Winter Travel Tips: 7 Things To Consider For A Healthy & Safe Holiday

Are you travelling to the mountains in winter? Here are some tips that will keep you safe and healthy

Winter calls for travelling, to the mountains if you want to witness snow, and beaches if you want to escape the chilly weather. The tricky part is to take care of your health, especially when you are travelling to cold places.

If you are not familiar with the mountains, sudden drops in temperature or oxygen at high altitudes can be an issue. Here are a few health tips for you if you are travelling to the mountains in the winter season.

Hydration

While travelling to cold places, we often forget to drink water frequently. In most cases, we even avoid hydration in fear of not finding restrooms nearby to relieve ourselves.

However, our body can experience dehydration in the coldest of places too and it can make you feel lethargic. Therefore, drink enough water and juices to maintain optimum hydration.

Carry Medication

Since mountain regions have a sparse population, you might not be able to find a pharmacy nearby. Therefore, it is sound to travel with all your medication and carry extra if needed.

Since the world is again worried about Covid-19, it is safe to keep sanitisers and masks with you all the time. It will prevent you from frequently washing your hands in the chilly weather.

Layer, Layer & Layer

We cannot stress enough on this. You must layer your clothes as much as needed and carry extra if you think the weather might flip at any moment. The worst thing about travelling in the mountains is you cannot anticipate the weather.

The morning might seem sunny, but you never know when the chilly winds might find their way inside. It can quickly deteriorate your health, and your vacation could be spoiled.

Eat Frequently

We are not suggesting that you pack loads of food and keep having heavy meals. Rather we suggest that you pack light snacks and eat them in frequent intervals. For example, energy bars, nuts, biscuits, etc. can be your life saviours.

If your travel itinerary includes climbing mountains or exploring nearby destinations, you might not find dhabas or local eateries that frequently. In such a situation, snacks can come handy.

Keep A Moisturiser Handy

Winter means dry hands, face and skin. Therefore, you must always keep a moisturiser with you. If you are in some place where there is only snow around you, it is essential that you keep your gloves and face covers on.

In mountains, if the temperature remains at minus, the chances of getting frostbite can increase. Hence, you must be wary of your clothing and skin needs.

Keep Checking Weather Updates

As mentioned above, there is no predicting the weather in mountain areas by gasping at the mesmerising morning view of the sun peeking behind snow peaks.

Therefore, your only resort is checking the weather updates every 20 to 30 minutes, if you have cell reception. It can prevent you from taking the wrong route and can also gear you up for sudden weather changes.

Stay Inside Your Vehicle

God forbid if you get stuck at any point while travelling through rough, rocky and snow-capped terrain, you must stay inside the vehicle. It is the safest option to keep yourself warm.

It will prevent you from the extreme weather outside. Huddling with fellow passengers might save you from hypothermia. You must also ensure to keep the headlights of your vehicle on to ensure other vehicles coming from the front or behind can see yours.