Snow Leopard Expedition
Snow Leopard Expedition in Ladakh
Are you someone who has watched “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” over and over again, and felt an adrenaline rush every time Ben Stiller and Sean Penn pause to watch the Snow Leopard ? Do you wish to take a trip to a similar setting to have the opportunity to spot this extraordinary mammal?
The Rumbak Valley in the heart of Hemis National Park, Ladakh is a sanctuary for one of the world’s most elusive and enigmatic creatures: the Snow Leopard. The Sham valley region around Ulley is equally popular for Snow Leopard expeditions. The Snow Leopard expedition that we offer in these pristine regions gives you a rare and thrilling experience.
Why is it rare ? Climate change and habitat loss is adversely affecting the population of Snow Leopards. Who would say that spotting an endangered specie that is so beautiful with its thick shiny fur covered in rosettes isn’t rare. There could be a snow leopard 20 feet away from you and you just wouldn’t know. Yeah! that is how well it can camouflage with its surrounding.
What makes it thrilling ? You are living in harsh conditions for this one of a kind experience with temperatures in the range of 5 to -25 degree Celsius. You have to be not only adventurous but also passionate if you wish to spot this beautiful creature. This expedition is more than just a journey; it’s an immersion into the mystical world of the snow leopard and the rugged beauty of Ladakh.
Imagine being out there in -20 degree Celsius with a range of barren rocky mountains in front of you. You are struggling to keep yourself from shivering in the cold but and at the same time your mind is unable to find words to describe the beauty of the snow capped peaks. You are sipping your chai feeling joyous just to have taken this trip and your guide whispers in your ear……..
If this imagination of spotting a Snow Leopard brought you goosebumps,
reach out to us right away to book your snow leopard expedition
Why right away ? What’s the urgency to book ? Well! The experience is quiet popular and we have limited number of slots for the best hotspots where you have the highest chances of spotting a Snow Leopard. While engaging in sustainable tourism to enhance the livelihood of the local community, we also ensure that there is no pressure on the resources and that the environmental balance is preserved. And for this, we also recommend our guests to opt for local homestays instead of luxurious guesthouses. This way you can contribute to local welfare while also keeping in check your carbon footprint.
Hemis National Park – A hotspot for Snow Leopards
Rumbak Valley, located within the Hemis National Park in Ladakh, is the ideal setting for the Snow Leopard expedition. At an altitude of approximately 4,100 meters (13,450 feet), the valley offers beautiful landscapes you can explore for flora and fauna.
Within the valley, certain hotspots include Tarbung Valley, Hussing Point, and Rumbak Village.
Why to choose Himalayan Ecotourism for your Snow Leopard Expedition
We design your itinerary to maximize the chances of spotting the elusive snow leopard while also offering a chance to experience the stunning landscapes of Ladakh. Here’s what makes this expedition a truly unique adventure with Himalayan Ecotourism:
- Immersive Wildlife Observation: The Snow Leopard expedition that we offer focuses on wildlife observation rather than physical exertion. We ensure that your experience is enhanced to the optimum level by designing it with the perspective of a journey that involves an opportunity to spot a variety of mammals and not just Snow Leopards. We want our travelers to enjoy the art of tracking, analyzing pug marks, scat, and other signs of snow leopard presence.
- Stunning Landscapes: Stunning is just a word, very short of describing the landscape of Ladakh. When you wake up and unzip your tent, the view that you have cannot be expressed in words, these views are expressed in stories, stories that could make a book.
- Expert Guidance: We focus on experience and not on numbers. And for this reason we ensure that the spotters and guide accompanying you are highly knowledgeable. Our guides have more than a decade of experience. We also ensure best equipment – binoculars, camera traps and telescopes to enhance your experience.
- Cultural Immersion: We recommend staying in a homestay instead of luxury guesthouses. This will give you the opportunity to immerse in the culture. Homestays are neat and clean with local cuisines and the warmth of the Ladakhi people.
- Conservation Impact: Our experiences focus on improving the livelihood of local communities and at the same time ensuring we do not have a negative impact on the natural environment. With us, you can be sure of preserving the environmental harmony.
Practical Information for participants
- Altitude : 3,000 meters (9,842 feet) to over 4,100 meters (13,450 feet).
- Temperature : -25°C to +6°C
- Difficulty Level : No physical exertion, the extreme cold makes it challenging.
- Starting and Ending Point: The expedition begins and ends in Leh, the capital of Ladakh.
- Base Camp: Customized based on preferences
Adventure enthusiasts can find the Snow Leopard Expedition itinerary in the specified section on the top of this page. The itinerary is just a frame to help you understand what can be expected. We customize itineraries based on your needs, preferences and the number of days you can allocate for the expedition. The longer you stay, the higher the chances of spotting Snow Leopards and other mammals.
Reach out to us here to customize your Snow Leopard adventure in Ladakh.
Snow Leopard Expedition in Ladakh
Duration of your trek
Day-min : The minimum number of days required for the trek (from Leh to Leh)
Day-max : The maximum number of days you can spend on this trek. Prolonged itinerary can be discussed with our team.
AWTD : Average walking time per day (<3 : easy, 3 to 5 : moderate, >5 : strenuous
Altitudes of your trek
Min : Minimum altitude of your trek.
Max : Maximum altitude of your trek.
Ascent : The total ascent throughout the trek.
Descent : The total descent throughout on the trek.
Difficulty of your trek
Stamina : The physical effort involved during your trek. Rated from 0 (easiest) to 100 (most strenuous). If you have an average fitness you can consider all the treks up to 50. See here for more details
Technical : Difficulty of your trek in terms of exposure to danger and required experience.
0 to 20 : No difficulties,
20 to 40 : Walking on good mountain trails,
40 to 60 : Some walking on difficult mountain trails (steep slopes, rocks, etc.),
60 to 80: You are exposed to some dangers (void, snow, falling rocks, etc.),
80 to 100 : Experience required (please inquire).
Overall : Average between Stamina and Technical rating.
Duration
Altitudes
Difficulty
Snow Leopard Expedition in Ladakh
Snow Leopard Expedtion Itineraries
There are a couple options for Snow Leopard spotting within the Hemis National Park and other territories adjoining the region. Depending on the number of days and your preference, we can customize the expedition to meet your expectations.
Snow Leopard Expedition best time to go
Best time to spot Snow Leopards is winter from January to March as they descend to lower altitudes in search of food. Note that the Ladakh region experiences sub zero temperatures during these periods (ranging 5 to -30 degree Celsius).
JAN
Best time to go
FEB
Best time to go
MAR
Best time to go
APR
You may go
MAY
Avoid
JUN
Avoid
JUL
Avoid
AUG
Avoid
SEP
Avoid
OCT
Avoid
NOV
Avoid
DEC
You may go
From our gallery
Snow Leopard trek photos
Itinerary
Day One : Arrival in Delhi
| FEATURES | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
| Hotel | Taxi will pick you up on arrival in Delhi and transfer you to a hotel located on central Delhi. We will choose a hotel with close access to metro and public transport |
Day Two : Tour of Delhi
| FEATURES | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
| Hotel | Our knowledgeable guide will give you a full day tour of Delhi. Have a relaxing night and prepare to fly to higher altitude the next morning |
Day Three : Delhi to Leh
| FEATURES | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
| 90 minutes 3200m Homestay/Hotel | After breakfast, fly to Leh. We move from 300m to 3500m above sea level. On reaching Leh, taxi will transfer you to a homestay or hotel as per your preference. Relax for the entire day, drink plenty of water and allow your body to acclimatize |
Day Four : Acclimatization day in Leh
| FEATURES | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
| Homestay/Hotel | We will spend another day in Leh to allow for better acclimatization. We can visit Leh Palace and Hemis Monastery. In the evening, you can take a stroll in the Leh market |
Day Five : Move to Ulley
| FEATURES | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
| 3 hours 500m Homestay | We move to Ulley which is a 2 to 3 hour drive from Leh. On reaching settle at your homestay/guesthouse. Late afternoon we take a short hike to track the Snow Leopard |
Day Six to Day Eleven : Ulley homestay
| FEATURES | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
| Homestay | We will spend time hiking around Ulley to spot wildlife. Guides and spotters equipped with walkie talkies will update you regarding wildlife. Binoculars and telescope will be available for sightings. The guides have more than a decade of experience |
Day Seven : Drive to Leh
| FEATURES | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
| 3 hours Homestay/Hotel | Drive back to Leh. Relax for the day. Visit the market if you want to buy souvenirs |
Day Eight : Flight back to Delhi
| FEATURES | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
| 90 minutes | Fly back to Delhi after breakfast. You can book your return flights scheduled late evening |
Gallery
Snow Leopard trek photos
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