Day 0 after landing in Leh, there are a few things that you have to make sure by default you are doing. This is a sequence of things that you need to follow in order to have a flawless day in Leh and an extraordinary journey around Ladakh.

Text back home 

The first thing to do after landing in Ladakh is to actually put on your phone back off flight mode and text your family or call them up, whatever works better. But if you don’t have network that is if you are using anything but Airtel postpaid or BSNL postpaid, this is nothing to worry about.

You can just take hotspot from one of your co-travellers who have the mobile connection services that work, or you can request the airport staff to give you hotspot or their phone to call back home so that your family knows that you are safe and sound.

2. Shades on 

Even when you land in Leh anywhere between 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. remember always to have your shades handy with you in your carry on luggage, so that you can always put them on. Because in this part of India and this region of the Himalayas, it’s actually extremely sunny. The sun is out in all its might even though it will be cold when you land, the sun will be there and it will definitely hit your eyes if you don’t have your sunglasses.

3.Taxi to Home Stay 

A taxi is the only option to get from the Ladakh airport to your guest house or homestay or hotel depending on where you are staying. The usual taxi stand cost from the airport to anywhere to drop you in Leh, the standard is Rs 500 for small vehicles that is equal to an Omni and you find them easily available once you land. Decide the cost before hands so that you are not paying extra and they will have to give you a receipt because it’s a union taxi that operates there.

4. Breakfast 

As it has been a long flight, some might have eaten something on the flight. It’s still advisable to grab something to eat before you head to the room and crash. Because after you sleep, you are going to end up waking up in the middle of your sleep with a huge hunger craving. Have some breakfast like maybe an aloo paratha with some refreshing Kahwah which will be good enough to get you going till you wake up from your much needed rest after a long flight from your city to Leh in Ladakh.

5. Drink Water 

Drinking water in Ladakh is actually a very important part of keeping yourself away from falling sick with altitude and weather related sickness. Because the oxygen is much lighter in this part and going to be that way, it’s difficult for the blood to reach the brain with circulation being compromised. So without drinking ample of water, it will be a struggle.

Ideally drink anywhere between two to three litres of water per day. This is good enough to keep you moving. If you don’t drink enough water on day zero which is the day you land in Leh, you will be playing catch up for the rest of the journey around Ladakh. So make sure you drink water regularly from the minute you take your flight and land in Leh.

6. Sleep (minimum 5-7 hours) 

After you are done with having breakfast and freshening up, the next thing to do is actually catch up on some sleep. Nobody gets proper sleep before they travel to a place on holiday and Ladakh is no exception. What makes it even more, is the fact that the flights depart in the morning so by default no matter what time your flight is, you are definitely awake by 5:30 am getting ready to leave for the airport or to do your last minute packing.

7. Walk to Leh market 

If after a nap you are feeling good and there is no headache or dizziness or any kind of breathing issues and you feel like taking a stroll since it’s early evening. Then Leh market is a place to head out to. It’s a place where you find all the Tibetan art, craft, wood and wear from handicrafts and postcards, Ladakh t-shirts and a lot of cafes and restaurants. Just make sure you are carrying your woollens along. Actually wear them and not just holding them in your hand because the weather will change drastically.

8. Leh Monastery 

You can ask anybody where the Leh monastery is and they will guide you to it. It’s a good place to be in the evening on day 0. It adds value since you find some much needed peace, positive vibes and Ladakh is a land of monasteries, so what better place to start and what better day to start then on the zero. Visiting the monastery which is right in the main market, you have to stop by and find God.

9. Roof top dinner 

Leh main market has a lot of rooftop restaurants and you will see plenty of them the minute you walking in. They have big sign board saying their names and the menu. No matter who you are with you feel blessings when you look down from there. A rooftop lunch or dinner or breakfast is good for the view and experience rather than the menu because the menu will be standard and similar in all these roof top places. 

10. No Bath

This by default is the most important part of not falling sick in Ladakh. Avoid taking a bath on the first day by default. No matter how dirty or uneasy you are feeling when you land in Leh by air, it’s a big massive difference in attitude, pressure and temperature; so if you have a bath you will fall sick, making it very difficult in Ladakh.