Ladakh, the land of high passes is the cold desert of India. The mysterious and picturesque valley of Ladakh lies in the Eastern Great Himalayas of Jammu and Kashmir. The colourful monasteries, the vast Moonland, the snowcapped peaks, the enchanting Pangong Lake and the beauty of the place will leave you spellbound. The place offers serenity and tranquility amidst picturesque and scenic views of nature. It’s a trekker’s paradise; the adventure seeker will love to find the adventure in the beauty of Ladakh.

Ladakh’s wildlife lies not only in its uniqueness, it also derives from the remoteness and harshness of the land. Nestling some of the endangered species of the Himalayan region, the Hemis National Park has an incredible scenic landscape. The Snow Leopard trek will take you deep inside the Hemis National Park in search of the elusive Snow Leopard. These elusive endangered big cats can be found in cold, mountainous areas of Spiti, Ladakh and Zanskar Himalayas. Snow Leopard Trek is the perfect trek for adventure and wildlife lovers. You may spot some of the animals like Tibetan wolves, blue sheep, horned sheep and Eurasian Brown Bear and more. Go backpacking across the Rumbak Valley, follow the trails and footprints of “Ghosts of mountains” and explore the wonderland - Ladakh.

ITINERARY:

Day 01: Arrive in Leh

Arrive in Leh on your own. You will be transferred to the hotel. Check in to the hotel and spend the whole day getting acclimated to the altitude of 11500 feet. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 02: Leh Sightseeing

Rise and shine with the view of beautiful sunrise of Ladakh valley. After breakfast, leave for sightseeing around Leh. Explore the Leh monastery; visit the most beautiful monastery in Ladakh - Thiksey Gompa. Stroll around one of the most famous and largest monasteries of Ladakh - Hemis Gompa. Have your hot lunch on the way. In the evening visit the magnificent Shanti Stupa and spend some time admiring the beauty of Ladakh with the stunning sunset. Later return to the hotel and have your dinner. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 03: Leh- Zingchen - Rumbak Valley

Relish your breakfast early morning and check out from the hotel. Drive to Zingchen, which will take an hour from Leh. Start your trek today from Zingchen to Rumbak valley. The trail from Zingchen to Rumbak Valley is a gradual ascent. Rumbak valley is the home to the Snow Leopard. You will get a chance to interact with the locals and get to know more about their culture and lifestyle. Overnight stay at the camps.

Day 04: Rumbak Valley - Stok La - Rumbak Valley

Search for the majestic Snow Leopard starts today. After breakfast, start trekking to Stok La. Climb up to the pass and get stunning views of the Indus Valley. Follow the footprints and trails of Snow Leopard, if you get lucky on the first day, you might spot one. Other animals like blue sheep, Ibex, Tibetan sheep (Argali), red fox & Lynx can be spotted. Return to the camp by evening. Overnight stay at the camps.

Day 05: Rumbak Valley

Explore Rumbak valley and look for signs of Snow Leopard. Spend another day with the Guide and trained naturalists on the look-out for Snow Leopard and its prey. Snow leopards are the wild predators of cold deserts that love to live in isolation; they descend to lower regions in the winter season or when there is a heavy snowfall. If you have cameras, night visions are recommended as you might spot one in the night. Overnight stay at the camps.

Day 06: Rumbak Valley

You have the entire day to yourself in the valley. Spend the day at leisure, exploring the forest and the valley. Wander through the beautiful valley and take some amazing shots of the Hemis National Park and its wildlife. You can visit the nearby villages and get to know more about the culture and traditions of Ladakh. Overnight stay at the camps.

Day 07: Rumbak Valley - Zingchen - Likir

Drive back to Zingchen to reach Likir. Enroute visit some of the famous spots in Ladakh. Admire the views from Spituk monastery, which has backdrop of Indus River and snowcapped peaks of the Himalayas. The monastery currently is home to 100 monks. Visit Gurudwara Pathar Sahib, where it’s said that Sikh Guru Guru Nanak Dev vanquished a demon. Visit the famous Magnetic Hill, which defies the laws of gravity. Overnight stay at the campsite in Likir.

Day 08: Likir to Leh

Start your journey from Likir back to Leh. Enroute stop for some traditional Ladakhi tea with a local family. Enjoy the evening at the hotel with bonfire and gaze at the beautiful night sky of Ladakh. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 09: Leh to onwards journey

In the morning you will be transferred to the airport for your onwards journey. Your adventurous Snow Leopard trek concludes today.