The trans-Himalaya is the region comprising the Karakoram, Ladakh, Pangong and Zanskar range and the Tibetan plateau. It is essentially a cold desert that lies in the rain shadow of the Himalaya. The general altitude of the landscape is 4000m and slides down to around 3000m above sea level towards Drenmo Lodge in Western Ladakh.
Drenmo Lodge is opened in the first week of April and runs till end November. ( the bears hibernate from December to mid March roughly)
In the months of April, May and November the temperatures can drop to -10 degrees at night and at dawn and dusk but on clear days the bright sun and the lack of humidity can make it very warm. (It still stays cold as soon as one steps into the shade). The months of June, July, August, Sept and October are comparatively warmer.
This document has been put together to give the guest a general idea of the kind of conditions, the physical fitness level required, the gear needed and a brief idea of the generally suggested medical procedures while on the expedition in the high altitude landscape of Ladakh.
Equipment List
As mentioned above, the conditions in the region are very variable so keeping all the factors in mind, this list below is the recommended set of equipment that one would need when visiting Ladakh.
During summer months
During winter months
LEH
ACCLIMATISATION – When one flies into Leh from Delhi, there is a jump in altitude of almost 3000m in 1 hour so acclimatising in Leh is a must for anyone flying into the region. 48 hours is the minimum recommended period. In this period, the first 24 hours should be complete rest (with minimal slow walking), lots of water consumed and preferably, sleep only at night (early). It is vital that the first night is passed without too much discomfort as that means the body is slowly getting ready for the landscape. Day 2 can involve a minimum amount of walking (like in Leh market and a few day trips out in vehicles) but for those who experienced symptoms like a headache, breathlessness etc. on day 1, day 2 will be another day of complete rest.
ALTITUDE SICKNESS - the symptoms usually involve headache and breathlessness. If these are experienced, the oxygen levels and BP need to be immediately checked by a doctor or your trained tour leader and oxygen needs to be administered immediately. This will provide a considerable amount of relief and may also help the person acclimatise sooner. Doctors are available on call at the hotels we use in Leh and any complication is at once attended to by a trained medical practitioner. This is one of the reasons why staying in Leh for 2 to 3 nights is mandatory.
MEDICATION - Regarding the prescription of pills like Diamox (for altitude complications) etc. the guests are requested to consult their own doctors before arrival.
HEALTH COMPLICATIONS - People with prior health complications are also requested to run the trip by their own doctors before arrival or signing up.
GEAR - Regarding gear, Leh has many adventure shops where all the winter gear is available. So for those looking for good mountain gear and can’t find it in their hometowns, picking them up in Leh is also an option.
LEH & SRINAGAR AIRPORT - In Leh airport, articles like drones, satellite phones, strong chemicals etc. are usually seized so carrying them in hand luggage (or even check in bags) is something we discourage.
Also, the day the guests are leaving, the Leh airport authorities allow clothing only in the check in bags. Camera equipment and laptops need to be packed in the hand luggage only. This is something they check seriously and often guests are made to repack if their arrangement is not in accordance with the above system.
ATM - Guests are requested to carry a minimum amount of cash as the ATMs in Leh and Kargil are unreliable.
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES - Alcoholic beverages are not served at the lodge. We do not recommend the consumption of alcohol or smoking while on this expedition because of the extreme nature of the environment.
DAY OF ARRIVAL AT THE LODGE-
FROM LEH VIA NH1 - On this day, the guests will leave the hotel in Leh in the morning post breakfast and drive west on NH1, stopping at specific spots like Lamayuru, Uleytokpo etc to take in the sights and for some wildlife viewing. The guests will reach Kargil for lunch where the vehicles will be switched (owing to the taxi cab union rules). Here the local brown bear expert and tour leader will meet the guests and take them further to the Drenmo Lodge. The guests arrive at the lodge by the evening. The total journey is going to take about 6 hours. The arrival day ends with some evening scanning for bears (if time permits), briefing and dinner.
FROM LEH VIA ARYAN VALLEY - Guests will drive from Leh via the lower Indus region stopping at some of the villages and sites enroute such as Garkone, Domkhar rock art site. You will cross a high pass, Humbotingla at 4900m before entering Kargil for Lunch. where the vehicles will be switched (owing to the taxi cab union rules). Here the local brown bear expert and tour leader will meet the guests and take them further to the Drenmo Lodge. The guests arrive at the lodge by the evening. The guests arrive at the lodge by the evening. The total journey is going to take about 6-7 hours. The arrival day ends with some evening scanning for bears (if time permits), briefing and dinner.
FROM SRINAGAR - From Srinagar, the lodge is situated at a distance of about 4 hours over the Zojila pass. Depending on the time of departure from Srinagar, guests will arrive by lunch time. The arrival day ends with some evening scanning for bears (if time permits), briefing and dinner.
VEHICLE SUPPORT – The guests will have vehicles with them throughout the trip as that gives the flexibility to access the various brown bear viewing regions of the region and also the other sites that western Ladakh has to offer. Experienced drivers who are well trained and knowledgeable in the wilderness of the region are used.
Vehicles will remain with guests throughout their stay with us(this varies based on the booking - from airport to airport or from Kargil to Kargil). They can be used to access even further spots like Suru Valley, Zoji La pass and Hundarman border village museum. If the guests have specific sites they wish to visit, please get it checked by mail before departure. Vehicles will be switched at Kargil for those who travel from Leh because of local taxi cab union rules. Similarly, the vehicles will be switched at Kargil on the return journey to Leh.
The return journey to Leh can also be routed through the Aryan Valley along the Indus gorge but this also needs to be pre-planned and is subject to change owing to weather conditions and local rules and regulations at the moment.
FACILITIES AT DRENMO LODGE
SETUP – Our lodge is established in an existing home owned by a local, refurbished with modern amenities and thoughtful touches of traditional architecture. The warm and cosy rooms are the perfect place to come back to after spending long hours in the outdoors viewing bears and other wildlife. Located in the remote Holiyal village (3100m) in Mushkow valley - a prime brown bear country, it is undoubtedly the best location in India for sighting this magnificent mammal.
guests who want dedicated help, porters/mules need to be pre-booked. (at an extra
charge on a per day basis)
9. WATER - We discourage use of single use plastic bottles and encourage guests to
bring their personal water bottles preferably insulated ones so that you can carry warm water.
WILDLIFE VIEWING
SPOTTERS, WILDLIFE TRACKING, LODGE OPERATIONS - The spotters (and driver too) are highly skilled at tracking and finding the wildlife of the region and all guests (or guest groups) will go out with one of our experts on day excursions.
A regular day at the lodge involves early morning and evening bear sightings on foot or in our vehicles. During the day, we do wildlife excursions to other valleys by vehicles or we also recommend doing hikes and village walks, cultural sightseeing (based on your fitness level, interest and season) or you can choose to spend your time at leisure at the lodge itself.
Like most wildlife, bears are active during the early morning and evening hours. Each morning our local wildlife spotters brave the cold temperatures and head out to the different locations to scan for bears.The plan for the rest of the day will be based on the sightings
WALKING and FITNESS -The biggest advantage of the Lodge is the fantastic road access that takes guests right up to the wildlife spots on most occasions. The location of the stay in prime bear country also makes it possible to have a good chance of seeing the wildlife from the village area itself using scopes and binoculars. We do encourage guests to walk (simple walks) into the valleys and to some low passes as these are the best ways to connect with the starkness of the landscape and develop a real appreciation and understanding of the wildlife of the region. Having said this, there is plenty to do for those who prefer not to walk. The fitness and health of the guest will be taken into account when the plans are made.
PAYMENTS AND TIPPING AT THE LODGE
BEVERAGES – Our costs include tea and coffee throughout the stay. Soft beverages are chargeable. Alcoholic beverages are not served at the Lodge keeping the sentiments of the local people of the village in mind.
TIPPING – Guests who wish to tip the team can do so separately – 2 spotters, 1 local naturalist and the driver who drives you to and from Leh and the driver who takes over from Kargil. (Please note – the tip is not shared amongst these three separate groups).
If there is someone who has lost livestock in the course of your stay to wildlife, and if we see the animals owing to that kill, we recommend that some amount of money is contributed by the guests to that family to keep the ideas of wildlife among the local communities positive.
DO’s and DON'Ts
At the lodge:
In the Outdoor:
STAFF AND LOCAL COMMUNITY
Drenmo Lodge is focussed on developing the local community and bringing them closer to the wilderness of the region. For this, our lodge employs members of the local community as much as possible. They are all very warm and friendly people and have trained and learnt their responsibilities well over the recent years. We still request the guest to excuse smaller mistakes like language differences etc., and be patient if something is not communicated properly. Our manager or tour leaders are usually around to help out in these situations. Guest cooperation will go a long way in supporting our cause, changing attitudes and helping conserve the wilderness of this vast landscape.
PROJECT DRENMO
Drenmo Lodge is supporting the livelihood of the local villagers and is working constantly to mitigate the issue of human-wildlife conflict in the region. In this project, we have collaborated with the Himalayan Brown Bear Trust and Wildlife Trust of India to initiate a dialogue based on awareness and better practices to help the villagers live in harmony with the wildlife around them. We have committed 10% of our annual earnings towards brown bear conservation work specifically with conflict mitigation.
We encourage guests to consider contributing to the cause. To know more about our project, visit www.himalayanbrownbear.org
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