Ice Climbing - Basic Ice Grade I
02 Days Ladakh, India
COMPREHENSIVE COURSE
This course is highly instructional & covers all basic ice climbing techniques & safety skills
LOCATION
Ladakh is an ice climbing paradise with fantastic ice falls for climbers of all levels
ACCOMMODATION
This course does not includes stays (You'll have to book your own accommodation)
BASIC ICE CLIMBING COURSE - IDEAL FOR BEGINNERS
Ladakh is considered by many to be the ice climbing capital of the Indian Himalayas – come find out why. Experience and enjoy this exhilarating sport on our beginner ice climbing training course in the Leh, Nubra areas. Many of our students have become highly skilled and accomplished climbers after taking our ice climbing lessons. A strong base of skills will be developed on the ice climbing basics course, so you will be able to use the top rope belay system efficiently and understand the use of personal ice climbing equipment. Personalized instruction in this course will help you to develop your ice climbing technique – the signature of a good ice climber. We will also introduce you to the basics of ice screw placement and anchor construction, the next step in your waterfall ice climbing progression. Our easy access to some of the best venues for learning the sport means the bulk of the weekend course is spent waterfall ice climbing. We will teach you how to ice climb efficiently while having an unforgettable experience. With the enthusiastic and dedicated ‘ རི Ri Guides Ice Team’, comprising of top western himalayan ice climbing guides, you’ll experience an unforgettable weekend of learning, challenge and exhilaration! No experience is necessary, leave that to us! Our two-day ice climbing basics course includes the use of all the technical gear you need to get started. In addition to taking this beginner ice climbing course in Leh, check out the ‘Plus Days’ add-on option and you’ll be just blown away by what you can accomplish on this weekend. We have decades of experience in introducing people to the sport of ice climbing. Our office in Leh, Ladakh is fully equipped with all the ice climbing gear you need to get started.
Optional PLUS DAY:
INR 8500. Every day following ‘Basic Ice’. Available to Basic Ice participants only.
Please note you will be required to sign the རི Ri Guides Release of Liability, and Waiver of Claims prior to commencing the program. Please review the sample waiver prior to booking and call us with any questions.
Is it for you?
Our ice climbing course is suitable for total beginners, rock climbers and general mountaineers. Ice climbing can be a strenuous activity but our instruction will emphasize the development of the technique to reduce the need for brute strength. The ice climbing routes will be tailored to your ability and strength as much as possible. A high level of fitness will contribute to enjoyment and achievement however, you need no previous experience.
BASIC ICE GRADE I
| Date(s): | 2025: Dec 30-31, 2025: Jan 6-7, 26-27, Feb 5-6 |
| Cost: | INR 16,450 |
| Deposit: | INR 8000 |
Day 1: 9:00 am Briefing & at Local Climbing Area
- Welcome, introduction, goals and agenda
- Check gear and adjust crampons
- Discussion of safety procedures and hazard awareness
- Knots and harnesses
- Basic Ice Movement – how to use crampons in a controlled environment a few feet off the ground – essential for confidence!
- Top rope belays and climbing communication
- Lowering
- General ice climbing techniques for efficient movement
- Top rope climbs at the crag
Day 2: At Local Climbing crag in Leh:
- Site hazard awareness
- Consolidation of technical belaying and communication skills
- Climbing warm-up
- Introduction to steep ice climbing techniques
- Lots of climbing with coaching on steeper climbs. You will be surprised at what you can ice climb when using modern ice tools and proper body positioning
- Introduction to placing and removing ice screws
- Introduction to basic anchor construction
- Debrief and wrap-up by 4:00 pm
Basic Ice Grade I ‘Plus Days’:
Stay for an extra day after the Basic Ice Grade I Course and put your new skills into practice and climb multi-pitch. The instructor-to-student ratio is 1:2, we divide into compatible teams, choose a suitable ‘multi-pitch’ route (several rope lengths in height) and spend the day climbing it.
INR 8500. Every day following the Basic Ice Grade I course. Available to Basic Ice Grade I course participants only.
Meeting Time and Place:
The course begins at the Ice crag in Leh at 9:00 am on the first day.
Instructors and Group Size:
The “ རི Ri Guides Ice Team” includes some of the best ice climbers and course instructors! Enthusiastic and extremely talented mountain guides. Your safety and enjoyment are paramount to them. There will be a maximum of 12 students and a minimum of 4. Instructor/student ratios range down from 1:6. In addition to being expert ice climbers, they are well trained to རི Ri Guides’s high customer service standards and are highly experienced course instructors.
Transportation:
To keep prices down participants are responsible for their own transportation during the program. Local Ice crag is a 20 mins (km) drive approx. from Leh town.
Crag Passes:
Please note that the local ice crag is developed every year by the Ladakh Mountain Guide Association (LMGA), guests will be required to purchase day pass for training at the local ice crag.
Accommodation and Meals:
Accommodation in Leh is not included. A variety of accommodation options exist in Leh, including hostels, all levels of hotels as well as condo-style accommodation with kitchens or suites. We recommend that you book your own pre-post and during accommodations well in advance.
Food is not supplied. You will need lunch and something to drink each day. Each day bring plenty to drink and lunch plus energy snacks. We particularly suggest bringing a Thermos and hot drink.
Equipment’s:
རི Ri Guides can provides the following personal technical gear on rent. Please feel free to bring your own items if desired.
- Boots (must be crampon compatible)
- Crampons
- Climbing harness
- Climbing helmet
- Ice tools
- Belay device, carabiners, slings
These items are available for rent. Please advise us in advance.
We recommend you bring:
- Daypack (30-45 liters)
- Lunch, snacks
- Thermos flask and/or water bottle (1-2 liters combined volume)
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Camera
- Hand Sanitizer
Clothing:
There can be prolonged periods of inactivity in very cold temperatures throughout the course. Don’t be afraid to bring too much! We recommend bringing clothing that can be layered to achieve comfort as you change from periods of activity to periods of rest. Cotton clothing is not appropriate as it causes rapid heat loss when wet.
We recommend you bring:
- Long underwear top and bottoms (heavyweight synthetic or wool)
- Socks (synthetic/wool blend)
- Softshell pants and jacket
- Midweight synthetic or down jacket
- Waterproof hardshell jacket with hood
- Waterproof hardshell pants (should have a full-length side zip so they can be put on without taking off boots and crampons)
- Heavyweight parka (big enough to fit over all your other layers)
- Gaiters (big enough to fit over large boots)
- Waterproof mountaineering or ice climbing gloves (at least two pairs)
- Warm hat that fits under a helmet
- Face Mask
Additional gear info:
Boots:
A good pair of boots is essential. They need to be warm and crampon compatible. You are welcome to try the Scarpa white plastic mountaineering boots that Ri Guides provides.
Crampons:
A good waterfall ice crampon will have vertically oriented front points and some have the option to switch to a single point for mixed climbing. We use the Petzl Lynx for our ice and mixed climbing programs.
Climbing harness:
A winter climbing harness should be sized to fit over your winter clothing. It is recommended to have a harness with a dedicated spot for an Ice Clipper or Caritool.
Ice tools:
It is important to have a tool with a curved hand grip at the bottom. For thin ice and mixed climbing, it is much safer to have a hammer or nothing at all attached to the head of the tool, instead of an adze. For all-around ice and mixed climbing, Ri Guides uses the Petzl Quark. For steep ice and advanced mixed climbing, Ri Guides uses the Petzl Nomic.
Belay device:
Many options exist for belay devices. Ensure that your device has two slots for ropes, to facilitate rappelling. We provide the Petzl Verso or Petzl Reverso on our multi-pitch instructional programs.
Booking Info:
Please book as early as practical to avoid disappointment. Our beginner ice climbing courses tend to fill up quickly. We require full payment on booking.
We ask that you make yourself familiar with our detailed booking instructions and conditions.
Risk is an inherent part of all mountain activities. We strive to manage and reduce it; however, it is impossible to totally eliminate. Learn more about our safety and risk management approach. Please note that you will be required to sign our waiver before commencing the program. Please view our sample waiver copy.
Insurance:
There are two basic types of insurance that most travelers need to consider: Medical and Cancellation/Trip Interruption Insurance. We don’t sell or provide insurance and highly recommend you purchase it.
Emergency Medical Expenses Insurance:
It is wise to ensure that your health plan will cover you in case of illness or accident during your trip. Obtain extra coverage if necessary.
Cancellation/Trip Interruption Insurance:
We recognize that our guests’ schedules may change for many reasons, business, family, flight delays, injuries and other unplanned events. For these eventualities, the Trip Cancellation/Interruption insurance is a great way to protect your investment.
For all your travel insurance requirements we recommend the Global Rescue. This agency offers a wide range of travel insurance options including Trip Cancellation/Interruption, Travel Medical and Personal Effect Loss. We highly recommend purchasing this insurance. For more information and to purchase a plan, visit the Global Rescue website.
Included
Guide Fees
2 days of guiding and instruction by a qualified mountain guide.
Group Equipment
Ropes, safety equipment, etc will be provided when needed by your guide.
Office Support
Our team is based in Leh and will be happy to help you with any questions you may have before, during or after your trip to Nubra.
Not Included
Personal Equipment
Please see the "Equipment" tab to find out what you will need on this trip / course. For private customized guiding, please contact us directly to confirm your personalized kit list.
Accommodation in Leh
Accommodation in Leh is not included in the price but we would be happy to advise or organize it on request.
Travel to Leh
The price does not include flights, airport transfers or any other travel to/from Leh. However, we can organize airport transfers for you on request, please contact us for details.
Insurance
Travel insurance including a mountain search and rescue insurance is mandatory on all our trips (we can organize the mountain search and rescue insurance for you on request). We highly advice to have a policy covering the cost of medical treatment and to protect the value of your holiday in the event of cancellation. When taking out insurance please ensure the policy you choose covers you for the activities and altitude included in your itinerary.
Food & Drink
The price does not include lunch or snacks. You should bring your own lunch and hot drinks. Please make sure that you are carrying sufficient water and snacks as we will be at the crag for a number of hours.
Equipment hire
Please see the list of recommended equipment on the other tab. Most technical equipment can be rented from Ri Guides, please contact us if you would like prices and advice on whatever you need.
Insurance
We highly recommend that you take out specific insurance for mountain activities. This will cover you for search and rescue services, evacuation by helicopter and emergency medical treatment. You should also make sure that you have adequate travel insurance that covers you for the usual things such as cancelled flights, lost luggage, hospital treatment, etc. We don't provide mountain rescue insurance for your trip.
Accomodation in Leh
If you wish to book accommodation in Leh we would be happy to recommend some local hotels, guesthouses, hostels and advise on the best locations. Please contact us if you would like help finding accommodation in Leh.
Airport Transfers
We can help you to organize your transport to/from.