Trip Notes THREE PEAKS OF LADAKH HIGHLIGHTS SUMMARY IS THIS TRIP FOR YOU?

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1 Trip Notes Trip Code: TGV Country: India Amended: October 2013 Edition No: JC Valid from: 01 Jan Dec 2014 THREE PEAKS OF LADAKH HIGHLIGHTS Celebrate Valerie Parkinson's 30th summer in Ladakh with a new trek and a peak for every decade she has been in Ladakh Ascend Vatseri Peak, 5,640m, Regoni Malari 6,030m and Dzo Jongo East, 6,090m with dramatic views of the Himalaya and Karakorum Spectacular flight over the Himalaya to Leh Stunning multicoloured mountains and rock formations of the Ladakh Range Visit ancient Buddhist monasteries and explore the fascinating city of Leh Chance to drive to one of the highest motorable road passes in the world (optional) SUMMARY Join Valerie as she celebrates her 30th summer in Ladakh, on this one off special anniversary trek, ascending one peak for every decade she has been in Ladakh. Ladakh, or Little Tibet, is often called 'the land of high passes' with its arid moonscape scenery and high Himalayan peaks. It is one of the last bastions of Tibetan culture and religion with spectacular Buddhist monasteries it remains one of the most remarkable adventure travel destinations. Flying across the Himalaya to Leh, we have time to acclimatise to the altitude before setting off on a rarely trekked route through wild, rugged terrain from Mankarmo to the base of the Gongmaru La. We head west below the Matho Range of mountains crossing three high passes before turning north to walk up a stunning gorge to the Gongmaru La. Crossing this pass at 5,286m, with amazing views across to Kang Yangtse and the Indian Himalaya, we come to the high altitude plain at Nimaling, inhabited by Ladakhi shepherds and their huge flocks of sheep, goats and yaks. From here we trek to our base camp via a warm up trek to the summit of Vatseri Peak (5640m), with great views across to the Ladakh Range and we should be able to spot the route up our other two peaks. From our base camp (5,010m) we climb Regoni Malari (6,030m) and our highest peak, DzoJongo East (6,096m). The climbs are tough, but optional and technically easy; a challenge for the confident, experienced walker and scrambler who wants to tackle something exceptional. The views from the summit are breathtaking as we look north to the Karakorum and south to the Indian Himalaya. This is a wonderful trek in its own right, which avoids the busy main trails and offers the chance of ascending true Himalayan summits. IS THIS TRIP FOR YOU? This trip is graded 'Tough' (Activity Level 7) and the climb is graded 'Tough +' (Activity Level 9) with 11 days walking including the summit days. The maximum altitude is 5,320m (6,096m with the climbs), average 4,700m. There are 6 high passes over 4,500m but most of the walking is on well-established trails. The trek is suitable for those who are confident of their physical fitness and have trekked at high altitude before. Daytime temperatures can be very hot especially during the middle of the day as at these altitudes the sun is very strong. The trek culminates with the ascent of three trekking peaks. Vatseri Peak is 5,640m and is a straightforward walk up to the summit Exodus Travels Grange Mills, Weir Road, London SW12 0NE Sales & Reservations: sales@exodus.co.uk

2 requiring no technical skills. Regoni Malari is 6,030m and requires the use of ice axe and crampons and walking roped up. Dzo Jongo East is 6,096m and requires the use of ice axe and crampons and sometimes we need to walk roped up. Both Regoni Malari and Dzo Jongo are optional and technically easy but both are over 6,000m and the altitude will make the going tough. The climbs are steep in places up usually snow covered slopes. Summit days will begin at approximately 2/3am and will be hour days. For anyone wishing to make the ascent, previous experience using ice axe and crampons and walking in a rope team is necessary; it is not possible to learn the skills whilst on this trip. You should be a confident walker and be comfortable scrambling on loose rock on a ridge. For safety we will rope up at times. For those not wishing to climb there will be optional walks from base camp. We spend 3 days in Leh before the trek to allow you to acclimatise - very important at this altitude. This is a fully supported camping trek and we provide spacious two-person tents, dining and toilet tents, stools, cooking and kitchen gear and a full support staff. We have put a lot of effort into improving standards on our Indian Himalayan treks and we believe that, in terms of organisation, our standards of service are as good as in Nepal - many of our Nepalese staff now work in Ladakh in the summer months and you may well find Nepalese Sherpas working alongside our Ladakhi staff. The trip will be led by Valerie Parkinson, who has spent the last 30 years leading treks in Ladakh and her knowledge and love of the Indian Himalaya is second to none. Valerie will be accompanied by climbing guides, assistants, ponymen and a cook team. Whilst on trek we will wake you up with a cup of hot tea, and will also provide a small bowl of warm washing water in the mornings. A PAC bag (Portable Altitude Chamber) and this is carried on all treks in Ladakh. The PAC bag is used in an emergency only to treat altitude sickness in the mountains. A First Aid kit is carried with the group. LAND ONLY ITINERARY The entries in bold at the end of each day indicate the type of accommodation normally used (if different standards of accommodation are used - see accommodation section below for key to codes), and meals included (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner). Day 1 (Day 2 Ex London) Start Delhi. The tour starts at our hotel in Delhi. Passengers travelling on the group flights usually arrive into Delhi in the morning and will be transferred to the hotel. Those making their own way will join us at the hotel throughout the day. The rest of the day is free to relax and recover from the flight or for individual exploration of Delhi. The rooms in the hotel are usually available from mid morning. SH Day 2 (Day 3 Ex London) Fly to Leh. A very early start today for the flight to Leh. We usually leave the hotel at around 2am and drive to the airport for the very early morning but highly spectacular flight over the Himalaya to Leh. If the weather is good and the flight goes on time we should be in Leh for breakfast. The rest of the day is free to relax and acclimatise to the altitude (3,500m). In the morning we rest and catch up on some sleep and in the afternoon there will be a gentle orientation walk of Leh and its bazaars. SH (B) Day 3 (Day 4 Ex London) Visit Shey and Tikse Monasteries. Today there is a sightseeing tour to two of the major gompas (monasteries) in the area. We first drive to Shey, a former Royal Palace of the Ladakh kings. Inside is a small temple containing a 350 year old copper and gold statue of Buddha. From Shey we walk to Tikse, where we visit the monastery - perched on top of a hill - its red and white buildings can be seen for miles. A recently built temple contains a magnificent image of the Future Buddha. We return to Leh in the afternoon and there is time to explore the bazaar. SH (B) Day 4 (Day 5 Ex London) Visit Leh Palace and Tsemo Monastery. Today we will have an acclimatisation walk round the Leh Valley. Set above Leh on the Namgyal Hill are the ruins of the Old Royal Palace. From here a winding path takes us to the Tsemo Monastery, from where we are rewarded for our efforts by magnificent views of the whole of Leh and its surrounding villages. Descending round the back of the palace we walk via Sankar to the recently built Japanese Peace Pagoda with good views back to the palace and across to Stok Kangri, dominating the skyline across the valley. The rest of the day is free to explore the back streets and bazaars of Leh. There is the chance today to make an optional jeep safari to the Khardung La at 5,602m, one of the highest motorable roads in the world. The journey to the top of the pass and back takes roughly 4 hours in total and can be booked and paid for locally. Your leader will have details. (If you do the jeep safari this will be in the morning and you can do a walk in the afternoon). SH (B) Day 5 (Day 6 Ex London) Drive to Stok, trek to Mankarmo (4,350m). We leave Leh and drive to the start point of our trek. The road follows the Indus River for a short while through Choglamsar before crossing the river and then climbing on a side road to Stok. We start trekking at the end of Stok village and an easy trail winds up a spectacular valley. We follow the Stok River most of the way (and may have to cross it once or twice). The multicoloured rocks tower above us as we ascend. The walking is easy and not steep today and it will take us 5-6 hours to reach our first camp at Mankarmo. Look out for herds of Blue Sheep that graze on the hillsides around here. FC (B,L,D) Day 6 (Day 7 Ex London) Cross the Matho La to Ganpoche (4,350m). Today we cross the first of our six passes. The trail takes us gradually to the top of the pass, the Matho La, at 4,930m. As we ascend the views become more and more spectacular with the magnificent rock formations of the Ladakh mountains surrounding us. The dramatic mountains in various shades of purples, greens and browns can be seen for miles in every direction. From the pass we descend to our campsite at Gangpoche by the shepherd huts. FC (B,L,D) Day 7 (Day 8 Ex London) Cross the Shang La to Shang Drok. Today we leave camp and have a long climb to our second pass, the Shang La, at 4,940m. From the top we get great views of the Matho Range to the north, less well known, but no less spectacular, than the Stok Range to the east. We descend to a wild camp at about 4,300m. FC (B,L,D) Day 8 (Day 9 Ex London) Cross Gyuncho La to Chuskurmo. Another day, another pass! This morning we have an easy climb through the barren landscape to the Gyuncho La (4,590m). We descend top to meet the Markha Valley trail above the village of 2

3 Sumdo. The trail drops into a spectaular gorge with wonderful purplecoloured rocks. Our camp tonight is close to the village of Chuskurmo (4,200m). FC (B,L,D) Day 9 (Day 10 Ex London) Cross the Gongmaru La to Nimaling. As we ascend to the base of the pass the valley narrows and becomes even more spectacular. The trail follows a small stream as we climb - sometimes we follow the river bed and sometimes we climb high above it. The wonderful multi coloured mountains surround us as we head to the pass. The final ascent zig zags up a barren slope (look out for a small herd of Blue Sheep) and we finally reach the string of prayer flags which mark the top of the Gongmaru La (5,236m). This pass provides access into the Markha Valley and we may well see other trekkers today crossing the pass in the opposite direction. From the pass we get amazing views down to Nimaling and across to the Indian Himalaya and the Ladakh Range. The most prominent peak is Kang Yangtse, at 6,400m, the highest in the Ladakh Range and if it's clear we can pick out Regoni Malari and Dzo Jongo across the valley. It's an easy descent down to our camp at Nimaling (4,854m), where the valley opens out. There is no permanent habitation at Nimaling, but during the summer months the shepherds bring their flocks of sheep, goats and dzos to graze on the high altitude pasture. The shepherds stay in stone shelters close to the grazing area for the whole summer and we can often buy yoghurt or local cheese from them. In the evenings the animals are brought down from the hills and it is quite usual to have hundreds of them wandering through the campsite. Look after your edibles! FC (B,L,D) not intending to climb there are wonderful walks from the base camp itself). FC (B,L,D) Day 12 (Day 13 Ex London) Rest Day. A day at base camp after the exertions of yesterday. FC (B,L,D) Day 13 (Day 14 Ex London) Climb Dzo Jongo East (6,096m). Our third and last summit day will start very early before dawn. The climb is quite steep in places and will require the use of ice axe and crampons and we will rope up if necessary. The summit day is long but technically easy. We ascend an easy angled snow slope to a fine ridge which we follow to the top. Prayer flags mark the top from where we get amazing views south to the Zanskar mountains and north to the Karakorum and the mountains in Tibet. We spend a short while at the top to savour the beauty of it all and regain our breath before descending slowly and carefully back to base camp for a well earned celebration. (The climb is entirely optional and is about 10 hours round trip). FC (B,L,D) Day 14 (Day 15 Ex London) Cross Lalung La and Chagtsang La to Rigyul Sumdo. We leave base camp this morning and head off towards the Manali to Leh highway on an untrekked route where we are unlikely to meet any other trekkers. The trail climbs out of the Nimaling Valley to the Lalung La (5,320m). From the top we descend a little and then climb to our last pass, the Chaktsang La (5,200m). From here it's mostly downhill to our camp at Riyul Sumdo (4,500m). FC (B,L,D) Day 15 (Day 16 Ex London) Trek to Lato, drive to Leh. A short 2-3 hour walk down to Lato, a village on the main Manali to Leh highway. We join our transport here for the 2 hour drive back to Leh and the comforts of our hotel and a well deserved celebration. We should be in Leh by lunchtime and the afternoon is free for last minute shopping. SH (B) Day 16 (Day 17 Ex London) Fly to Delhi. An early start for the flight back to Delhi. The rest of the day is free in Delhi for individual shopping or sightseeing. SH (B) Day 17 (Day 18 Ex London) End Delhi. It is time to say our farewells this morning as the tour ends after breakfast. Those on the group flights will be transferred to Delhi Airport for your daytime flight back to London. Day 10 (Day 11 Ex London) Trek to Dzo Jongo Base Camp, ascend Vatseri Peak. A warm up for our climbs as we ascend our first peak of the trip. Vatseri Peak requires no technical skills and it's an easy trail to the summit. The altitude makes it quite tough but the views from the top make it all worthwhile. We descend towards our base camp at 5,010m, home for the next four nights. The afternoon is spent resting and preparing for the climb. Gear will be checked and there will be a full briefing about tomorrow's ascent and a run through of walking in a rope team and with crampons. After an early dinner we retire to bed to rest for a few hours. FC (B,L,D) Day 11 (Day 12 Ex London) Regoni Malari (6,030m). We leave in the dark for our summit attempt. The climb is steep but technically easy. There may well be snow especially near the top. We will carry our ice axes and crampons and use them where necessary. The climbing guides will carry rope and we will have to walk roped up along the ridge. As we gain altitude the views start to open up. The sun should just be rising as we reach the summit ridge, which is quite steep and is exposed for some of the time, with some scrambling on loose (sometimes icy) rock. The altitude will be the greatest difficulty, though but the climb will be well worth the effort as the views from the summit are amazing. In the distance, and all around us are the snow-capped peaks of the Himalaya, the Karakorum and the Ladakh Range. We spend a short while at the top to savour the beauty of it all and regain our breath before descending slowly and carefully back to base camp, where the crew will be waiting with welcome hot food. (Please note the actual climb is entirely optional. For anyone GOLDEN TRIANGLE EXTENSION Please call our Sales team for current prices. he following five-day extension including Agra and Jaipur can be added to the end of the main itinerary. A visit to the incredible Taj Mahal and other great Moghul cities close to Delhi is an excellent way to end a visit to Northern India. The Taj Mahal was built by the Moghul Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1631, and is one of the most beautiful sights on earth. Its shining white marble walls, inlaid with semi precious stones, never fails to amaze a first time visitor. Located at Agra, it is only a short train journey from Delhi and is best visited twice to fully appreciate its magnificence. Close to the Taj is the imposing Red Fort of Akbar, third of the Moghul Emperors, whose mighty sandstone walls enclose the beautiful white marble Pearl Mosque and the palaces, halls, courtyards and fountains of his sons and successors, Jehangir and Shah Jahan. It is here that the latter spent his last years, imprisoned by his own son Aurangzeb. A short drive from Agra is the deserted royal city of Fatehpur Sikri. This is an impressive and well-preserved citadel and served as Akbar's capital from The mosque, designed to hold ten thousand worshippers, the palaces, residences and halls of audience are all of decorative red sandstone. The magnificence, however, only lasted 14 years, as in 1584 Akbar left Fatehpur Sikri to secure his outlying territories, leaving this city much as we see it today. The Pink City of Jaipur, capital of Rajasthan, is one of the most attractive and colourful cities in India only a few hours on from Agra. This planned Moghul city of broad avenues is built of sandstone 3

4 and was painted pink at a later stage. In the centre of Jaipur is the City Palace, formerly the residence of the Maharaja and now a fine museum containing rare manuscripts, paintings, royal garments and weapons. Close to the palace is one of the most intriguing sights of India, the observatory of Jai Singh. This is an assembly of immense astronomical instruments made of marble and brass set in a pleasant garden. We will also see Jaipur's impressive landmark, the Hawa Mahal, or Palace of the Winds. A few miles from the main city is the splendid Amber Palace, rising above a lake. The imposing hilltop fort contains large courtyards and interiors with fine decorations, including inlaid alabaster panels and a Chamber of Mirrors. We can walk or ride an elephant (optional) up the hill and through the massive gateway to the courtyard. Jaipur is a centre of many handicrafts, such as durries (woven rugs), carpets, printed cloth, semi-precious stones, leatherware etc; it will be difficult to leave a workshop without buying anything! Please note that the flights from Delhi to London are popular and if you wish to do the extension you should book early. Day 16 (Day 17 ex-london) Travel to Agra (usually by train), normally arriving before 10am. The day is spent visiting the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort. CH (B) Day 17 (Day 18 ex-london) Travelling by car you take the one-hour journey to Fatehpur Sikri, a magnificent abandoned Moghul city. In the late morning you will continue by road to the 'Pink City' of Jaipur. CH (B) Day 18 (Day 19 ex-london) A full day sightseeing in and around Jaipur; you will see the Palace of the Winds, the City Palace and the Amber Palace. CH (B) Day 19 (Day 20 ex-london) After breakfast you will return to Delhi either by road or on the train, the journey taking about 5 hours. SH (B) Day 20 (Day 21 ex-london) Transfer to the airport to meet your onward flight. If you have booked your own flights or intend to stay in India for longer the extension ends after breakfast. (B) We use good tourist class hotels in Delhi, Agra and Jaipur on bed and breakfast basis. These have en suite rooms, generally comfortable facilities and a reliable electricity and water supplies. You will travel between the cities and sites using a mixture of trains and private vehicles (car or minibus, depending on how many people take part in the extension) and accompanied by an English-speaking local guide. In the evenings, you will be free to enjoy the towns. Extra Accommodation: We can arrange additional accommodation for you prior to, or after your trip, in Delhi. The hotels we use in Delhi change for each departure, and the start hotel is only confirmed 4 weeks prior to departure, due to operational reasons. Therefore, if you would like us to book additional accommodation for you, please contact our sales department who will be able to give you further information. KEY TO ACCOMMODATION: We indicate in the itinerary what type of accommodation is provided on each day. The descriptions are guidelines only and are used to give an idea of the accommodation offered, rather than an exact description. SH Standard Hotel, Lodge or Gite - no-frills hotel, usually with twin rooms and en suite facilities. Service and amenities are generally adequate. FC Full-service Camping - two person tents sometimes in a private or public campsite that contains a communal ablutions block and other amenities and sometimes in a wild camp with toilet tents and mess tent or dining equipment provided. All camp chores are done for you from erecting / dismantling of your tent, to cooking & washing up. CH Comfortable Hotel, Lodge or Gite - twin rooms with en suitefacilities, reliable electricity and water supply, good service and some added amenities. FOOD & TRANSPORT Food All food is included, except main meals in Delhi and Leh. Please allow about 70 (approx. US$112) for these. In Leh the food will be a mix of Indian, Tibetan, Chinese and Continental. During the trek we provide a full breakfast including porridge, eggs and bread and hot drinks. Lunch on trek will either be packed or hot; dinners will be mostly pasta, rice or potato based and a mixture of Indian, Continental and Chinese style. Please note that although some meals will include meat, it is not as readily available whilst camping. During the trek the camp staff will collect and boil drinking water from the mountain streams and fill up your water bottles for you, but you may wish to use your own water purification treatment as well. ACCOMMODATION 6 nights hotels, all en suite, 10 nights full-service camping. In Delhi, we use a simple hotel, which has air-conditioned rooms with bathroom en suite. In Leh we stay in a simple hotel with bathroom en suite. On trek we use spacious two-person tents, with a mess tent and toilet tent. All accommodation is on a twin share basis. Transport Depending on the time of day, for transfers in Delhi we use either taxis or private buses (during busy times such as morning rush hour taxis are preferable to negotiate the busy narrow streets). For transfers and sightseeing around Leh we use taxis, jeeps or private minibus. Single Accommodation: If you wish to have a single room and single tent it is possible to pay a single supplement of 335 (or approx. US$590) at the time of booking. Single supplements are subject to availability. 4

5 WEATHER AND SEASONALITY confirm up-to-date timings. Please note timings may change at a later date and cannot be confirmed until approximately two weeks before departure. Please Note: The above weather chart for Leh shows average temperatures only. Please refer to the paragraph below for further details of the temperature range. Generally the weather is good in Ladakh during the summer time, with warm to very hot sunny days (temperatures can reach up to 35ºC or more), and cool to cold nights depending on the altitude (it can be just below freezing at the highest camps in late August). There is, however, always the possibility of rain, and snow at higher altitudes, and you should be prepared for this. Please note the sun is very strong at these altitudes and it can be very hot in the daytime. For the climbs of Regoni Malari and Dzo Jongo we will be setting off before dawn and it can be very cold that day as the sun comes up and you will need warm gloves and socks and either down jacket or very good windproof and layers underneath. At least half the summit days are usually on snow. Ladakh, though technically part of the Tibetan plateau and classified as a high altitude desert, can and does occasionally experience the effects of the Indian monsoon. Although the departures are timed to coincide with when the weather is normally good, you should remember that in any mountain area the weather is never wholly predictable and you should be prepared and equipped to deal with any differences in weather beyond the conditions described above. Delhi in the summer months is very hot and humid. JOINING THE TRIP IN THE UK 18 days, normally depart London Sat, return Tue Itinerary Start The group flight from London is an overnight flight departing the day before Day 1 of the itinerary. Flights from London We normally use the scheduled services of Jet Airways (depending on availability). As flight timings and schedules change regularly we recommend you call one of our specialist sales staff or your agent to 5 Internal flights during the trip are with a local airline. UK Regional Flights The Flight Inclusive price is based on a London departure, but we are happy to tailor this to your local or regional airport. Please visit for a useful overview of the options available, and contact our sales team for expert advice. If booking regional flights other than with Exodus, you must allow a minimum connecting time (in addition to the international check in time) of 1 hour at Gatwick, and 1½ hours at Heathrow; this is longer than the official minimum, but baggage handling is known to be subject to delays. Free Transfers Exodus offers free airport arrival and departure transfers on any flight for this trip: please see the Free Transfers section below for more details. JOINING THE TRIP IN DELHI 17 days, normally start Delhi Sun, end Delhi Tue Itinerary Start Your trip normally starts at our hotel in Delhi in the morning of Day 1 of the itinerary. Details of how to reach the start point are provided in the Final Joining Instructions - sent approximately two weeks before departure. Hotel check-in times are normally from around 12 noon. Free Transfers Exodus offers FREE airport arrival and departure transfers on any flight for this trip, so no matter which flight you choose to arrive on you will be met and transferred to your hotel. All those taking advantage of the free airport transfers must provide full flight details for both arrival and departure in advance; unless specified otherwise, the transfer will be to the Exodus start (or pre-tour) hotel; transfers to other hotels in the same city may attract an extra charge; transfers may be shared with other Exodus customers on the same flight, or on a flight with similar arrival times. The cost of a taxi is likely to be about 10 (approx. US$15) should you decide to make your way independently. Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent. RESPONSIBLE TOURISM Tourism can be a real help to local communities, providing income, positive cultural exchanges and a financial incentive to protect their natural environment. Ours is a 'total approach' to responsible tourism, covering everything from the way we plan and operate our trips to the practices of Exodus as a company. We have an excellent long-term relationship with the local operator who employ and train all leaders. We provide refresher training with a focus on Responsible Tourism, so our local leaders can educate our clients locally on helping to preserve the way of life in their area. We ask that you use environmentally sound practices whilst in Ladakh. Please try not to buy mineral water. You will be provided with boiled drinking water on trek but it is advisable to bring purification tablets/ liquid to treat any non boiled water. In Leh high pressurised drinking water can be bought for less than Rs10 per litre, otherwise use a product such as Biox Aqua to treat water. Burnable rubbish will be burnt on trek. We ask that each trekker keep a rubbish bag for nonburnable rubbish and that you take it back to Delhi or UK. Please note that many Indians are still traditional in the way they dress. Out of respect for the country we ask you to dress conservatively - no sleeveless tops. Although shorts are acceptable on trek only they should be very modest and reach the knees and for women a skirt or trousers are preferable.

6 Please bring bio degradable soaps and shampoos and when washing near a river use a washing bowl provided by the camp staff and do not pollute the rivers. Monasteries are places of worship. Please be respectful when visiting monasteries and whilst taking photographs. Your leader will brief you on appropriate local behaviour. Exodus Himalayan Community Support Projects in Ladakh Exodus started supporting this area in the Markha Valley in 2007, after the heavy rains in 2006 caused flooding throughout Ladakh, which destroyed many houses and caused loss of life and livelihood to many families. We rebuilt two houses and provided wire for the school in Hankar so they could build themselves a flood barrier. When Ladakh was hit by worse flash floods and mudslides in 2010, we set up a flood relief appeal to help support these communities. Since 2011 we have been working with the Youth Association for Conservation and Development in the Hemis High Altitude National Park (YAFCAD) and a Niyamdru Dro, a French NGO, to provide the people of the Markha Valley with safe drinking water which they can sell to foreign trekkers instead of mineral water. We aim to sponsor as many water filters as possible and ask those villages without to boil water rather than selling bottled mineral water. The plan is eventually to ban the sale of plastic mineral water bottles along the popular Markha Valley trekking route. Please see our project newsletter for more information: Support_Projects_News_Edition6.pdf The above information can change at short notice; as we are not qualified to answer all your questions about travel health we strongly recommend you contact your Medical Professional or a Travel Health Clinic at least 8 weeks prior to departure for up-to-date information. Altitude Warning This trip goes to high altitudes where there is a risk of being affected by Acute Mountain Sickness. Our itineraries are designed to enable everyone to acclimatise to these altitudes, but you should be aware that it is still possible for you to be affected. Although rare, a number of medical conditions can also reduce your body's ability to acclimatise, and thus will affect your performance at altitude and make you more susceptible to AMS. If you are worried about any preexisting condition (e.g. heart problems), or unsure of your physical ability, we recommend that you seek medical advice prior to booking. Advice varies, but the consensus on how to combat altitude sickness seems to be to drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluid (at least 4 litres per day) and rest for the first few hours when you reach altitude. When hiking, do not hurry - take your time, enjoy the scenery and give your body a chance to catch up. If you are breathing hard, you are probably ascending too quickly. For full details of our Responsible Tourism Policy please visit: PRACTICAL INFORMATION Passports and Visas All nationalities require a full passport that must be valid for 6 months beyond the intended length of stay. It is your responsibility to have the correct personal documents and to obtain your own visa, if one is necessary, in accordance with the regulations of the country you are to visit. The information below is primarily for UK passport holders, and other nationalities should check with their travel agent or the relevant embassies. We are not responsible for the actions of local immigration and customs officials, whether at points of entry or otherwise, and any subsequent effects. Visas are required if you are British and for most other nationalities. To apply for the Indian visa yourself you will need to go through the Indian High Commission's VF service ( The current visa fee for British passport holders is 80 (plus a service charge and consular fee amounting to 12.20), and if using Travcour there will be an additional 30 service charge plus 9 postage (Royal Mail Special Delivery within UK). The visa fee for most other passport holders is much lower. We suggest that you carry a photocopy of your passport information page, your visa and your insurance document. Visa regulations can change without notice: please check the current regulations in good time to obtain a visa if one is required. Please do not mention Ladakh on your Indian visa application, this can sometimes slow down or even cause the embassy to reject your visa Vaccinations and Health Travel health can often be something people forget about before going away, but a little preparation and knowledge can go a long way to help you stay fit and healthy while abroad. There are no mandatory vaccination requirements for this trip. Recommended vaccinations for this trip are: Polio, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Typhoid, Hepatitis A. The risk of malaria on this trip is slight, but you may wish to consult your GP or travel health clinic for further advice. Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited on this trip. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for Dengue, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites. 6 All our leaders in the Himalayas are trained in the use of a PAC bag (Portable Altitude Chamber) and this is carried on all treks in the Himalayas (Nepal and India) which go above 4,200m. The PAC bag is used in an emergency only to treat altitude sickness in the mountains. A First Aid kit is carried with the group and all our leaders are First Aid trained. Insurance - are you adequately covered? You must have adequate travel insurance, and if you are joining a trip which goes to high altitude, you must check that you are covered up to the maximum altitude of the trip. If you are resident in the UK we strongly recommend Exodus travel insurance, which is specifically designed to cover all activities on your trip. If you are a UK citizen and travelling in Europe you should obtain the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from your Post Office. This gives free medical care in many European countries, but should not be considered a substitute for adequate insurance. PLEASE NOTE: If you are not taking out Exodus Travel Insurance, please ensure that your policy does cover you up to the maximum altitude on this trip (6,141m), and includes use of ice axe and crampons, walking roped up and helicopter evacuation. Please take

7 proof of this with you on the trip - you will need to show this to the leader in Delhi before flying to Leh. Local Time GMT + 5 hours and 30 minutes Electricity 230/240 volts AC, 50 Hz. There are recharging facilities at all the hotels, the electricity supply is not 100% reliable but it is usually only off for short periods of time. Group, Staff and Support The group will generally be between 6 and 16 people. There will be a local leader and drivers and local guides where needed. This trip will be led by Valerie Parkinson will be Valerie's 30th summer in Ladakh and her knowledge and experience of Ladakh has been built up over the many years she has spent there. Spaces are limited so if you would like to travel with Valerie please book early. Valerie will be supported by local guides, cook crew and pony men and there will be a qualified climbing guide for the ascent of Regoni Malari and Dzo Jongo. The minimum age of clients on this trip is 18 years. Extra Expenses and Spending Money Apart from the extra food you should allow approximately 3 (approx. US$5) a day for drinks and incidentals (when not on trek), more if you enjoy a few beers, as these are comparatively expensive in India. Most monasteries in Ladakh charge a small entrance fee that goes towards the upkeep of the building. These may add up to about 8 (approx. US$13) in total. Whilst on trek there is not much to spend your money on, but in Leh and Delhi there is a wealth of souvenirs, trinkets etc. India has very good opportunities for shopping, especially for locally made goods, and in Delhi local guides may well offer to take you to emporiums as well as workshops where these goods are made. Many people find this a great opportunity to buy local handicrafts, silk, jewellery and carpets. Guides will often assume that visitors will want to go shopping, it is very much part of the culture, however if you do not wish to go please make this clear to your local guide at the time. Optional Excursions (approximate costs, depending on group sizes) The half-day trip to the Khardung Pass costs about 12 (approx. US$20 or INR1000) per person with 4 people sharing a jeep. (Please note if you hold a Chinese, Korean or Taiwanese passport you will not be able to get an Inner Line Permit to do the Khardung Pass trip). MONEY MATTERS Currency Information The national currency of India is the Indian Rupee (INR), with an exchange rate of 90 to the UK and 60 to the US$. Exchange rates are correct at the time of publication. It is illegal to import or export rupees. Do not accept torn or (very) dirty Indian banknotes from banks or in change as they will almost certainly not be accepted as legal tender in India. Please ask for low denomination notes of 100 or 500 Rupees as 1000 Rupee notes can sometimes be difficult to use out of Delhi. You can change money back from Rupees into Pounds or Dollars at Delhi airport (before going through security), but you must produce an exchange receipt showing that you changed money in India. You should change your money on arrival at Delhi either at the hotel or airport (please note that the hotel often gives a better rate than the airport). It is possible to change cash in Ladakh. You will need approximately for meals, entry fees and tipping for the whole trip. Cash $/ or Euro are easier to change than travellers cheques. ATM availability/credit Card Acceptance/Travellers cheques There are ATMs in Delhi. There are a couple of ATMs in Leh but please do not rely on these. We recommend you change most of the money you need for the trip before leaving Delhi. Credit cards are accepted in larger shops in Delhi and in Leh. 7 Tipping (leader and local staff) Tipping is a tradition in India and you should allow approximately 40 (approx. US$65 or INR3,500) for the whole trip for this. Your leader will advise you on tipping at the briefings. This amount does not include a tip for the leader, this is at your discretion. WHAT TO TAKE Essential Equipment and Clothing For the most up to date trip specific kit list please see: exodus.co.uk/assets/travelink/tgv_kitlist.pdf 4 season sleeping bag (liner optional) Sleeping mattress/thermarest 3/4 season down jacket Walking boots (worn in) Waterproof jacket and trousers Gaiters Trainers/sandals for the evening (or any river crossings) Warm hat Warm gloves Several pairs of walking socks Thermal underwear Mid layer (fleece) Light weight trousers Shorts or skirt for women Sunhat, sunglasses, sunscreen and lip salve with sun protection Daypack (at least 25 litres) with ice axe holder if climbing Head torch Water Bottle (2/3 x 1 litre bottles) Plastic bags (bin liners) to line daypack and for packing clothing in the Kitbag Toilet paper Small personal first aid kit If attempting Regoni Malari and Dzo Jongo East you will need: Walking ice axe Crampons to fit your boots (please make sure you fit your crampons to your boots and test them before you travel) Sturdy stiff soled waterproof 4 season boot with ankle support (strong sturdy B1 or B2 boots), which are suitable for, and fit, crampons (soft trekking boots are not suitable for the climb) Harness and one screw lock karabiner Large daypack (at least 25 litres) with strap for carrying ice axe Warm gloves Your favourite energy snack for summit days Ice axes and crampons can be hired cheaply in Leh but please note that we cannot guarantee the availability or quality of locally hired equipment. The crampons that are hired in Leh are very old and we recommend you bring your own. (Please note it is dangerous to attach crampons to soft trekking boots and we do not recommend

8 you do this). Please remember previous experience using ice axe and crampons is necessary for this climb. Please note that, if you have them, you may like to take a separate pair of heavier boots for the climb. These will be carried separately together with the rest of the climbing equipment, thus allowing you to walk in normal walking boots during the trekking section. The climbing gear will stay in Leh and be brought to meet us at base camp by our climbing guide. Duvet jackets and sleeping bags are available for hire from Trek Hire UK ( Trek Hire UK can also provide a range of trekking essentials and accessories, from rucksacks to trekking poles. Please note that supplies are limited, and it is advisable to reserve any equipment as early as possible. For trips to Kilimanjaro, Nepal and Peru, certain items such as duvet jackets, sleeping bags and thick mattresses (mattresses not available in Nepal) can be hired through our local agents. These must be pre-booked through the Exodus office to ensure availability. Please call for details. Optional items: Trekking pole(s) Hand washing gel Water purification treatment (e.g. Biox Aqua) Biodegradable soap/shampoo Duvet jackets and sleeping bags are available for hire from Trek Hire UK ( ). Trek Hire UK can also provide a range of trekking essentials and accessories, from rucksacks to trekking poles. Please note that supplies are limited, and it is advisable to reserve any equipment as early as possible. For trips to Kilimanjaro, Nepal and Peru, certain items such as duvet jackets, sleeping bags and thick mattresses (mattresses not available in Nepal) can be hired through our local agents. These must be pre-booked through the Exodus office to ensure availability. Please call for details. Baggage and Baggage Allowance If you live in the UK or Ireland we provide an Exodus kitbag to pack your luggage in whilst on trek. Please note that if you book close to the departure date we cannot guarantee that your kitbag will arrive before your trip starts. If this is the case please use a suitable alternative. We regret it is not possible for us to supply kitbags for those who book from outside of the UK or Ireland. At time of writing the standard weight limit for hold baggage on the recommended international carrier for this trip is 20kg. We recommend packing only one piece of checked baggage. Internal flights in the destination country are subject to a weight limit of 15kg. As advice about luggage allowances for both hand and hold luggage is subject to change, we suggest you check and/or the airline's website for the latest information prior to your departure. JOIN THE EXODUS ONLINE COMMUNITY Don't forget to visit the Community area on our website. You can view the range of Exodus videos and podcasts, read trip write-ups which have featured in the national media and take advantage of some special deals on travel gear and equipment. In the Compass Café forum you'll find the Departure Lounge where you can discuss your trip with fellow travellers before you depart. When you get back from your holiday remember to upload your images to the relevant trip page on our website. This helps other people see what our holidays are really like and you'll be entered automatically into our monthly photo competition. To make full use of the Compass Café you'll need to join My Exodus. It's free, registration is simple and easy, so what are you waiting for? IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL CLIENTS Exodus operates a 24 hour duty office for emergencies, which can be contacted on 0044 (0) Every time that you travel abroad you should take the time to read the warnings in the essential information in the brochure or at www. exodus.co.uk/about-exodus/essential-information? Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers, and details of how to reach the start point, will be sent to you approximately 2 to 3 weeks prior to departure. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent. The information in these Trip Notes is given in good faith. Where differences exist between the Trip Notes and our current brochure, the Trip Notes supersede the brochure. All holidays can be subject to unexpected changes; in order to enjoy them you should be prepared to be flexible where necessary. Occasionally, as stated in our brochure, it may not be possible to follow the itinerary as planned. This may be for a variety of reasons - climatic, political, physical or other. In these circumstances we will make the best possible alternative arrangements that maintain the integrity of the original itinerary. As fuel prices, airport taxes and exchange rates fluctuate, and airlines manage their rates to match demand, it is proving harder than ever to guarantee our Flight Inclusive prices. Although we endeavour to keep our website as accurate as possible, daily fluctuations mean that our Flight Inclusive price may be out of date. For accurate prices we recommend that you contact one of our Travel Experts, or your Travel Agent. Prices and exchange rates were correct at the time of publication. The most up-to-date prices can be found on the Exodus website. Exodus Travels Ltd. ATOL 2582/FTO Reading List: Journey to Ladakh by Andrew Harvey Ancient Futures, Learning from Ladakh by Helena Norberg Hodge Ladakh: Crossroads of High Asia by Janet Rizvi Trekking in the Ladakh Trailblazer Guidebook Birds and Mammals of Ladakh by Otto Pfister The Snow Leopard by Deepak Dalal - a children's adventure story set in and around Rumbak. Most of these books can be found in the bookshop in Leh. Maps: Ladakh and Zanskar Trekking Maps - Olizane. Scale 1:150,000; Good map with 3 sheets. The Central sheet covers this trek. You can buy a basic trekking map in Leh which will cover the whole trek. If you are interested in any of these books then you can order them from our own Exodus shop, 'Exodus Travel Essentials', 8

9 HOW TO BOOK YOUR TRIP 1. Check availability Go online to check availability, or contact us by phone or Secure your place You can provisionally hold a place on this trip, usually for between three and seven days. 3. Complete your booking and payment When you re ready to book, go to for online booking, book over the phone or you can complete a booking form (available online or on request by calling us). We accept all major credit and debit cards, or you can pay be cheque. Book with confidence: Exodus is fully licensed and bonded as a tour operator. We hold Air Traffic Organisers Licence (ATOL) number 2582 issued and bonded with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). We are also bonded to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and we are members of the Federation of Tour Operators (FTO) and ABTA - The Travel Association. This means you can book your Exodus holiday with confidence, as all monies paid to us for your trip are fully protected. 9