Itinerary

DAY 1: NEW DELHI

Welcome to India! Our Snow Leopard tour begins in New Delhi. At your arrival, you will be met at the Delhi international airport for transfer to the hotel. Orientation and dinner. Overnight Delhi.

DAY 2: TRANSFER TO LEH, LADAKH

Today we will catch our flight to Leh, Ladakh. Exact arrival time to be determined by flight schedule closer to tour date.  Assistance on arrival at the Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport and transfer to your hotel. There will be no planned activity on this day.  It is very important to relax and undergo as little exertion as possible.  This will help you get acclimatized to this high-altitude region of the high Himalayan plateau.This evening we will have a short orientation and enjoy our first dinner together. Overnight in Leh.

DAY 3: LEH & MONASTERIES

Including another day to acclimatize fully, we will enjoy a leisurely breakfast, we will visit the picturesque Thiksey Monastery, located on a hill-lock with formidable views of the Indus Valley.  Thiksey is especially noteworthy for its gigantic seated statue of the Maitreya and is also known for its Dukhang, assembly hall, which houses hundreds of rectangular prayer books stacked between wooden covers and bound in silk. As time permits, there may be a chance to visit the Stakna or Spituk Monastery and do some birding in town. Overnight in Leh.

DAY 4-9: HEMIS NATIONAL PARK

On the morning of Day 4, we will make our way to Hemis National Park, one of India’s largest national parks and an important refuge for the Snow Leopard. Upon our arrival, we will be met by our support staff, which includes our cook and his assistant, the camp manager, and our trackers. Over the next six days, we must be prepared for anything. At times we might camp, at other times we might spend the night in a local homestay. Our movements, where we go, and how long we stay will be based on where the best potential snow leopard sightings appear to be. Please remember, lodging/camping can be very rustic. No showers are available and bathroom facilities mostly consist of outhouses. Apart from our search for Snow Leopards, we will search for other local wildlife, as well as photographic opportunities of the amazing landscape.

Hozing Valley, Rumbak Valley, Ulley, and Shang Valleys are some of the areas that are good for spotting this elusive cat. These areas offer good winter grazing for Blue Sheep, also known as Bharal– a delicacy for this wild feline! Other wildlife we will keep our eyes open for include wolves, foxes, Golden Eagles, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Eurasian Kestrel, Bearded and Himalayan vultures, Tibetan Hare and Pika, Tibetan and Himalayan snowcocks and Chukar Partridge, among others.

DAY 10: LEH

We will enjoy one more early morning in Hemis National Park taking in the beautiful scenery and soaking in the atmosphere, and, of course, continuing to search for wildlife. After breakfast, we will return to Leh for some more photography and birding opportunities. If time permits, we will tour through the ancient bazaar and alleys of Leh Town, where locally made crafts including natural soaps, jewelry, silk scarves, incense, Tibetan singing bowls, prayer flags, foods and even household items can be found. Overnight Leh.

DAY 11: LEH to  NEW DELHI

After breakfast, we will transfer you to the airport in Leh for your flight to New Delhi. We will check into the hotel and you will have free time to relax or explore the city. We will have our final dinner of the tour. Overnight in Delhi.

DAY 12: DEPARTURE

After breakfast, our Snow Leopard tour will conclude. We will transfer you to the Indira Gandhi International Airport for your flight home, or the hotel of your choice within New Delhi, for those continuing their adventure in India on their own.