Packing List for Leh – 5 Most Essential Things to Carry With You

Leh is the capital city of the Ladakh district in the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir. A trip to the Leh region is a dream for many Indians. And rightly so! Situated more than 3500 meters above sea level, Leh resides in one of the most scenic regions of the country.

The climate of this region is classified as cold desert climate, and it is characterized by long, dry and cold winters. However, during the slightly warmer summer months, when Leh witnesses an influx of tourists, mornings can get quite hot and get some amount of rainfall too.

A trip to Leh has always been on our mind. Maybe sometime this year we will finally make it. Who knows? So to give us a headstart, I have already started curating a packing list for Leh. (It’s never too early for me to start planning 😛 ) This will ensure that we are well geared up to face the wrath of the mountains 😉

Luggage

Backpacks and a trip to Leh kind of go hand-in-hand. You could either go for a traditional suitcase or a big (60 litres) waterproof backpack as your primary luggage. This is to fit in all your clothes, shoes and other essential items for the entire tour. Irrespective of what you prefer, it is advisable to carry a smaller backpack for your daily travels (preferably waterproof). This is what you will be carrying around with the basic stuff like passport/other important documents, water, jackets etc. So choosing the right luggage is literally the foundation to getting your packing list for Leh right. If you are a backpack-novice like us and need help choosing the right one, the guys at Backpack Hack have a really resourceful guide for your reference.

Clothing

Any traveler with experience of high altitude travel will tell you that you must wear multiple layers of clothing instead of one thick, fat layer. And that is exactly what you should do! Multiple layers not only help you keep warm, but also give you the flexibility to take off or put on more layers as needed.

Make sure you definitely have the following in your packing list for Leh:

• Full sleeve t-shirts/sweatshirts
• Cardigans
• Thermals
• Woollen socks and gloves
• Track pants
• Woollen sweaters/jackets
• Outdoor shoes (Carry a spare pair)
• Several pairs of socks

Emergency Medication

Given all the changes your body will be undergoing once you land in Leh, you are bound to feel some amount of uneasiness. Some people experience it in the form of altitude sickness or just a general feeling of nausea and dizziness. To be on the safer side, we think it’s best to take the advice of your doctor before you head out, to get an idea of the kind of medication you can take to combat these symptoms.

Food & Drinks

A trip to Leh involves a lot of travel to remote locations, with limited or no access to food or water. Keeping that in mind, it is always a good idea to carry some munchies and snackable food in that backpack of yours to fight random hunger pangs. It is also important to keep yourself well hydrated at such high altitudes. In addition to water, carry a few packs of glucose powder that can be mixed in water for a quick boost of energy.

Toiletries

Apart from your own choice of personal toiletries, do not forget to carry a good sun protection cream or lotion. The cold weather aside, the sun in Leh and its surrounding areas can get really hot during the day. So layer on some sunscreen before you step out for the day.

As you can see, we can’t wait to get going! This packing list for Leh should be a good starting point for you to plan that long-awaited trip to the mountains! Happy Tripping! 🙂