12 Days – Snow Leopard Tour – Hemis National Park, Ladakh

1. Delhi
2. Leh
3. Hemis high altitude national park (Rumbak & Uley – Areas to look for Snow leopards and to stay)

Day 1 – Arrive in Delhi – Trip start:

Today according to your arrival time, our tour leader will pick you up from Delhi airport and drive you to a city hotel in Delhi—lunch at 12:30 P.m. at the hotel restaurant. No activities are planned for a day but a half-day Delhi city tour/Sultanpur bird sanctuary can be done at an extra cost. At 7 pm we will meet again at the hotel lounge for a group meeting and our tour leader will brief you about the itinerary followed by drinks and dinner. Overnight stay in Delhi.

Meals: Lunch & dinner
Activity: None (Optional -Half-day Delhi city tour/Sultanpur bird sanctuary – USD 40 Per Person)

Day 2 – Delhi to Leh:

Today we will take a morning flight from New Delhi to Leh. Breakfast on the flight. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel located near Leh Market. Complete rest for the day is highly recommended as it eases the process of acclimatization. Also sipping hot tea while stretching your legs in the lap of the Himalayas is not a bad way to start your trip, alternatively, you can also choose to visit the local market or Leh Palace in the evening. Overnight stay in Leh.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & dinner
Activity: Visiting Leh Palace and Leh market

Day 3 – Leh:

Today, post breakfast we go for a birdwatching session around Leh & visit the Snow Leopard Conservancy. We have ample birding opportunities, as well as visiting some sites around Leh. You return to the hotel with a lovely photo album. Overnight stay in Leh.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & dinner
Activity: Birding, Snow leopard conservancy, local sightseeing

Day 4 – Hemis High Altitude National Park (Rumbak):

Post breakfast in Leh we head to the Hemis National Park. We drive via spituk along the way we see Indus Gorge and soon enough lay our eyes on the high-altitude Hemis National Park, the home of the Snow Leopard. Keep your senses sharp and look out amidst the cliffs and at the base of rocks where they mark their turf. Elevation: 12,400 ft. After reaching our homestay, we eat a sumptuous lunch made by locals. Afternoon we spend tracking and searching for snow leopards. Overnight stay in Rumbak.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Activity: Spituk monastery, Half day tracking for Snow leopard

Day 5 – 7 – Hemis High Altitude National Park (Rumbak):

Over the next 3 days, we trek around Hemis National Park, tracking the Snow Leopard and its wildlife prey. Hemis National Park is home to Himalayan Blue Sheep, Argali, Ladakhi urial, Tibetan wolf, Eurasian lynx, Red fox, Himalayan marmot, Mountain weasel, and an exquisite variety of bird life.

You are likely to see the signs of Snow Leopard, as winter is the time when they descend to lower elevations. If lucky, you’ll see one perched high in the rocks or balanced on a near-vertical ridge. Return to camp for some hot servings and warming tea and share tales of the day. Overnight stay in Rumbak.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Activity: Full-day tracking for Snow leopard

Day 8 – Rumbak Village to Uley Village:

Today after having early breakfast we will drive to Uley, After reaching our homestay we will have a quick lunch and then start trekking again to look for snow leopards and other Himalayan wildlife and birds. Overnight stay in Uley.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Activity: Half-day tracking for Snow leopard

Day 9 – Uley Village:

After having breakfast we will go for a trek again to look for Snow leopards and other Himalayan wildlife and birds. Overnight stay in Uley.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & dinner
Activity: Full-day tracking for Snow leopard

Day 10 – Uley Village to Leh:

The night before we will keep our bags ready and packed. Today after having breakfast we will shift our bags in our cabs, say goodbye to the homestay staff, and leave for Leh. On the way to Leh, we will stop for locations where the chances of seeing the snow leopard are good. While going to Leh we will keep checking the area also. After reaching Leh. You are free to roam around. Overnight stay in Leh.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & dinner
Activity: Half day Snow leopard trek

Day 11 – Leh – Delhi:

Today according to our flight timing we will drive to Leh airport to catch our Leh to Delhi flight, on reaching Delhi, our taxi driver will pick up us and drive to the Delhi City Hotel. Lunch on the flight. We will meet at 6 PM in the hotel lounge for our farewell dinner. Overnight stay in Delhi. 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activity: None

Day 12 – Delhi – Trip ends here:

Today according to your flight timing we will drop you at Delhi airport. The journey in the search for a grey ghost – Snow Leopard with beautiful memories ends here. 

Meals: None
Activity: None

Includes

1. Airport transfers (Pick up & drop)
2. Accommodation on a sharing basis in luxury hotels and comfortable homestays
3. Accommodation on Single sharing ( at an extra cost)
4. Domestic flights (Delhi – Leh – Delhi )
5. All Meals as mentioned in the itinerary
6. All activities as mentioned in the itinerary
7. National park entries, forts/monuments/heritage building entries, city tours, adventure activities as mentioned in the itinerary (Charges may vary if the govt. changes the prices at the time of the booking)
8. All ground transportation in Air conditioned Taxi
9. Services of 1 tour leader + local guides/trackers (if applicable)
10. Service of potters
11. Gratuity to Snow leopard trekkers, hotels, homestays, and taxi drivers. 

 Excludes

1. Camera charges
2. Visas
3. Flights (All international) 
4. Travel Insurance
5. Optional Activities
6. Drinks, tips, phone calls, laundry & items of a personal nature 
7. Anything that is not mentioned in the “Included section”
8. Gratuity/tip to Expedition Leader