Leh is the winter wonderland in India. If you have traveled to Leh in summers, then be ready to see a totally different picture in winters. Here are some of the most essential tips for making a comfortable winter trip to Leh.
1. Reaching Leh In Winters
During winters, all the high mountain passes on the Manali-Leh and Srinagar-Leh route are shut down due to heavy snowfall. There is no feasible land route to Leh. So the only possible way to reach there during winters is by flight.
Leh has good connectivity from New Delhi and Srinagar with daily flights however, the flight schedule might hit due to fog or snowfall. So be prepared to have some schedule shifts.
2. Colder Than You Can Think Of
The temperatures can dip to as low as -25 to -30 Degrees Celsius, and yes it is very very cold. So, the first thing you should care about is warm clothing. Good quality jackets with fleece lining and a wind proof outer shell is preferable for such condition. You should wear layered clothing with thermals inside the jacket for best insulation against cold. Keep yourself covered all the time and specially protect the chest part. Always wear a fleece cap and good quality layered gloves. Hitting by cold at that temperatures and altitude can lead to further issues. So if you are protected well, then there is not much to worry about the cold.
Also avoid getting the cloths wet. Wet clothes can amplify the cold and led to headaches. Eat well along the entire trip to keep your body warm and also drink lots of water to keep yourself well hydrated. Also keep a pair good quality shades along with you, they will make it more comfortable to enjoy the snow and will avoid any chances of snow blindness.
3. Once You Reach Leh
It is always advisable to spare a day for acclimatization after reaching Leh. In winters, it is even more important to acclimatize because your body is not used to such cold temperatures. Reach your hotel and have a cup of tea, you can also try Ladakhi Tea, which is said to keep the body warm. Keep physical exertion to a minimum on the first day so that you can enjoy your rest of the journey to this wonderland.
4. Choose A Good Hotel
Prepare the budget for a decent hotel during winters. Most of the hotels are closed at this time of the year and most of the remaining hotels don't have running water, as the water freezes in the pipelines and the storage tanks. So choose a good hotel with running water and room heater facility. It is advisable to choose an oil heater instead of a regular gas heater because the gas heater further reduces the Oxygen levels in the room.
5. Travelling Around Leh
Private taxi seems to be the only feasible option to travel around Leh in winters because shared taxis are not generally available due to very thin tourist traffic. So prepare a decent budget for travelling around Leh. Always confirm the vehicle condition with the tour operator before confirming the trip, because you might need the stuff like heater etc. in the vehicle.
Vehicle should also be reliable and not very old, because you can't afford the car breaking down in the middle of a thick sheet of snow. I always travel with a guy named Thinle (Ph: 9622977737). Very friendly guy with good vehicle options.
6. Buffer Days
The terrain here is unpredictable and winter snow and ice can make it even worse. Plan your trip with at least 2-3 buffer days. Always check the weather forecast for Khardunla and Changla before heading towards them to see if there are chances of heavy snowfall for the next couple of days. The BRO does an excellent job for keeping the high passes open, but if it snows very heavily then the passes may remain closed for a day or two before it opens again for general traffic.
Sometimes the flights get cancelled due to snowfall in Leh as well, so it is always advisable to plan your trip with such contingencies.
7. Must Visit Places
Leh becomes a wonderland in winter with places and conditions like you have never seen before. Frozen streams and lots of snow. There is actually more of ice than snow. Some of the must visit places are:
- Pangong Tso: Of course yes, Pangong Tso offers some unmatched views and unbelievable landscapes in winters. You might have seen the photographs with blue waters of Pangong, this entire lake turns into a blue colored ice slab. You can even drive your car on it (only the experienced ones here). You will encounter numerous frozen streams on the way and the Changla is a treat to be at. Have a look at the weather forecast at Pangong and avoid going there in case of snowfall because the blue color will be hidden deep inside a white sheet of snow.
It is preferred to make a day trip to Pangong because the accommodation availability is very thin during winters.
- Nubra Valley: The majestic Khardungla looks astonishing during winters and should be on your must visit list. Nubra Valley doesn't see much snowfall but the wide vistas are a treat to the eyes. Accommodation is very limited during winters so it is advisable to book a decent hotel in advance through your tour operator.
- Tso Moriri: Smaller than Pangong Lake but almost as beautiful and gets completely frozen during winters. It gets much more colder at Tso Moriri than Pangong, so avoid it if you are already feeling cold at Leh. If venturing to Tso Moriri, it is preferable to stay at Chumathang Hot Springs, because the temperatures here are much more comfortable than Korzok (near Tso Moriri). Also there is almost no availability of accommodation at Korzok in winters.
If you have some more days in hands, than you can also take up the monastery circuit tour. The monasteries remain very calm during winters because of very thin tourist traffic and fewer monks.
Happy Travelling :)
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