Taking the flight to Leh-Ladakh has been on the rise ever since the Covid-19 pandemic. But landing in Leh directly without acclimatising is also a risk. So the best way to avoid any post landing issues is to first plan, prepare and pack correctly so there are no issues once you reach Leh airport.

Water Bottle in Leh

Water is served on flights, but you’ll definitely need a lot of water along the trip. The best way to go about it is by carrying your own 1L water bottle so that you never have to buy or carry package water around Ladakh. 

Sun glares 

Since most of the flights in Leh land at around 6 am to 10 am, you’ll  arrive in Leh roughly around the time when the sun is just coming out of the mountains or out in full force. The best way to avoid getting an instant headache from the sun is to carry your shades in your day pack and use them. 

Light breakfast

It’s always better to carry breakfast on early morning flight. Anything from sandwiches to even bread and butter is a good option to carry when you’re taking an early flight. If you don’t get time to have your breakfast do pack and carry it in your carry on luggage. So you avoid the hassles of buying food on the airlines for double the price. 

Lip gel 

Carry it and use it from the minute you step foot after clearing security at the airport. This is something that will be really important since Ladakh is an extremely dry region and cracking of lips is one of the easiest things to spoil your holidays. Once blood starts coming out it’s going to be a mess. To avoid that start putting lip gel early on.

Skull cap

The head cap or the skull cap is vital in your day pack, the minute you land and get of the airlines. It is going to be extremely windy and cold at the same time. So not putting a head or skull cap on will result in an assured headache or a head cold in the next 24-48 hours which will show up. Avoid that by just carrying and using a skull cap after you land.

Hoodie jacket

Another winter must. So by default if you are planning on landing in Leh without having a jacket, then you have to be kidding. Because the next day, you will be in hospital. Make sure this is with you at check in, in your day pack. 

Post Paid sim (Airtel or BSNL) 

Cell phone network is everything today but in Ladakh region because of security purposes only postpaid SIM cards of Airtel and BSNL will work. Before you plan a trip or while planning make sure you get either of the two networks so that your trip is seamless in Ladakh. 

Travel with shoes 

Many make this mistake of travelling with flip flops or floaters. It’s fine when you are taking off from your home city but when you land in Leh, it’s a disaster waiting to happen. Please make sure that you end up wearing shoes and socks, your hiking boots would be the ideal shoe pair here.

Medicines

In case you are carrying any medicines, keep those in your hand baggage which is your day pack, so it’s easily accessible if you need anything after you land or while you are in the flight.

Free Ladakh Map 

Like any other airport Leh airport also has a tourist counter which will need you to enroll your name and your phone number in exchange for a free map. This is a very good map of the entire region of Ladakh which can be used while on your holiday. You can collect three or four if you are traveling in a group as they give one per traveller.