About This Tour

  • Region: Ladakh, Himalayas
  • Duration: 13 Days
  • Altitude: 4090 mts - 4580 mts
  • Grade: Moderate to Challenging
  • Season: Mid Nov - Mid Mar
  • Route: Leh – Phey - Hemis National Reserve – Zingchen - Leh

Step into the untamed wilderness of Ladakh with the Snow Leopard Trek, an extraordinary journey through the rugged terrain of Hemis National Park. This adventurous trek in Ladakh leads you to the stunning Rumbak Valley, a prime habitat of the elusive snow leopard. The trekkers get to navigate the icy trails, witness Ladakh’s incredible wildlife, including Himalayan blue sheep, Tibetan wolves, red foxes, and Ladakh urials, while in the skies, one can spot golden eagles, lammergeiers, and Himalayan snowcocks.

Snow Leopard Trekking Route and Experience

The Snow Leopard trek starts from Leh (3500 m), where trekkers stay for a night to acclimatize before moving on to Phey (3203 m), the actual starting point of the trek. The winding trail from Leh passes through expansive mountains before entering the Hemis National Reserve (3780 m) where blue sheep and Himalayan foxes and golden eagles reside.

Trekkers spend the next few days exploring the wilderness, visiting nearby villages, and experiencing the warmth of Ladakhi hospitality through authentic homestays. They will also have the opportunity to meet local people while tasting Ladakhi food and observing the local culture. Hemis National Park is home to various plant species including juniper and wild rose bushes that adorn the trekking trail.

The journey moves toward Zingchen (3400 m) which sits in a picturesque valley with mountains covered in snow. The final stretch of the trek delivers panoramic vistas together with icy waterways and provides an opportunity to sight snow leopards living in their natural habitat.

Best Time for Snow Leopard Trek

The Snow Leopard Trek is best undertaken between December and March, when heavy snowfall drives these elusive big cats to lower altitudes, increasing the chances of sightings. This winter expedition takes adventurers through frozen rivers, snow-covered mountains, and icy trails, offering a breathtaking glimpse into Ladakh’s untouched wilderness.

Itinerary

In the morning catch spectacular flight towards Leh. On arrival in Leh, you will be transferred to the hotel. Rest of the day will be free for leisure, you can choose to either relax in the hotel and acclimatize yourself to high altitude or explore the market. Overnight stay in the Leh hotel.
In the morning after breakfast we will take a full day sightseeing of Leh monastery including Shey Gompa, which was once the summer capital of Ladakh kings; Thiksey Gompa, which is said to be one of the most beautiful structures in Ladakh and the famed Hemis Monastery belonging to Drukpa Order. Overnight stay at the hotel.
On the second day, you will first drive to Phey, a village in the Leh district. From Phey, you will start trekking along the gorges of Indus River to reach Hemis National Park. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to the camp where dinner will be also served.
Post breakfast at the camp, you will go for a short trek to explore Hemis National Park where you might catch the sight of snow leopards, Tibetan wolf, blue sheep, argali, Himalayan marmot, mountain weasel and the Himalayan mouse. After exploring Hemis National Park, come back to the camp for dinner and overnight stay.
From 5 to 11, you will have 7 days at your disposal to catch the sight of the iconic and rare snow leopard. The travel guide will take you to all the places where snow leopard sightseeing is prominent. During these eight days, you will be touching quite high altitudes. Along with snow leopards, you can spot blue sheep, argali, Tibetan wolf, Eurasian brown bear, Himalayan marmot, mountain weasel and Himalayan mouse hare. Dinner will be served in the camps.
In the morning after breakfast, we will trek to Zingchan and from here drive to Leh. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
In the morning, you will catch a flight to Delhi from Leh airport. Your arrival in Delhi marks the end of trekking expedition.

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