Leh........

Leh : 

Leh is at an altitude of 3505m (10,500 ft), and you'd be flying in from Delhi which is at roughly 0. The altitude of Leh is quite a lot for the human body to handle. Even with a gradual ascent, I know that beyond 2700m, the air feels perceptibly thin. So it is generally recommended that the first day should just be spent walking around Leh, getting acclimatised. Some people feel it perceptibly i.t.o. dizziness, vomiting, etc. In our case, there was no problem beyond initial drowsiness (which could well have just been owing to the pain of catching a 5:40a flight).

There are numerous firms in Leh who do full-services trekking support. They supply guide, cook, horses, equipment, everything. The price tag works out to roughly Rs.10,000 for a four-day trip for two. As the number of pax goes up, the price comes down somewhat.

Trekking is much harder in winter. There is one famous trekking route which works in winter. But it involves walking on a frozen river, where ponies slip, so there are more porters hired to carry stuff and the cost goes up substantially.

Hotel Lharimo
P. O. Leh 194101
Ladakh, India

Phones 52101 (off)
01982-53345 (fax) Is open May-Oct.
Rates -- Rs.2350/day for two and Rs.1950/day for one -- all inclusive including meals.
Camp Lharimo North is Rs.2000/day for two, all inclusive.