2020

Ladakh Mountains Adventure 1

�8 nights,

twin share

�Grade 6 -

Intermediate

�All transfers,

2 guides, plus porters

�8 Breakfasts, 8 lunches, 8

dinners

Ladakh also known as ‘Little Tibet’ or ‘Land beyond the Passes’ is one of the most remote areas of India, lying to the north of the Himalaya on the Tibetan

Plateau and to the south of the Karakoram range, in the state of Jammu, Ladakh and Kashmir.

On this trekking adventure we will visit many of the incredible and colourful Buddhist monasteries and palaces as well as the homes of local people in the region. Prayer wheels and prayer flags are liberally

scattered across this beautiful landscape, often high up on cliff tops overlooking the valleys. Each village sits like a little oasis in the valleys, nestled amongst snowcapped peaks. The Ladakhi people are of Indo-

Aryan and Tibetan descent, and the population of the area has been bolstered by Tibetan refugees. Small communities work together to manage and harvest their crops. Ladakh is far removed from the disputed and troubled region of Kashmir, between India and Pakistan, and is a fantastic opportunity to experience

the area. Join us to see this peaceful way of life beneath the snow-capped mountains.

2020: £1399 2021: £1450

Sat 1st - Sun 9th Aug Sat 31st Jul - Sun 8th Aug

Ladakh Mountains Adventure Explore remote villages and colourful Buddhist monasteries in a

beautiful region of the Indian Himalaya

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Ladakh Mountains Adventure 2

Itinerary Day 1: Fly to Leh, transferring in Delhi Leh is 3500m above sea level so the body needs time to acclimatise to the lower pressure and relative lack of oxygen (see section on Altitude further down this document). Gentle exercise and plentiful hydration is the best way to spend the first day. Flights arrive mid to late morning, so after lunch we’ll spend the afternoon resting, meandering through the small streets of the town, exploring shops filled with prayer flags and Buddhist trinkets, drinking mint tea or hot lemon and honey, and trying the local momos. We will enjoy our first dinner as a group at the hotel this evening.

Day 2: Local monasteries in the valley Some of the most colourful and interesting monasteries in the world are situated close to Leh, so while we are still acclimatising, we spend day 2 visiting three of them. We

take a quiet country road to the Sashi Zampa – a bridge over the Indus River – and take a short walk to visit Shay Monastery. Following this we go just a few miles down the valley to Thiksey Monastery. Modelled on the Potala Palace in Tibet, Thiksey is a large collection of buildings which cascade down the hillside, and house a large collection of well preserved murals and paintings. The magnificent Maitreya Buddha is housed in one of the temples and is three storeys high. If we have time we will also fit in a visit to Shey Palace and climb up to the huge Buddha & stupa. On our return to Leh we have a further chance to rest and acclimatise or enjoy the hustle and bustle of the town.

Day 3: Hiking around Leh Today we get to stretch our legs properly - testing how they feel at altitude. After breakfast we walk up through the village and ascend the many steps (565!) to Shanti Stupa – the startlingly bright white monument overlooking the town. As well as being extremely beautiful and photogenic, it offers panoramic views across the Leh,

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valley and across to the Stok mountain range dominated by the peak of Stok Kangri. We walk through the old villages that have been swallowed up by Leh - it feels rural, ancient and very quiet. From here we can continue to Tsemo palace, worth it for the views alone, and then take on the steep descent to Leh Palace. On our return to Leh we have the afternoon at leisure with a further chance to rest and acclimatise as required. The day’s walk and visits take approximately 4 hours.

Day 4: Giant Buddha, Alchi & Rafting We reluctantly leave Leh and enjoy the thrill of a short white water rafting trip starting in Phey and travelling approximately 3 miles to the village of Nimmuu (wetsuits/boots, bouyancy aids and helmets provided). This isn’t a serious or technical section of river but rapids can be graded 2 or 3 depending on water levels, so enough to provide some fun and excitement before we drive to Likir monastery to visit the Giant Buddha at Likir Gompa. This huge golden statue is 23m tall. We continue on to Alchi; here the 12th Century monastery contains unique Kashmiri artwork on its statues and intricate wooden carvings. Enjoy the wonderful ancient buildings, murals, medals and thankas on show. We spend the night in Alchi in small homestays and guesthouses (see accommodation section for further detail).

Day 5: Ridzong to Yangtang Trekking Day 1 (5.2km with 340m ascent): From our accommodation in Alchi, we drive to Rizong (around 30 mins) in a peaceful and beautiful valley and, before our trek, we make a brief visit to the Monastery and nunnery. This monastery is known for its

strict order of monks, who only possess their books and robes. We begin our trek from the monastery with a very pleasant walk to the village of Yangthang. Our path starts as a jeep track but soon becomes a single track path along the edge of the River Utley. We

head up to the high plateau where Yangthang Village is situated (3670m).

Day 6: Trekking from Yangtang to Hemis Shukpachen Trekking Day 2 (3.5hrs approx): In a 2.5hr walk before stopping for lunch, we drop down to cross the river, followed by a long climb up to the pass of Tsermanchanla at 3910m. We then descend gently for around an hour to the large village of Hemis Shukpachen at 3596m (Hemis of the Juniper Trees). We are likely to meet children walking to school in the morning, and we hope to visit the school in the afternoon and spend a little time with the students, then visit some typical village homes in the afternoon with an opportunity to learn more about the local culture.

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Day 7: Trekking from Hemis Shukpachen to Tingmosgang Trekking Day 3 (walking for around 5.5hrs): Today is a longer day on foot and is all about undulating! Crossing farmland we leave the village and head west, to a gradual climb up and over our first small pass about an hour into our walk. We then descend steeply to a dry and dusty valley before some long zig zags (around 300m ascent) to our 2nd pass of the day, with great views, Mebtak La, at 3840m. From here we enjoy a long (90min) meander down to the fertile village of Ang, hopefully stopping at a small campsite with a tea tent en route! A rough jeep track guides us, in around an hour, to the prosperous village of Tingmosgang - 3250m - which was once the ancient capital of Ladakh and one of the largest in the area. The ruins of the castle and small temple dominate the landscape here above Tingmosgang and are well worth a visit in the evening.

Day 8: Trekking from Tingmosgang to Bhalukhar. Optional visits the monastery on the hill above Tingmosgang if not seen yesterday. It is the site of an ancient palace and well worth the several hundred steps up!

Trekking Day 4 (Walking for 3.5 - 4.5 hrs): From Tingmosgang we walk up through the village on the opposite side of the hill from Tingmosgang, and take the long easy switchbacks up to the pass at 3580 which is a perfect place to stop for a snack. Our descent to the village of Bhalukhar takes us through a lovely hanging valley and down some steep zigzags to where we meet with

our vehicles (around 3000m altitude). The drive back to Leh takes around 1.5hrs, so leaves some time for optional souvenir shopping and compulsory celebration of all we have seen and done, on our final evening.

Day 9: Fly from Leh to Delhi for your connecting flight home

All good things must come to an end and

today you enjoy your last breakfast in Ladakh. Transfers are arranged for you flight out of Leh Airport, connecting in Delhi for flights home.

Accommodation We fully believe in, and practice, Responsible Tourism and use hotels run by locals. We put time and effort into building our relationship with them to ensure you have a a great trip.

This accommodation on this adventure involves both hotel and homestays.

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We choose hotels based on cleanliness, comfort, safety, proximity to our route (to avoid unnecessary extra travel), and a warm client welcome, as well as reliability in their service to us. Some hotels will be basic, and in modern buildings and or in towns. Wherever we can, we will choose smaller more characterful, individual hotels, but in areas where tourism is still developing, this may not be available.

An aspect of our adventures is to escape the ‘trappings’ of modern Western lifestyles and to experience new things which is exciting and memorable, and reflects the countries we are visiting.

This is adventure travel and on occasion the advertised services at a hotel (eg wifi, or hot showers!) may not be functional on our arrival. This tends to occur in the smaller, more remote hotels, guest houses or camps. Very rarely a hotel lets us down and we are required to find alternative suitable accommodation that might not be our first choice.

Accommodation- Leh Hotel (4 nights): We stay in a tourist hotel close to the centre of town. Hotels in Leh are simple and usually have en suite rooms, with breakfast and

evening meals served in the hotel’s dining room. Eg Snowland Hotel (www.hotelsnowland.co.in). Single supplement £150.

Alchi & trek (4 nights) We will stay in small local homestays and guest houses in the villages that we are passing through. Local farmers have diversified to accommodate tourists and improve their income, and homestays are a

wonderful way to see village life.

Not all homestay accommodation will be en-suite but many now have western style toilets with sinks and running water, and there are hot shower facilities in some. Others may be more rustic and offer long drop toilets and bucket showers. Bedding is usually supplemented by plenty of warm blankets for chilly evenings. Food is usually excellent and plentiful. Electricity supplies

are usually not! There may be limited mobile signals, if any.

Electricity: Leh has previously been supplied by a hydro plant which was intermittent and unreliable, but in January 2019 it was finally connected the Indian National Grid giving a much more reliable supply! This might not be the case in the villages on our trek though, so for recharging cameras please make sure you have an appropriate powerpack and cables.

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Standard voltage is 220-230v and power sockets will depend entirely on the person who built the house! Typically the old style Indian round three pin plug is used (Type D) but in many cases a Euro plug (Type C) or even a UK plug will work. If in doubt, bring a multi adaptor, but if you only have a limited choice bring a Euro plug Type C.

What’s Included… • 8 nights twin share accommodation (unless

you have paid for a single room).

• All transfers, including airport transfers

• 8 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 8 dinners

• Full guided itinerary which includes your YellowWood guide and a Local Guide.

• Transport of your luggage between overnight stays on your trek

& What’s not Flights Visas (about £25) Insurance Airport Taxes Tips (around £50) Alcoholic drinks Souvenirs Snacks & drinks in tourist sites

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Food & DrinkDespite Ladakh being part of India, the food is really quite different. The mainstay of the Ladakhi diet is Thukpa – a noodle soup full of vegetables with some spice. Thukpa will be different in every house or restaurant that you try it in, depending on the availability of vegetables, the quality of noodles and the chef’s favourite spices! Sometimes meat will be included – chicken and mutton are the norm in Ladakh. Beef is not eaten and fish is also frowned upon in Buddhist society.

Skyu is another traditional dish, a wheat dough cooked with water, it’s served with meat or vegetables. Khambir is a traditional Ladakhi bread and often served at breakfast or with tea.

The other favourite, and an abundant favourite across the Himalaya, is the momo. Served as a plate of 10 or 12, these dumplings will be filled with either chicken or vegetables with a combination of local spices, along with a dipping sauce which is usually a tomato and garlic paste. Again the chef will serve you their own recipe so each establishment will differ slightly! There is also the choice to have them steamed, as the locals do, or fried, which gives the batter a harder texture and makes a very pleasant change. In some places you’ll be lucky enough to get half and half!

In many places you will also find a selection of other Indian and Western style dishes – Dal Bhat (a dal soup and rice), vegetable curries, and often simple pasta dishes. Porridge, pancakes and Tibetan breads are often served for breakfast along with omelettes or boiled eggs. Chips and pizzas can also be found across Leh! There are also an abundance of German bakeries, a throwback to the 60s and 70s, where cakes and pastries are reliably tasty, and in larger places are often accompanied by good coffee to appease the westerners!

When trekking at altitude it is advisable to keep energy levels up by snacking little and often. Dried fruit and nuts are perfect for this. Apricots and apples are widely available as they’re grown locally and

bags of dried fruit are a wonderful way to keep energy levels high.

Drinks/Alcohol Alcohol is best avoided, especially in the first few days while acclimatising

to the altitude. Even later in the trip you might find it has a stronger effect than usual. Hot lemon and ginger, or lemon and honey ‘tea’ is a standard daytime drink. You’ll also be offered Masala Chai, black tea with plenty of thick milk and spices. The usual soft drinks are widely available in cafes and shops in plastic bottles to take away or from the preferred glass bottles when sitting in. To alleviate the pressure on the country’s waste, please bring a drinking bottle or two with you which you can refill rather than buying bottled water.

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Ladakh has limited resources for recycling and tourists increase the pressure on plastic waste. Boiled drinking water will be available to refill bottles and filtered water is available to refill your bottles in Leh. You might also want to consider a drinking filter bottle like a Pure Hydration Aquapure Traveller Bottle which you can fill from any source (hotel taps, or streams on the trek) and drink safely straight away, or squeeze the water into one of your other bottles (therefore one between two can be useful!). See our section on Water.

Other similar personal filter bottles are made by Lifestraw and Water to Go, though these are only ‘drink from’ bottles and can’t be used to decant into other vessels. Be aware of some of the other brands which look similar with inline filters but don’t remove viruses.

A thermal cup to take hot drinks out with you might also be useful if you like to take away your tea or coffee!

Special diets Please inform us of any special dietary requirements prior to booking. Vegetarians will have no problem finding suitable options but a wide variety might not always be available.

Coeliacs and other intolerances can also be provided for and we can communicate with you individually and prepare to make sure you have the right food throughout your trip.

Guiding Supporting you on your holiday will be a minimum of 2 experienced, approachable and knowledgeable guides; one from the UK YellowWood team, and an in-country local guide who will be with us for the duration of the holiday.

This ensures you the perfect balance of information and support on your trip, with your Ladakhi guides offering insight into local life and customs, as well as routes during walking excursions, whilst your YellowWood guide ensures the smooth running of your adventure.

Your Group Your group will be any number from our minimum group size of 4, up to a maximum of 12 clients. This number works really well with the ratio of guides, and ensures an optimal level of service to you during your adventure.

We get clients booking alone, as couples and in small groups of friends. If you have a larger group of friends or family who are interested in having their own customised trip, then please let us know and we can cost it out for you. Our links with in-country travel experts often mean that we can assist you in developing a personalised itinerary.

Am I fit Enough? You are visiting the Himalaya, and although you will only be walking through valleys between the mountains, you will be walking at altitude between 3000 and 4000m.

Distances walked vary between 6km and 16km, with up to 500m of ascent during the day.

To get the most of out of this adventure, you therefore need to be a regular walker and in good physical condition. You do not need to be experienced in trekking, however. Any hiking is undertaken at the natural pace of the group, with regular stops.

You will be carrying just a day pack with

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Training As with all active holidays, the fitter you are, the more you can relax and enjoy the stunning route, and the better you can cope with challenges such as the outside elements.

Clients are advised to get into a regular walking pattern before the trip as convenient.

NB: If you have bought new hiking boots for this adventure, this is the right time to wear them in, not on the trip itself.

Start & End Hotel details to be emailed out prior to trip.

In Country Contacts: RIMO Expeditions: Telephone: +91 (1982) 253348 +91 (1982) 253257 Email: info@rimoexpeditions.com YellowWood Adventures: Sam McManus +44 (0)7742869969

Travel Your YellowWood adventure starts at the airport in Leh. We understand that arriving into an unfamiliar airport can be very daunting, so we aim to give you as much information here as possible, to help you prepare.

Finding flights

Flights are not included in the cost of your holiday, and whilst we are happy to help advise you, responsibility for booking the correct flights rests with you. We recommend that you use a comparison tool such as www.momondo.co.uk or www.skyscanner.net when searching for flights.

Foreign Travel Advice For the latest travel advice from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, including security and local laws, plus passport and visa information, check www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

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Airport & Arrival Info Leh Airport is a military airport on the outskirts of the town, only a ten minute drive from the main centre. It is a very small airport which only caters for 200 or so people at a time, and therefore has only very basic facilities – a new civilian terminal is being built and expected to open in 2020 but in the meantime please remember you’re in a military airbase and not to take any photos!

You will need to fill out a disembarkation form on the plane or in the terminal (in any case, before you leave the terminal) and go through passport control.

Once through, collect your baggage and make your way in to arrivals where you will be met by your Yellowwood Guide (look out for a Yellowwood sign!) and a local driver for transport to your hotel.

Toilets are available in arrivals, though you might need your own paper – see below.

Hotel Arrival On arrival at your hotel you will be welcomed and have time to settle in to your room. Once the group have arrived (they may be on a variety of different flights), you will have lunch and a trip briefing, followed by a leisurely walk around Leh to kickstart your trip and point out the key facilities – ATMs, currency exchange, internet access and the best coffee!

Geography Ladakh ("land of high passes") is a region in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir that currently extends from the Siachen Glacier in the Karakoram range to the main Great Himalayas to the south. It is one of the most sparsely populated regions in Jammu and Kashmir and its culture and history are closely related to that of Tibet. Ladakh is renowned for its remote mountain beauty and culture.

The mountain ranges in this region were formed over a period of 45 million years by the folding of the Indian Plate into the stationary landmass of Asia, and It is the highest altitude plateau region in India (much of it being over 3,000 m), incorporating parts of the Himalayan and Karakoram mountain ranges and the upper Indus River valley.

The Indus River is the backbone of Ladakh; all the major places historically and currently such as Shey, Leh, Basgo, and Tingmosgang are situated close to the river.

Naked barley (Urdu: grim), normal barley and wheat are the staple crops all over Ladakh, along with mustard (for oil), lentils and other pulses, and vegetables. The extreme limit of cultivation is at Korzok near Tso Moriri (lake), at 4560 m, said to be among the highest fields in the world.

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Climate & Weather Ladakh is India’s highest and driest region, with a cool mountain climate. The majority of this region is over 3000m and quite arid with plenty of sunshine, leading to hot days in the summer with cool nights. In the winter the temperatures can drop to -35°C with snowfall blocking the highways but in the summer we can expect daytime temperatures to be around 25 – 30°C in the sun and between 5 – 15°C at night.

Due to its weather, with heavy snows between October and April, the region is almost completely cut off each harsh winter, with ploughs clearing the highway every spring ready for the tourists and trucks to resupply the area. Rain in the summer is unusual but the occasional small storm can sneak up and climate change seems to be resulting an increased risk of rain, which can then lead to floods, landslides or rockfalls. If we do experience these weather conditions, we may amend routes and plans, as weather dictates. A light insulated jacket and a wind stopper will be useful for breezy days on the trail, evenings and cool nights for sitting outside and waterproofs jacket needed in case of heavier rain.

As in other areas at high altitude, the sun’s UV is very strong so you need to protect against it.

Health & Well Being Ladakh is not a high risk region to visit in terms of health & safety. Please ensure you inform your guides if you have medical conditions that they need to be aware of, or if you feel unwell during the trip.

Inoculations The World Health Organisation recommends

that all travellers, regardless of the region they are travelling in, should be covered for diphtheria, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella and polio, as well as hepatitis A. While making preparations to travel, take the opportunity to ensure that all of your routine vaccination cover is complete. Typhoid can be transmitted through

contaminated food or water so this vaccine is recommended. Rabies vaccine is also recommended for those hiking or camping, due to a risk from animal bites.

For the most up to date information on vaccinations and medical advice for travel, please go to https://travelhealthpro.org.uk - a very comprehensive website providing up-to-date and reliable information for the traveller, travel industry and health professionals.

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Water Water should always be boiled or treated before drinking - Tap water is not safe to drink and should not even be used for cleaning teeth. Avoid ice in drinks unless the restaurant can confirm it has been made from filtered or boiled water. Also avoid salad. Any fruit should either be cleaned in sterilised water yourself, or peeled.

Whilst bottled water is always safe and is widely available on your holiday, we are conscious of the negative effects of Single Use Plastics. We highly recommend use of a filtration water bottle such as the Aquapure Traveller. This gives you flexibility, confidence and is entirely re-usable.

We have teamed up with Pure Hydration to offer you the opportunity to purchase an APT bottle for just £20. NB:You should be cautious when eating raw vegetables or salads that may have been washed in local water. Food should always be eaten freshly cooked. Remember the traveler’s mantra: “Boil it, cook it, peel it or forget it.”

Medical Treatment Medical facilities are reasonable in Leh but poor in remote areas. Healthcare costs need to be paid up front as there are no reciprocal healthcare agreements between the UK and India. Ensure you have adequate travel health insurance with you and carry proof of this as well as your emergency number. If you need emergency medical assistance during your trip your guides will arrange a transfer to the closest clinic, or the hospital in Leh.

Please ensure you have your own prescription medications with you as well as some spare. It is recommended to keep this in your hand luggage on your international flight, in case hold luggage is mislaid. A note of your prescription kept with your passport will be useful in case you need to buy extra medication when in country.

We will send you a list of recommended medications and first aid to consider bringing with you as part of a pre-trip packing list.

Public toilet facilities Western style sit down toilets can be found at tourist focused hotels and in major towns but in the rural regions, squat toilets are the norm and conditions may not be tip top. Toilet paper often isn’t available so please bring a small ziplock bag containing toilet paper, wet wipes and anti bacterial gel. The sewage system isn’t designed to cope with toilet paper being flushed, so it will usually go in a bin beside the toilet, but please bring some nappy bags along with your toilet paper in case you need to dispose of it in a bin elsewhere.

Women's Health Bring any contraception that you might need with you. Shops in Leh will sell sanitary towels & tampons but you might want to bring the brands that you’re used to. As above, nothing can be flushed in to the sewage system so some zip lock bags with toilet paper and biodegradable wipes would be a good idea.

Altitude Sickness The highest pass we will be climbing over is just under 4000m which can be difficult for people coming from lower altitudes. While we do our best to create an itinerary that allows time for acclimatisation, altitude affects everyone differently, and to varying degrees.

It is not foreseen that you will have problems with altitude on this adventure but as we fly into approx. 3500m in Leh, it is possible that you’ll feel some minor effects such as a mild headache or slight nausea after we arrive.

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This will usually pass within 24 hours and a paracetamol and plenty of fluids is usually enough to alleviate any discomfort. Your YellowWood guide will be monitoring everyone’s health using the Lake Louise score, and can advise on any treatment and manage any symptoms which are more serious. If you continue to experience any of the following symptoms while on the trip, make sure to inform your guide and they will support you in descending to a lower altitude as soon as possible.

• Headache

• Fatigue or weakness

• Dizziness or lightheadedness

• Nausea or vomiting

• Excessive shortness of breath

• Persistent rapid pulse

• Peripheral oedema (swelling of feet, hands or face)

Social and Cultural NormsThe culture of this region is rich and colourful, centering around the beliefs and practices of Tibetan Mahayana Buddhism, the predominant religion. Ladakh and the tiny kingdom of Bhutan, east of India, are perhaps the purest remaining examples of traditional Tibetan societies since China's subjugation of Tibet in the 1950s

Flights to Leh and other regional airports from New Delhi are regular which has helped the area and the larger towns to develop. Leh is the main administrative centre of Ladakh

and also acts as a tourist hub for cultural visitors as well as trekkers, cyclists and the adventure motorcyclists who come to the area to ride the high passes of the Khardung La and the Leh – Manali Highway. It’s a bustling place and the main trading market for the surrounding villages, with goods being sold on pavements along the main street, as well as on market stalls and in the shops. Small hotels are springing up on the outskirts of town, encouraging people to

stay for a few days while they acclimatise to the altitude before heading off on their travels.

Religion Most Ladakhis are Buddhist but also Hindu or Sikh. Islam is more usually followed in the northern areas, towards the Nubra Valley and beyond, or further west towards the border, but there is a beautiful mosque in Leh which serves the town’s

Muslim community.

On holy days, and every fortnight there are ‘Dry Days’ in Ladakh where meat and alcohol are not consumed in households, though this is rarely observed by tourists. We might come across it when on the homestay.

Greetings & Etiquette ‘Ju-lay, Ju-lay’ is the common chorus around Ladakh! It means hello, thank you and goodbye. People are friendly and will almost always give a greeting. When walking in to shops, approaching a market seller or just passing in a street, a smile and ‘Ju-lay’ will be welcome.

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Remember that in the local culture right hands are for eating and greeting, left hands are for ‘toileting’, so please be aware which hands you’re using for different jobs.

Removing shoes before entering any house or place of worship is polite. Bringing a pair of flip flops can avoid you having to walk around barefoot indoors. Once your shoes are off, avoid pointing the soles of your feet towards anyone, or any deity, for example a Buddha. Touching anyone with your feet is also considered very rude.

In homestays you might find yourself sitting on the floor with the family, and eating from the Choktse, the small Tibetan tables. Sitting cross-legged avoids the problems above, otherwise you might need to think about your position!

When everyone is sitting down, please avoid stepping over anyone, their legs, or the tables – it’s best to walk behind those who are sitting down. Stepping over books is also seen as disrespectful. If you need to blow your nose at mealtimes, it is best to leave the dining table, otherwise it is considered disrespectful.

Ladakhis don’t share cutlery out of respect for each other and their food. They also don’t share water bottles, or if they do, they drink in such a way that their lips don’t touch the bottle itself. There will always be enough spoons for serving from communal

dishes and you should keep your cutlery on your own plate!

Ladakhis are also very private about their relationships. They won’t talk about their partners so asking about girlfriends or boyfriends is considered disrespectful.

Public displays of affection are frowned upon too – you’ll rarely see couples holding hands, and certainly not kissing in public.

Conversely men and women will often hold hands with their friends, when walking along the street, and

when greeting or chatting.

Communication Their language of the Ladakh people was never written, but is often now scripted in Tibetan characters. English is spoken in schools and in business.

Ju-lay – as said before, this is essential, and means hello, goodbye and thank you!

Khamsang-lay – as a questions means ‘How are you?’ and as an reply is ‘Fine!!’

O-lay – Yes, thanks

Man-lay – No thanks

Don-lay – Take, or Eat when being offered food or drink in a homestay.

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Smoking & Drinking Smoking in public places is illegal in Ladakh, though rarely enforced. Vaping and e-cigarettes are also illegal but in contrast to tobacco, this rule is often enforced. Smoking in private houses and hotel grounds is acceptable but always ask first and heed signs for smoking areas.

Local beers are available in some cafes and bars, but licenses to sell alcohol are expensive so it isn’t always an option. Alcohol should be avoided when acclimatizing to altitude. Public intoxication is unacceptable so please always drink in moderation.

Clothing In public it is important to dress appropriately, avoiding tight, skimpy clothes and keeping shoulders and knees covered, especially when visiting places of worship.

Ladakhi people are very polite and will often not make their dissatisfaction known, but this is no reason to cause offence. The strong sunlight is another reason why keeping covered up might be a good idea!

Photography Please ask before taking a photograph of any person. Many will happily oblige, but others may not want their photos taken and that should be respected. Please also take note of signs in monasteries and temples.

Some will allow photos but others would prefer you don’t.

Inside places of worship you should not use a flash. Taking photos of anything that could be perceived as being of military or security interest may result in problems with the authorities, as in many other countries, so best avoided. Please also remember this in the airport, which is a military base.

Driving Conditions Roads around Leh and the surrounding valleys are generally in good condition, but away from

the town, the roads are usually graded dirt tracks and can be of varying quality! We will be travelling in 4x4 jeeps but please be aware that journeys might be bumpy.

Tipping Tipping is

not usually expected in Ladakh, but in the growing service industry it’s usual to round up the bill in a restaurant to around 8-10% extra if they haven’t already included a service charge. Hotels usually have a tip box on the front desk so that rupees are shared amongst all the staff – the front of house, restaurant, porters and cleaning staff. On the trek the homestay staff might be grateful for a little extra if you appreciate their service, and your guide might also deserve some reward for their efforts.

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A guideline of £5 (in rupees) per person per day is a good place to start, with good service deserving the higher end. This would usually be given at the end of the trek.

Safety & Security Ladakh is considered to be a safe place to travel but one has to be sensible, as you would be at home. Always watch your belongings and beware of pickpockets, especially in large crowds. Be especially vigilant at currency exchange offices and visiting the markets where the regular presence of tourists might be an attraction to opportunistic thieves and pickpockets. Use common sense and keep all money out of sight, perhaps in a money belt. Keeping a small amount of change in a purse or wallet in your pocket for buying snacks and drinks will mean your main supply of cash remains safely tucked away. You should keep valuables in your hotel safe where possible.

Walking around at night requires a normal level of vigilance as does following the advice / recommendations of strangers. We are fortunate in having a guide with our group who can be our ‘go to’ for information that can be trusted.

Money Currency India’s currency in the Rupee and the exchange rate (March 2019) is approximately 90 Rupees to £1, or 1 Rupee is approximately 11p. Cards are accepted in a few of the larger businesses but many don’t have the facility and cash is generally preferred.

Exchange The Rupee isn’t available to buy in the UK but can be easily exchanged in Leh from Sterling, US Dollars or Euros, either in a bank or at one of the many exchange counters in the town.

The exchange rate is usually well managed throughout the town with the locals keeping the rates the same across each business. If you are transferring through Delhi then you are best using a cash point inside Delhi airport to get your Indian Rupees, as it is difficult to exchange money in Delhi.

ATMS (Visa & Mastercard) There are a few ATMs available at the bank branches in Leh as well as at the airport, but other than that they are few and far between and shouldn’t be relied on.

Travellers cheques These are able to be exchanged at the main bank branches in Leh but unlikely to be accepted anywhere else. Commission charges are also fairly high, so we really would recommend that you bring Sterling or US Dollars to exchange instead.

Stay in Touch Phone Roaming isn’t an option on standard UK networks in Ladakh. An Indian SIM card is compatible in some areas - Airtel and BSNL are currently the only two networks, with Reliance Gio promising to provide a service sometime soon. Airtel is 4G in some areas so might be able to provide access to data which is faster than the available wifi. Purchasing SIM cards has historically been restricted in Ladakh but tourists can now get a local SIM card for use in Ladakh. It costs about £5/month with 10GB of data, BUT it is a lengthy process. It will only work in towns and along the main highway.

Internet Internet data in Ladakh is provided by landline cables which follow the main highway from Srinigar. These are regularly damaged by road construction or weather, and service can be cut from the entire region for days at a time.

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Even when service is uninterrupted, the line speeds can be slow, as the bandwidth is shared by the whole region. Internet cafes are widely available as is wifi in hotels. cafes and restaurants, so when it’s working you’ll be able to keep on top of your social media for a small fee or by buying a coffee. A few establishments have satellite data which is even slower but will allow you to read the occasional email when the landlines are down.

Once out of Leh, there is unlikely to be any access to the internet aside from any Airtel signal you might find.

Post There are post offices in Leh and Alchi where you can get a stamp for a postcard to the rest of the world for around 12 Rupees.

Visas Visas are required for travellers to India from all countries except Nepal and Bhutan. A traditional tourist visa, a physical sticker in the passport, can be obtained from the Indian Government website:

https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/Registration

The government have however, recently introduced e-visas. The same information is

required, including a photograph on a white background. You can apply here: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html

Whilst this is the official website, you may also find the following site a useful source of information: https://www.vfsglobal.com/india/uk/Tourist.html

A single entry Tourist visa is available that is valid for 1 year. Turnaround time is stated as being as short as 3 working days on delivery of your application at a Visa Application Centre, however we would advise leaving a couple of weeks in case.

Fee for an e-visa is US$100 plus fees. (2.5%).

Beware of agencies organising visas online. Some of them are reputable (VFS work with the Indian Government) but they will charge a handling fee.

Insurance Holiday insurance is essential for all YellowWood Adventures. Unfortunately anyone without insurance is not able to take part in the holiday so please make sure you arrange cover. We recommend sorting your insurance when you book so that if you have problems during the run up to your holiday, and need to cancel, you are covered.

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Your insurance needs to cover you for hiking/trekking and rafting with the following fairly standard inclusions:

Medical Expenses Repatriation Helicopter rescue & Air ambulance

Some clients also like to ensure they have the following optional items:

Cancellation cover Loss or damage to property

Prior to the holiday, we will ask you to send us details of your insurer, policy number, 24 hr emergency assistance contact details and the name, address, and telephone numbers of your NOK or persons to be notified in the event of an emergency.

How to Book 1. Our website holds detailed trip

information and availability options, so booking can be made online via the trip

adventure page. We use a secure World Pay service for online payments

2. If booking more than 3 months in advance of your departure date, a £200 non refundable deposit is payable. The remainder is due no less than 3 months before the departure date.

3. You will receive payment confirmation from WorldPay and the Travel Trust Association (TTA) as well as an email from YellowWood Adventures.

4. As your adventure draws closer, YellowWood will send you a detailed information pack and Packing List.

5. Should you have any questions about your holiday or the booking process, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch: email: info@yellowwoodadventures.com phone: +44 (0)2078460197

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Financial Protection YellowWood Adventures Ltd is a member of the UK’s Travel Trust Association (TTA) – www.traveltrust.co.uk – whereby all client monies are placed directly into a trust account so your funds are 100% protected at every stage of your adventure.

Client monies stay in the TTA account until the end of your trip or can be released prior to that, to pre-defined suppliers, on the condition that their services are financially insured through the TTA’s Supplier Failure Cover system.

As part of our membership contract we are obliged to maintain a high standard of service to you by the TTA’s Code of Conduct.

• We have full Tour Operators Professional and Public Liability Insurance with specialist brokers Tasker & Partners Ltd

• We carry out risk assessments on all of our holidays to ensure we have thought through every detail

• We employ staff with the correct experience and skills to ensure you have a safe and fun trip, and have a thorough training programme each season

• We comply with the legislation and Tourism Code for the countries we work in.