Snow Leopard Winter Wilderness Expedition

Snow Leopard Winter Wilderness Expedition

This is a fantastic short trip into the remote and beautiful region of Ladakh in the Western Himalaya. Often known as 'Little Tibet', Ladakh is steeped in ancient Tibetan Buddhist culture and is home to jagged Himalayan peaks, high mountain passes and vast stark landscapes as well as age old monasteries with exquisite treasures and works of art.

From Delhi, you'll take the short scenic flight to Leh, across spectacular Himalayan peaks. You'll spend a few days acclimatising and exploring the local area, with visits to remote villages and ancient Buddhist Monasteries before travelling onward to stay at Lungmar High Camp - your base for the next few days when you'll travel out with expert wildlife trackers to spot the wonderful local wildlife and the chance to see the rare and elusive Snow Leopard. Enjoy a fantastic winter wildlife expedition on this trip of a lifetime.

Itinerary

• Day 01

  Arrive Delhi

  Welcome to Delhi! After completing immigration formalities, you'll be met by one of our local representatives for your transfer drive through the city to your hotel. 

  
  

  Delhi, the capital of India, is a cosmopolitan city with a fascinating blend of ancient and modern and a rich history stretching back thousands of years. Depending on your time of arrival, you'll have the option to take a guided tour of Old and New Delhi today or before your departure at the end of your trip. The rest of today is free for you to rest and relax and enjoy your hotel. Relax by the pool, enjoy the luxury surroundings, dine in one of the restaurants and unwind after your flight.  

  
  

  You'll be staying at the luxurious 5 star hotel, The Imperial. The Imperial is an iconic heritage hotel, considered one of the finest heritage hotels in Delhi and in Asia. 

  Relax overnight at the The Imperial (Heritage Room).
  

• Day 02

  Fly Delhi to Leh (3500m)

  This morning, you'll be picked up for the transfer to the airport for the short flight (1 hr 20 minutes) to Leh, the gateway to Ladakh and the start of your amazing Snow Leopard adventure. Depending on flight times for your dates of travel, it may mean an early start but it's worth it for the spectacular flight over the snow capped peaks on the Himalayas to reach Leh. 

  
  

  Ladakh is the highest plateau in India and the name means land of high passes. This is a beautiful, high and remote borderland area of the Western Himalaya with unmistakable Buddhist influence. Located in the north eastern corner of India and nestled between the world's two  highest mountain ranges of the Himalaya and the Karakorum, this is a wonderfully remote wilderness region where you'll find soaring mountain peaks, high Himalayan passes, stark arid plains and ancient monasteries and settlements.

  
  

  You'll be met on arrival for the transfer drive to Leh (3500m).  The rest of today is to rest and relax and start to acclimatise to the higher altitudes and chillier temperatures. We'll also be getting prepared to begin our quest to spot the Snow leopard – the most elusive of the big cats. This evening enjoy a gentle, optional orientation walk around Leh and visit to the local bazaar. 

  
  

  Rest overnight at the 5 star hotel The Grand Dragon

  Meals included: breakfast

• Day 03

  Leh, Thiksey, Shey & Hemis Monasteries (3657m)

  Today is a full day to acclimatise and to explore the interesting sites in and around Leh.

  After breakfast, it's a short drive of around 19km to reach Thiksey village and visit Thiksey Gompa (Monastery). Thiksey is one of the largest and architecturally most impressive Gompas in Ladakh. There are several temples here to explore and enjoy the exquisite images, stupas and wall paintings of Lord Buddha. From Thiksey we drive on to nearby Shey village where you'll be able to visit Shey Palace and Gompa.  Situated on a hillside 15 kms upstream from Leh, this was once the residence of the royal family. According to tradition, it was the seat of power in pre-Tibetan times. Here you'll see the impressive 7.5 m high copper statue of Buddha, plated with gold and the largest of its kind. After time to explore, we continue the drive to reach Hemis monastery, one of the most famous monasteries of Ladakh. 

  Hemis Gompa is the wealthiest, best known and largest monastery of Ladakh and is also the site of the large annual summer festival. popularity stems from the major annual festival, held to honour Guru Padma Sambhava’s birth anniversary. Hemis also has the largest Thangka in Ladakh (a thangka is a large, hand painted pictorial religious scroll) which is unfurled only once every 12 years. Hemis monastery was built in 1630 during the reign of Singge Namgyal, an illustrious ruler of Ladakh. 

  This evening before returning to the hotel, we visit the magnificent Shanti Stupa, a large white domed Buddhist stupa.

  Rest and relax overnight at the 5 star hotel The Grand Dragon

  Meals included: breakfast

  
  

• Day 04

  Drive Leh to Rumbak Wildlife Lodge (3960m)

  Now you've had time to acclimatise, today begins the quest for a sighting of the most elusive big cat - the magnificent Snow Leopard. After an early breakfast it's time to depart Leh for the drive of just over an hour. Nestled deep in the Ladakh Range, beyond medieval Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries and past ancient shepherding hamlets, the spectacular location of the lodge and timeless Silk Road feel strike the perfect balance between remote luxury and rugged adventure. 

  Now you've had time to acclimatise, today begins the quest for a sighting of the most elusive big cat - the magnificent Snow Leopard. After an early breakfast it's time to depart Leh for the drive through narrow valleys along the Indus river. Nestled deep in the Ladakh Range, beyond medieval Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries and past ancient shepherding hamlets, the spectacular location of the lodge and timeless Silk Road feel of the location strike the perfect balance between remote luxury and rugged adventure.

  Arriving at the lodge, your transfer team will take you to check in, unless they receive word of an active wildlife sighting, in which case they will explore that opportunity first with check in later. After a tour of your accommodation and a briefing, it's time to set out in search of the Snow Leopards and other local wildlife with your tracking team.

  The hotels we use are all very comfortable and good quality and we’ve selected 5 star luxury hotels in Delhi and Leh to make your trip as comfortable as possible during the winter months. At Rumbak Wildlife Lodge you’ll stay in comfortable cottages. The lodge is set on a plateau overlooking the snow-capped mountain and the Rumbak river, with stunning 360-degree views of the mountains consisting of the Glacier valley towards the south east and the Tarbung Hill towards the south west - both of which are main spots for Snow Leopard sighting. On a good day you might even spot a Snow Leopard through the window!

  There are just 6 cottages, thoughtfully designed to blend in with the local surroundings using local materials, with amenities and facilities to make your stay as comfortable as possible in this remote high-altitude terrain. Rooms are well heated with floor heating and insulated roofs to traditional wood stoves and double-glazed windows for sufficient insulation and heat to keep the cold out. Heating blankets, and hot and cold water in the bathrooms ensure that you can freshen up comfortably after long eventful days.

  
  

  Rest and relax overnight at Rumbak Lodge. 

  Meal included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

• Day 05

  Rumbak Wildlife Lodge (3960m)

  You'll spend today and the next few days tracking wildlife through the Rumbak valley and surrounding landscapes of Ladakh, with your expert local trackers and guides. Snow leopards are most active at dawn and dusk and the spotters leave camp at dawn to visit various points in different valleys. They scan the ridge-lines and slopes for wildlife, reporting any sightings back to camp. The trackers and spotters work through the day, carefully scanning for wildlife and looking for signs. If a Snow Leopard is seen, you'll head to the closest vantage point by vehicle or walking,  depending on the spotter’s location. The rare and beautiful Snow Leopards are the highlight of this trip and a chance to see them in their natural habitat is the memory of a lifetime. You'll also have the chance to spot other local wildlife such as Lynx, Wolves, Golden Eagles, Blue Sheep, Himalayan Griffon Vultures and more. As well as wildlife spotting, you'll meet local people and learn about their culture and traditions and how they work to support conservation efforts to protect the Snow Leopards. During you time outside, meals, coffee, tea, snacks, all keep arriving from camp for as long as guests are at a sighting. You will also get opportunities to visit local homes and villages as well and talk with the people who live in this remote and beautiful region. These visits are an important way to understand what life is like here and how essential the local communities are to conservation. Daily guided wildlife tracking may include driving, walking, hiking, sometimes sitting and waiting patiently or a mix of all.

  
  

  Rest and relax overnight at Rumbak Lodge.

  Meal included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

• Day 06

  Rumbak Wildlife Lodge (3960m)

  This is another full day of wildlife spotting and exploring the valley, guided by your expert local trackers and wildlife teams based here. 

  
  

  Rest and relax overnight at Rumbak Lodge.

  Meal included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

• Day 07

  Rumbak Wildlife Lodge (3960m)

  Today is another full day of wildlife spotting and exploring the valley and another chance to spot the rare and elusive Snow Leopards in the wild. 

  
  

  Rest and relax overnight at Rumbak Lodge.

  Meal included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

• Day 08

  Rumbak to Leh to Delhi

  After spending four days in search of the Snow Leopards, also known as the “ghost of the mountains”, it’s time to head back to Leh to board your flight to Delhi. The flights depart around midday so you'll be back in Delhi by mid afternoon with the rest of your day to rest and relax, explore and perhaps do some local shopping or enjoy an optional guided tour of Old and New Delhi.  

  
  

  You'll be met on arrival to Delhi for the short transfer drive to your hotel in nearby Aerocity, for a short return drive tomorrow for your departure home/onwards. 

  Relax overnight is at the five star JW Marriott Aerocity (Deluxe Room), close to the embassies and the international airport. Please note if you prefer to stay in the heart of Delhi or would like to add some additional days to your itinerary, contact us for details and we'll be happy to share and suggest options.

   

  Meals included: Breakfast

• Day 09

  Depart Delhi

  This morning you'll be picked up for the short transfer drive to the International Airport for your flight home/onwards or to begin any additional extension trips you may have requested (available on request).