QUEST FOR THE SNOW LEOPARD
US $9,000 per person on twin share basis - $750 Single Supplement
Day 1 Arrive New Delhi
On arrival at New Delhi – you will be driven from the airport to a hotel close to the airport. If time permits – a tour of a nearby birding areacan be done – a no of species of ducks, waders, storks and some arboreal species like Flycatchers, Woodpeckers etc can be seen here. Some mammals like the Bluebull, Sambar, Spotted Deer and with some luck even a Jungle Cat may show up. After the tour you will be driven back to your hotel.
New Delhi has a the second highest checklist of birds across the world and it is normally quite easy to get about a 75-100 birds in a morning or afternoon birding session. One normally sees a few mammals and with luck even a few reptiles while out birding. Of course the cultural highlights of Delhi is famous too and if someone wishes to go out and see a couple of the monuments like the Qutub Minar (India’s tallest tower architecture) or Humayun’s Tomb (the final resting ground of the Mughal ruler Humayun) – this can be made possible to be explored with a private guide – if a few days notice is given before arriving into New Delhi.
Overnight – The Trident Gurgaon; Deluxe Room; Meals included – Buffet Dinner at hotel restaurant - only.
Rooms are held from 1300 hours;
Day 2 New Delhi – Leh (3409m/11184 ft)
Early today – you will be driven to the airport to connect to your flight to Leh (0625/0745 hours; Air India – AI 445; Economy Class) (baggage allowance – 25 kilos for checked baggage, excess baggage charge – INR 250/- per kilo). On arrival at Leh – take it easy right from the airport – and then check into your hotel. At the hotel the rest of the day is for acclimatization.
Overnight – The Grand Dragon; Meals included – Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Guldenstadt’s Redstart; Eurasian Sparrow Hawk and Ibisbill –
Day 3 Leh
The morning is free for rest and acclimatisation. After lunch a trip to Stakmo village looking for mammals like Red Fox, Woolly Hare etc and some birds like Alpine Choughs, Lammergeier and Himalayan Vulture may be sighted.
Overnight – The Grand Dragon; Meals included – (B, L, D)
Day 4 Leh
After breakfast you will be driven out scanning the Indus River beds looking for Ibisbills. Apart from Ibisbills one may find Eurasian Otter, Pale or Mountain Weasel, Woolly Hare and Red Fox and even Blue Sheep. You can expect to see a few Guldenstadt’s Redstart, Black Billed Magpie, Mountain Chiffchaff, Winter Wren etc. After the morning excursion – return to your hotel for some rest. After this you will be driven towards the Khardung la (5359m/17580 ft) – though you may not spend too much time there – the drive up and down helps acclimatisation and also allows you to enjoy the breathtaking views of this mountain kingdom. Himalayan Snowcock, Robin and Rufous-breasted Accentors, Yellow-billed and Alpine Choughs, Lammergeier, Golden Eagle, Upland Buzzard, Saker Falcon, Chukar, Plain Backed Snowfinch, etc species of birds and mammals like Bluesheep, Snow Leopard, Tibetan Grey Wolf, Red Fox and with luck even the rare and elusive Eurasian Lynx may be sighted. Return to your hotel for the final night in Leh.
Overnight – The Grand Dragon; Meals included – (B, L, D)
Day 5 Leh to Hemis National Park (4228m/13871 ft)
After and early breakfast you will be driven in 2 hours to the entrance of Hemis NP – here you will leave your vehicle and start the trek to your campsite (25 minutes easy trek) inside the Hemis National Park. On arrival at the camp – enjoy a hot coffee or tea and then start moving around looking for Snow Leopard and other mammals that are found in this area.
Overnight – Camping; All meals included.
Days 6/13 Hemis National Park
The next few full days will be spent searching for snow leopards, your tour leader and the local spotter will decide on a day to day basis where the best places to go will be and also will inform you every afternoon and morning about the day’s plan. Mammals like Blue Sheep, Mountain Weasel, Royle’s Pika and Large Eared Pika, Woolly Hare, Snow Leopard, Tibetan Wolf etc and birds like the Lammergeier, Golden Eagle, Winter Wren, White Browed Tit Warbler, Wallcreeper, Robin Accentor, Hill Pigeon, Eurasian Sparrow-hawk, Himalayan Buzzard, Himalayan Griffon etc are expected to be sighted. You may also see Red Fox and Stone Marten – but both particularly the latter is completely nocturnal and hence are sighted with some field craft and planning. Your tour leader will let you know on this.
While inside Hemis – the crew may receive news of leopard sightings in a different location outside Hemis and may decide to move you out of Hemis to look for the leopards in that area. The Ulley valley is rich with a good population of the rare Himalayan Ibex, Ladakh Urial and a good no of Snow leopards as well. It may also be so – that you will be staying in the local homestays inside the Hemis National Park for a few days in one or two locations – all of this is to be decided by the tour leader and the crew and they will keep you informed accordingly.
Your stay will mostly be in homestays that are mud, stone and wood constructions and are much warmer compared to the tents, a comfortable fire is on in the kitchen where you socialise once you are back from the hikes. There are local fireplaces in each room and the food is a mix of camping food and local Ladakhi cuisine. The interactions with the locals in the comfort of the homestays is something that everyone remembers for their life. These incredibly hard working people are deeply religious and very affectionate and their tolerance of wild mammals around the village is the key reason of Snow Leopard sightings around these villages.
Overnight – Camping + Local Mud-Homestay; Meals included – Breakfast, packed lunch and dinner.
Day 14 Hemis - Leh
After breakfast- return to Leh and after a shower and some hot drinks – you will be driven out birding near Leh. You will return to your hotel in the evening. Enjoy you last dinner in the kingdom of Snow and then retire to your bed.
Overnight – The Grand Dragon – Meals included (B, L, D)
Day 15 Leh to New Delhi
Today after breakfast you will be driven to the Leh airport for the flight back to Delhi (1125/1235 hours; Air India AI446; Economy Class). On arrival – you will be met and driven to the hotel and the rest of the afternoon to relax before dinner.
Overnight – The Trident Gurgaon, Deluxe Room – Meals included (B, L, D)
Day 16 New Delhi
On a tour to a remote Himalayan Kingdom in winters sometimes a few things cannot be controlled – one such thing is the flights getting cancelled due to weather issues. To create a plan for that – you will have an extra day in hand – normally in Delhi (if the flight on day 15 has operated) but in case the flight on Day 15 does not operate – today is the day when you will fly into Delhi.
However if the flight do operate as per the schedule – then today– you will have the choice of any one of the following excursions –
Cultural delights of New Delhi – A privately guided tour of New Delhi covering two monuments, a beautiful open air art gallery and a visit to the National Museum with lunch at a local restaurant.
Birding in Sultanpur or Okhla Bird Sanctuary – A tour of any one bird sanctuary that allows you to try and see a no of migratory waterfowl and some of the resident species of New Delhi. Needs an early start.
Culinary Tour of New Delhi – Leave before breakfast and visit Old Delhi to enjoy breakfast at a local restaurant, then follow the lanes with your foodie guide and learn about the local street food sampling at a few places. Follow this with a visit to the grand Jama Masjid and the serene Raj Ghat (this is where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated) and then drive to New Delhi. Here enjoy lunch at one of the local restaurants that specialises in eastern Indian food. After this either visit the National Museum or the National Gallery of Modern Art or visit a private art gallery where you can see a large collection of tribal art (you can buy if you wish) – and finally head to a fine dining restaurant in Delhi for a very special private dinner where you get to eat a fine selection of local cuisine.
Then you will be driven back to your hotel.
Overnight – The Trident Gurgaon, Deluxe Room – Meals included (B, L, D)
Day 17 New Delhi – outbound
Early this morning – you will be driven to the international airport to fly back home.
Includes
- Accommodation on twin sharing basis on full board basis
- Meals as per the itinerary
- Bottled water in car on all days – 2 bottles per day
- Internal flights in economy class without including excess baggage costs
- Tents, mattress, sleeping bag outer (-300C)
- International leader, local leader and trackers and crew
- Transfers in air-conditioned Toyota Innova in New Delhi and Ladakh – do note that 4X4 cars with commercial plates are not available in Ladakh.
- Entrances; taxes
- Internal Airfare – Economy class
Excludes
- Personal expenses; laundry; bar etc.
- Medications and medicines.
- Evacuation costs
- International air tickets
- Excess Baggage costs
- Additional meals or drinks apart from ones in the itinerary.