PREPARATION
BEFORE DEPARTUREOfficial DocumentsForeign
visitors to India must possess valid passports and visas. Be sure your ‘tourist
visa’ covers the duration of your visit. Special permits are not
required for trekking in the Indian Himalayas, with the exception of certain
restricted areas. Should you chose one of our treks or safaris in these
areas, we will send you the necessary application forms and obtain these
permits for you. Permission takes at least 4 weeks, so please return the
forms, photocopies of the relevant pages of your passport and photographs
well in advance. It is mandatory to carry your passport with you at all
times while in India. For mountaineering trips or expeditions, special
permission must be applied for a minimum of 06 months in advance, through
the Indian Mountaineering Foundation. Although customs officials rarely
check tourist baggage, it is best to declare any special equipment such as
expensive cameras, tape-recorders, computers, etc. because this can save
many problems on departure.
HealthWhen planning your
trip, it is advisable to have a medical check up explaining to your
physician the altitude you hope to reach. Although not essential, you may
prefer protection against cholera, typhoid, tetanus, polio and hepatitis.
You may also wish to bring malaria suppressant tablets.
Finally, it is
most important to be as physically fit as possible and some form of fairly
strenuous exercise should be engaged in daily for at least a month before
leaving. Trekkers do occasionally suffer from coughs, colds, minor
stomach upsets and, rarely, from mild altitude sickness. Do inform your trek
manager or sherpa leader of any previous medical problems before you start
your trek and, when on the trail, let him know if you feel ill or have
severe headaches, dizziness, nausea, dysentery or just bad blisters. The
trek equipment provided by India Insight Tours includes a standard medical
kit stocked with basic medicines to cover the normal range of possible
complaints. Serious illness is dealt with by immediate evacuation to lower
altitudes and the nearest roadhead.
EquipmentsHigh
quality trekking gear is difficult, if not impossible, to buy in India, so
check the equipment list before leaving home. Please bring all your
equipment with you as it is not uncommon for unaccompanied gear to get lost
en route. A list of the essential equipment you will require for an average
India Insight Tours trek is given below. If you plan to do any climbing, you
will have to supplement this equipment. Please sort out and divide your
trekking equipment into three categories:
1.to wear on the
trail
2.to carry in the day pack
3.to pack in the
duffel bag
You will not have access to your duffel bag once you
leave camp in the morning, as it will be carried by pack ponies or porters.
Therefore, you must anticipate all your daytime needs and carry these items
in your day pack. Your day pack should be large enough to accommodate your
water bottle. personal first aid kit, sun cream, sweater or down jacket,
rain parka and lunch box. Your duffel bag should not weigh more than 30 lb.
(20 kg). If you have heavy equipment such as special cameras or scientific
equipment, additional ponies or porters will have to be hired and you will
be charged for this extra service.
Trekking Equipments List>>
trekking boots - well broken in and waterproofed
>>
running or tennis shoes
>> down jacket or equivalent with
hood
>> one heavy wool shirt or sweater
>>
two cotton shirts
>> one pair cotton trousers or shorts
>>
one pair woollen trousers
>> one pair shorts or
calf-length skirt/culottes for women (skirts are more comfortable and
culturally
more acceptable)
>> three pairs of regular underwear
>> long underwear - thermal or wool
>>
wind- and rain-gear with hood
>> sun hat with brim
>>
woollen hat or balaclava
>> woollen mittens or gloves
>> woollen socks to wear with boots
>>
cotton socks
>> personal first-aid kit including
medication for common ailments such as headaches,
dysentery
etc., moleskin, antiseptic cream, surgical tape, band aids, sun cream (15%
block
out advised for Spiti and Ladakh),
lip salve and medicines
>> water purification tablets
>> toilet kit - including extra toilet paper, towel and
soap
>> flashlight with extra batteries
>>
sunglasses or snow goggles (an extra pair is recommended)
>>
water bottle, preferably wide mouthed, with at least one liter capacity
>>
pocket knife
>> swimsuit
>> note book
with pens and pencils
>> plastic bags - small size for
books, film etc., larger bags for clothes, sleeping bags and duffel
bag
liners light
>> weight day pack
>>
duffel bag - preferably waterproof
Optional Accessories1.camera
and film - bring plenty, as film is expensive and not easily available
2.binoculars
3.umbrella
- available locally
4.repair kit with needle, thread, tape,
glue, scissors, etc.
5.extra water bottle - recommended for
Ladakh wind pants, gaiters and down booties - for high
altitude
treks small supply of personal energy snacks reading material, playing cars,
lightweight
chess board, Scrabble, etc.
6.give-aways
such as pens, pencils, books, etc.
Permit For FilmingNo
permission is required for ordinary photography or video cameras. However,
for movie filming in 16 mm/35 mm, a special permit is necessary. The
procedures are fairly complex, so please apply at least a year in advance.
The application should be made at the Indian Embassy or Mission in your
country of residence. The Indian government requires complete details of the
synopsis of the film, location, exact period of shooting schedules, bio-data
and passport details of the crew members and a complete list of equipment to
be imported.
InsurancePlease insure yourself against
sickness, accident, helicopter evacuation, hospitalization and the like, as
you would normally do before embarking on a wilderness vacation.
We
do not insure our clients ourselves and we accept no responsibility for
damages or expenses which may arise from mishaps to persons on India Insight
Tours trips. Reservations are accepted only on this understanding.Medical
and evacuation expenses incurred as a result of accident during a India
Insight Tours trek are chargeable in full to the clients involved. Actually
you will be safer on your trek in the Indian Himalayas than on the roads of
many parts of the world, but insurance does not cost much and is a
worthwhile precaution. Coverage should include air flights, including
charters.
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Insight Tours Pvt. Ltd. All Rights
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