Appx 3000 KM, 90 Hrs driving time, 16 days :

Thing to Remember

Road trips are always unpredictable. Be ready for best experiences. Be ready for emergencies too.

Prepare Your Vehicle

• Service, tyres, oils, breaks, suspension
• Mountain drive is very different than plains. It tests full ability of vehicle. And then you don’t get mechanics and parts easily. And when it comes to Ladakh or Spiti type of tours, do invest in your vehicle, as it will be your best buddy and your lifeline. even if 40% breaks/suspensions or service duration is left – get new. Do inform your service advisor about your trip and get vehicle inspected thoroughly.
• Believe me, normal 4×4 vehicles are also not offroad vehicles. On rough roads tyres are bound to burst, underbody will damage – sometimes beyond repair locally. Drive under 15KMPH on roads with loose stones. Don’t test your vehicle on such trips. Test and train yourself in your city where help is easily available.
• Know and clearly understand, ground clearance, approach and departure angles of your vehicle. Else you might damage it on bad roads
• Carry small electric wire & fuse. Even if you don’t know how to use, dealership or some other driver would assist you.
• Carry puncture kit, air pump, towing cable, torch, knife, quickfix, nylon rope, jump-start kit, swissknife
• Recommended to install GPS, dashcam (I recommend 70mai for air, jumpstart, dashcam)
• Be aware about oil stations, try to keep tank full
• Carry snowchain in case visiting due snowfall season. Its mandatory too.
• Tip: On high altitudes, even your car would exhaust due to lack of oxygen; you wont get pickup. Don’t worry, its okay. At low temperature battery might stop working – use jumpstart or push
  

Prepare Yourself

• Start exercising, improve stamina, power, lungs at least a month before start of travel
• Eat light, healthy. Heavy and full meal will create breathing issues eg rajma-rice at night will lead to HAS
• Don’t stay at high-altitude passes for more than 10-15 minutes – HAS and headache may start.

Packing

• 1st-aid kit, travel medicines – pain, motions, bodyache, stomach, headache, vitamins, fever, electral, ORS
• Nasal drops, disprin, avomin, Diamox, Dexamethasone, Electrolytes and Glucose, For nausea: Domperidone, For HAS: Acetazolamide, Oxygen Can Oxy99 : pack of 6, Avomin, crocin, multi-vit, pain killer, neti pot (if you know neti)
• Potli of “camphor + lung + eucalyptus oil”, cookies, chocolates, candies, dry fruits,
• Oxygen cans, Spo2 meter, hot bags, camphor (with long, eucalyptus oil), thermal pouch, move, balm (everything available at Amazon)
• Tea & snacks: electric kettle, milk-sugar pouch, tea bags; cuppa noodles, disposables, knife, bowls, spoon
• Kappa noodles & snacks. In Leh, Spiti you might not get to eat all meals everywhere, limited choice and place
• Umbrella/disposable rainsuit, windcheater, cloths as per weather
• Sunscreen, moisturizer – else you will come back with dark and damage skin
• Travel light: Try to have min cloths and luggage. If car breaks down, you will have to take out all luggage; problem in keeping spares / tyres etc. Breakdowns are common, be prepared

Additional

• Check mobile coverage, better to have different service providers among friends/family. Eg Kashmir, Ladakh don’t allow outside prepaid. Airtel, Jio, BSNL have better coverage. No coverage at many places – for days
• Keep Aadhar, vaccine cert, imp docs in mobile
• Keep emergency numbers as print and in mobile
• In case of emergency, or doubts get in touch with local drivers, dhabas, army, police, localities – anyone. Don’t hesitate.
• Sometime money may also be of no use, still travel with extra cash
• For few places prior permission / permits are required. For Nubra, Pangong etc online permits available.
• Ladakh is so unpredictable, its not advisable to book hotels in advance until its 100% refundable. Mostly accomodations are available on same day via apps or you may reach at town and walk-in

Itinerary