DAY 1: ARRIVE IN DELHI

You will be met upon arrival in Delhi and transferred to your hotel.

Delhi, the capital of India, is a city that offers a glimpse of both ancient and modern day India. It is the third largest city in India and one of the fastest growing in Asia. This city is rich in culture, always changing with time but never hiding its splendid past. 
Overnight in Delhi.

DAY 2: FLY TO LEH

After breakfast, transfer to Delhi airport for our flight to Leh. Remainder of the day is at leisure for acclimatization to the high altitude. We have just landed at 11,000 ft/3400 meters, hence no matter how fit you are, young or old, Day 1 and 2, have to be taken at a very slow pace. If your body allows, a stroll in the markets of Leh post lunch, as it is important that we keep the body moving to a certain extent for blood to circulate. 
Overnight in Leh.

DAY 3: LEH

A day at leisure for proper acclimatization. It is very important, to move slower, drink lots of water / tea, and not to put too much stress on the body. We want to be in proper shape when exploring the Himalayas.

If at all interested in walking, it should be bare minimum and one can visit one of the several possibilities like Sankar Gompa, Shanti Stupa & Leh Palace. There will be an opportunity to visit Thiksey Monestary in the morning and possibly participate in the morning prayers. We say possibly, because it all depends on how your body acclimatizes. Near the monestary there is opportunity to do some birding and possibly look for the ibis bill. 

We will also visit the Snow Leopard Conservancy, who we proudly support in the Ladakh region. Their exceptional work to reduce human animal conflict in snow leopard country has been remarkable. We will get a brief presentation on their work. 

For those interested in photography, we will head over to Leh Palace right before sunset in order to photograph Shanti Stupa from a distance, especially when it lights up in the evening. 
Overnight in Leh.

DAY 4: LEH - ULLEY

Today we drive west (2-3 hrs) on the road to Kargil and Srinagar, generally following the Indus River. We pass through the small town of Nimmu – one of the most important in Ladakh, where the Zanskar River meets the Indus. After a little over an hour we head north on a road marked to Likir – one of Ladakh’s famous Buddhist monasteries. This is all snow leopard country. The landscape here is even bigger, more expansive and open, until you turn off onto a dirt road, winding up a narrow valley, following a stream called the Ulley Chhu. Smaller valleys intersect and the guides have their heads craned all the time, scanning the hill sides and the skyline for any silhouette. This is excellent ibex country and there are few more evocative sights than a magnificently horned male ibex standing vigil on an impossibly narrow outcropping, a few thousand feet over a plunging cliff. Ulley village, west of Leh, is an area that is only recently being developed for snow leopard watching.

You will be staying at Snow Leopard Annex, which apart from being more comfortable than camping out in sub-zero temperatures, puts money directly into local hands and strengthens the constituency of the snow leopard. This will be your base for your stay searching for snow leopards and other high altitude wildlife. The Annex is built with a dining room, lounge and kitchen – all in the same low stone built building. We will have our own cook and camp staff with an assortment of important luxuries like extra gas heaters, warm shower and bathroom, comfortable mattresses, linen, an assortment of coffees, teas, snacks etc. that go a long way to alleviate the cold and the altitude. Add to this the interest of living with a Ladakhi family in the depths of winter and understanding their lifestyle and you have a very special experience in store - especially sharing the large and warm kitchens that are the heart of a Ladkahi home in winter and resplendent with brass, copper and silver ornaments.
Overnight at Snow Leopard Annex.

DAY 5 - 9: ULLEY

Snow leopards are some of the most elusive big cats remaining in the world because they live in such remote areas of Central Asia. There are thought to be between 3,500 and 7,000 snow leopards left in the wild.

Due to the rugged terrain of the Himalayas, most of the herbivores are related to the agile footed sheep and goats. They can move easily through the mountainous regions of the Himalayas from one pasture to the next. During the winter months the ibex move down to lower altitudes where there is food, and they are followed by the snow leopards and other predators like the Tibetan wolf. These ungulates form the primary snow leopard diet and it is through the movements of these ungulates and trails left by snow leopards moving across habitats that one can improve the chances of seeing the snow leopard in its natural environment. Every day we head out in different directions to track this grey ghost. Other than snow leopards, the area has good number of species like the yak (wild ox), ibex, Tibetan wolf & red fox.

From the house and its terraced fields you command a superb view across the valley and are almost certain to see ibex from here, and if you are lucky, many other wildlife species including wolves, red foxes and perhaps even snow leopards. Settle in on arrival and acclimatize to the higher altitude of Ulley. You will be based here and the advantage of Ulley is that it is relatively free of tourism. 

Staying in at the Snow Leopard Annex is the simplest way of looking for snow leopards, allowing you complete flexibility as to the number of days you want to spend and requiring none of the elaborate preparations that you need to camp out. Add to this the exceptional tracking skill of the guides, and this makes for a truly superb high-altitude wilderness experience.

Over the next few days you explore the area on foot and vehicle with tracking guides.  
Overnight at Snow Leopard Annex.

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DAY 10: ULLEY - LEH

After a leisurely breakfast, we drive down to Leh (2-3 hrs).
Overnight in Leh.

DAY 11: LEH - DELHI

After breakfast, we transfer to Leh airport for our flight to Delhi / Jabalpur. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel in Delhi.
Overnight in Delhi.

DAY 12: DEPART DELHI (or continue on to Lions & Tigers of India tour)

Depart Delhi for international flights home or continue on to ElderTreks Lions' and Tigers of India tour.

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Dates & Prices