With a high-altitude desert dominated by rugged snowcapped mountains and deep turquoise lakes, Ladakh is one of the most picturesque places on earth. Home to the “Ghost of the Himalaya,” the elusive snow leopard, it is renowned as the best place in the world to spot them. Our journey takes you across a land of wilderness, towering glaciers and forbidding peaks in a quest to discover these majestic creatures in their natural habitat. It’s as much about the epic trek, as the sighting of these animals that make this experience so extraordinary.
"Scan the mountain ridges for animal sightings, and look up to witness golden eagles and bearded vultures patrolling the skies."
Start your Himalayan adventure in Leh, the historical capital of the Kingdom of Ladakh. Framed by mountains, the Old Town presides over the bustling bazaar below with its imposing Tibetan-style palace. Soak up the surrounding natural beauty, visit local villages and explore ancient monasteries as you acclimatise to the altitude.
From here you’ll enter the vast Hemis National Park in the Ulley Valley, which boasts the highest density of snow leopards in any protected area in the world. Enjoy the hospitality of your remote local village homestay, a comfortable base from which to embark on exciting treks across three valleys to track snow leopards. Highly trained by the Snow Leopard Conservancy, your accompanying expert guide and local tracker know the habits of the snow leopard intimately.
Every day will provide a new glimpse into the fascinating yet fragile wildlife eco-system, where the snow leopard shares its habitat with other creatures including the Tibetan wolf, wild dog, blue sheep, urial, red fox, Eurasian brown bear, Asiatic ibex and Himalayan marmots. Scan the mountain ridges for animal sightings, and look up to witness golden eagles and bearded vultures patrolling the skies. Share stories of your treks with the welcoming villagers during your stay whilst learning about local customs and traditions for a true insight into life in the Himalayas.
If you’re keen to capture the magic on film, we can elevate your experience with your own professional wildlife photographer, meaning you can sit back and enjoy all that nature has to offer.
The best time to see snow leopard is during April or early November when the snow is at its deepest and they descend to the valley following their prey. The expedition can be extended to include Nubra Valley for a chance to view the Himalayan brown bear in its natural habitat.
