Search for Snow Leopards with Valerie Parkinson
Search for Snow Leopards with Valerie Parkinson
Search for Snow Leopards with Valerie Parkinson
14 Days Starting and ending in Delhi
Visiting: Tibet, India, Himalaya
Tour operator:
Tour code:
TGL
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
4 - 16
Age range:
16-99
Special diets catered:
Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Snow leopards are one of the world's most elusive mammals but in winter they descend from the high Himalaya in search of food. Inhabiting some of the most remote and mountainous regions of Central Asia, the mission to see this enigmatic cat is really more of a pilgrimage. Other rare high altitude wildlife and isolated Himalayan Buddhist communities only add to this quest's allure. The itinerary varies slightly by departure date to fit in the different festivals.
18 February & 6 March 2022 departures (Flight inclusive) led by Valerie Parkinson
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Start Delhi
The adventure begins in Delhi. You are free today to explore this buzzing city or rest after your flight; rooms may not be available until noon but it is often earlier than this. There is usually a welcome briefing in the hotel lobby this evening.
Accommodation: Hotel Regent Grand (or similar)
Day 2 : Fly Across The Himalaya To Leh
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Usually, we have an early start for the flight to Leh. We may have to leave the hotel around 3am and drive to the airport for the very early morning (but highly spectacular) flight over the snow-capped peaks of the Himalaya, which are incredibly beautiful in winter. Landing in Leh, the temperature drops dramatically and we need our down jackets at the airport. If the weather is good and the flight goes on time, we should be in Leh for breakfast. The rest of the day is free to relax and acclimatise to the altitude (11,485ft/3,500m). In the morning, we rest and catch up on sleep. In the afternoon, we have a gentle orientation walk around Leh and its bazaars.
Accommodation: Mahey Retreat (or similar)
Day 3 : Full Day At A Monastic Festival Or Visit Shey, Thikse And Stakna Monasteries
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The activities for this day depend on your departure date. Each year, the timing of the monastic festivals change and so the itinerary is flexible to ensure you can attend this time-honoured tradition. You either attend the festival or visit the monasteries on Day 3. Please note, the arrangements below are for 2024 departures. Once a year, every monastery in Ladakh has a festival where the monks dress in elaborate brocade and silk costumes and re-enact century-old stories of the Tibetan Buddhist religion. People come from all over Ladakh to the festivals and these are a great social as well as religious occasion. The whole day is spent at the festival and, in the evening, we return to our hotel in Leh.
If not attending a festival on this day, we visit the most important monasteries in the Indus Valley. First, we drive just over 30 minutes to Shey, once the residence of the Ladakhi royal family. Below the old palace ruins is a small temple containing a two-storey gilded statue of Buddha. From Shey, we walk across the fields to Tikse, spotting birds en route. Set on a hill, it is one of the most impressive gompas in Ladakh. It has several temples, one of which contains a superb statue of the Future Buddha. We then drive to Stakna, a small but friendly monastery perched atop a huge rock. In the late afternoon, we return to Leh.
Festival attendance – land only start dates
19-20 February 2024: Stok Festival on Day 3
Accommodation: Mahey Retreat (or similar)
Day 4 : Drive To Jinchen; Trek To Rumbak Sumdo
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today we leave Leh and drive across the Indus towards Jinchen. We follow the road past Phe to the entrance of the impressive Rumbak Gorge. We leave the cars near a bridge and our trail takes us up into the narrow gorge and we start our search for evidence of snow leopards and blue sheep. We camp tonight at our base camp at Rumbak Sumdo (12,470ft/3,800m).
Accommodation: Full-service camping
Day 5 - 9 : Five Days Of Wildlife Spotting In Hemis National Park
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The next five days are dedicated to searching for snow leopards. The itineraries are flexible and set by our expert wildlife guides. They are in touch with other local spotters, who share recent sightings and maximise our chances of seeing a snow leopard.
We usually spend most of the time at our base camp at Rumbak Sumdo, while walks take us into the Rumbak Valley and further towards Yurutse and the Ganda La. We can also explore the Husing and Tarbuns valleys, all well-known haunts of the snow leopard. In 2023, we had six good snow leopard sightings in this area, plus fox, wolf and blue sheep sightings. In 2024, we saw six snow leopards, two wolf packs, foxes and blue sheep.
Bring a good pair of binoculars to scan the slopes, though we also have wildlife spotters (one per five group members), who carry spotting scopes, which they set up at camp and on ridges on the walks. They also go out in the early mornings and late evenings to search for evidence of any animal movement.
We also have a full trekking crew with us, including guides, assistant guides, cook, kitchen assistants and porters. Lunch and hot drinks are brought to us by our camp crew. If you have a heavy camera bag, it is possible to hire a private porter to carry this for you.
We camp every night, except for one, which is spent in a traditional Ladakhi homestay. Food at the homestay is traditional local fare and you get the chance to interact with the villagers.
Accommodation: Full-service camping and one night in a homestay
Day 10 : Return To Leh
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today we trek back to Jinchen, where we meet our transport and drive back to the relative comforts of our hotel in Leh.
Accommodation: Mahey Retreat (or similar)
Day 11 : Full Day At A Monastic Festival Or Visit Shey, Thikse And Stakna Monasteries
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
See Day 3 for full details of activities and festival dates. This information includes which day your departure attends the monastic festival.
Accommodation: Standard hotel
Day 12 : Fly To Delhi
Meals Included: Breakfast
We have an early start for the flight back to Delhi. The rest of the day is free in Delhi for individual shopping or sightseeing.
Accommodation: Hotel Regent Grand (or similar)
Day 13 : Free Day In Delhi For Individual Sightseeing
Meals Included: Breakfast
We have a free day in Delhi in case of any delays in the flight from Leh. If we fly to Delhi on schedule, today is free for individual sightseeing. You may want to visit Old Delhi with the magnificent Red Fort and Jami Masjid. Humayun’s Tomb (a forerunner to the Taj Mahal) is worth a visit. In New Delhi, there is India Gate and Parliament House. Delhi also has a wealth of interesting shops and markets. An optional day trip to Agra to see the Taj Mahal can be arranged by your leader who will provide details and prices (not available on Fridays, as the Taj Mahal is closed).
Accommodation: Hotel Regent Grand (or similar)
Day 14 : End Delhi
Meals Included: Breakfast
The tour ends after breakfast today and we begin our return journeys home. Alternatively, if you’d like a little more adventure, consider joining our five-day Golden Triangle extension. Encompassing Delhi, Jaipur and Agra, the trip is a whirlwind of culture, taking in the Taj Mahal, Red Fort of Akbar and much more.
What's Included
-
Meals
9 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 6 dinners.
* All breakfasts, 10 lunches and 10 dinners
* All accommodation
* All transport and listed activities
* Tour leader throughout
* Flights from London (if booking incl. flights)
* Arrival and departure transfers
* Specialist wildlife guide
What's Not Included
-
Visas or vaccinations
-
Single accommodation (available on request)
-
Travel insurance
Food
All breakfasts are included and in Ladakh all food is included. In Leh the
food will be a mix of Indian, Tibetan, Chinese and Continental. On trek we
provide a full breakfast including porridge, cereals, eggs and toast and a
choice of hot drinks. Lunch will be a packed hot lunch consisting of rice and
chapattis, vegetables, tuna and cheese, which will be carried for us. Dinners
will be mostly pasta, rice or potato based and a mixture of Indian,
Continental and Chinese style. In the afternoon hot drinks and biscuits are
served and in the daytime our camp staff will bring us hot drinks whilst we
are out spotting.
Accommodation
In Delhi, we use a good standard hotel, which has air-conditioned rooms. In Leh, we stay in a comfortable hotel, close to the local market and town centre. There is wifi in Leh; however, there is no mobile coverage for international phones in Ladakh.
The trek itself is on a full-service camping basis, meaning our camp staff put up and dismantle the tents, cook, and do all the camp chores. You need only carry your backpack for the day. We use two-person tents, which have enough room inside for your kitbags and include mattress, sheet, pillow, two blankets, and a hot water bottle at night. We also have a dining tent with table, folding chairs and a heater, and at least one toilet tent (usually two) for use during the evenings. No running water is available while camping. The camp staff collect stream water or melt snow to provide bowls of warm water (to wash with).
We spend one night in a traditional Ladakhi house. The homestay is basic and you may be sleeping in a sleeping bag on a mattress on the floor. There is a basic local long-drop toilet and dining room.
If you require a single room in Delhi and Leh and a single tent while camping there is a single supplement. Please note, single rooms are not available in the homestay.
Check out our Q&As
-
Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes, our local guides are English speaking.
-
Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
The minimum age for this tour is 16 years old.
-
Can you assist with pre or post tour accommodation?
We are happy to assist with pre and post tour accommodation. Please enquire for detailed information.
-
Is there a supplement for solo travellers?
If you would like to be paired with a tour member of the same gender, there is no additional charge. A single supplement can be requested if you would like your own room.
-
Who is Exodus Travels?
At Exodus Travels, we've been exploring the world for nearly 50 years. From Walking and Trekking, Cultural and Cycling, Responsible Wildlife, to Polar and our new Premium Adventures, we are proud to offer award-winning small group and self-guided tours to 100+ countries worldwide.
-
Are flights included in this tour?
International flights are not included with this tour.
-
What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
-
How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
-
What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
-
Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
-
Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
Reviews from travellers on this tour
1 Select your preferred date
Saturday - Friday
Feb 15, 2025 - Feb 28, 2025Saturday - Friday
Mar 01, 2025 - Mar 14, 2025Saturday - Friday
Feb 28, 2026 - Mar 13, 2026Book with Confidence
-
Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Exodus Adventure Travels allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus adventure travels, 43 days before departure.
-
Low Deposit
Exodus Adventure Travels requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
-
Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus adventure travels charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.