to date with routine courses and boosters as recommended in the UK e.g. diphtheria-tetanus-polio and measles-mumps-rubella, along with hepatitis A and typhoid. Malarial prophylaxis is not usually required for trips in the mountains, however if you are visiting rural and remote low lying areas then they might be necessary. On holidays to more remote areas you should also have a dentist check up. A good online resource is Travel Health Pro. Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

13 PAGE 13 Zika virus has been confirmed as active in this country. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites. The mosquitoes that transmit ZIKV are unlikely to be found above 2,000m altitude. For more information, visit the website of the National Travel Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) at Currency The currency of India is the Indian Rupee. Electricity Supply & Plug We recommend you check if you require an adaptor for your electrical items at: Preparing For Your Holiday It makes a lot of sense to spend some time before coming on a trekking holiday getting some additional exercise. The fitter you are, after all, the more enjoyable you will find the experience. For this trip you need to be aerobically fit and also comfortable with walking for typically 7 hours each day over several days and with a couple of more extended days. The best preparation for a trip of this nature is regular hiking in hill or back country, particularly involving sections of steep terrain. If this is not possible because of where you live, we would suggest that you adopt a weekly exercise regime, gradually increasing your working time as you head towards departure. For this trip you should have some previous experience of walking on snow using crampons. Climate From mid June to mid September the temperature in Delhi will be hot (35 C or even a few degrees hotter than this). It will also be humid. On the high plateau of Ladakh and Zanskar, the maximum daytime temperature will be considerably cooler, around 15 C lower down, with night-time below 10 C. At higher elevations the daytime temeperatures are unlikely to get above 10 C and at our highest camps, the night-time temperature may fall as low as minus 10 C. At high altitude, the sun has a very strong effect and it will feel hotter than the indicated temperatures especially around mid-day. The area north of the main Himalaya chain lies in a rain shadow area and is not normally adversely affected by the monsoon. We can usually expect stable weather during the trek. However like many places, this region is now subject to unpredictable climate change, and anywhere in the world, mountains do generate their own weather systems. Rain or snowfall cannot be ruled out. Travel Aware As a reputable tour operator, KE supports the British Foreign & Commonwealth Offices' Travel Aware campaign to enable British citizens to prepare for their journeys overseas. The 'Travel Aware' website provides a single, authoritative source of advice for all kinds of travellers and we recommend that prior to travel, all KE clients visit the official UK Government website at travelaware.campaign.gov.uk and read the FCO Travel Advice for their chosen destination. North Americans can also check out the U.S. Department of State website: for essential travel advice and tips. KE treat the safety and security of all clients as the most important aspect of any trip we organise. We would not run any trip that we did not consider reasonably safe. Should the FCO advise against travel for any reason, we will contact everyone booked to travel to discuss the situation. We receive regular updates direct from the FCO and are in constant touch with our contacts on the ground. If you have any questions about government travel advice, please call our office.

14 PAGE 14 Books Leh and Trekking in Ladakh. Charlie Loram Trekking in the Indian Himalaya. Lonely Planet Ladakh, Crossroads of High Asia. Janet Rizvi Exploring the Hidden Himalaya. Kapadia and Mehta Ancient Futures. Helena Norberg-Hodge Maps India - 150K Ladakh And Zanskar Tekking Maps This is a good map covering Ladakh and zanzkar in 3 sheets. For this trip you will need the central and southern sheets. Flight Information Flight Inclusive Or Land Only? On our website we display a UK Flight inclusive package price and Land only package price for the majority of our holidays. Flight Inclusive Notes The FLIGHT INCLUSIVE dates and prices are based on UK flights from London (Heathrow) to Delhi. Outbound flights will usually depart the UK in the evening, arriving in the morning of the following day (day 1 of the itinerary). Return flights will depart Delhi airport in the afternoon of the last day of the itinerary, arriving in the UK later the same day. Regional departures are available on request. Please be aware that there are often only a limited number of seats available at the advertised price. To avoid paying flight supplements, we recommend that you book as early as possible, especially during peak times. If we are unable to secure seats at the price shown, or you have requested regional departures, we will contact you with an alternative quote. Please note that you may be asked to pay for your flights in advance of your final holiday balance. Note that if you book a package including flights with KE you will benefit from full financial protection. Land Only Notes The LAND ONLY dates and prices are for the itinerary joining in Delhi. For clients making their own flight arrangements, Delhi airport is the most convenient for transfers to the group hotel. Please refer to the 'Joining arrangements & transfers' for further details. Flights SHOULD NOT be booked until you have received your booking confirmation and the departure is showing 'Guaranteed to Run' or 'Limited'. Why Choose KE Adventure Travel? Why Choose KE Adventure Travel? Operating since 1984, KE Adventure Travel has some of the most experienced staff in the business, with the proven ability to set up and operate a worldwide programme of adventures. Everyone has adventure travel at

15 PAGE 15 heart and joins at least one trip a year. It is this depth of experience that makes KE stand out from other adventure travel operators. When you contact KE, by phone or , or visit our office, you will find the help and advice you need, from someone who has actually done the trip and can give you the benefit of their first-hand experience. KE can guarantee the very best in trip support, excellent food, a good standard of hotel and other accommodation, plus the back up of one of the most respected companies in the business. Client satisfaction is at the top of our agenda and almost 50% of our bookings each year come from repeat business. If you are looking for adventure then look no further than KE. We hope that this trip notes has answered most of your questions. Please feel free to contact us and speak to one of our experts.

16 PAGE 16 Equipment List The following checklist should help you with your packing. As a general rule, you should always try to keep the weight of your equipment to a minimum. The packed weight of your trek bag whilst trekking, including your sleeping bag and camping mattress, should be no more than 15 kgs. Please note that your mountaineering equipment will be packed into additional, communal kitbags at the start of the trekking and this equipment will not be part of your personal 15 kgs weight limit. You Must Bring The Following Items Mountaineering boots (see Mountaineering equipment below) Trainers or sandals for river crossings and camp use Socks Trekking trousers Lightweight waterproof overtrousers Underwear Thermal baselayer - leggings Thermal baselayer shirts (2 short sleeve, 2 long sleeve) Shirts or T-shirts Fleece jacket or warm jumper Waterproof jacket Warm jacket (down) Sunhat Warm hat Sunglasses Thermal gloves Warmer gloves or mittens Daypack 30 to 40 litres Headtorch and spare battery Sun protection (including total bloc for lips, nose etc.) Water bottles 1 litre (x2) Washbag and toiletries Antibacterial handwash Small towel Sleeping bag (comfort rated -15 C)* Small padlock (to lock your KE trek bag)

17 PAGE 17 Basic First Aid Kit including: antiseptic cream, throat lozenges, diarrhoea treatment (Imodium), altitude (Diamox), painkillers, plasters and blister treatment, Insect repellent, and re-hydration salts (Dioralite).?Mountaineering Equipment Insulated semi-rigid mountaineering boots which can be securely fitted with crampons. (B2 grade minimum). Ice axe* Crampons* Climbing harness* Karabiners (1 x screwgate)* Sling (approximately 120cm.)* The Following Items Are Optional: Trekking poles (recommended) Hiking boots (for lower parts of the trek) Thermarest (note that foam mattresses are provided) Sleeping bag liner Spare laces Insect repellant Scarf or buff Pee bottle Travel clothes Pen-knife (note: always pack sharp objects in hold baggage) Repair kit (eg. needle, thread, duct tape) Camera Notes: Equipment hire: Items marked * can be hired / rented through KE Adventure Travel. Please make requests at least 6 weeks prior to the trip departure. All hire / rental equipment is issued in Delhi. **Mountaineering boots: Well-insulated single boots designed for Alpine mountaineering (minimum B2 rating) are suitable for this trek. Depending on your preference you may also wish to bring a lighter pair of boots for nonglacial terrain. Please note: This document was downloaded on 16 Nov 2018, and the trip is subject to change.