What to pack for Ladakh, in four honest lists
Not a packing list. The four things people forget, and the three things they bring that they should not.
Ladakh packing advice online is written by people who have never been cold in June at four thousand metres. Here is what actually happens, from someone who makes this journey most weeks.
Bring layers, not a coat
Leh in July is warm in the sun, cold in the shade, and freezing at night. Pangong at night is colder than Leh by ten degrees. A good fleece, a light insulated jacket and a windproof shell beats one heavy parka every time.
Sunscreen is a medical item, not a cosmetic one
The light at 4,000 metres reflects off bare rock and water. People get sunburn on their lips and the bridge of their nose on a day that feels cloudy. SPF 50, a lip balm with SPF, and sunglasses you can actually see out of.
The three things people bring that they should not
Suitcases. There is nowhere to put one and you will not use it. A heavy bag goes in a jeep on roads you would not drive on at home.
Heavy trekking boots, unless you are doing an actual trek. You are on flat ground most of the time and the cobbles in Leh's old town are the only rough patch.
Cash you do not need. There is no ATM that reliably works in Nubra, and nothing in Pangong costs more than a cup of tea.
And the four people forget
Lip balm with SPF. Sunglasses. A power bank, because your phone will be your map. And a packet of dried fruit, because the drive from Nubra to Pangong is four hours and the only stop is a chai stall.
Key Highlights:
- Fleece, insulated jacket, windproof shell.
- SPF 50, lip balm with SPF, sunglasses.
- Power bank and offline maps.
- Hand warmers for the Pangong night.
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