Snow Leopard Sighting Tour

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11 Nights
12 Days

Delhi → Leh → Husing → Leh → Delhi

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Package Overview

Start Point: Delhi
End Point: Delhi

In this wildlife tour, you will try to locate the most elusive of the big cats, and that is the Snow Leopard. This magnificent leopard is found in the high Himalayan mountains and rugged cliffs of Ladakh. A trained naturalist guide will join this tour and give you info and details as to the habitat and hunting pattern of the Snow Leopard. By the end of this tour, you will have more knowledge about the Snow Leopard than any other person. As you scan the rugged mountains of Ladakh to have a glimpse of the Snow Leopard you will also view the gorgeous terrain and panoramas of Ladakh. You will go sightseeing in Leh and visit the magnificent Tibetan monasteries of Shey, Thiksey, and Hemis. This tour is not just about the Snow Leopard but also about the Ladakhi culture and ways of life. The Snow Leopard is the star attraction of this tour, but along with it, you will get to photograph other wildlife that comes across such as Bharal, Himalayan Ibex, Eagles, Vultures, marmots, Tibetan Wild Ass, and others. If you are a wildlife lover then this tour is yours!! Undertake the most epic wildlife adventure of your lifetime in the snowy landscapes of Ladakh. After all, you do not always come across the Snow Leopard.

Trip Highlights

Visit Shey Monastery, Thiksey Monastery, and Hemis Gompa in Leh
Guided Snow Leopard sightings in Ulley Valley
Photograph the Snow Leopard in Ladakh
Learn Snow Leopard hunting methods
Learn how to sight the snow leopard
Taste Ladakhi cuisine
Experience the Ladakhi culture and lifestyle
Photograph other wildlife in Ladakh

Day Wise Itinerary Download

1Day Arrival in Delhi

Today is the first day of this Snow Leopard Sighting Tour. Our tour representative will pick you up from Delhi Airport/ Delhi Railway Station. Then we will drive to the hotel and you can check into the hotel and have a rest. Later you will spend the day in Delhi and have dinner. Later you can rest in the hotel in Delhi and overnight stay.

2Day Delhi to Leh by flight

Today you will board the flight to Leh from Delhi Airport. This Delhi to Leh flight offers you some of the best views of the Himalayan mountain peaks. Your in-flight crew and pilot will brief you about these mountain peaks and guide you with information about the peaks. The mountain peaks will become visible once you cross Manali. As you land at Leh Airport we will drive to the pre-booked hotel/ homestay in Leh. You will check into the hotel and then spend the time acclimatizing to the weather in Leh. The low-oxygen atmosphere in Leh and the high altitude location of Leh are the things you should acclimatize with. It can take two whole days for your body to get used to the high altitude of Leh. This is the reason why you should take it easy in Leh and not over-exert your body as it will lead to giddiness and other side effects. You will have an overnight stay in Leh.

3Day Leh sightseeing

Today we will go on a sightseeing tour of Leh. We will visit the famous Buddhist monasteries of Shey, Thiksey, and Hemis. The statue of Shakyamuni Buddha in Shey Monastery is gilded in gold and is considered to be the second-largest Buddha statue in Ladakh. Shey Monastery was once used as the royal residence of the kings of Leh. The next monastery we will visit is Thiksey Monastery. This monastery is a magnificent monastery with fine architecture. You will find Buddhist art here such as thangka paintings, murals, stupas, swords, and Buddha statues. Thiksey Monastery resembles the Potala Palace in Tibet in many ways. You can view the valleys and scenic panoramas from Thiksey Monastery. Hemis Gompa is the next monastery in Leh that we will visit. This monastery is famous for the Hemis Festival, which is a big cultural event in Ladakh. After this monastery visit we will return to our hotel in Leh and rest here for the night.

4Day Leh to Husing via Zingchen (Ulley Valley)

Today we will drive from Leh to Ulley Valley. We will reach Zingchen, and from Zingchen we will have to trek to Husing for around 2-3 hours. Husing is located near three valleys and the barren hills and high cliffs offer panoramic views of the Snow Leopard. In previous tours, visitors have good Snow Leopard sightings. Husing will be our campsite for the next few days as we will try to locate and photograph the Snow Leopard. Snow Leopard is an elusive creature of the high altitude Himalayan mountains of Ladakh. Its fur coat is designed by nature to give it a perfect camouflage against the backdrop of the rugged terrain of Ladakh. At Husing you will camp in the tent and stay here for the next 5 days.

5Day and 6 : Snow Leopard sighting expeditions

Today a local expert will join you as you go for sighting the Snow Leopard. He will show you the various ways and techniques that are useful when locating the Snow Leopard. He will show you the trails and the ways that you should use to locate the Snow Leopard such as pug marks, the smell of urine, scraping in the ground, scate (stool), and the rock-face rubbing.
He will also tell you a bit more about the hunting pattern and skills of the Snow Leopard as it hunts for ibex, sheep, and other herbivores in the rugged cliffs and mountainous terrain of Ladakh. Some signs that point out that a Snow Leopard is near are the alarm calls of sheep, hovering eagles in the sky, screams of magpies, and movement of the Red Fox near the site of the kill.
We will familiarize ourselves with the terrain and also seek help from the locals who can tell us if they have spotted a Snow Leopard. We will make use of maps and tracking tools to spot machans and vantage points. We will visit the nearby valleys behind Husing like Ranjon and Rumbak. The other valleys where Snow Leopard sighting is possible are Tarbund and Kharlung. We will also head to these valleys in our Snow Leopard Expedition Tour. During these five days, we will understand a lot about the Snow Leopard and its natural habitat and trails.

10Day Rumbak Doh to Zinchen walk + Drive to Leh

Today you will walk from Rumbak Doh to reach Zinchen. The vehicles are waiting here to take you back to Leh. You will arrive in Leh check into the hotel and stay here for the night.

11Day Leh to Delhi by flight

Today you will be dropped off at Leh Airport and you can board the flight to Delhi. Our tour representative will greet you at Delhi Airport and transfer you to the hotel. You will have an overnight stay in Delhi.

12Day Departure from Delhi

You will check-out from Delhi today. We will drop you at Delhi Airport/ Delhi Railway Station and you can take the flight/ train and reach your hometown.

Inclusions

Comfortable Vehicle (Innova/ Xylo/ Tavera/ Scorpio/ Similar) for sightseeing on all days as per the itinerary.
Airport pick up & drop as per your flight timings
Accommodation at all locations on double (for couples & special requests) and triple sharing basis in standard hotels/camps
Buffet Breakfast and Dinner: Starting with Dinner on Day 1 & ending with Breakfast on Last Day as per itinerary
Fuel for the whole trip as per the itinerary
Assured Inner line permits and Ladakh Union fee
Experienced driver for the entire journey
Oxygen cylinder and Basic First-Aid during the tour
Driver expenses/ toll tax/ Fuel/ Parking charges

Exclusions

Expenses of personal nature
Mentioned cost is not valid between 6 pm and 8 am
Anything not mentioned under inclusions
Package price does not include Gala dinner charges applicable on Christmas and New Year's Eve

Confirmation Policy

Upon booking, the traveller will receive a confirmation voucher via email, within 24 hours.
In the special cases of slots not being available, feasible alternatives will be provided to the customer, in regards to the customer’s preference. In such cases, a new voucher would be sent via email, consisting of the new travel details.

Cancellation Policy

Any cancellation made before 20 days prior to the date of departure, would levy a 30% of total tour cost as cancellation charges.
Due to any restrictions such as sudden government policies or regulations, health hazards, medical emergencies, or unprecedented weather conditions, activities and tours may be nonoperational and be cancelled. In cases such as these, operators will attempt to cater to the traveller an alternate, which is feasible in nature. However, any refund would not be catered.