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On this page we will inform you about current visa regulations, where you should exchange money (and where not). You will also learn something about altitude sickness, the various travel options - and a lot more.
contactCitizens from the USA, the EU and most other countries around the world need a visa for India. You can of course obtain the relevant information online from the Indian embassy responsible for you. Look in particular for an eVisum - this is filled out and issued completely online.
In general, no special permit is required for the Ladakh region. Your presence will nonetheless be registered: If you are driving a jeep, there are small checkpoints specially set up for this purpose in Drass, Rumtse and Serchu, where your passport will be searched and the most important data will be written off. If you fly to Leh, you will be registered at the airport.
Transit is restricted for the areas of Tsomoriri, Tsokar, Pangong Lake, Dha Hanu and the Nubra Valley; However, you can easily obtain the permits in our offices. Bring a few passport photos and copies of your passport (including your visa) with you, which can then be handed in to the district official (bureaucracy is also abundant in India) ...
If you have left the copies on the table or have not read this section, no problem: Both passport photos and copies can also be made in Leh
You will need cash for many things that you want to do outside of your booked tour! No problem: Traveler's checks can be redeemed almost anywhere, preferably in the 20s and 50s.
There are otherwise many shops and hotels that accept Visa and Master Cards, but often immense fees are charged as a service charge.
Various banks provide ATMs - however, if there is no electricity, they will not work, and otherwise it has happened that the ATMs were simply empty or you had to wait a long time.
We recommend that you bring some cash as well as Traveler's Checks to Ladakh, and if your bank charges fair fees, then use the ATMs too.
Attention: Before you exchange money at your house bank, find out about the current exchange rates on the Internet - also ask at what conditions ATM withdrawals are calculated become. Also be very careful when exchanging cash at Delhi Airport or similar - the exchange rates offered there are generally not in your favor!
Acute altitude sickness can affect anyone (!) when staying at altitudes of over 3,000 m. The symptoms that occur include: Headache, sleep disturbances, loss of appetite, nausea, cough, disturbances in breathing rhythm, breathlessness, weakness and lack of concentration. Since Leh is at an altitude of more than 3,000 m, we advise you to take a few precautionary measures, especially if you are flying to Leh, as your body will not get used to the thinning air so slowly
move the first 24 hours after arrival in Leh as little as possible; it is completely normal for some to switch faster, some more slowly; take the time you need. Should you still have problems, do not worry: a few hours on the oxygen drip in the Leh hospital will make you fit again.
Otherwise, drink water as much as you can and want - it is easier for your body to acclimatize if it does not have to struggle with dehydration ; avoid coffee, tea and alcohol.
Tourism is blossoming in Ladakh like never before - the newly gained autonomy will further increase the boom. Choose between the following arrival and departure options!
Three airlines are currently flying the Delhi - Leh route. Usually you start in Delhi very early in the morning, the planes return to Delhi a few hours later.
The summer flight schedule differs significantly from the winter flight schedule - we would be happy to check the current options for you!
This adventurous road leads over the Rupsho plateau and passes heights of approx. 3,600 m to 4,500 m. There are some high passes on the way, such as the Taglang La (the second highest passable pass in the world), with 5,359 m.
The tourism association of Himachal Pradesh, the HRTC and the JK SRTC also provide regular and deluxe buses for this route. The journey takes around 19h and you spend the night in a tent camp in Serchu or Pang.
However, a jeep tour to Leh is recommended for an unforgettable journey - here you have more time on the way for any breaks to take photos or just the landscape to enjoy - and the seats are more comfortable!
The rather fast minibuses offer a similar adventure - they are larger, faster, more comfortable and at the same time cheaper than jeeps. There are also two or three single seats (passenger) - two double seats and a bench in the back. A real alternative to the jeeps ...
The 472 km long road is open for approx. 3 months - from mid-June to mid-September - but it remains a hell tour at all times! If you drive independently, we recommend giving yourself at least two days and spending the night in Keylong, Darcha, Serchu or Pang (depending on your stomach and your oxygen needs).
You do not have to start your Ladakh trip directly from Delhi or return there immediately! Leh can also be reached by road from the Spiti valley and from Srinagar (Kashmir).
If you have any questions do not hesitate to send us an email. We are informed about the current road conditions.
