Arrive & Acclimatize in Leh
- Arrival and Hotel Transfer: Pick-up from Leh Airport and transfer to your hotel.
- Acclimatization Day: Rest is essential to adjust to Leh's high altitude (3,500m above sea level). Spend the day relaxing and hydrating to ensure a smooth start to your adventure.
- Overnight Stay: Enjoy the serene atmosphere of your hotel in Leh.
Introduction to Ice Climbing & Ganglas Ice Wall Exploration
- Morning: Equipment introduction and rope work session.
- Afternoon: Short acclimatization hike and ice wall exploration at Ganglas Ice Wall.
- Familiarize yourself with basic movement on ice.
- Overnight: Hotel in Leh.
Ice Climbing Techniques & Top Rope Practice (Ganglas Ice Wall)
- Learn essential knots, hitches, and rope management.
- Training in body positioning, tool placement, and footwork.
- Top-rope climbing sessions for confidence building.
- Belay practice under instructor supervision.
- Overnight: Hotel in Leh.
Anchor Building & Advanced Belay Practice (Ganglas Ice Wall)
- Introduction to anchor building and ice screw placement.
- Learn V-thread anchor setup and rappel systems.
- Practical top-rope climbing throughout the day.
- Preparation for upcoming natural ice falls.
- Overnight: Hotel in Leh.
Tsogsti Ice Fall Climb – Drive to Umlung (~1 hr)
- Drive along the scenic Zanskar frozen river and cross the iconic “Chadar.”
- Climb Tsogsti Ice Fall (WI 3) – a magnificent natural ice formation near Tsogsti village.
- Continue to Umlung village and experience traditional Ladakhi hospitality.
- Overnight: Homestay in Umlung.
Umlung Ice Fall Climb (WI 4) – Drive to Khaltse (~1 hr)
- Short drive and warm-up hike to Umlung Ice Fall (25 m).
- Full day of natural ice climbing on vertical terrain.
- Post-climb drive to Khaltse village.
- Overnight: Homestay in Khaltse.
Zarthang Ice Fall Climb (WI 4) – Return to Leh (~3 hrs)
- Drive to Zarthang and hike (~25 min) to reach the ice fall.
- Climb 30-meter natural ice features and experience diverse textures and structures.
- Final full-day climbing session to refine skills and techniques.
- Debrief and drive back to Leh.
- Overnight: Hotel in Leh.
Departure from Leh
- Transfer to Leh Airport for onward journey.
- End of course.
Guidelines Do’s & Don'ts
- Give your body enough time to adjust to the high altitude/acclimation.
- Avoid sleeping during the day & get enough sleep at night.
- Avoid frequent smoking or drinking alcohol.
- Respect and greet the locals with Jullay (pronounced joo-lay which means Hello).
- Wear respectable outfits during your visit to sacred sites/ Monasteries.
- Kindly read the Monastery guidelines before entering a monastery.
- Ladakhi people will always be ready to help you. So, it's advisable to travel with a smile and greet Jullay.
Save the Himalayas: Follow the leave no trace policy
Majestic Ladakh proudly supports the ‘Leave no trace policy’ for our majestic Himalayas. We request you to follow the below guidelines and help us in preserving the splendid natural beauty of our country:
- Carry personal water bottles throughout the tour as locals will be always happy to provide water to refill & basically free of cost at restaurants and hotels.
- Advisable to carry a water bottle with a filter as you can refill it while travelling to any part of Ladakh.
- DZOMSA stalls are also available for refilling water bottles at just ₹7 per litre.
- Use reusable shopping bags in Leh market as plastics are totally banned in Ladakh as they are harmful to our environment.
- Do not litter. Bring back your own trash.
- Let nature’s sounds prevail; avoid loud voices and noises.
Is the Ice Climbing tour the right adventure for me?
Scaling frozen mountainside water features, such waterfalls, is known as ice climbing. On steep, jagged, and brittle ice formations, climbers use ice axes and crampons, footwear with metal spikes attached to the soles, to gently cut the ice and hoist themselves up.
Any alpine climber's skill set must now include ice climbing, which is also a very gratifying activity.
When deciding whether to proceed up a dangerous, frozen mass of water, a climber must rely on instinct and training. There's always a chance of being hit by an avalanche, and weather conditions can change quickly.
Who is an Ice climbing coach?
Ice Climbing coach in Ladakh are guides of All Ladakh Mountain guide association. Our course is led by Mr Dorjee locally known as TOBO. He has been guidng various tourists from numerous of countries in and on the mountains of Ladakh for more than decades. He is professionally qualified mountaineer with certiffication of both Basic and Advance Mountaineering from Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling and completed Intermediate Mountaineering Course (IMC), component One in order to accomplish IFMGA certification.
Since, the introduction of Ice climbing in Ladakh, Dorjee has been active in exploring valleys of Ladakh and encountered various natural ice climbing walls with thunder of adventures.
What equipment(s) should I carry for an Ice Climbing tour?
We provide a limited number of equipments which are defined under Inclusions, moreover there are numerus of personal equipments which can be brought along or rented in Leh.
The equipements include:
- Crampon
- Climbing Shoes
- Harness
- Carabiner
- Ice Axe
- Gaitors
What is AMS?
Acute mountain sickness (AMS), is the negative health effect of high altitude, caused by rapid exposure to low amounts of oxygen at high elevation. Symptoms may include headaches, vomiting, tiredness, trouble sleeping, and dizziness.
How to avoid AMS?
- Give your body enough time to adjust to the high altitude/acclimation
- Get enough sleep and eat healthy food
- Avoid smoking or drinking alcohol
If you suffer from any respiratory or health-related issues, please let the tour guide know before the start of the tour.
How is the weather in Ladakh during winter?
Ladakh experiences an extremely cold and challenging winter season. Winter in Ladakh typically spans from late November to early March. During this period, the region encounters frigid temperatures, making it one of the coldest places in India.
Daytime temperatures can vary between -20°C to 0°C (-4°F to 32°F), while nighttime temperatures plummet even further, reaching well below freezing. Ladakh becomes a winter wonderland, draped in a pristine blanket of snow, offering a unique and starkly beautiful landscape.
Always remember that in any mountain area, the weather is never wholly predictable and you should be prepared and equipped to deal with any differences in weather beyond the conditions described above.
How is the mobile connectivity in Ladakh?
Only Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh registered pre-paid sims are serviceable in Ladakh. The following services providers/services are active in Ladakh:
- Airtel: Postpaid service
- Jio: Postpaid & pre on post-service
- BSNL: Postpaid service
You can buy and activate a new sim in Leh.
What things should I carry for the trip?
Following are the list of essentials that you should carry:
- Medicines such as: Diamox, Aspirin/Disprin
- Base Layers: Moisture-wicking thermal or merino wool tops and bottoms to keep you dry and insulated.
- Insulating Layers: A warm and breathable fleece or down jacket for added insulation.
- Hardshell Jacket and Pants: Waterproof and windproof outer layers to protect against snow and ice.
- Climbing Pants: Durable and stretchy pants designed for climbing with reinforced knees.
- Gloves: Insulated and waterproof gloves or mittens to protect your hands from the cold and moisture.
- Socks: Thick, moisture-wicking, and insulated socks to keep your feet warm and dry.
- Balaclava or Neck Gaiter: To protect your face and neck from cold winds.
- Goggles or Sunglasses: Eye protection from snow, glare, and UV rays.
- Beanie or Hat: A warm hat to cover your head when not wearing the helmet.
- Backpack: A small, lightweight backpack to carry essentials and extra layers.
- Thermal Underwear: Extra thermal layers for added warmth, especially for longer climbs.
- Extra Clothing: Pack additional clothing layers in your backpack for quick changes if needed.
How are the restaurants in Leh?
You can find plenty of restaurants in Leh serving Ladakhi, Indian, Kashmiri, Tibetan, Korean, Italian and continental food. There are always plenty of choices for both vegetarians and meat-eaters. Please keep about £70-100 (US $110-160) for food.
Do try the Ladakhi cuisine like vegetable momos or thukpa during your time in Leh!
Booking and Cancellation Policy
- Booking can be done as pre-booking only.
- Possible of both group and solo bookings.
- Pre-booking can be cancelled with a 40% refund only prior to 30 days of departure to the expedition.’
- Once the trip is started, there is no refund/cancellation possible
- No refund will be given for uncertainty caused by Natural Calamities
