Tips for Winter Road Trips in India

If you are planning to travel during the winter season, here are a few tips to help you plan the perfect trip along the mountains without any issues or problems. We have curated these tips based on our travel experience; hence, they will be helpful to you. Our year's worth of experience managing trips to Ladakh and several other places has helped us develop these magical trips for extreme winter road trips. 

Prepare your Vehicle for the Winter Road

Preparing your vehicle for the Winter should top your checklist for your winter trips. Whichever vehicle you plan to take to the mountains should be serviced and maintained according to its service manual before leaving for the trip. If you are capable enough, you can try to change the engine oil and the various filters in the vehicle yourself. 

But for an overall examination of the car or bike, head to the service centre for maintenance. If you travel to higher regions where the temperature drops below 0 or drops to 1* C, it would be better if they shift to an engine oil grade that can easily withstand harsh winters without turning viscous, such as 0W20 or 0W40. But before doing so, refer to your maintenance providers and other officials to ensure that such changes do not harm the vehicle in the long run.

Here are a few Additional Checks you Should do on a vehicle.

Tyres

Check the age and quality of the threads on your tyres. If they are worn out, consider changing them. Freezing temperatures often cause tyres to lose pressure quite quickly. Hence, we recommend that you opt for nitrogen-filled tyres. As Nitrogen is an inert Gas, the tyres can hold the pressure for longer. 

Fluid Levels 

Check your engine oil, antifreeze, power steering fluid, brake fluid, and windshield wiper fluid levels. If your car has a hydraulic clutch system, you should also check the Transmission fluids before stepping out on a road trip. Optimum levels of these fluids play a crucial role in the overall working of your vehicle; hence, checking their levels is very important.

Research Your Winter Road Trip Route 

This has to be one of the most critical steps when opting for a winter road trip. Researching the route you would take while travelling would help you be ready for any issues that might befall you. If you plan to travel to Spiti in winter, you can research the places that face snowfalls and plan to travel accordingly. Maybe you can plan to change your tyres to all-terrain tyres or carry show chains along with you.

Keeping an eye on the weather forecast while travelling is a crucial step every traveller should take.

Packing for the Worst-Case Scenario

Although you have had your car inspected and well-maintained before embarking on your journey, we recommend that you pack and prepare for the worst possible circumstances. Keeping a cold weather kit or cold weather supply would help you face such situations while travelling. Here are a few items that you should always carry with you while packing for a long trip during the cold weather.

• Extra Food and Water
• Warm Clothing
• Ice Scraper
• Flashlight and batteries
• Compact Shovels
• Medications
• Portable Chargers
• Blankets

Seeking a roadside assistance provider subscription might also be helpful. You can opt for third-party RSA service providers or keep them as an add-on to the insurance coverage.

Plan Extra Time to Get to your Road Trip Destinations

Your plans should not be strict or rigid as several factors, such as snowfall and weather issues, can lead to changes that would negatively impact the road trip's duration while on the road. While planning such road trips, you want to see along the way, incorporate an extra-km range, and plan fuel stops accordingly.

Booking Flexible Accommodations

Many travellers face the problem of being unable to arrive at their destination while stuck in snow or road traffic jams. Hence, we recommend that you opt for flexible accommodations. These would help you if you cannot reach your destination on time and want to either cancel or check in late.

Such accommodations would help you save money and ensure that you do not have to face any issues while opting to stay.

Check Travel Advisories

It's important to check travel advisories while travelling. We recommend that you try to keep an eye on any warnings that might be published in the public interest. The weather often changes quite quickly in the mountains. As a traveller, you should always be aware of any changes that might cause formidable issues while travelling. Keep checking government travel advisory websites and ensure you keep an eye on these websites for the correct information while travelling.

Travel Insurance

Getting travel insurance would further help you be secure against any issues and problems. While choosing insurance plans, it is important to choose a comprehensive plan that can help in case of property damage or lost luggage. Although it might seem like a waste, getting insurance could prove to be fruitful in the case of an emergency.