Pioneering Snow Leopard Safari

A Pioneering Snow Leopard Safari - From £2,950 per person sharing

A once in a lifetime chance to join the experts in finding the elsuive snow leopards of Ladakh.

This small group safari (max 9 clients) joins Dr Yash Veer Bhatnagar and our local guides in searching for the snow leopards of the beautiful Ladakh region. Every attempt will be made to track this elusive predatorbut time will also be spent meeting the local people as we stay in village homes, taste some of the local cuisine, adn admire the local cultures, traditions and religions. We also visit the mountainous monasteries and crumbling palaces of Ladakh. Other wildlife that we hope to see includes, Golden Eagles, Argali, Blue Sheep and Red Fox.

A fantastic educational safari that supports the local communities of Ladakh and critically endangered snow leopards through The Snow Leopard Trust.

15 Feb

Met upon arrival into Delhi and transfer to your hotel for a chance to relax after your flight and prior to the adventures of the next couple of weeks.

Overnight: The Imperial—Heritage Room; beautiful ensuite rooms with King-sized beds

16 Feb

An early start to catch the 0600hrs flight north to Leh. You have the day at leisure to acclimatize and this evening you meet your team of guides, porters and specialists who will be accompanying you for the next couple of weeks.

Overnight: Grand Dragon-comfortable ensuite rooms with views of the surrounding region (B/L/D)

17 Feb

Today we start our adventure. With a short drive (approx 2hrs) to Zingchen, we start our trek with a 2hr walk to Husing where camp will be set up for the first night. Husing will be our base camp for the next 5 nights as we explore this region in search of the elusive snow leopard. Husing is widely known as the ―snow leopard capital‖ as it is at the inter-section of three prominent valleys where snow leopards pass.

Overnight: Tented Camp at 3500-3800 meters (B/L/D)

18, 19, 20, 21 Feb

Over the course of the next few days we will explore the Husing region in search of the snow leopard. Your local expert will illustrate the various signs to look out for such as pug marks, scat (dung), scrapes and rock face rubbings as signs of the presence of snow leopards. The guides and local experts will work closely with the local villagers as to the most recent sightings and will use certain vantage points to maximise the possibility of sightings.

Overnight: Tented Camp (B/L/D)

22 Feb

Today we break camp and head to the upper Rumbak Valley where we will stay at local village houses (approx 1hr trek). The rooms are clean and comfortable, lit by candles or solar light and furnished in the traditional Ladakhi style. We now move our search efforts to this region in order to cover as much ground as possible. At a slightly higher altitude, this region offers us glimpses into the higher ridgelines where snow leopards regularly hunt.

Overnight: Village Home Stay 4000-4200 meters (B/L/D)

23 Feb

Today we make our way to the higher ridges where we have panoramic views of the Phyang Village. In this region we can also hope to see Bharal (Blue Sheep), Red Fox, Golden Eagle and Tibetan Magpie. This afternoon we return to our village houses at Rumbak Doh.

Overnight: Village Home Stay 4000-4200 meters (B/L/D)

24, 25 Feb

Over these two days we have the chance to follow the trails towards Ganda La and the remote village of Yurutse; a great opportunity to broaden our search area and also catch sight of the Argali, a magnificent wild sheep whose males grow huge horns.

Overnight: Village Home Stay 4,000-4,200 meters (B/L/D)

26 Feb

This morning we start our return journey home with a 3.5hr trek from Rumbak Doh to Zinchen. Met here by our vehicles we drive back approximately 2hrs to Leh where we have a chance to relax and reminisce on the adventures of the last few days and hopefully some snow leopard sightings!

Overnight: The Grand Dragon (B/L/D)

27 Feb

Today we have a chance to explore the variety of monasteries in this region including Shey, Thikse and Hemis and also Stok Palace. Firstly we visit Shey Palace and Monastery; the adjacent Palace and Fort are in ruins but the monastery is still in use to this day. Inside is a 39 foot statue made of gilded copper of the Sakyamuni Buddha. We will then visit Hemis Monastery (the largest and richest in Ladakh) and cross the Indus River to Stok Palace.

Overnight: The Grand Dragon (B/L/D)

28 Feb

This morning we have an early start for our internal flight departure at 0735hrs to Delhi. Spectacular views of the Zanskar Range and also the famous peak of K2! Met upon arrival into Delhi you have a short transfer to the hotel prior to your international flight departure tomorrow.

Overnight: Radisson Hotel—Superior Rooms (B)

1 March

This morning you have a transfer to your hotel in time for your international flight back home. Rooms are available until 1200hrs (B)