14 days tour

Search For Snow Leopards With Valerie Parkinson

$ 3,600 .00 USD

Total price per person

Reserve with $3,600.00

Search For Snow Leopards With Valerie Parkinson

This tour includes:

Guide

All departures are led by Valerie Parkinson, who has spent the last 35 years leading groups in Ladakh and other parts of the Himalaya. She is supported by local guides/spotters, who are experts on the local wildlife. A full camping crew, including cook and assistants, are also available. Luggage is carried from the roadhead to base camp by Jeep or mules. You only need to carry your backpack when we are out spotting. It is possible to hire a porter locally to carry any heavy camera gear. Details are in other sections of these Trip Notes.

Transport

For transfers in Delhi, we use either taxis or private buses (during busy times such as morning rush hour, taxis are preferable to negotiate the busy narrow streets). For sightseeing in Ladakh, we use jeeps. The flights to and from Leh are on one of the internal airlines operating in India. Please note, flights to and from Leh operate subject to weather. Flights can be cancelled and you should be aware of this.

Meals

All breakfasts are included and all food is included in Ladakh. In Leh, the food is a mix of Indian, Tibetan, Chinese and Continental. On trek, we provide a full breakfast including porridge, cereals, eggs and toast and a choice of hot drinks. Lunch is a packed hot lunch consisting of rice and chapattis, vegetables, tuna and cheese, which is carried for us. Dinners are mostly pasta, rice or potato based and a mixture of Indian, Continental and Chinese cuisines. In the afternoon, hot drinks and biscuits are served and, in the daytime, camp staff bring us hot drinks while we are out spotting. Drinking water Staying hydrated is important when undertaking any physical activity. However, we strongly encourage you not to buy bottled water as this contributes to the growing problem of plastic pollution in India On trek, the cooks collect and boil drinking water from the mountain streams and fill up your water bottles for you, but you may need to collect water during the day and may wish to use your own water purification treatment as well. Purification tablets can be an economical way to treat your water, most taking between 30 minutes to one hour to purify one litre of water and are easy to used in water bladders/hydration packs. Purification tablets which contain chlorine dioxide are reported not to leave an obvious taste as other tablets may. We suggest you may like to bring a reusable bottle with a wide opening and use a Steripen to treat any non-boiled water. A Steripen is a handheld UV water purifier โ€“ small, lightweight and battery powered, so easy to pack. Itโ€™s quick to use, far more effective than purification tablets, and the water is ready immediately. Itโ€™s fine to use a Steripen on non-boiled water so long as it isnโ€™t cloudy or full of sediment (which is uncommon in these regions). Steripens are widely stocked on Amazon, outdoor shops and other online retailers; look for the latest models but avoid USB charging ones. Models that take lithium batteries are best as they last longer, especially in cold conditions.

Others

All transport and listed activities Arrival and departure transfers

Accommodation

In Delhi, we use a hotel with air-conditioned rooms. In Leh, we stay in a hotel close to the local market and town centre. There is wifi in Leh; however, there is no mobile coverage for international phones in Ladakh. The trek itself is on a full-service camping basis, meaning our camp staff put up and dismantle the tents, cook, and do all the camp chores. You need only carry your backpack for the day. We use two-person tents, which have enough room inside for your kitbags and include a mattress, sheet, pillow, blanket, and a hot water bottle at night. We also have a dining tent with table, folding chairs and a heater for use during the evenings. No running water is available while camping. The camp staff collect stream water or melt snow to provide bowls of warm water (to wash with). We spend one night in Rumbak village, where we stay in a traditional Ladakhi house. The dining room and bedrooms have a small wood-burning stoves, and a generator is normally available at the homestay to charge your electronic devices. For both the homestay and camping, there will be a basic local long-drop toilet and dining room available. If you require a single room in Delhi and Leh and a single tent while camping there is a single supplement. Please note, single rooms are not available in the homestay. Worth knowing At the homestay you may be sleeping on a mattress on the floor. The bedrooms have thick mattresses and you can take your sleeping bag from the camp.

Not included:

Insurance

Others

โ€” Travel Insurance โ€” Single accommodation (available on request) โ€” Visas or vaccinations

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Search For Snow Leopards With Valerie Parkinson

  • Day 1 Day 1: Start Delhi
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 1: Start Delhi

      The adventure begins in Delhi. You are free today to explore this buzzing city or rest after your flight; rooms may not be available until noon but it is often earlier than this. There is usually a welcome briefing in the hotel lobby this evening. Accommodation: Hotel Regent Grand (or similar)

  • Day 2 Day 2: Fly Across The Himalaya To Leh (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 2: Fly Across The Himalaya To Leh (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

      Usually, we have an early start for the flight to Leh. We may have to leave the hotel around 3am and drive to the airport for the very early morning (but highly spectacular) flight over the snow-capped peaks of the Himalaya, which are incredibly beautiful in winter. Landing in Leh, the temperature drops dramatically and we need our down jackets at the airport. If the weather is good and the flight goes on time, we should be in Leh for breakfast. The rest of the day is free to relax and acclimatise to the altitude (11,485ft/3,500m). In the morning, we rest and catch up on sleep. In the afternoon, we have a gentle orientation walk around Leh and its bazaars. Accommodation: Mahey Retreat (or similar)

  • Day 3 Day 3: Full Day At A Monastic Festival Or Visit Shey, Thikse And Stakna Monasteries (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 3: Full Day At A Monastic Festival Or Visit Shey, Thikse And Stakna Monasteries (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

      The activities for this day depend on your departure date. Each year, the timing of the monastic festivals change and so the itinerary is flexible to ensure you can attend this time-honoured tradition. You either attend the festival or visit the monasteries on Day 3. Please note, the arrangements below are for 2024 departures. Once a year, every monastery in Ladakh has a festival where the monks dress in elaborate brocade and silk costumes and re-enact century-old stories of the Tibetan Buddhist religion. People come from all over Ladakh to the festivals and these are a great social as well as religious occasion. The whole day is spent at the festival and, in the evening, we return to our hotel in Leh. If not attending a festival on this day, we visit the most important monasteries in the Indus Valley. First, we drive just over 30 minutes to Shey, once the residence of the Ladakhi royal family. Below the old palace ruins is a small temple containing a two-storey gilded statue of Buddha. From Shey, we walk across the fields to Tikse, spotting birds en route. Set on a hill, it is one of the most impressive gompas in Ladakh. It has several temples, one of which contains a superb statue of the Future Buddha. We then drive to Stakna, a small but friendly monastery perched atop a huge rock. In the late afternoon, we return to Leh. Festival attendance โ€“ land only start dates 19-20 February 2024: Stok Festival on Day 3 Accommodation: Mahey Retreat (or similar)

  • Day 4 Day 4: Drive To Jinchen; Trek To Rumbak Sumdo (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 4: Drive To Jinchen; Trek To Rumbak Sumdo (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

      Today we leave Leh and drive across the Indus towards Jinchen. We follow the road past Phe to the entrance of the impressive Rumbak Gorge. We leave the cars near a bridge and our trail takes us up into the narrow gorge and we start our search for evidence of snow leopards and blue sheep. We camp tonight at our base camp at Rumbak Sumdo (12,470ft/3,800m). Accommodation: Full-service camping

  • Day 5 Day 5-9: Five Days Of Wildlife Spotting In Hemis National Park (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 5-9: Five Days Of Wildlife Spotting In Hemis National Park (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

      The next five days are dedicated to searching for snow leopards. The itineraries are flexible and set by our expert wildlife guides. They are in touch with other local spotters, who share recent sightings and maximise our chances of seeing a snow leopard. We usually spend most of the time at our base camp at Rumbak Sumdo, while walks take us into the Rumbak Valley and further towards Yurutse and the Ganda La. We can also explore the Husing and Tarbuns valleys, all well-known haunts of the snow leopard. In 2023, we had six good snow leopard sightings in this area, plus fox, wolf and blue sheep sightings. In 2024, we saw six snow leopards, two wolf packs, foxes and blue sheep. Bring a good pair of binoculars to scan the slopes, though we also have wildlife spotters (one per five group members), who carry spotting scopes, which they set up at camp and on ridges on the walks. They also go out in the early mornings and late evenings to search for evidence of any animal movement. We also have a full trekking crew with us, including guides, assistant guides, cook, kitchen assistants and porters. Lunch and hot drinks are brought to us by our camp crew. If you have a heavy camera bag, it is possible to hire a private porter to carry this for you. We camp every night, except for one, which is spent in a traditional Ladakhi homestay. Food at the homestay is traditional local fare and you get the chance to interact with the villagers. Accommodation: Full-service camping and one night in a homestay

  • Day 6 Day 10: Return To Leh (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 10: Return To Leh (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

      Today we trek back to Jinchen, where we meet our transport and drive back to the relative comforts of our hotel in Leh. Accommodation: Mahey Retreat (or similar)

  • Day 7 Day 11: Full Day At A Monastic Festival Or Visit Shey, Thikse And Stakna Monasteries (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 11: Full Day At A Monastic Festival Or Visit Shey, Thikse And Stakna Monasteries (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

      See Day 3 for full details of activities and festival dates. This information includes which day your departure attends the monastic festival. Accommodation: Standard hotel

  • Day 8 Day 12: Fly To Delhi (Breakfast)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 12: Fly To Delhi (Breakfast)

      We have an early start for the flight back to Delhi. The rest of the day is free in Delhi for individual shopping or sightseeing. Accommodation: Hotel Regent Grand (or similar)

  • Day 9 Day 13: Free Day In Delhi For Individual Sightseeing (Breakfast)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 13: Free Day In Delhi For Individual Sightseeing (Breakfast)

      We have a free day in Delhi in case of any delays in the flight from Leh. If we fly to Delhi on schedule, today is free for individual sightseeing. You may want to visit Old Delhi with the magnificent Red Fort and Jami Masjid. Humayunโ€™s Tomb (a forerunner to the Taj Mahal) is worth a visit. In New Delhi, there is India Gate and Parliament House. Delhi also has a wealth of interesting shops and markets. An optional day trip to Agra to see the Taj Mahal can be arranged by your leader who will provide details and prices (not available on Fridays, as the Taj Mahal is closed). Accommodation: Hotel Regent Grand (or similar)

  • Day 10 Day 14: End Delhi (Breakfast)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 14: End Delhi (Breakfast)

      The tour ends after breakfast today and we begin our return journeys home. Alternatively, if youโ€™d like a little more adventure, consider joining our five-day Golden Triangle extension. Encompassing Delhi, Jaipur and Agra, the trip is a whirlwind of culture, taking in the Taj Mahal, Red Fort of Akbar and much more.

+7
Experience Style

Experience Style

Mixed

There will be challenging activities such as hiking, biking, canyoning and trekking, but youโ€™re also going to have other means of transportation and relaxed moments to just chill.

Accomodation level

Accomodation level

Medium

This accommodation includes essential services like a hot shower, electricity, and a nice and comfy bed.

Experience Type

Experience Type

Small Group

Youโ€™ll be accompanied by a small group of travelers just like you.

Physical Rating

Physical Rating

Average

There are several physical activities that last from 2 to 6 hours in easy terrains, low altitude flats, or water experiences. Please ask if youโ€™re not sure this applies to you.

Age range

Age range

Min: 18 / Max: 99

Age range allowed for this experience.

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