Grey Ghosts Snow Leopard Expedition
This 18-day Snow Leopard Expedition takes you on a journey through the thick snow, cold temperatures and some adrenaline rush! The renowned Hemis National Park which is named after the Hemis Monastery is home to some of the most exotic and rare flora and fauna species. An area encompassing around 1700 sq miles of pristine snow leopard territory, Hemis National Park is the largest protected area in India. Being home to a number of exotic wildlife species, Hemis is well known today across the globe. The protected area is well known for having one of the highest population densities of the elusive Snow Leopards.
Hike through one of India’s rugged Himalayan mountain ranges in search of the mystical Snow Leopard! Staying at an altitude of 4000 m where temperatures drop to -20 °C gets thrilling as you hike, walk and sit to catch a glimpse of India’s treasured wildlife, the Snow Leopard.
The Snow Leopard Expedition gives the campers an opportunity to witness a number of mammal species such as the Wooly Hare, Red Fox, Blue Sheep, Ibex, Tibetan Wolf, Pallas Cat and the highlight of the tour, "The Ghost Of The Mountains", the Snow Leopard. Birding enthusiasts are in for a treat as well as one can see species like the Bearded Vulture, Himalayan Griffon, Golden Eagle, Eurasian Eagle Owl and much more! Kiss your lucky charms, gather all your best wishes and come with us on an epic journey that will leave you enchanted forever!
Top 5 Highlights –
- The Snow Leopard Expedition gives you an opportunity to observe and photograph exotic wildlife in the rugged yet tranquil terrain of Leh & Ladakh which as an experience of a lifetime!
- The Hemis National Park is known for its high density of Snow Leopards which improves your chances of seeing this elusive ghost of the mountains.
- Birding enthusiasts are in for an exciting journey as one can find numerous exotic bird species like the majestic Golden Eagle, Bearded Vulture, Himalayan Griffon, Eurasian Eagle Owl and much more.
- The expedition has a lot to offer apart from the elusive Snow Leopards, campers will get an opportunity to experience the surreal scapes of the spectacular Himalayan mountain ranges along with an opportunity to experience the rich and colorful local culture.
- With the company of the best Snow Leopard Trackers in the business and with world class spotting equipments at your disposal, we leave no stone unturned so that you get the best wildlife sightings.
Alternative Tour Name: Grey Ghost Of Himalayas
Welcome to the capital of India! On arrival at the airport, you will be met by the tour mentor who will be with you for the rest of the journey.
Transfer to a hotel in Delhi for overnight stay.
Meals: NA
Day 2 - Delhi – Leh
Today we leave for our main destination, Leh!
Wake up early in the morning and post breakfast, transfer to the airport as per the flight schedule to board the flight for Leh.
Leh is a town in Ladakh in the north of India. Famous for its Tibetan culture, beautiful landscapes, clear skies, monk and monasteries, Leh is the best place for a peaceful vacation.
On arrival, transfer to your hotel. Leh being at a higher altitude, we suggest you to rest and get acclimatized for the whole day. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Wake up to a beautiful serene morning. After a sumptuous breakfast, we leave for Khardung La. En-route we visit the Leh Palace, a famous tourist attraction. Soak in the scenic beauty as you drive to the highest motor-able road in the world.
A must visit place when in Leh, Khardung La is at 17,582 ft from the sea level (also a perfect place to acclimatize yourself) On arrival spend time taking pictures near the summit signs and try the local cuisine at the café situated at the top!
We now head back to the hotel for your dinner and overnight stay.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Today, we visit another famous place in Ladakh, the Pangong lake, locally known as the Pangong Tso. On our way to the lake, pass the Chang – La (another motorable pass) which is at an altitude of 17,350ft. It is the third highest motor-able road in the world.
Enjoy the snow-capped mountains en-route as we make our way to the lake. Pangong lake is a salt water lake and famous for its serenity and blue water, though we will be seeing a total different side of this lake during our visit. Pangong, even though being saline, is frozen during the winters and offers a totally different view during this time of the year.
Spend time at the frozen Pangong lake and return to Leh by evening. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Start your journey in search of the elusive snow leopard today! An hour’s journey by road and a 45 minutes hike up the hill gets you to the campsite, which will be your home for the next few days. Stay in tented camps. Overnight stay at the campsite.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Post early breakfast, spend the entire day in wildlife viewing with the local guides. Hiking up the mountains can bring in some luck. Enjoy the thrilling experience of tracking down a snow leopard in the wild. Overnight at the campsite.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Today, post breakfast; we will explore a different part of this region which is famous for Snow Leopard sightings. Apart from Snow Leopard, Ulley is a home to Ibex, Urial, Himalayan fox and birds like Tibetan Partridge, Lammergeier, Golden eagle etc.
Spend the whole day in search of the Snow Leopard with the help of local guides. Overnight at home stay.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Post breakfast, full day wildlife viewing in the different areas in search of the Snow Leopard. The area supports a healthy population of snow leopards and other Himalayan wildlife. Overnight at home stay.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Post breakfast proceed to our campsite in Nyoma, it is one of the most beautiful, enchanting, calm and soul losing places. Visit the local monastery which offers some great aerial views of the whole village that is home to about 1000 people. The views from the top of the monastery are just breath-taking. We set camp here to search for the elusive Pallas cat. Overnight at the campsite.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Post breakfast explore the beautiful vista of Himalayan foothills. Another day in the wild, explore the Himalayan foothills for the elusive Pallas Cat. Look out for the Lynx, Kiang (Tibetan Wild Ass), Tibetan Wolf and other Himalayan wildlife.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Today marks the end of a thrilling journey in the rugged mountain ranges of the Himalayas.
Pack up bags and bid adieu to the campsite as you travel to the city of Leh post breakfast.
Reach Leh by afternoon and check in the hotel. Time to rest.
Evening at leisure to explore the Leh market, famous for its Tibetan artifacts, apparels and cafés. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Post breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport as per the flight schedule to board the flight for Delhi. On arrival in Delhi, you will be transferred to hotel. Evening at leisure. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Transfer to the airport as per scheduled flight.
Meals: Breakfast at the hotel
The main attraction is the elusive grey ghost of the Himalayas the Snow Leopard. With this, you will also be able to see some endemic animals like Pallas’s Cat, Bharal (Blue Sheep), Urial, Himalayan Tahr, Kiang, Red fox, Tibetan Wolf and birds like the Lammergeier, Golden eagle, Himalayan Griffon, Eurasian Eagle Owl, Snow Partridge, Tibetan Snowcock, Tibetan Snowfinch, Tibetan Partridge, Tibetan Sandgrouse, Black-necked Crane etc.
What is included?
- Accommodation
- Internal Transfers
- All Meals as per the Itinerary
- Bottled Water in Resort
- Tents, Sleeping Bags and Mattresses
- All Sightseeing, Land Transfers and Inter-Hotel Transfers
- Inner Line and Wildlife Permits
- Drivers/Tolls/Fuel Charges
- All Applicable Taxes
What is not included?
- All Airfares & Visa Fees
- Insurance
- Porters During the Entire Journey
- Laundry & Telephone Charges
- Alcoholic Beverages & Soft Drinks
- Tips & Gratuities
- Things which are Not Mentioned in Inclusions
- Any Cost Arising Due to Natural Calamities During Entire Tour
As the name suggests, the main intention of the expedition is about tracking the Snow Leopard. With this, you will also be able to see some endemic animals like Bharal (Blue Sheep), Urial, Himalayan Tahr, Red fox, and birds like the Lammergeier, Golden eagle, Himalayan Griffon, Eurasian Eagle Owl, Snow Partridge, Tibetian Snow Cock, etc.
The expedition can only be done during the winters and early summer season during which the temperatures here are extreme. One must be ready to live in harsh climatic conditions. We will give you a detailed list of things to be carried before the expedition.
Good fitness level is a must for this expedition as most of the expedition is carried out on foot. Due to the difference in altitude one needs to have good endurance and stamina to successfully complete the expedition.
This trip will have you stay in hotels as well as tents. During hotel stays the accommodation will be always on double sharing basis unless otherwise opted for. The stay in tents though will be on sharing basis with 4 persons in one tent.
All expeditions conducted by us follow the highest safety standards, and we take all necessary precautions involved. We respect the wild animals and their comfort and keep adequate distance while photographing them. However it is worthy of noting that being cautious goes a long way in preventing any mishaps.
Connectivity will only be available during our stay in Leh. Postpaid cards of Airtel and BSNL work here. Once at the campsite, there will be no network connectivity.
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