Nine seasons of running Ladakh trips taught us that almost every AMS case comes down to the same three mistakes.
Leh sits at about 3,500 m. Khardung La crosses 5,300 m. Acute Mountain Sickness is not a rare misfortune there — it is the default outcome if you do the wrong things in the first 48 hours.
Mistake 1 — sightseeing on day one
Landing at Leh and heading straight to Shanti Stupa is the most common error. Your body needs a full day of near-total rest to begin adjusting. Every itinerary we sell has that rest day locked in, and we will not remove it on request.
Mistake 2 — under-drinking
The air is extremely dry and you lose water faster than you notice. Four to five litres a day is the target. Alcohol and smoking in the first 48 hours make things measurably worse.
Mistake 3 — going too high, too fast
A well-built Ladakh itinerary gains altitude gradually and always sleeps lower than the highest point crossed that day. That is why we put Nubra before Pangong, not the other way around.
What to carry
- Diamox, only if your doctor has prescribed it — start it before you fly
- A pulse oximeter, useful for spotting a problem early
- Electrolyte sachets and lip balm
- Warm layers, because cold worsens how AMS feels