Snow Leopard Expedition

‘Ghosts of the mountain’ they are called. Elusive but ferocious, they rule the higher reaches of the Himalayas. This trip offers an excellent chance of spotting snow leopards in their natural habitat. The stark mountains of Ladakh towards the North West of India are its most famous hunting grounds. With less than 2 people per square kilometre, Ladakh is truly remote and very sparsely populated. Buddhists of Tibetan origin, in their small mud huts, are the only few people you’ll come across while you are on the trail of the snow leopard. Domestic yaks, horses and goats graze the sparse vegetation by day, but every evening they must return to fenced enclosures to avoid nocturnal predation by the omni-present snow leopards and wolves. Camping in remove valleys across the length of this expedition will be as exciting as following the trail of the ghost cat.

Itinerary

Daywise Itinerary

  • Day 1

    Arrival in Leh

    The thing about getting to these splendid barren mountains in Leh is that, even if you’re raring to head over to Nubra Valley, you absolutely need to rest and get acclimatised first. Later in the evening you can drive down to Shanti Stupa. The epitome of peace and harmony, Shanti Stupa’s white dome stands tall on a raised pedestal against brilliant blue skies. At 3,609 metres above sea level, the stupa offers unparalleled panoramic views of Leh town. Usually a lovely green in summer, the trees here turn leafless and brown in winter. 

  • Day 2

    Thiksey Monastery and Birding Near Indus River

    Another day of acclimatisation and we invest our time in gentle excursions, exploring for wildlife along the banks of the Indus in search of enigmatic birds such as Ibis bill, Solitary Snipe and Gouldenstadt’s (White-winged) Redstart.

    Drive on to Thiksey monastery, around 18 kilometres away.  Now one of Leh’s largest monasteries, there is a separate residential building for women as well.  With fascinating wall paintings throughout the 12-storey complex, stupas, thangka paintings, statues and numerous artefacts make for a very interesting visit.

  • Day 3

    Drive to Zingchen and hike to Campsite

    A 45-minute drive will take you to Zingchen. It is the entry to the Hemis National Park and has just 2 households. From here we hike for about an hour and a half to the campsite. Get a good look around the area of the campsite which will be home to you for 8 nights hereafter. The camping is fully pottered in and out, and though basic, you will be very well looked after, with a whole team of cooks and camp helpers attending to your needs.

  • Day 4

    Snow Leopard Tracking

    The calls of Himalayan snow cocks and chokers are most likely the first sound that you will hear each morning. The typical day will start with hot tea or coffee delivered to your tent, followed by a bowl of hot water for a refreshing wash. Our guides will be already on the lookout for snow leopards, either from camp, or from a vantage point close by. You can choose to join them on the lookout, or take your time and have a leisurely start. Breakfast will be in the dining tent, where the welcoming warmth of a gas fired heater will ensure breakfast is a more comfortable and enjoyable experience in the chilly morning. If no spotting of the ghost has been made, we will hike out of camp to carry on searching for them. You may choose to stay around camp, or join the group.

    The amount of hiking you choose to do is, within certain parameters, optional. You may, if you wish, choose to stay around camp all day, and just head out when a snow leopard is spotted. But what is the fun in that. However, it is our aim to hike a few miles every day, with the uphill sections being at a slow pace due to the altitude. Most of the hiking will be on gentle inclines, on primitive trails, but occasionally we may want to get into a better position for viewing which may involve much steeper walking for short distances.

    Most days, when you are away from camp, our staff will bring us hot tea, coffee and a snack, mid-morning and mid-afternoon. Whilst in the middle of the day, we’ll get a hot lunch delivered to wherever you want.

  • Day 5

    Snow Leopard Tracking

    We follow the same routine as Day 4 and keep tracking the Ghost of the Mountain. Even if we’ve spotted one, more is always merrier.

  • Day 6

    Snow Leopard Tracking

    We follow the same routine as Day 4 and keep tracking the Ghost of the Mountain. Even if we’ve spotted one, more is always merrier.

  • Day 7

    Snow Leopard Tracking

    We follow the same routine as Day 4 and keep tracking the Ghost of the Mountain. Even if we’ve spotted one, more is always merrier.

  • Day 8

    Snow Leopard Tracking

    We follow the same routine as Day 4 and keep tracking the Ghost of the Mountain. Even if we’ve spotted one, more is always merrier.

  • Day 9

    Snow Leopard Tracking

    We follow the same routine as Day 4 and keep tracking the Ghost of the Mountain. Even if we’ve spotted one, more is always merrier.

  • Day 10

    Snow Leopard Tracking

    We follow the same routine as Day 4 and keep tracking the Ghost of the Mountain. Even if we’ve spotted one, more is always merrier.

  • Day 11

    Hike to Zingchen and drive to Leh

    It’s time to wrap up the expedition and hike back to Zingchen. From here you board your vehicles for a short drive to Leh.

  • Day 12

    Departure

    There’s probably no space left for pictures on your camera’s memory card, as you get your baggage tagged for your flight home. Picturesque views and memories of the tracking snow leopards will keep you on a happy high for a long time yet.

Inspirations