Snow leopards are so elusive that they are called ‘Ghosts of the Mountains’. For a long time, sighting one was the privilege of those embarking on serious mountain expeditions. During winter, Snow Leopards and their prey base descend from the high Himalayas to altitudes that are more accessible to keen wildlife enthusiasts. Our Snow Leopard Quest endeavours to spot these elusive big cats in their remote rocky abodes, along with other rare high-altitude wildlife species.
This tour requires a good level of physical fitness. Time needs to be spent to acclimatise to high altitudes. Winters in Ladakh are harsh, with temperatures well below freezing point. While out looking for Snow Leopards, we will have the help of professional wildlife spotters to guide us to the right places. The daily walking/trekking distances are moderate, but in tough weather conditions.
The focus of this tour is to maximize our Snow Leopard and other wildlife sightings, rather than luxury. Our accommodation in Hemis National Park will be a simple, clean and warm home stay. Home cooked, simple food will be served. During our time at the home stay, if our expert naturalists and spotters feel that we need to move closer to an area where they’ve observed snow leopard activity, a full-service camp will be erected by the staff for us to spend the night there.
It is important to understand that flights to Leh can suffer occasional delays and cancellations due to adverse winter weather. It is therefore highly recommended to book flexible international flights.
For those looking for a real adventure and a very special wildlife experience, this is an excellent tour.
