| Day 1 Arrive Delhi |
Arrive at Delhi International Airport, where your guide will meet you. Transfer to hotel.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Shanti Home Stay (or similar) | |
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| Day 2 Leh |
Your guide will transfer you to the airport early in the morning for your flight to Leh. On arrival, meet your crew and drive to the Snow View Hotel. The rest of the day is free in order to acclimatize. Share a meal with your guide in the evening. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Snow View Hotel (or similar) |
The ruined Royal Palace at Leh.
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| Day 3 Leh |
If you're up for it, tour the Shey and Thikshey monasteries. Explore one of the palaces, Stok or Leh. Those who don't tour in the morning will tour in the afternoon, while the morning group rests. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Snow View Hotel (or similar) |
Stok Palace, a Buddhist monastery established in the 14th century.
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| Day 4 Leh/Uley Village |
Drive to Likir via Nimu and Bazgo. Stop at the Likir Monastery along the way, picturesquely situated in a valley near the Indus River. Continue on to Uley Village in the Sham Valley. Keep an eye out for snow leopards which have been spotted in this area. You may also see other animals, such as blue sheep, blue rock thrush, Ladakh urial, and yellow billed chough. Here you will camp for five nights. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Tented Camp |
A Ladakh urial near Uley Village.
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| Day 5 Uley Village |
Your expert guide will take you down the trails frequented by the elusive snow leopard, and will teach you the art of tracking these big cats. You may be lucky and see one on your first day! The excursion will last 3-4 hours. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Tented Camp |
The mountains contain clues that point in the direction of the elusive snow leopard.
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| Day 6-8 Uley Village/Walking Explorations |
Explore nearby areas for signs of the snow leopard, primarily following a trail. Scan the surrounding ridges for scat droppings, spray marks, or any other indication of their presence. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Tented Camp | |
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| Day 9 Rumbak |
Drive back to Leh, where you will have breakfast before driving to Zingchan. Make the soft trek to your next base village, Husing (3 hrs. and 30 mins. from Rumbak). Husing is located at the intersection of three valleys known for snow leopard sightings. The staff will set up camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Tented Camp |
Enjoy the rustic camping
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| Day 10-12 Rumbak |
Embark on day excursions to nearby valleys behind Husing and Rumbak. Also, traverse the other two valleys, Tarbung and Kharlung. Scan the trails and natural habitat frequented by the snow leopard. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Tented Camp | |
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| Day 13 Rumbak Doh Village |
Trek for one hour toward the upper Rumbak Valley to a village called "Rumbak Doh," where you will stay in local village houses during your search for the big cats. This is a unique opportunity to live with and learn about the culture of the Ladakhi people. In staying with the local people, you will be generating income for them. Your accommodations will be clean, comfortable, furnished in traditional Ladakhi furniture, lit by candles or solar light, and contain a western composting toilet. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Village Houses |
A Ladakhi man at a market in Leh (photo by Avijit Sarkhel)
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| Day 14 Rumbak Doh |
Follow the trail toward the base of Ganda La until you come upon the small village of Yurutse (a single housed village). There is a good chance of seeing the seriously threatened Tibetan argali here, the largest species of wild sheep. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Village Houses | |
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| Day 15 Leh |
Trek back from Rumbak Doh to Zingchan, from which point you will drive to Leh. The rest of the day is yours to relax and celebrate the trip, whether you spotted the snow leopard or not. Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Snow View Hotel (or similar) |
Bask in the spectacular scenery
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| Day 16 Delhi |
Depart in a private vehicle to the airport, where you will catch your plane to Delhi. The flight offers spectacular views of the second highest peak on earth, K2. Upon arrival in Delhi, you will be met at the airport and taken to the hotel. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Shanti House (or similar) | |
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| Day 17 Delhi |
This day is a buffer in case you lose a day due to weather. If all has gone as planned, tour Delhi or go for a short birding tour in Okhla, a neighborhood in the South Delhi district. Meals: Lunch, Dinner | |
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| Day 18 Depart Delhi |
Drive to the airport and catch your flight home. | |
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