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Snow Leopard Tour 2024
Tour Essentials:
In the cold winter months of Ladakh, we provide you the unique & rare experience of finding the elusive and endangered Snow Leopard. With our team of Snow Leopard naturalists, we will take you into one of the best Snow Leopard habitats in the Hemis high altitude National Park.
Some of the birds that you may come across while on the trek are the: Golden Eagle, Lammergeier (Bearded Vulture), Eurasian Eagle Owl, Himalayan Griffon and Snowcock, Tibetan Partridge, Chukar Partridge, White Winged Redstart, Robin Accentor, White Breasted Dipper, and Brown Dipper.
While on the trek you will also have the opportunity to stay in home stays and in tents in the prime habitat.
Other wildlife that you will see are: Blue Sheep, Ladakh Urial, and the Tibetan Argali.
• Trekking in the mountains of Ladakh and Rumbak known as the Snow Leopard capital of theworld
• Guided by experienced naturalists and Snow Leopard experts
• Opportunity to get a local lifestyle experience of Ladakh
• ‘A’ Class accommodation in Leh and comfortable tents while on the trek
• Insight into local Snow Leopard conservation and village home stay initiatives
Day 01 ARRIVAL Delhi
Meeting assistance on arrival and transfer to hotel. Overnight at hotel
Day 02 DELHI TO LEH (FLIGHT)
Morning departure transfer to airport to board the flight for Leh. Assistance on arrival at Leh and transfer to hotel Leh is situated at an altitude of 3500 mts and is the capital of the once ancient Himalayan kingdom of Ladakh. Upon arrival at the hotel – a warm cup of tea will be served and you will be briefed about the trek. Spend the day acclimatizing in the Hotel as your body needs to adjust to the low oxygen levels.
Meal Plan – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 03 AROUND LEH
After breakfast, guided tour to Thiksey monasteries to give you an experience of Tibetan Buddhism which has been prevalent since centuries. Post the monastery visit – drive along the indus river to look for the Ibisbill or the Solitary Snipe. You may find a Harrier and also a few species of ducks.
Meal Plan – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 04 LEH / JINCHEN (DRIVE – 02 HOURS) – RUMBAK (TREK – 03 -04 HOURS)
Drive one hour into the Hemis High National Park. On reaching Zinchen village we commence trek further into the gorge towards the Rumbak Village. This will take about 04 – 05 Hours. Overnight at Tented Camp
Meal Plan – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 05 RUMBAK
(From this day onwards the itinerary depends on the movement of the Snow Leopard and thus the itinerary has to be very flexible as we trek and camp depending on the movement of the cat)
Early morning scouting for snow leopard signs and possible sightings at the junction of Husing Nala and Tarbung nala including the high ridge lines. After breakfast hike up the main Lato Nala till the vantage point at Rumbak Sumdo. Spend the day scanning the Kharlung and adjoining areas. Overnight in camps.
Meal Plan – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 06: RUMBAK
(The Mountains around Rumbak provide a unique bio diversity as you find four different species of wild sheep and goats namely – Ibex, Blue Sheep, Ladakh Urial and the Tibetan Argali. However it is predominantly the Blue sheep that accounts for the major prey base for the Snow Leopard population in the area.)
After breakfast, hike 2 to 3 hours to Rumbak village (known as the Snow Leopard capital of the world) Rumbak lies at 4050 mts and we have the choice of staying at homestays for the night. Spend the day exploring the Rumbak Mountains for Snow Leopards and other wild life. During the scouting trips we will be climbing up to 4600mts and we will also a trek up towards Yurutse pasture looking for the Tibetan Argali (Great Tibetan Sheep). Overnight in camps.
Meal Plan – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 07: RUMBAK
After breakfast hike up to Husing pass (4450mts) and spend the day at the vantage point on the pass scanning surrounding area for wildlife. Overnight in camps
Meal Plan – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 08: RUMBAK
After breakfast hike for 3 to 4 hrs towards Ganda la base to look for Tibetan Argali and other wild animals. The area is also good for the Eurasian Lynx and a good habitat for Tibetan Wolf. Overnight in camps
Meal Plan – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 09: RUMBAK
After breakfast hike up the Kharlung valley to look for snow leopards and Blue Sheep. Return to camp. Overnight in camps
Meal Plan – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10: RUMBAK
After breakfast explore Rumbak valley to look for snow leopard. Overnight in camps
Meal Plan – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11: RUMBAK
After breakfast explore Rumbak valley to look for snow leopard. Overnight in camps
Meal Plan – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12: RUMBAK – ZINCHEN - LEH
After breakfast trek down to Zinchen. On arrival drive to Leh. Overnight in hotel
Meal Plan – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 13: LEH TO DELHI
Early morning transfer to airport for your flight to Delhi. On arrival Delhi transfer to hotel. Rest of the day at leisure (No Guide and transport services)
Day 14: DELHI DEPART
In time departure transfer to airport to board the flight for onward journey
Meal Plan – Breakfast
What Is Included in Your Tour Cost:
∙ Accommodation (based on double occupancy rooms or tents).
∙ Total 3 Nights Hotel in Leh at on Leh on full board and twin sharing basis
∙ Tents / home stay at Rumbak on full board
∙ Transportation as per the itinerary for sightseeing, drop at & pickup from trek point by non AC Innova vehicles whereas in Delhi – AC Transport will be provided. We will provide maximum 04 pax in One Innova car in Ladakh
∙ English speaking accompanying Snow leopard guide throughout the trek
∙ Trek on full board with all arrangements like a guide, a cook, helpers/ scouts
∙ Alpine tents with mattresses, kitchen tent, folding chairs, ponies with a pony man etc.
∙ Wildlife entry fee in Hemis National Park
∙ We will provide good quality of 01 Swarovski Spotting scope (Model – ATX 25 – 60 x 65) Monastery entrance fee
∙ Airport transfers with assistance
∙ PPE Kits
∙ All applicable taxes
What Is NOT Included in Your Tour Cost:
∙ Visa Fees, Airport Tax or travel insurance
∙ Any flight tickets.
∙ Sleeping bags.
∙ Any type of personal expenses like personal medicines, tips and portage at airports, restaurants, hotels, drivers, guides, naturalists, escort, etc.
∙ Any other meals than those mentioned in the itinerary
∙ Any type of drinks like mineral water alcoholic beverages & cold drinks during sightseeing or during trekking.
∙ Additional cost resulting from delays due to landslides, sickness, flight cancellation etc.
∙ Cost of evacuation by any means.
∙ Additional hotel costs if clients wish to come back to hotel early from the camp
∙ Extra taxi costs if clients wish to take alternate additional trips from the group program
∙ Anything not mentioned above
Tour Cost: USD $9,750 per person
Single Supplement: USD $1,500 (which includes a single occupancy hotel room and tent)
Not Included: Flights to India and from India, alcohol beverages, travel health insurance, lunches, items of a personal nature.
Typical Day:
∙ Bed tea around 6:30 am
∙ Scan the ridge lines from Camp till about 7:30 am
∙ Breakfast around 7:30 am
∙ Around 8 am- Head out into either Tarbung, Husing Nala, or Rumbak Doh depending upon the movement of the cat and scouting information.
∙ Around 12:30 pm – Packed lunch will be bought to wherever we are scanning with Hot Soup, Lunch & Black Tea with Dessert
∙ Post lunch we still carry on scanning and scoping with little movement depending on the cat's information.
∙ Around 5 pm – head back to camp and have a hot cup of tea/coffee ∙ Continue Scanning till it gets dark as there is a good chance the cat may finally move from a days rest on some vantage point on the ridge line.
∙ Around 6:30 pm – Soup will be served followed by dinner and desserts.
∙ At Dinner time, the guide will usually sit with the group for some time and discuss the next day’s plan of action along with clarifying any doubts from the clients.
