The Big Cats of India & Sri Lanka

Snow Leopards, Lions, Tigers & Asiatic Leopards; A Magical Central Asian Wildlife Experience - From £6,200 per Person Sharing, Excluding International Flights

Day 1
Upon arrival into Delhi International Airport you will be met by our local representative who will present you with all onward travel documentation. You will then be transferred to your hotel where you will be able to relax.
Overnight: The Leela Kempinski – Deluxe Room – Comfortable, en-suite bedrooms. The hotel has a pool and a choice of restaurants.

Day 2
Early this morning you will be transferred to the Delhi airport for flight to Leh (departing Delhi at 0630hrs and arriving into Leh at 0745hrs). You will be met on arrival and transferred to your hotel.

The rest of the day is yours to relax and acclimatise. In the evening you will have a basic orientation to the socio-political, economical and religious perspectives of Ladakh, followed by an introduction to the local guides and camping crew as well as a briefing with your tour escort.
Overnight: The Grand Dragon – Deluxe (B/L/D)
Altitude: 3500 meters

Day 3
After breakfast you will be taken to explore the Shey, Thikse and Hemis monasteries as well as a visit to Stok Palace.

The Shey Palace and Monastery are in ruins, but the monastery is still in use and inside you will find a beautiful 39 foot statue of the Sakyamuni Buddha made from guilded copper. Thikse Gompa is an impressive imitation of Lhasa’s Potala Palace; dramatically perched on a slope overlooking the Indus Valley. Within one of the newly built structures lies a three-story statue of the Maitreya Buddha, one of the most beautiful pieces of religious art in Ladakh. Founded in the 1630s by Stags-Tsang-Ras-Pa under the royal patronage of the great ruler of Ladakh, Sengge Namgyal, Hemis is the largest and richest Monastery in Ladakh.

In the evening, should you wish to, you can head out to explore the Leh markets and visit the Lamayuru monastery.
Overnight: The Grand Dragon – Deluxe (B/L/D)

Day 4
Today you will set of towards Zingchen by car (approximately two hours drive). You will then leave your vehicle and will trek to Husing (approximately two and a half hours) where your camp will be setup.

Husing is at the intersection of three prominent valleys and is know globally as “the world capital of Snow Leopard”. Husing campsite will be your base camp as you venture out for the next five days towards the many bye-valleys that vein out of the Husing pastureland.
Overnight: Tented Camp – (B/L/D)
Altitude: 3500 meters-3600 meters-3800 meters 

Day 5
Today your local expert guide will take you on an early morning excursion to the trails frequented by the ever elusive Snow leopard. Your guide will teach you how to track the snow leopards through different techniques such as smelling rocks and sand (smell of urine of the leopard), reading of pug mark, scrape (digging of ground by the animal), scate (stool) and rock-face rubbing of the snow leopard. The expert will also share local traditional knowledge on how to identify the hunt patterns and kill spots of the snow leopard!
Overnight: Tented Camp – (B/L/D)

Day 6    
Today you will learn to identify “hot spots” and vantage points through mapping and tracking, working closely with the local villagers, gaining their confidence so they can alert and relay instant information of any signs and actual sightings of the snow leopard. While you are trying to track the snow leopard, your support team will shift your camp from Husing to Rumbak, where you will be staying in home stays.

Homestays offer you a unique opportunity to stay with and share the culture of the Ladakhi people in remote villages, while trekking through the rugged habitat of the endangered snow leopard. By staying with the locals of Ladakh, you help them generate income from tourism activities in their region. You will stay in a clean, comfortable room, lit by candles or solar light and furnished in traditional Ladakhi style with clean traditional dry-composting toilet. Though the owners are trained to cook, we will have some of our own staff for assistance and a cook to help them prepare your meals.

Rumbak Doh offers excellent vistas into the higher ridges where the snow leopards hunt hopefully meaning better sightings!
Overnight: Village Houses (B/L/D)
Altitude: 4000-4200 metres 

Day 7
Today you will be tracking the snow leopards within the nearby bye-valleys of the Ranjon, behind Husing and Rumbak. The other two prominent valleys where snow leopard sightings are frequent are that of Tarbung and Kharlung, where you will also take day excursions to check out their habitats and trails.
Overnight: Village Houses (B/L/D)

Day 8
This morning you will trek back from Rumbak Doh to Zinchen (approximately 3 hour 30 minutes) where your vehicle will be waiting to drive you back to Leh (approximately 2 hours drive). Rest of the day is yours to relax.
Overnight: The Grand Dragon – Deluxe (B/L/D)
Altitude: 3800 mts-3600mtrs -3500 meters

Day 9
Early this morning you will be met at your hotel and taken to the airport to board your flight to Delhi (departing Leh at 0825hrs and arriving into Delhi at 0940hrs). The flight provides spectacular views of the Zanskar Range to the west, including the two peaks of Nun and Kun, while to the north you will easily spot K2, the second highest peak on Earth. Towards the east is the spectacular Chang Thang plateau whose landscape is dominated by vast turquoise lakes and rolling mountains. Upon arrival in Delhi airport you will be received and taken to your hotel.
Overnight: The Leela Kempinski – Deluxe room (B)

Day 10
You will be met at your hotel early this morning and will be driven to the airport for your flight to Jabalpur (departing Delhi at 0610hrs and arriving into Jabalpur at 0820hrs). You will be met upon arrival and driven to Kanha National Park (approximately four hours drive).

Kanha is one the largest and most beautiful Central India Park, extending over 1945 sq km of undulating country, including a core area of 940 sq km. Kanha has some 22 species of mammals; the most commonly spotted being the langur, jackal, wild boar, spotted deer, swamp deer and sambhar deer, all of which let you know as soon as a tiger is about and driving through the jungle listening out for their warning calls is extremely exciting! Less commonly seen are the tiger, Indian wild dog, sloth bear, jungle cat, panther and wolf. As well as the mammals, Kanha has some 200 species of birds including the peafowl, crested serpent eagle, hawk eagle and the grey hornbill.
Overnight: Shergarh Tented Camp – Tent – Shergarh is a beautiful tented camp located on the southern edge of Kanha National Park. En-suite tents, individually located throughout a wooded grove, ensure the maximum privacy possible. Each tent is covered by a tiled roof and has its own private veranda and en-suite bathroom, with coolers provided for warmer months. The main house is the centre of action in the evening, with a cosy log fire outside and beautifully home-cooked Indian or continental meals, often consisting of home grown vegetables or locally farmed fish from the lake. (B/L/D)

Days 11, 12, 13
The mornings will start with a wake-up call and tea. You will then head off for your morning game drive in the National Park. Make sure you wrap up warm as it can be quite cold first thing in the morning. Kanha is a fantastic park and the tigers here are doing exceptionally well. As well as the tigers, there is a whole host of wildlife which you could spot. Jungle cat, leopard cat, striped hyenas, wild dog, sloth bear, and gaur are just some of the animals you may come across.

Breakfast will be taken in the park surrounded by the beautiful jungle before you continue with your morning safari and head back to the camp around lunch time. The afternoon is yours to relax before heading out on your second game drive around 3pm; spending so much of your day in the park means you will come across a huge diversity of wildlife. As well as the jeep safaris, you also have the option of doing nature walks, cycling through the forest and bird watching walks, all escorted by the one of the camp’s naturalists.

The evening’s are spent with the other guests talking over your days adventures and eating delicious meals at a large table in the dining room or outside by the camp fire.
Overnight: Shergarh Tented Camp – Tent (B/L/D)

Day 14
Following your final morning safari and breakfast you will head back to camp for lunch Later you will be met and driven to Nagpur for your flight to Delhi (departing Nagpur at 1705hrs and arriving into Delhi at 1825hrs). Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
Overnight: Leela Kempinski – Premier City View (B/L)

Day 15  
After a leisurely morning you will be met and transferred to the airport for your flight to Diu (departing Delhi at 1335hrs and arriving into Diu at 1440hrs – Daily excluding Saturday). You will be met upon arrival and transferred to Gir National Park (approximately 3 hours drive).

Located in southwest Saurashtra, the Gir forest extends across an area of 1,412 sq. km. and is covered by a combination of grassland, scrub and forests of teak. An aerial view reveals low undulating hills rising from a height of 225 to 648 m. Apart from being the last and only home to the Asiatic lions, Sasan Gir is also a great place to see leopards, or panthers as they are also called. Sambar, chital (now abundant), nilgai, four horned antelope and chinkara, langur and wild boar have all made this park their home. As well as the main predators, the lions and the leopards, other predators include the wildcats, jackals, foxes and hyenas. There is an abundance of reptiles in Gir, the most visible of which are the marsh crocodile, which can be seen in the rivers and the Kamleshwar dam reservoir.

If you are a keen birder, you’ll enjoy spotting some of the 200 species found in Gir National Park. Ospreys, Peregrine Falcons, Fish Owls, Crested Serpent Eagles, Bonelli's Eagles, Goshawks and Pale and Montagu's Harriers are just some of the birds you may be lucky enough to spot here!  

Lion Safari Camp is set in a private Mango Orchard overlooking the Hiran River inside Sasan Gir National Park, the last remaining bastion of the Asiatic Lion and a popular leopard territory. 
Overnight: Lion Safari Camp – Luxury, air-conditioned tents with well-appointed, spacious bedrooms and en-suite bathrooms with bathtubs and showers. All of the tents are beautifully furnished with natural eco-friendly materials and open out to an extended deck which is perfect for relaxing during the day. The communal areas include an open-air, river facing restaurant, a lounge bar and a recreation room featuring indoor games and a pool table. The Camp has an in-house multi- cuisine restaurant and food is served communally in the open air restaurant. There is often a barbeque in the evenings and the camp can arrange a candlelight dinner for two on request.

Days 16, 17
Enjoy two full days exploring Gir National Park. You will head out on early morning game drives in the National Park in search of the Asiatic lions, then head back to camp where you will have the afternoon to relax and enjoy some lunch. If you are feeling up to it, why not go on nature walks around the lodge? Later in the afternoon you will head out on your second game drive of the day into the National Park. The evening will be spent relaxing around the camp and enjoying the freshly cooked food.
Overnight: Lion Safari Camp (B/L/D)

Day 18  
Following your final morning safari in Gir National Park you will be met and transferred to Diu Airport for your flight to Mumbai (departing Diu at 1510hrs and arriving into Mumbai at 1745hrs – Daily excluding Saturday).  On arrival you will be transferred to airport hotel.
Overnight: Leela Kempinski – Premier City View (B/L)

Day 19
Today you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Colombo (arranged yourselves) where, on arrival, you will be met by our local representative who will hand over your onward travel documents and introduce you to your driver. You will then transfer the short distance to your overnight hotel, The Wallawwa.
Overnight: The Wallawwa – Wallawwa Bedroom – A former traditional manor house, this enticing boutique property is set is acres of beautifully manicured gardens. Its location only 15 minutes from the airport makes it the perfect arrival destination. Bedrooms are beautifully designed are all have en-suite bathrooms. (B)

Day 20  
This morning you will be collected early from the Wallawwa and transferred to the Kelani River to board your scheduled flight transfer to the south of the island. The plane seats a maximum of 15 passengers and baggage allowance is limited to 10kgs if you did not travel internationally with Sri Lankan Airlines (otherwise you are allowed your international allowance). All excess baggage is transported by road to your final destination, so you should take immediately required items and clothing for the next 24 hours.

The flight is fantastically scenic travelling down the coast and over the historic fort city of Galle, making a stop at nearby Koggala before continuing to Dickwella. On arrival at the Dickwella landing point you will be met and transferred by a local air-conditioned minivan to the gate at Yala National Park where you will be met by a representative of Leopard Safaris and transferred to camp in a 4WD safari vehicle - your first taste of a Sri Lankan game drive...

Leopard Safaris are pioneers of tented safaris in Sri Lanka, offering abundant wildlife viewing opportunities deep inside the national parks, with an excellent chance of seeing leopards, elephants, bears and primates as well as a myriad of birds. You will camp within the park itself, so you can be out and about on safari whilst the rest of the world queues outside the gates, and similarly on the afternoon drive, whilst the rest of the jeep traffic rushes back to the gates before sunset, you can continue your game drive at a more leisurely pace.

Meals are taken alfresco and the food provided is incredible, especially when you consider the limited kitchen resources. Conditions permitting, you will certainly experience a  tasty BBQ under the stars, surrounded by the sounds of the Sri Lankan jungle.
Overnight: Leopard Safaris – Tent – Large tents equipped with comfortable beds. Facilities are not en-suite but comfort is a premium and hot showers and flushing loos are available on site (B/L/D)

Day 21, 22, 23, 24
Unlike in Africa, leopards in Yala are not primarily nocturnal hunters, since they have no predators to fear, so they are often to be seen during the day as well. Yala has the highest concentration of leopards anywhere in the world, so it is only very unlucky people who do not spot these elegant, beautiful cats during their stay in Yala. The male leopards in Yala are very confident animals and they are often seen walking the jeep tracks during the day, and seem quite unaffected by the jeeps too which makes it a photographers paradise. As well as leopards, the large number of elephants can sometimes be seen wandering on the deserted beaches or bathing in the numerous watering holes in the park. The best time for seeing leopards in Yala is first thing in the morning as the sun is rising and last thing in the day when they generally get up and start thinking of hunting. Each of these days you will head out at dawn and again in the afternoon to take advantage of these peak times. 
Overnight: Leopard Safaris – Tent (B/L/D)

Day 25
After your morning safari and breakfast, you will be transferred back to the gate to be collected by a local air-conditioned minivan and taken back to the Dickwella for your flight back to Colombo. The flight departs at 1630hrs and arrives back at the Kelani River at 1720hrs with no stops en route. Again any excess baggage will be transferred by road. After disembarkation you will be met and transferred to the Wallawwa.
Overnight: The Wallawwa – Wallawwa Bedroom (B)

Day 26
You will be met and transferred to the international airport for your flight back home. We recommend a minimum of two hours for check in and the journey to the airport is 20mins. Our representative will be on hand to assist you through the security checks and the check in desks. (B)