Trekking in Ladakh

[cj001f]

I´m in the middle of researching this, but does anyone here have any reccomendations? Mid June ish probably. Other spots in the Indian Himalyas would be interesting as well.

[David Trippett]

I would stay away from Ladakh right now if you are American. I work in the area and was part of a group that was accosted by bandits. The bandits picked the Americans out of our group (being Canadian most of us were spared) by means of finding their passports and threatened to kill them. Only by chance did one of our local porters know one of the group and told them how these men had been employing locals and were "good". Needless to say the Himalaya are not safe for Americans right now. This was not the first such incident I witnessed either. I was in Nepal last year and the group we were with was stopped by Maoists and they picked out the Americans(see a pattern emerging?) and were roughed up and had all their things taken....save their clothes. I suggest you think long and hard before you take yourself over there. You may go and be fine, but is it really worth dying for? It's dangerous enough for westerners, but in the past few years I have seen the animosity towards Americans grow way out of proportion all through those mountains. Why not try the Andes?

[iluka]

I'm not sure I agree with that assessment of the state of things in Nepal. I spent the entire fall of 2003 working up in the Khumbu Valley. The area above Lukla was and is still safe as the military has made a big effort to keep the Maoists out of the valley. On the trek from Jiri to Lukla, however, trekkers are encountering Maoists who demand extortion money (a "donation" as they put it... but, hey, they give you a receipt) for you to pass. Fly into Lukla and you can avoid all of this. At the time I was there, there was no word of them roughing up Westerners although that might have changed since then. There were reports of bandits in some areas posing as Maoists and roughing people up. They don't have an easy time picking out Americans. For starters, few of the Maoists speak English and they generally can only communicate with the Nepali guides. If you want to avoid problems, sew a Canadian flag on your pack. Don't take along your passport. Instead, try to borrow a Canadian friend's passport and make a photocopy of it that has your photo in it instead. The Maoists have a lot of anti-American rhetoric, which is why the State Department has put out a travel warning, but they're not up in the Khumbu Valley and that area is still safe for travel.

[Dru]

hey ya, i've got a great idea. all americans pose as canadians, that way the bad guys will start attacking canadians too when they figure it out. maybe you can pretend to be french next.

 

whatever happened to "these colours don't run"?

[David Trippett]

Things have detiorated significantly all throughout the region, 2003 is long gone. Even the Khumbu has seen better times. Its unfortunate.

I don't know know anything about "posing" or being a "poseur" as the french would say, others may have knowledge regarding such items, but being safe means being smart.

IMHO Maybe if everyone felt as much responsibility for the state of the planet, and put their necks on the line, as often as americans do things may be better.

Gather lots of info and make up your own mind. Its easy to become emotionally over-run with feelings of angry nationalism over these things....but forget about it...just wait a few years...in the mean time go to the Andes...just as nice and less crap. People are nuts about americans right now and its really ridiculous. If I come off as alarmist....great....thats my goal. Its really not worth it. Maybe not what you want to hear?

If you simply must have the Himalaya for this seasons trendy traveler, try Sikkim and the lovely and safe Kangchenjunga trek. What a amazing trek, really underrated, and lots of minor peak bagging opportunities along the way, and you get to see Tenzing Norgays tomb in Darjeeling and those friendly Sikkimese women in Gangtok(!!). Another underrated and less known option is Arunachal Pradesh, wow....that place is amazing. Lots of plum picking to be done....permits can be a pain though...but the work is worth it.

As for Ladakh, if you want to see burnt out Canadians and Aussies....come to Vancouver and go to the Cambie.

 

BTW... the only travellers not carrying passports and ID are Americans so no matter what they figure it out...

Edited April 4, 2005 by avitripp

[cj001f]

Thanks for the info. I´ve heard conflicting reports, so will play it by ear. As for the Andes, I´m there now. I´d like a change of scenery.

[David Trippett]

Already there!? Thats great...for a change of scenery drink pisco all night with some Peruvians and spin in circles...that will do it! Stay Safe.

[cj001f]

Already there!? Thats great...for a change of scenery drink pisco all night with some Peruvians and spin in circles...that will do it! Stay Safe.

I prefer the scenery of Argentine discos.

[David Trippett]

you've not been to Brazil then?

[daveLok]

avitripp, can you elaborate which part of ladakh were you accosted by bandits. This is the first time I have heard of such trouble in ladakh. I am curios because I am planning a trip there later this year.

 

Thx.