Climate
The climatic conditions are mainly dry with little or no rainfall. Summer temperatures rarely exceed 27 C in the shade while in winter they may even plunge to 15 C below zero. During winters, most parts of Ladakh are snow bound and all the land approaches out of the region are closed.

Altitude	3505 metres.
Temperature	Mean Max Mean Min. Summer 25 C 10C Winter -5 C -15 C
Rainfall	6" average annual

Clothing: Summer: Cotton with light woolens and a wind parka for occasional use; Winter: Heavy woolens including down-filled wind proof jackets/parka and thermal inners.

Accessories: Sun glasses to protect from the consistently bright sunshine, a sun hat, creams and lotions, lip- salves, all essential medicines, sturdy walking shoes, a good quality flashlight, etc.

Inner line Permits: For visiting Khardungla, Nubra Valley, Pangong and Tsomo-riri Lakes and the Dah-Hanu area of Leh District, it is mandatory to obtain Protected Area permits from the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Leh. For Diplomatic personnel and to citizen of following countries have to obtain from the ministry of Home affairs, Govt. of India, New Delhi.

Republic of China Taiwanese Bangladesh Pakistan

Burma Myanmar Sri Lanka Afghanistan

Acclimatization: If you are traveling to air to Leh (alt: 3505 mtrs.), you must allow a full day of complete rest for getting used to the high altitude and low level of oxygen. High altitude sickness or Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) is a risky condition faced by tourists who do not allow sufficient time for acclimatization upon reaching Leh.

The most common symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) are: breathlessness; coughing; disturbed sleep, headache, inability to concentrate; lassitude, loss of appetite, and nausea. The following precautions are necessary to avoid such problems:

• Take complete rest for up to 36 hours after arrival;


• Move about slowly and breathe deeply till your body can get used to lower oxygen levels.


• When trekking, do not permit your trekking guide to go any faster than you (and your group) can comfortably move.


• High Altitude Pulmonary Oedema (HAPO) and High Altitude Cerebral Oedema (HACO) are very serious forms of acute mountain sickness. These are life-threatening ailments and require immediate medical attention.

Useful Tips: In Ladakh, you will find a culture in rapid transition, yet one in which the traditional values are still largely intact. In order to make your visit to Ladakh more pleasant, both for yourself and for the host community, some general guidelines that may be helpful.

• Dress Code: Please avoid wearing shorts and sleeveless shirts, blouses, tops, undershirts etc. in public and especially in monasteries, mosques, temples, gurudhwaras, and churches. The same holds true on the trekking routes. While short clothing is acceptable in camp-sites away from human habitation, they should be changed for trousers, slacks and sleeved shirts or blouses in villages where you might stop. Under no event should swimwear (and for women bikini tops) be worn in public as these may be taken as sexually provocative and be a cause of possible harassment.


• Behaviour Code: Please keep your affection for your partner as a private matter and confined to your own rooms or tents, but not for public display, on the street, in religious buildings, in restaurants or at public events.


• Photography: Please do not take photographs of local people without seeking permission, nor of, or within, any religious building and of any religious ceremony, without permission of the official in-charge of the concerned religious place. Remember that the intense light of flash photography is damaging to ancient wall paintings and tapestries.