Camping in the Himalayan foothills is something that everyone dreams about, and camping in Ladakh is a pristine fantasy. Camping is one of the most popular adventurous activities in Ladakh, according to those who have a taste for adventure.
Who can say no when you have the luxury of staying in a billion-star hotel in the middle of nowhere with nothing but raw nature surrounding you and your soul?
Camping in Leh Ladakh
Almost everyone looking forward to camp in Ladakh has a common misunderstanding or question. Camping in Leh Ladakh, on the other hand, might be quite different from camping in the jungles or in the lower slopes.
Ladakh is a freezing desert, and getting water everywhere might be difficult, so keep that in mind when camping in Leh Ladakh. Second, the high altitude has a different effect on the body, thus acclimatization is crucial to your camping trip’s success.
Camping is undoubtedly possible in Ladakh, and thousands of people do so each year. You must consider a few factors that will assist you in planning a better camping tours to Leh Ladakh.
Tips for Camping in Leh Ladakh
Mumbai tour and travel agents advise some camping tips in Ladakh that will help you find answers to many queries you may have, and knowing them will help you stay out of difficulty when staying in Ladakh campgrounds.
Places for Camping in Leh Ladakh
The first and most pressing worry is where in Ladakh should I camp?
In Ladakh, you can set up your tents or camps nearly anyplace. However, I recommend that you pitch them somewhere near a local house in the hamlet or their garden/lawn where there are some dhabha tents set up by locals or where other camping guys pitch theirs.
All you have to do is ask them (villagers/dhabha people/camping guys) for authorization in a gentle manner. Most likely, they will agree; if not, negotiate a little gratuity or move on to another similar location nearby. Occasionally, paying them meals at their dhabhas should sufficient.
This will provide you with a tremendous sense of security, both from loneliness (especially if you are a beginner) and from wild animals, which is especially important when camping in Leh Ladakh.
In Ladakh, DO NOT camp in prohibited areas, wetlands, or lakes.
In Ladakh, you can camp practically anywhere. But keep in mind that camping is not permit everywhere, and there are some areas that are forbidden, such as army protects zone, wetland reserves, Ramsar sites, and so on.
Both of Ladakh’s lakes, Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri, are designate as wetland reserves, and camping is prohibit along their shores. It is consider illegal.
As a result, you must set up camp away from the lakes, either at a nearby hamlet or at another camp.
For both security and environmental reasons, respect Mother Nature and follow the regulations rather than risking your life by camping in a prohibited area.
Condemn those who are doing it and kindly advise them to respect the law and nature in order to maintain the location. If you think you’re going to get into trouble, ask for support from the locals.
Choose a location with a nearby water stream and little wind pressure.
In Ladakh, you should always camp near a water source and choose a high spot above the stream’s level in case the water level rises due to bad weather or flash floods. Also, be sure there are no traces of previous flash floods up there.
Choose a place where the wind will have the least impact on you.
Ensure that your camp is fasten properly & the weather is clear in the night
Small showers in Ladakh, along with strong gusts, might uproot your tent if it is not properly set up. As a result, make certain that all of the hooks are properly install and that the camp is securely fasten When camping in Leh Ladakh, you should check the weather forecast to ensure a restful night’s sleep…
Of course, if you’re stuck in the middle of nowhere, you’ll have no choice but to camp. If the weather is awful and you’re in a village, however, you may always book a homestay in Ladakh for the night. It’s always better to be safe than sorry. The location will always be there, and camping is suppose to be about enjoying nature rather than facing horrors.
If you’re going to build a campfire, make sure you don’t burn it near any thatched roofs. Make sure it’s totally turn off before you leave the room.
For the locals, even a small amount of ignorance can be life-threatening and devastating.
Acclimatization is critical; stay warm and hydrated.
Acclimatization is very important when camping in Leh Ladakh. Setting up camp and then tearing it down is a physically demanding activity. Before engaging in strenuous activity, make sure your body is comfortable and acclimatized.
Camping in the middle of nowhere might get you into a lot of problems if you don’t feel well and aren’t properly acclimatize. So, before you go camping, make sure you’re properly acclimatize and healthy.
Camping is permit anywhere on the Manali Leh Highway while travel to Ladakh via Manali, however it is recommend that you do it at an altitude where you will not suffer from AMS. You can camp anywhere up to Darcha, but beyond Darcha, the entire roadway runs at an average altitude of 14000 feet virtually until you drop to Rumtse from Taglang La.