WHAT CLOTHES TO PACK FOR LEH LADAKH
With an altitude of 3,524 metres (11,562 ft) and temperatures ranging from 25°C to -20°C it can seem that packing for Leh can be a bit of a challenge. Do you pack the snow-jacket and ski boots? The light cardigan and summer shorts? How about a full-body thermal suit? Stressful, I know.As a chronic over-packer and as someone who has had to pay for excess baggage more times than I am willing to admit, Leh always posed as a tricky one when it came to packing.
After several trips with the wrong clothes and shoes, I've finally discovered the key to packing for Leh: it all depends on the time of the year you're going.
WHAT CLOTHES TO PACK FOR SUMMER IN LADAKH (MARCH - AUGUST)
Suns out, guns out.
During the warmer 'summer' months in Ladakh, the trick to to pack for rugging up at night and for keeping coolish during the day. As soon as the sun starts to dip, the air gets cooler and the warmth disappears like it was never there.
Therefore, layering is key using lighter clothes with the option to get warmer.
What To Pack:
Fleece jacket or a warm winter (windproof) jacket I use my Kathmandu goose down jacket for when it gets chilly (see above for more details on goose down).
A warm hat or beanie something to protect your ears from the cold and to also block any wind chill. Plus a good hat can shade your face from the sun.
Inner thermals: It does get colder at night and early morning, so keep some inner thermals at the ready to throw on under everything.
Light Woollen Clothing: A light jumper, a hoodie, even a giant panda jumper like the one I'm wearing below will be handy for Ladakh in summer. A lighter jumper that can comfortably fit under your warmer jackets is ideal.
Woollen socks: keep those piggies warm. Plus the flooring in most hotels and homestays tend to be cold to the touch, so having some socks handy during nighttime tiptoeing is a plus.
Sneakers or hiking boots: I've used my Nike sneakers every time I've explored Ladakh and they have served me well especially when poking about the towns. For more outdoor adventures, have your hiking boots at the ready although sneakers can do the job just fine.
Sunglasses: polarised. Trust me, it gets sunny and bright this high up in the mountain.
WHAT CLOTHES TO PACK FOR WINTER IN LADAKH (SEPTEMBER - FEBRUARY)
It's cold, my friend. It is very cold. And you better be prepared for it.
I am not an experienced climber, nor do I have much experience in cold and dangerous temperatures, and so this guide is a rough outline of what you will need for a simple tourist trip and not a hiking expedition. Any hiking trip or venturing into the wilderness should be well-planned and prepared and not something to be thought of lightly.
WHAT TO PACK:
Layers: thermal inners, a t-shirt, 1-2 jumpers, a hoodie, and your down jacket. Plus underwear, gloves, a hat or beanie, scarf, and some fluffy socks.
A good quality jacket: You'll need a high quality down jacket, one that can comfortably withstand temperatures lower than -20 degrees. To accurately asses whether a down jacket is capable of keeping you warm, use this handy guide on 'down fill power vs. down weight'.
If you are looking to get a good down jacket, look for anything with 550 fill power and above. Anything lower than 550 won't be warm enough for sub-zero temperatures. I use this old Kathmandu jacket which is 550 fill power, and has deep pockets lined with fluffy material keeping me warm.
Pants: Aim for some good thermals over a pair of pants or jeans.
Shoes and socks: Ice is a real issue during these winter months, so make sure you invest in a solid trekking boot with good traction. The bitter cold has a way of getting in between your toes, so make sure you get some good woollen ones that fit inside your shoe without you feeling cramped. The local socks you can buy are also ideal.
Hat, beanie, anything to keep your head warm: Anything that is warm, covers the ears, and doesn't get caught in low-hanging branches is good for Ladakh. I get cold ears and opted to wear a thermal headband along with a beanie.
I love my Northface Beanie. Keeps me warm and doesn't smell funky after days of use.
Gloves: Not fingerless gloves, proper gloves that keep your fingers warm. If even the locals suffer frostbite, what makes you think that the cold won't affect your little sausage fingers? If you need to use your phone or any sort of touch screen, then search for gloves that have a contact point.
NorthFace has some good E-Gloves that allow you to use your phone.
Polarised Sunglasses: protect your eyes from the harsh sunlight, and also from the cold winds.
