Some airline baggage rules to keep in mind

• One check-in bag, one carry-on, and one handbag. That's all. And they too should not be packed to the gills. (Keep space in your bag to hold souvenirs and gifts for back home.)

• Airlines are pretty strict about baggage limits. Please ensure baggage weight and dimensions are as per airline rules - both while going and coming. 15kg checkin and 7kg cabin. One additional purse or handbag allowed.

• Label your bags with your name and address and contact details. Labels to be stuck inside the suitcase and small baggage tags with name and contact number on the luggage.

• Fluids will not be allowed over 150ml in carry-on/cabin luggage. Nail-cutter, knife, scissors not allowed in cabin luggage. Power banks are not allowed in check-in luggage -- can only be carried in cabin luggage.

What to pack -- tips on Must-carry, Optional, and Preferably-avoidable

• One comfortable, sturdy, non-slip, waterproof/water-resistant pair of walking shoes is a non-negotiable item on the packing list. Terrains are rocky, and many attractions are on hilltops. The vehicles are allowed only up to the parking lots. Distances from parking lot to main attraction are long, and temple premises are huge. Walking there in heels and slippers/sandals will wear you down.

• Regular bare-essential toiletries: Soap, shampoo, creams, etc. Those may not be available at all staying arrangements, esp Pangong. Wet wipes, hand sanitizers, dental tablets, tissues are also a must-carry. If it is too cold, you won't want to use tap water. Bottled water can be used to quickly freshen up

• Lightweight Plastic/rubber slippers. Bathroom floors get very cold - difficult to stand barefoot under the shower (ie if you are brave enough to shower at all when temperatures dip). Carry one pair between two/three people sharing the room. If no place to bring them back - you can even dispose of them over there.

• Electronics: Charger, power bank, extra USB cord for mobile phone. Carry a multi-socket plug. So that single hotel socket can be used to charge multiple phones and power banks and Bluetooth headphones etc.

• [Optional] Electric kettle, if you want hot water for tea.

• [Optional] If you have some place in your bag, throw in a couple of lightweight simple pillow covers. and a thin bedsheet. Never know where it might come in handy. I don't. But there have been times that I wish I had.

• Clothes -- this is a very tricky thing to advise on. If the weather is good, you'll curse me for making you carry warm clothes, and if the weather plays truant you'll damn me for not making you carry enough of them. The weather forecast (for the travel period) is given below. Based on that, I would recommend a lightweight jacket and clothes with long sleeves. Dress in layers so that you can take off some layers or put on more, to quickly adjust to the weather. Buy light-weight and thin jackets which can handle temperatures in minus. Decathlon has some good heavy-duty jackets -- feather-light but great on protection from cold. Decathlon also has these good wind-cheaters -- they are waterproof and very handy -- they fold up into the size of a small purse 6"x6". Slip it in your day pack, so you are prepared in case it pours. A woman-to-woman Tip: Don't take a shawl -- that will be a good excuse to pick up an original pashmina from there, if you are lucky to get one.😎

• And yes, warm woollen socks. You'll probably sleep in them too. (Optional) carry a scarf or muffler to cover your neck. Sometimes a woollen cap, muffler & woollen socks is all that may be needed (and regular clothes on the rest of the body, of course, 😉)

• Gloves (may not be necessary). But put in a pair nevertheless. (Or like I do -- forget them on purpose and use that as an excuse to buy new ones ;) ). Handy Tip: if you are buying new -- make sure you buy them with the glove fingertips made mobile-friendly -- those which enable you to use your touchscreens without needing to take off the gloves every time.

• Regular sized backpack for day trips: Instead of a large tote or a handbag, carry a small backpack or cross-body sling messenger bag which can hold a water bottle, your extra clothes (socks, woollen cap/scarf, shawl, muffler), toiletries to use along the stops on the journeys, mobile phone charger, power bank and your cash and ID. One backpack between two staying together is good too. Carry your small purses inside the backpack. When getting off the bus for sightseeing take only the small purses with cash and mobile. The rest can stay on the bus.

• A small pouch for your mobile phone. The warmer it stays, the longer it will last. The phone, I mean (what were you thinking?) Handy tip: i used to tuck my mobile in my gloves, when I wasn't wearing them. It helped. A waterproof pouch for the mobile might be good too.

• Laundry: Laundry service may not be available at all places. Moreover, you may not be staying in one place long enough to get clothes laundered. Besides, Ladakh faces water scarcity so they might be reluctant to offer laundry services. Go prepared to do without it. If available, it's a bonus. Disposable innerwear is sometimes a good idea during travel.

• Baggage locks are a good safety precaution, and excellent for peace of mind. Hotel rooms may have lockers. But the tents and cottages definitely dont have them. Dont misplace the keys, though. Have to break the lock or the bag zipper -- there are no duplicate key-makers to be found there.

• Torch: It's lights-out in Ladakh from 10pm-5am. Hotels in Leh will operate generators for a few critical needs - but no one in Nubra or Pangong will. So a torch is a must. A handy tip -- instead of a classic torch (handheld one), buy a headlamp - it's a lightweight small lamp that can be strapped across your forehead. It helps to keep your hands free. You don't have to struggle balancing the torch in one hand, and having just one other hand left to do whatever else you got up in the night to do.🧐

• (more tips will be added by and by)

PHONE NETWORK ON THE LADAKH TOUR

• BSNL mobile postpaid connections offer the best mobile network coverage in Leh, Nubra Valley and Pangong Lake. Reliance Jio comes a close second in terms of both coverage and quality, but may not work at Pangong Lake. Airtel mobile network also works in Ladakh, but coverage wise it is fairly limited to Leh town. Vodafone prepaid and postpaid phone connections do not work in Ladakh.

• Free Wi-Fi is usually available in hotels in Leh. Not so the case in Nubra and Pangong. You may use wifi to connect back home through whatsapp. Where there is no wifi connectivity, an active mobile data connection will be needed.

• Whatever the network and plan, there will be connection issues...Go prepared to do without a network for the most part. There will be good enough wifi in the hotels in Leh -- whatsapp calls will work there. Everywhere else the connection will be patchy.