In Quest of the Snow Leopard Package (144269),Holiday Packages to Likir

Package Overview

In the dead of night, in peak winter, when the mountains are covered by a snow quilt and are in deep slumber, ‘the grey ghost’ descends from the high inhospitable Himalayan heights to the lower reaches in the valley…in search of a mate and its prey – the wild mountain goats!

Snow Leopard (Ladakhi: Shan) – An enigmatic mammal capable of surviving in some of the most brutal terrains and in extreme environmental conditions, is the undisputed King of the snowcapped regions. Easily the most magnificent of all the wild cats, this nocturnal cat moves like the phantom in the high mountains of Central Asia in about 12 countries including India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Tibet, Bhutan and Nepal. In India, it is most prevalent in parts of Ladakh and Spiti. Due to its highly camouflaged coat and secretive habits, it is almost impossible to spot it in the summers. But in winters, when the mountains are under snow it becomes relatively easier to spot them by following their walking trails in the snow. There’s an estimated 250-350 that survive today and is marked as an endangered species.

For wildlife enthusiasts, spotting a snow leopard is akin to coming face to face with God. It takes penance and patience and luck to actually spot it in its natural habitat. For some of them, it’s a yearly pilgrimage they need to make to hopefully catch this charming creature at close quarters. Mid-Feb and end-March being the mating season, the probability of spotting them is high. It is normal for a male and female leopard to stay put in the same place for 2-3 days once they meet.

Our itinerary spanning 10 days is spread out across 2 locations where snow leopards have been sighted most frequently in the winters – Sham Valley and Rumbak Valley. The trip also builds in a good mix of trekking, homestay experiences and a chance of spotting the other wildlife of Ladakh. We start our itinerary with 2 days of acclimatization and sightseeing in Leh before venturing into the Sham Valley for a small trek combined with wildlife spotting. We will spend a couple of days scanning the slopes of Yangthang, Ulley and Hemisshukpachen. The next half of the itinerary is around Rumbak Valley divided between Husing Do and Yurutse.

Scanning for wildlife involves a lot of patience and long hours in the outdoors is not so favourable conditions. It is almost meditative in its approach and can be exhausting but the reward is most satisfactory. Few can explain the jubilation of spotting rarely seen wildlife in all their glory. And if it happens to be the King itself, the joy just quadruples!!

Wildlife spotting expected: Himalayan Blue Sheep, Tibetan Argali, Asiatic Ibex, Lynx, Red Fox, Tibetan Wolf, Snow Leopard.

We do not promise sure shot spotting in these locations, but the probability is high. What we definitely promise is to give you a great and safe time as you enjoy an active winter in Ladakh hiking, camping and spotting some of its splendid wildlife.

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Day wise Itinerary

Day 1 : Arrive Leh. Rest and Acclimatization

Leh situated at an average altitude of 3500m is mostly all cloaked in white with some hues of red and brown, in the peak of winter. Just landing into one of the World’s highest airports is itself a special experience. You fly over the Great Himalayan range and then over the arid part to land in Leh. Kushok Bakula Rinpoche airport is a small airport which is mostly a defence base used by the Indian Air Force. Civilian flights also use the same airport for their functioning.
The extreme nip in the air is hard to miss as you walk out of the aircraft and get into the buses. The temperatures in Leh are normally in the range of -12 to -18 degree celsius. Always a good idea to exit the aircraft wearing a warm jacket and beanie to not get affected by the sudden drop in temperature and air pressure. Look out for a placard reading ‘Adventure Sindbad’ as you exit the airport terminal. Our representative will pick you up and drive you to your hotel in Leh, our base camp for the next 2 days. Complete rest and no activity is recommended on the first day. Lots of warm water, good food and rest works well to adjust your body to the rarefied oxygen levels. Comprehensive trip briefing late afternoon, post lunch. Stay warm throughout.
Driving Time: 15 mins
Overnight Leh Hotel.
- Meals & Drinks : Breakfast
Day 2 : Leh Sightseeing and Acclimatization

Your bodies are slowly getting acclimatized to high altitude and extreme cold conditions. We step out today mostly in taxis for a sightseeing tour of some monasteries and palaces around Leh. You might have seen some of them in the Summer. But winter landscape in Leh is a totally dramatic view. We cover Thiksey monastery and Shey palace. Thiksey monastery is famous as the ‘mini potala’ because of its likeness to the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet. The main attraction of this place is the Maitreya temple with an exquisite 2 storeyed statue of the Future Buddha. The terrace of the Thiksey monastery affords outstanding views of the Indus Valley.
Shey used to be the erstwhile capital of Ladakh and boasts the Shey palace atop a hill. It houses the mega statue of Buddha Shakyamuni and some mega chortens. We are back to Leh for lunch and some shopping in preparation of our trek starting the next day. Most of the antique shops are closed in Leh town, and only a handful of restaurants and a book shop operate during winters.
Overnight Leh Hotel.
- Themes : Hill Stations & Valleys
- Meals & Drinks : Breakfast
Day 3 : Drive to Likir. Trek to Yangthang

We make an early start and drive for 2 hrs to the village of Likir, where our trek begins. We have to cross 2 small passes Phobe La(3580m) and Chagatse La(3630m) to reach Yangthang. The trail immediately leaves the green village of Likir and gets onto the arid trail. After Phobe La we descend to the small village of Sumdo, where we have lunch. Post-Lunch, there is a steep hike to Chagatse La, from where we descend a little and go up again to the green farms of Yangthang. Ridzong monastery is one more hour below Yangthang. Great chance of spotting some blue sheep, Himalayan Ibex, and snow leopard.
Trekking Time: 5-6 hrs
Overnight Homestay.
- Themes : Trekking
- Meals & Drinks : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 : Day Trip to Ulley

Ulley village is where a lot of snow leopard sightings happen during the winters. This is also the village The walk to Ulley is about 2 hrs from Yangthang. We start early after breakfast and walk to the village of Ulley and spend the whole day scanning the white slopes for snow leopard activity. Our main wildlife guide would be using a scope for continuous scanning. A high chance of spotting other mountain sheep including Ladakh Urial(Shapo) and Ibex on the walk as well as at Ulley. We will be back before sun set to Yangthang.
Trekking Time: 5 hrs
Overnight Homestay.
- Themes : Trekking
- Meals & Drinks : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 : Spotting At Ulley

We spend another day scanning the slopes at Ulley for snow Leopards. We might either stay at Ulley village or return to Yangthang by early evening.
Trekking Time: 5 hrs
Overnight Homestay.
- Themes : Trekking
- Meals & Drinks : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 : Trek to Hemisshukpachen. Drive to Zingchen. Trek to Husing Do

We trek to Hemisshukpachen over the Tsermangchan La (3750m). Our taxi would be waiting at Hemis Shukpachen to drive us to Zingchen in the Hemis National Park. We have lunch on the way. From the roadhead at Zingchen, Husing Do is just about 1 hr of walking. We stay in tents for the next 2 nights.
Trekking Time: 2-3 hrs, Driving Time: 4 hrs
Overnight Camp.
- Themes : Trekking
- Meals & Drinks : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 : Spotting in Rumbak Valley

Rumbak Valley in the Hemis National Park is the most popular area for spotting the elusive ghost of snow! Over the years, it has become very famous with wildlife and photography enthusiasts and attracts a huge no of campers. The Wildlife department has recently regulated the no. of people entering these fragile zones, where the wild cat treads. Normally, depending on the latest movements of the snow leopard, the wildlife guides discuss and choose one spot to move to for spotting. We sit there and continuously scan the slopes for signs of trodden trails or movement. High chance of spotting blue sheep, red fox and ofcourse the snow leopard itself.
Trekking Time: 2-3 hrs
Overnight Camp.
- Themes : Hill Stations & Valleys, Trekking
- Meals & Drinks : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 : Trek to Yurutse

Yurutse is the last village on the way towards Ganda-La. It is famous as the 1 house village in the Rumbak area. It is also a great place for spotting Lynx and Tibetan Argali! Lynx is much smaller than a snow leopard, and is distinctly regonizable bacause of its pointed Ears. They are believed to be more rare to spot than the snow leopard. The Tibetan Argali(Ladakhi:Nyan), is the biggest of the mountain goats, the male weighing almost 100 Kg with massive, wrinkled horns. These 2 mammals can be spotted only around the slopes of Yurutse. Depending on the rush and availability we either stay at the home in Yurutse or camp outside in the grounds beside the house. The trek from Husing Do to Yurutse is beautiful over a gradual slope. We cross the camping grounds of Rumbak on the way.
Trekking Time: 2-3 hrs
Overnight Homestay.
- Themes : Camping, Trekking
- Meals & Drinks : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9 : Trek to Zingchen. Drive to Leh

Our last day in the quest of the snow Leopard. We spend a few hours of morning scanning the slopes and enjoying the surroundings before making our way to the roadhead at Zingchen. The drive to Leh takes about 45 mins to 1 hr. Optional detour to the Indus-Zanskar confluence and the Gurudwara Pathar Sahib before heading to Leh for the much awaited hot shower. Evening free for roaming and shopping around the bazaar in Leh. Dig into some scrumptious , hot food in one of the many restaurants in Leh town for dinner.
Trekking Time: 2-3 hrs
Overnight Leh Hotel.
- Themes : Trekking
- Meals & Drinks : Breakfast, Lunch
Day 10 : Fly Out of Leh

We make an early start and drive to the airport for our flight back to Delhi. Trip Ends!
- Meals & Drinks : Breakfast

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Inclusions

Hotel
Sightseeing

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Terms & Conditions

Payment Terms & Methods :
* Some Advance Percentage of total booking amount
* Airfare/Transport fare to be paid full at one time in advance.

Cancellation & Refund Policy :
* Upon cancellation, refund will be made after deducting the Retention Amount.
* Retention Amount varies as per the number of days left before your package start date.

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