India - Ladakh Trail

Please Note: The opinions expressed in these reviews are the author's and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unicorn Trails Ltd. These reviews are "directly from the horses mouth" and unedited. Unicorn Trails may make additional comments for clarification clearly identified in red.

Review received from AH of St Helier, Jersey on 02/11/2022

Choice of camp sites depends on water and site availability.

Please note: All itineraries are given for your guidance only and it may be altered on the ground and in accordance with the prevailing conditions by the organising team.

The horses are native Tibetan horses; small and calm, very strong, hardy and sure-footed, ideally adapted to the terrain and altitude. The escort team take great pride in their horses and prefer to look after the horses themselves, although riders may be allowed to help if desired. The pace of the ride is not fast, due to the altitude and the walking pace, this gives ample opportunity to take in the stunning scenery as well as a chance to stretch your legs.

Riders should have a good sense of balance and no fear of heights to participate in this trek as this ride involves long ascents and steep descents. Riders must be fit and healthy as the ride is at an altitude between 3400 and 5200m (11000 - 16000ft), although acclimatisation is progressive. There are stretches where you will need to lead your horse e.g. across bridges and steep descents. Minimum riding age 16 years. Maximum rider weight 95kg. Not suitable for non riders.

The weight limit for this ride is 209 lb/95 kg, please enquire if you are an experienced rider exceeding this weight.

The hotel at Leh is comfortable in double rooms and 4 days are spent here to aid acclimatisation. Excursions are arranged each day. Camping is very comfortable, in two person tents equipped with foam mattresses. There is a kitchen tent, a dining tent and a toilet tent. A warm sleeping bag is required as nights can get very cold. All the equipment is carried on pack horses. The camp is full serviced with staff setting up each night and preparing full meals.

Please note that as some guests have difficulty sleeping at very high altitudes, the camping sites are always lower than the altitudes mentioned in the itinerary, and in the case of extreme heights, up to 800m lower. This can be dependednt on the day's weather, ground conditions, and accessibility.

Vegetarian or other dietary requirements within reason can be accommodated with advance notice. Please contact Unicorn Trails with requests before booking.

Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct documentation in place for your trip. NB: Be sure to check the COVID status of the country you plan to visit including entry procedures and requirements while travelling. You’ll need to get a visa before travelling to India. This can be applied for online at the following website, www.indianvisaonline.gov.in Make sure you get the right visa for your travel and that it’s valid for the purpose and duration of your stay. If you enter India on the wrong visa, you could be detained on arrival and you may be deported and blacklisted, meaning that you cannot enter India again. Make sure you meet entry requirements. You can find further information on the Indian High Commission website or the Indian Immigration Bureau website. To avoid possible problems at immigration, make sure your passport is valid for a minimum of 180 days at the time of entry into India. Your passport must be machine readable, with 2 blank pages for your visa and valid for a minimum of 180 days at the time of your visa application. Always keep a copy of your passport and your Indian visa separate from your passport, in case of loss Airport tax User Development Fees (UDF) apply at many airports. The fees are around Rs.1,000 per international passenger and Rs.150 to 260 per domestic passenger. This should already be included in the cost of airline tickets. If for any reason the fee is not included in your ticket it will be collected at the airport check-in counter in Indian rupees. Passport and Visa requirements can change regularly depending on diplomatic relations. Please request information from the appropriate Consulate in your home country. Unicorn Trails will assist with any questions you have or supply any necessary supporting documents as required by the consulate should you need a visa. In the UK the British Foreign Office gives advice: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/india In the USA: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/India.html In Canada: https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/india

Another useful resource is Sherpa - this summarises any travel and vaccination requirements based on when you are travelling simply by entering your home country followed by your destination country: https://apply.joinsherpa.com/travel-restrictions

Temperatures in Ladakh, range from -3 to 30 degrees Celsius in the summer. Mainly sunny in the daytime the temperatures can plummet at night. The sun's effect is multiplied many times at altitudes of this magnitude. You could therefore suffer from conditions as diverse as frostbite and sunburn at the same time, if you're not well protected.

COVID: Be sure to check the latest COVID regulations for travelling in any country you visit.

Mosquito-borne diseases like dengue fever occur all year round. There’s been an increase in the number of cases of dengue fever, including in New Delhi.

Health authorities have classified India as having a risk of Zika virus transmission.

Cases of Chikungunya Virus have been confirmed in India, including in New Delhi. You should take steps to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.

Please refer to your country’s latest health guideline for travel in India and contact your own GP for up to date advice on vaccinations and prophylaxis prior to travel.

You should make sure you have sufficient medical supplies (including prescription medicines) for the duration of your stay and any unforeseen delays, adequate travel insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment and repatriation.

The pace of the ride is deliberately slow to minimise the chances of altitude sickness. Riders should be generally fit and healthy.

Sunscreen and insect repellent is advised.

As with all countries where the bacteria present in water and around food are not those to which we are accustomed you are advised to exercise a degree of care. Bottled water is widely available, but check that bottle seals are intact and water levels reach the top. Fruit and raw vegetables which can be peeled are fine. Avoid ice cubes, diluted fruit juices and any unpasteurized/unboiled milk.

In India the supply voltage is 230V. If the appliance is a single voltage rated appliance, it will need to operate at the same voltage as the supply voltage of the country i.e. 230V. If this is not the case it should be used alongside a voltage transformer or converter to allow the appliance to work safely and properly.

It will be possible for electrical equipment to be charged while on the hotel portion of the holiday, but not while camping so extra batteries are a must or a solar charger. Mobile phone coverage is limited to the big cities.

Pack as you usually would for a holiday, for e.g. sunglasses, toiletries and then these are your Horse Riding holiday essentials. If you are unsure, please speak with your Travel Consultant:
ESSENTIALS FOR ALL RIDING HOLIDAYS
Riding helmet – complying with current EU & British standards – (some locations, mostly in the EU, can provide them but if possible bring your own for comfort and correct fit)
Riding boots designed for riding and walking
Chaps
At least 2 pairs of riding trousers – jodhpur’s/breeches are best for anything, except western riding (Jeans)
Long sleeved shirts
Lightweight waterproof jacket
Water bottle
Mobile phone

Clothing should be comfortable and well-tested. Boots should be low-heeled and suitable for both riding and walking, worn with half-chaps for riding. Clothing that can be layered is useful, as the temperature can fluctuate quickly. Luggage should be kept to a minimum and in soft hold-alls or duffel bag as it is transported by packhorse. Sleeping bags are required and you may wish to bring a sleeping bag liner.
- Gloves
- Jodhpurs - jodhpurs, breeches or other comfortable trousers (jeans may rub and can also be quite hot)
- Chaps
- T-shirts & long sleeved shirts
- Thermal underwear
- Change of shoes for evenings
- Windcheater or light waterproof
- Warm woolen or fleece clothing
- Thick socks
- Gloves and scarf
- A hat or woolen cap
- Light towel
- Sunscreen of at least 50+
- Lip balm & moisturizer
- UV protected sunglasses/goggles
- Water purifying tablets
- Wet wipes
- Torch
- Refillable Water Bottle - it's very important to drink a lot of water when it's hot, especially when doing physical activities
- Plenty of batteries for camera equipment or a solar charger

16d / 15n programme with 8 riding days. Departures can be tailormade for groups of 8 or more in the summer months of July and August.

2025: 1 - 16 Aug (TokTok Festival); 19 July - 3 Aug (Phayeng Festival - Shey)

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For the equestrian traveller who would like to see what is possible on horseback visit www.thelongridersguild.com also a fantastic place to acquire your equestrian travel books is www.horsetravelbooks.com

Very fit non-riders may wish to accompany the ride hiking, while their packs are carried on the horses. The pace allows this to be done with ease.

Ladakh and the surrounding area is a haven for wildlife. There are herds of Bhoral (Blue sheep), ibex, Tibetan gazelle and yak. The elusive snow leopard and lynx have also been sighted. It is a bird-watchers paradise, with golden eagles, lammergeiers, bar-headed geese, brahminy ducks and the rare black-necked crane all found in the area

Due to the nature of the terrain, and the altitude, the trip may be modified for reasons of security, the weather or unforeseen events, and events outside the organisers control. The organisers, the guides and the local guides will make every effort to find the best option even if means changing the itinerary or route.

India forms a natural sub-continent with the Himalayas to the north. The Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, which are sections of the Indian Ocean, lie to the west and east respectively.

The official language of India is Hindi written in the Devanagari script and spoken by some 30% of the population as a first language. Since 1965 English has been recognised as an 'associated language'. In addition there are 18 main and regional languages recognised for adoption as official state languages. There are another 24 languages, 720 dialects and 23 tribal languages.

India will sideswipe you with its size, clamour and diversity - especially if you enjoy delving into convoluted cosmologies and thrive on sensual overload. Nothing in the country is ever quite predictable; the only thing to expect is the unexpected, which comes in many forms and will always want to sit next to you.

The time difference for India is GMT/UTC +5.5hrs and the dialling code is +91. India has adopted metric weights and measures.