Looking for inputs from those who have done road trips to Leh Ladakh before. What are the essential things one must carry for a self-drive road trip to Ladakh? I am planning to take my Renault Duster to Ladakh via Manali-Leh national highway. Is it feasible to do so in the month of May? Kindly let me know your tips and suggestions.
Here goes a comprehensive list of essentials things to carry for your self-driven Ladakh trip - Jack and spanner. Set of screwdrivers, nuts and bolts. Portable air compressor and foot pump. Spare tyre. Cable for Jump starting the vehicle. Towing rope. Spare fuel (on a good quality vessel - as the extreme weather condition can cause leakage) Coolant, break oil and engine oil. A fully charged torchlight. Sufficient amount of drinking water, glucose, chocolates and snacks. Your vehicle's user manual. Vehicle registration, insurance and fitness certificate. Your DL (original). Printout of the route map. GPS may not work in some areas. Medicines, especially for altitude sickness, headache, cough and cold. Enough cash. There aren't too many ATMs available en-route. And here are a few important tips - It is important to service your vehicle by an authorized service center before your Ladakh trip. Get it double checked by another service center if possible. Ensure that you are comfortable with basic car troubleshooting and maintenance activities in case of any mechanical issues. Do carry the user manual of your vehicle with you. It can be handy in emergency situations. Carry all vehicle related documents including RC, DL, and Insurance Copy. Take a printout of the route map, highlighting the fuel stations and hospitals en-route. You may encounter landslides, water crossings or slushy areas. While crossing any tricky section of the road, do make sure to get out of the car and take a closer look. If another vehicle is passing through the section before you, then wait for it to pass completely. The same rule applies when some other vehicle is coming from the opposite direction. Don't rush through any tricky stretches. Try to negotiate the challenging road condition in lower gears. Half-clutch measures are a strict no. Strictly avoid using heaters while driving. It can reduce the level of oxygen inside the vehicle and may result in breathing difficulty. Carry sufficient amount of extra fuel. You should expect to get a 15-20% less fuel economy compared to what you observe on the city roads. In case you need to refuel during the journey, make sure to do so at the first available fuel bunk. To prevent the symptoms of AMS getting aggravated, it is better to complete the trip in 2 days with a night-halt around the midway. It would help your body in acclimatizing with the high altitude weather. Ladakh, being close to the national border, is a sensitive region. There are chances of anti-national unrest around the Independence Day. If possible, avoid planning your journey during that period. You can find more information and minute details regarding Leh Ladakh trip in the below given links - 1. Manali Leh Highway Travel Guide 2. Srinagar - Leh Highway Nh-1d : The Great Indian Road-trip 3. Leh Ladakh - The Ultimate Guide to Tourist Attractions, Transportation & Accommodation Options Regards, Deb
Just to add to this, it can get cold and wet. When you are wet, the cold can feel like freezing. It does not help at high altitude. If you can, have extra socks, proper gloves, proper pants. Jeans are not the best option. Cotton is very bad at drying, and will absorb ambient humidity and sap your warmth.
You should also carry something to keep you comfortably warm and I recommend taking Supplies for breathing as the Oxygen level there gets pretty low. Also, make sure that you watch over the vehicle you are travelling so that you don't run into any problems in the middle of nowhere. I think Duster is great Vehicle to take out there. Just wondering if you are travelling alone or with your family/friends. Anyways, Good luck. Safe Journey. Have fun on your trip.
