H A N D Y G U I D E www.sabooresorts.com
is little booklet is aimed at helping make your stay in Ladakh simple, effortless and enjoyable. While every attempt has been made to provide all relevant information that any traveller might need, there may be still a few questions that might require personalised assistance. We are just a call away to do just that for you.
ARRIVAL All flights to Leh and from Leh are scheduled in the morning hours; there are NO afternoon OR evening flights. e first flight to Leh arrives at 0630 hours and the last flight to take off from Leh is scheduled at 1020 hours. e flights that operate to Leh are Jet Airways, Go Airways, Vistara & Air India. Upon arrival, all foreign tourists will be handed over a tourist registration form, where you are requested to fill in your passport/ visa along with other details and submit it to the concerned officials at the counter. Indian nationals must carry a valid ID proof (Passport, Driver s License, PAN card or Voter s ID) After collecting your check-in luggage, proceed to the ARRIVALS gate where a Saboo Resorts representative would be waiting with a signage. (Applicable only to guests who have pre-booked a transfer service). You will then be transported to Saboo Resorts, approx. 20 minutes drive away on the outskirts of Leh town. Upon arrival, kindly assist our staff with check-in and other registration formalities. DEPARTURE KBR Airport is a 20 minutes drive from Saboo Resorts. Please note that the airport check-in time is 2 hours prior to your flight. All departures are in the morning between 0530 to 1020 hours.
VISA REQUIREMENT FOR FOREIGN NATIONALS Foreign Nationals are required to have an Indian Tourist Visa. Foreign Nationals need to apply for an inner line permit to visit restricted areas in Ladakh like Nubra Valley, Pangong Lake, Tsomoriri Lake and Arayan Valley. e permit can be availed for in Leh through a Local Travel Agency. TRAVEL DOCUMENTS Foreign Nationals Passport, Indian Visa, Travel Insurance Indian Tourists - ID proofs (Passport, Drivers License, PAN card or Voter s ID) Flight tickets Hotel booking vouchers Travel itineraries Note: For any travel related assistance, you can reach us at Ph: +91 1982 244003/ Mobile: +91 94191 79742 / 94692 90007 or write to us at reservations@sabooresorts.com
CLOTHING & ESSENTIALS Due to the change in the weather conditions, we would suggest that you pack your clothing accordingly. MARCH TO MID JUNE e weather conditions during these months remain unpredictable. MID JUNE TO AUGUST Days vary between warm and scorching hot. However, we suggest you carry the following as you will be travelling out of Leh & and at higher climes and may require the following: Upper/ lower thermals Two layered jackets with fleece & wind/waterproof Gloves Woolen cap Few pairs of woolen and cotton socks A sturdy pair of walking shoes with a strong grip A wide-brimmed hat or a sunshade cap Dark sunglasses Torch or flashlight A day s rucksack Moisturizers and sunscreen
CURRENCY & PAYMENTS Payments are accepted in credit & debit cards except AMEX cards, at the resort or most other merchant establishments. However we encourage payments in cash for quick settlements, as wireline connectivity is dependent on weather conditions. ere are quite a few moneychangers on Changspa Rd, Upper Fort Road and around Main Bazaar in Leh. ELECTRICITY Please note the electrical specification range is 220-240 Volts, 50 Hz. Mainly used in India 3 pins -grounded - 5A 220-240 V Socket compatible with plug types C & D (unsafe compatibility with E & F) LAUNDRY Laundry facility is available at the resort and can be availed with a turnaround time of 12hrs, subject to weather conditions. INTERNET While Wi-Fi facility is available at Saboo Resorts, it is dependent on the service provider of BSNL Broadband in Ladakh region. It is unreliable at times due to service related and other connectivity issues, which is beyond our control. COMMUNICATIONS In Leh, Nubra and Kargil, worldwide direct dial telephone facilities are available, as well as General Post Office and a Central Telegraph Office. Please note there are two major mobile networks (BSNL & Airtel) which have a reasonable network but coverage may be limited, depending on proximity of towers. No roaming pre-paid connections function in the region of Jammu & Kashmir.
HIGH ALTITUDE SICKNESS Guests travelling by air are strictly advised to take complete rest for the first 24 hours after arrival. Any kind of physical exertion must be avoided. Abstain from smoking and alcohol consumption until you are fully acclimatized. Drink lots of water. We recommend that you consult your doctor prior to your travel. (Complete rest doesn t imply sleeping or lying down throughout. Walk around and let your body adjust to the high altitude gently.) HIGH ALTITUDE TRAVEL e elevation of Leh and most part of Ladakh is over 3,000 m. However, while crossing over passes, you will drive through much higher heights. Many travellers who ascend to such thin-air environments experience symptoms of altitude sickness such as headaches, fatigue and nausea, caused by the very low oxygen levels at high elevations. Guests are advised to rest for 24 hours after arrival and avoid physical exertion until fully acclimatised. Smoking and drinking of alcohol should be avoided. Consult your personal physician about taking the prescription drug - Diamox (Acetazolamide) - a mild diuretic that stimulates oxygen intake. Sonam Norbu Memorial Hospital Leh (15 minutes away from Saboo Resorts) is fully equipped with a team of medical specialists. e hotel also provides oxygen cylin - ders and doctor-on-call. WATER Guests are advised to drink packaged drinking water ONLY, available at the hotel as well as in the market. While purchasing packaged from shops, you are advised to check the seal.
RESTAURANT TIMINGS AT SABOO RESORTS Breakfast 0630 hrs to 0930 hrs Lunch 1200 hrs to 1430 hrs Dinner 1900 hrs to 2130 hrs We provide packed Breakfast/Lunch (on request) to guests going on day excur - sions. CUISINE Our restaurant serves Indian, Continental, Chinese, Ladakhi & Tibetan cuisines - both vegetarian & non-vegetarian and also boasts of an in-house Bakery. Note: If you have any specific diet requirements, we request you to drop us an email at reservations@sabooresorts.com prior to your booking and we shall check with our chef and inform you about the availability of the same.
NAME OF THE FESTIVAL VENUE 2018 SpitukGustor Spituk, January 3-4 Dosmochey Leh & Likir Monastery, February 13-14 YargonTungshak Nubra (Yarma), February 19-20 Stok Guru Tsechu Stok Monastery, February 24-25 MathoNagrang Matho Monastery, March 1-2 SakaDawa All over Ladakh, May 29 YuruKabgyat Lamayuru Monastery, June 11-12 HemisTsechu Hemis Monastery, June 23-24 StongdeGustor Zanskar, July 1-2 KarshaGustor Zanskar, July 11-12 PhyangTsesdup Phyang Monastery, July 11-12 SachukulGustor Sachukul Monastery, June 30 - July 1 KorzokGustor Tsomoriri, July 15-16 DakthokTseschu Dakthok Monastery, July 22-23 SaniNasjal Zanskar, July 26-27 DeskitGustor Nubra, October 7-8 iksaygustor iksay, October 27-28 GaldenNamchot All over Ladakh, December 2 Buddhists and Muslims primarily inhabit Ladakh, along with a small Christian community. Monastic festivals in Ladakh take place in both summer and winter months. ese take the form of dance- dramas in the gompa courtyards. Lamas, attired in colorful robes and wearing masks, perform mimes symbolising various aspects of the religion such as the progress of the individual soul and its purification or the triumph of good over evil.
SOME IMPORTANT CONTACT NUMBERS STD CODE OF LEH 01982 TOURIST INFORMATION OFFICE 252297/252094/253462 DEPUTY COMMISSIONER - LEH 252010 FOREIGN REGISTRATION OFFICE (SSP LEH) 252200 CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER (LEH) 252012 CASUALTY - S.N.M. HOSPITAL 252360 POLICE STATION - LEH 100/252018 POLICE CONTROL ROOM 254880 INDIAN AIRLINES OFFICE 252076 JET AIRWAYS OFFICE 250132/250638/250512 AIRPORT - LEH 250380 J&K STATE ROAD TRANSPORT CORP. 252085 LADAKH PVT. BUS OPERATORS UNION 252792 PETROL PUMP 252100 TAXI STAND 252723/253039 A FEW CHEMIST SHOPS IN LEH HET RAM VINAY KUMAR PHARMACY, NEAR SBI, LEH Phone: +91 1982 252 160 APOT CHEMIST, OPP. SONAM NORBU MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, LEH Phone: +91 96221 73768 LIFELINE CHEMISTS, OPP. SONAM NORBU MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, LEH Phone: +91 1982 252 264
To make your visit to Ladakh more pleasant; both for yourself and for your hosts - the people of Ladakh, there are some general guidelines that may be helpful, while visiting monasteries & within Leh. DO dress modestly both in town and at gompas (monasteries), as Ladakhis are very modest in appearance, take their religious beliefs seriously; and can be offended by skimpy western dresses. DO take off your shoes when entering any room in a gompa (monastery). It is not necessary to remove shoes in the open sections of a gompa, such as courtyards. Please note: we do provide guests with use-and-throw shoes. DO pass chortens (stupas) and prayer flagpoles from the left, in a clockwise direction, always keeping your right side to the chorten or prayer flagpole. DON T give money, sweets or other gifts to children. Begging by children and child lamas in the gompas has only begun since tourism arrived in Ladakh and is an unacceptable behavior that should not be encouraged. If you really want to give something, donate pencils, pens, paper or notebooks to a village or gompa which has a school, which will be gratefully accepted. DON T take pictures in gompa rooms where photography is prohibited, either by posted signs or a lama telling you. And avoid using a camera flash, while attending the early morning prayer ceremony or any gatherings. DON T point at statues of the Buddha or any murals as it is considered highly disrespectful. DON T stand on the base of chortens or mani walls. desecration that is offensive to Ladakhis. ese are sacred objects and to do so is Village Saboo, Leh 194101, Ladakh, India M +91 94191 79742 P +91 1982 244003 E reservations@sabooresorts.com