In Quest Of The Snow Leopard
In the dead of the night, in peak winter, when the mountains are covered by a snow quilt and are in deep slumber, ‘the grey ghost’ descends from the high inhospitable Himalayan heights to the lower reaches in the valley…in search of a mate and its prey – the wild mountain goats!
Snow Leopard (Ladakhi: Shan) – An enigmatic mammal capable of surviving in some of the most brutal terrains and in extreme environmental conditions, is the undisputed King of the snowcapped regions. Easily the most magnificent of all the wild cats, this nocturnal cat moves like the phantom in the high mountains of Central Asia in about 12 countries including India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Tibet, Bhutan and Nepal. In India, it is most prevalent in parts of Ladakh and Spiti. Due to its highly camouflaged coat and secretive habits, it is almost impossible to spot it in the summers. But in winters, when the mountains are under snow it becomes relatively easier to spot them by following their walking trails in the snow. There’s an estimated 250-350 that survive today and is marked as an endangered species.
For wildlife enthusiasts, spotting a snow leopard is akin to coming face to face with God. It takes penance and patience and luck to actually spot it in its natural habitat. For some of them, it’s a yearly pilgrimage they need to make to hopefully catch this charming creature at close quarters. Mid-Feb and end-March being the mating season, the probability of spotting them is high. It is normal for a male and female leopard to stay put in the same place for 2-3 days once they meet.
Our itinerary spanning 10 days is spread out across 2 locations where snow leopards have been sighted most frequently in the winters – Sham Valley and Rumbak Valley. The trip also builds in a good mix of trekking, homestay experiences and a chance of spotting the other wildlife of Ladakh. We start our itinerary with 2 days of acclimatization and sightseeing in Leh before venturing into the Sham Valley for a small trek combined with wildlife spotting. We will spend a couple of days scanning the slopes of Yangthang, Ulley and Hemisshukpachen. The next half of the itinerary is around Rumbak Valley divided between Husing Do and Yurutse.
Scanning for wildlife involves a lot of patience and long hours in the outdoors is not so favourable conditions. It is almost meditative in its approach and can be exhausting but the reward is most satisfactory. Few can explain the jubilation of spotting rarely seen wildlife in all their glory. And if it happens to be the King itself, the joy just quadruples!!.
Wildlife spotting expected: Himalayan Blue Sheep, Tibetan Argali, Asiatic Ibex, Lynx, Red Fox, Tibetan Wolf, Snow Leopard.
We do not promise sure shot spotting in these locations, but the probability is high. What we definitely promise is to give you a great and safe time as you enjoy an active winter in Ladakh hiking, camping and spotting some of its splendid wildlife.
Overview
In Quest Of The Snow Leopard – Overview
In the dead of the night, in peak winter, when the mountains are covered by a snow quilt and are in deep slumber, ‘the grey ghost’ descends from the high inhospitable Himalayan heights to the lower reaches in the valley…in search of a mate or its prey – the wild mountain goats!
Snow Leopard(Ladakhi: Shan) – An enigmatic mammal capable of surviving in some of the most brutal terrains and in extreme environment conditions, is the undisputed King of the snowcapped regions. Easily the most magnificent of all the wild cats, this nocturnal cat moves like the phantom in the high mountains of Central Asia in about 12 countries including India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Tibet, Bhutan and Nepal. In India, it is most prevalent in parts of Ladakh and Spiti. Due to its highly camouflaged coat and secretive habits, it is almost impossible to spot it during summers. But in winters, when the mountains are under snow it becomes relatively easier to spot them by following their walking trails in snow. An estimated 250-350 snowleopards survive today and is marked as an endangered species in India.
For wildlife enthusiasts, spotting a snow leopard is akin to coming face to face with God. It takes penance and patience and luck to actually spot it in its natural habitat. For some of them its an yearly pilgrimage they need to make to hopefully catch this charming creature at close quarters. Mid-Feb to end-March being the mating season, the probability of spotting them is high. It is normal for a male and female leopard to stay put at the same place for 2-3 days once they meet.
Our itinerary spanning 12 days is spread out across 2 locations where snow leopards have been sighted most frequently in the winters – Sham Valley and Rumbak Valley. The trip also builds in a good mix of day walks, homestay experiences and a chance of spotting other wildlife of Ladakh. We start our itinerary with 2 days of acclimatization and sightseeing in Leh before venturing into Sham Valley. We spend a couple of days scanning the slopes of Ulley for Ibex and the snow leopard. The next half of the itinerary is around Rumbak Valley divided between Rumbak and Yurutse. We end with a visit to wild Changthang to see the frozen Tsomoriri Lake.
Scanning for wildlife involves a lot of patience and long hours in the outdoors in not so favorable conditions. It is almost meditative in its approach and can be exhausting but the reward is most satisfactory. Few can explain the jubilation of spotting rarely seen wildlife in all their glory. And if it happens to be the King itself, the joy just quadruples!!.
Wildlife spotting expected: Himalayan Blue Sheep, Tibetan Argali, Asiatic Ibex, Lynx, Red Fox, Tibetan Wolf, Snow Leopard.
We do not promise sure shot spotting in these locations, but the probability is high. What we definitely promise is to give you a great and safe time as you enjoy a winter in Ladakh spotting some of its splendid wildlife.
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
- Chance of spotting the endangered elusive ghost of snows – Snow Leopard
- High chances of spotting Blue Sheep, Tibetan Argali, Red Fox, Asiatic Ibex, Wolf
- Stay in cosy, traditional Ladakhi Homestays during trek
- Witness high altitude winter wonderland of Ladakh
- Expert ground team with knowledgeable wildlife guides
- Visit to the high altitude Frozen Tsomoriri Lake and Changthang
ITINERARY AT A GLANCE
Day 01: Arrive Leh. Rest and acclimatization
Day 02: Local Sightseeing around Leh
Day 03: Early morning drive to Ulley/Hemishukpachen. Wildlife spotting
Day 04: Ibex and snowleopard Spotting at Ulley
Day 05: Ibex and snowleopard Spotting at Ulley
Day 06: Drive to Rumbak. Snowleopard spotting
Day 07: Snowleopard spotting
Day 08: Walk to Yurutse. Snowleopard spotting
Day 09: Return to Rumbak. Snowleopard spotting
Day 10: Drive to Tsomoriri
Day 11: Return to Leh
Day 12: Transfer to Airport. Departure
Cost Inclusions
In Quest Of The Snow Leopard – Cost Details
COST:
INR 82500 + 5% GST per person – Indians
USD 1250 + 5% GST per person – Foreigners
COST INCLUDES
- Entire Accommodation during the trip – Guesthouses, homestays
- Experienced Wildlife and outdoor Crew: Local knowledgeable wildlife expert, Qualified Trip Leader
- Food: All Meals on the trip
3 meals per day – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and beverages - Road Transportation: All Transfers as mentioned in the itinerary
- Permits and Taxes:
ALTOA Fee and Wildlife Fees
COST EXCLUDES
- International Airfares and domestic airfares to and out of Leh
- Personal equipment and sleeping bags
- Any additional transport or activities apart from the trip itinerary
- Travel Insurance
- Expenses rising through unforeseen conditions like bad weather, natural calamities, flight cancellations, etc
- Rescue and evacuation services
- Expenses of any personal nature like phone calls, drinks, cigarettes, souvenirs, laundry, etc
- Tips
- Anything not explicitly mentioned in the Cost inclusions
- 5% GST
Itinerary
In Quest Of The Snow Leopard – Itinerary
Day 01: Arrive Leh. Rest and acclimatization
Leh situated at an average altitude of 3500m is mostly all cloaked in white with some hues of red and brown, in the peak of winter. Just landing into one of the World’s highest airports is itself a special experience. You fly over the Great Himalayan range and then over the arid part to land in Leh. Kushok Bakula Rinpoche airport is a small airport which is mostly a defence base used by the Indian Air Force. Civilian flights also use the same airport for their functioning.
The extreme nip in the air is hard to miss as you walk out of the aircraft and get into the buses. The temperatures in Leh are normally in the range of -12 to -18 degree celsius. Always a good idea to exit the aircraft wearing a warm jacket and beanie to not get affected by the sudden drop in temperature and air pressure. Look out for a placard reading ‘Adventure Sindbad’ as you exit the airport terminal. Our representative will pick you up and drive you to your hotel in Leh, our base camp for the next 2 days. Complete rest and no activity is recommended on the first day. Lots of warm water, good food and rest works well to adjust your body to the rarefied oxygen levels. Comprehensive trip briefing late afternoon, post lunch. Stay warm throughout.
Driving Time: 15 mins
Meals: BLD, Overnight Leh Guesthouse
Day 02: Leh Sightseeing and Acclimatization
Your bodies are slowly getting acclimatized to high altitude and extreme cold conditions. We step out today mostly in taxis for a sightseeing tour of some monasteries and palaces around Leh. You might have seen some of them in the Summer. But winter landscape in Leh is a totally dramatic view. We cover Thiksey monastery and Shey palace. Thiksey monastery is famous as the ‘mini potala’ because of its likeness to the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet. The main attraction of this place is the Maitreya temple with an exquisite 2 storeyed statue of the Future Buddha. The terrace of the Thiksey monastery affords outstanding views of the Indus Valley.
Shey used to be the erstwhile capital of Ladakh and boasts the Shey palace atop a hill. It houses the mega statue of Buddha Shakyamuni and some mega chortens. We are back to Leh for lunch and some shopping in preparation of our trek starting the next day. Most of the antique shops are closed in Leh town, and only a handful of restaurants and a book shop operate during winters.
Driving Time: 2-3 hrs
Meals: BLD, Overnight Leh Guest House
Day 03: Early morning drive to Ulley/Hemishukpachen. Wildlife spotting
Ulley village is where a lot of snow leopard sightings happen during the winters. The walk to Ulley is about 2 hrs from Yangthang. We start early after breakfast and walk to the village of Ulley and spend the whole day scanning the white slopes for snow leopard activity. Our main wildlife guide would be using a scope for continuous scanning. A high chance of spotting other mountain sheep including Ladakh Urial(Shapo) and Ibex on the walk as well as at Ulley. If we dont get accommodation in Ulley we may stay at Hemishukpachen which is the neighbouring village.
Driving time: 2 hrs
Meals: BLD, Overnight Homestay.
Day 04 and 05: Ibex and snowleopard Spotting at Ulley
We spend the next 2 days resuming our full day spotting activity on the snow slopes.
Meals: BLD, Overnight Homestay
Day 06: Drive to Rumbak. Snowleopard spotting
After one last session of wildlife spotting, we head to Rumbak Valley with stopovers at Indus and Zanskar confluence at Nimo and at Gurudwara Pathar Sahib. Rumbak in Hemis National Park is the most popular area for spotting the elusive ghost of snow! Over the years, it has become very famous with wildlife and photography enthusiasts and attracts a huge no. of campers. The Wildlife department has recently regulated the no. of people entering these fragile zones, where the wild cat treads. Normally, depending on the latest movements of the snow leopard, the wildlife guides discuss and choose one spot to move to for spotting. We sit there and continuously scan the slopes for signs of trodden trails or movement. High chance of spotting blue sheep, red fox and ofcourse the snow leopard itself.
Driving time: 2 hrs
Meals: BLD, Overnight Homestay
Day 07: Snowleopard spotting at Rumbak
Continue spotting and enjoying the snow clad mountains and the silence of the surroundings
Meals: BLD, Overnight Homestay
Day 08: Walk to Yurutse. Snowleopard spotting
Yurutse is the last village on the way towards Ganda-La. It is famous as the 1 house village in the Rumbak area. It is also a great place for spotting Lynx and Tibetan Argali! Lynx is much smaller than a snow leopard, and is distinctly recognizable bacause of its pointed Ears. They are believed to be more rare to spot than the snow leopard. The Tibetan Argali(Ladakhi:Nyan), is the biggest of the mountain goats, the male weighing almost 100 Kg with massive, wrinkled horns. These 2 mammals can be spotted only around the slopes of Yurutse. Depending on the rush and availability we either stay at the home in Yurutse or camp outside in the grounds beside the house. The trek from RUmbak to Yurutse is beautiful over a gradual slope.
Trekking Time: 2 hrs
Meals: BLD, Overnight Homestay.
Day 09: Return to Rumbak. Snowleopard spotting
We descend to Rumbak and continue our spotting quest.
Meals: BLD, Overnight Homestay.
Day 10: Drive to Tsomoriri
Early morning with our permits for Changthang border areas in hand we head to Tsomoriri Lake via Chumathang Hot springs. Ladakh has many areas with Hot springs, a natural wonder especially in these extreme cold regions. We get to witness the hot geysers with boiling waters just beside the frozen Indus River. Truly a marvel. There are many bathrooms built with small tubs where you can dip into and get a jacuzzi feel. Enjoy a hot water bath with -25 degree celsius outside. We have lunch at Chumathang and head to Tsomoriri lake for our night stay.
The drive to Changthang from Leh is simply amazing esp in winter. The starkness so profound that it speaks to you. Good chances of spotting wildlife on the way, esp red fox, bharals and Tibetan Wild Asses(Kiang).
Meals: BLD, Overnight Homestay.
Day 11: Return to Leh
We spend the morning enjoying the beautiful scenery and head up a small hillock just above Korzok Village to enjoy panoramic views of the entire Lake surrounded by snow peaks. Prominent ones among them are Chamsher, Lungsher Kangri and Mentok Kangri.
After Breakfast we head back to Leh with a lunch break at Chumathang. Evening closing dinner party.
Meals: BLD, Overnight Leh Guesthouse.
Day 12: Transfer to Airport. Departure
We make an early start and drive to the airport for our flight back to Delhi. Trip Ends!
Meals: B
Gallery
In Quest Of The Snow Leopard – Images
-
- Birds of Ladakh
-
- Chukor – Birds of Ladakh
-
- Snow Leopard sighted
-
- 17th Century Leh Palace
-
- View from Monastery Terrace
-
- Tibetan Mastiff
-
- Spotting Equipment in place
-
- Red Fox sighted
-
- Snow Leopard Sighters
-
- In quest of the Snow Leopard
-
- Spotters scanning the slopes on a cloudy morning
-
- Much needed warmth
-
- Yaks
-
- Snow leopard
-
- In quest of the Snow Leopard – Adventure Sindbad
-
- Tibetan Argali- Skull weighing 20Kgs
Inquiry
Talk to an Expert : Call +91-9886022521
Be the first to review “In Quest Of The Snow Leopard”
Related Treks
Markha Winter Walk
During the middle of winter, in the high altitude arid mountains, when the peaks and valleys are covered in snow, and the trees stand all bare, it feels like the Himalaya is in deep meditative state! A state which exudes an aura of peace and serenity so profound that it pervades into the being of every traveller who cares to visit.
We discovered this trip accidentally in the winter of 2017, when our scheduled trip to Chadar got cancelled due to excessive snowfall and we had to think of alternatives and zeroed on Markha Valley. Markha Valley is generally a summer favourite and has few takers in winter with its illustrious cousin the Chadar trek drawing all the attention of trekkers. To our good fortune, what we chanced upon to our delight when we walked the Markha Valley was a ‘winter wonderland’ with exquisite scenery. Imagine a sprawling valley with huge swathes of snow, occasionally interspersed with charming villages, shepherd settlements and buddhist chortens, an ancient monastery perched high on a hill, lengthy prayer walls and colourful prayer wheels, mountain gateways erected of poplar with icy prayer flags fluttering in the cold wind. The place is at once is both elevating and calming.
Starting from Leh, the main town of Ladakh, we spend a couple of days acclimatizing before embarking on the 6 day trek which takes us to the heart of Markha Valley and back. We spend the nights at clean Himalayan homestays interacting with the locals and enjoying Ladakhi hospitality and great food prepared by our very own kitchen team. In the day time we walk from one village to the other enjoying the snow and some awe-inspiring landscapes.
The Markha Winter Walk is a classic trans-Himalayan winter trekking experience. An experience so deep it will convert you into a believer.
Slice of Ladakh
₹50,000
Ladakh - a rugged land of high passes and mystic. A land that grows on you each time you visit. A land you can never get enough of.
“Slice of Ladakh”, as the name goes is designed specifically for travellers visiting Ladakh for the first time. Travellers who just want to test the waters before they invest more time into a substantial adventure. The adventure is designed to cover most of the highlights of the region in an active manner. We trek along the Sham Valley with its green villages and warm Homestays, bike down the highest motorable pass- Khardung La and take a day rafting trip down the Zanskar. A perfect trip to excite and engage you.
Markha Valley Trek
₹50,000
If you had to choose just one trek to do in Ladakh, it must be the Markha Valley Trek. It’s not “the most popular trek” in Ladakh without reason. Right from ease of access, remoteness of valley, wilderness experience and just the feel of trekking in Ladakh - it is all there on this trail. The long hours of walking in wind swept arid landscape with green villages suddenly appearing as a welcoming Oasis, is exactly how trekking in Markha is. Right in between the valley is the quaint Tacha Gompa perched high up on a cliff adding some mystic to this trek. What really adds to the experience is the presence of little hamlets along the way affording a high degree of interaction with the hardy natives. This is the first valley where the concept of homestays was pioneered in the 2000s and later replicated across other trekking valleys in Ladakh. The high altitude grazing grounds at Nimaling with splendid views of snowcapped Kang Yatse is yet another highlight.
The Markha Valley was connected to the mainland via a steel bridge across the Zanskar river in Feb,2016. This bridge was sadly washed off later that year from the Tsarap Chu floods. A new bridge has been proposed here and will soon see the light of day. It gives the trekkers the last few years to enjoy trekking in this fabulous valley sans vehicles! Make the most of it, when you can.
Manali Winter Experience
₹50,000
Manali! The name itself excites one and all for a variety of reasons :) But most of all for its chill climes and pristine Himalayan ranges. Nestled between the Pir Panjal Range and the Dhauladhar range is Kullu Valley, the gateway to Ladakh and the Karakoram. Manali, the most famous tourist hill town in Kullu Valley is at an altitude of 2000m and enjoys salubrious weather and a steady inflow of tourists and trekkers through the year. The side valleys around Manali offer some amazing trekking options from relaxed day hikes for amateurs to tough trails for the seasoned trekker. The only time the valley sort of goes into slumber would be during the winter when the inflow of travellers thins down.
Here’s a chance to experience Manali and around in the quiet winters and have a fab Christmas and New year. Sign off 2017 and welcome 2018 with an exhilarating experience in the mountains. Lovely pine-scented forests, sprawling meadows, snow-capped mountains, and a billion stars to gaze at in the dead of the nights.
After our arrival in Manali, we set up base at the Buddhist village of Tsethan(2650m), an hour’s drive into the mountains above Manali. This is the last inhabited village after which we are totally in the mountains. This was the village which was proposed to become a ski village. A lot of heli skiing and ski touring happens around here in the peak of winters. At Tsethan, we stay at a lovely lodge and take day hikes everyday into a different valley ranging from 3-4 hrs. Have picnic lunches soaking in the Himalayan bliss or come back early for a hot lunch at base camp. Evenings are spent around the bonfire chatting away and star gazing. Its also a chance to interact with the very hospitable locals and learn a little of their simple yet rugged lifestyles. All in all a great way to say bye to this year and move on into the next with renewed hopes and dreams.
Ladakh – Bike, Hike, Raft
₹79,600
This adventure is specifically designed for the active traveller, somebody who relishes a destination while being on the move. For anybody who wants to get a good feel of Ladakh up and close, and in action mode.
We spend the first 2 days acclimatizing to high altitude, something mandatory after arriving in Leh. The next 2 days are for mountain biking down the highest motorable road to Leh and then on to Likir, the start point of our trek. 2 days of trekking to follow, through Ladakhi villages with green cultivated fields and staying in homestays for the night. A great way of getting to know the local lifestyle and interact with the natives of Sham Valley.
Before going on to our last adventure, we take a long and beautiful drive through Suru and Zanskar to reach Padum, the main town of Zanskar. The next 3 days is reserved for high octane white water adventure on the Zanskar river over a class 4+ section through Zanskar canyon, famously referred to as “The Grand Canyon of Asia”. The penultimate day for visiting the famous turquoise Pangong lake at the Tibetan border and the final day to just sit and vegetate!
For energetic ones visiting Ladakh for the first time, there is no better way of soaking in the Ladakh feel in 2 weeks.
Complete Chadar Trek
₹50,000
The Chadar Trek is a phenomenal winter expedition. Period.
If Ladakh is a remote Himalayan region of Indian Himalaya, then Zanskar would be called the remote region of Ladakh! The region gets its name from the Zanskar river that cascades through the stunning Zanskar Gorge famously referred to as ‘The Grand Canyon of Asia’. Zanskar river is a tributary of Indus and is popular for whitewater rafting and kayaking in the Summers. In the winters, the temperature in this cold, arid desert plummets drastically falling as low as -30 degree celsius forcing the Zanskar to freeze on the surface. Thus the top layer forms a veil of ice referred to as ‘Chadar’ by locals.
Khangchendzonga Circuit
Khangchendzonga Circuit is easily one of the finest treks the Indian Himalaya has to offer. Set in the kingdom of Sikkim, the hike takes you to touching distance of the 3rd highest mountain in the world and other snow jewels of Sikkim. Starting from as low as 1800m at Uttarey, the trek reaches its crescendo at Goechala(4940m), where the Khangchendzonga face is only 9 kms as the crow flies. It is an amphitheatre of huge mountains ranging from small peaks to 6000ers, 7000ers and the highest one in India!Some notable mountains are Janoo, Talung, Pandim, Jopuno, Narsing, Simvo and Kabru.
The first half of the trek straddles the border with Nepal passing through dense forests of rhododendron and sprawling meadows where Yaks and Dzos graze. Midway through the trek we camp beside high altitude holy lakes, before entering the Indian side of the border.
This is a demanding trek with some long days of walking where not many trekking groups venture. The route is mostly isolated all the way to Dzongri after which it joins the popular YuKsom-Dzongri Circuit where the footfall of hikers is higher. The Nepalese culture, rugged mountain route, heartwarming scenery, and the pacing of the route make this our personal favorite.
Consider this if you have a few treks under your belt, and lead a reasonably active lifestyle.
Parang La Trek
An ethereal walk traversing countries and geographies, from Indian desert mounds-of-sand like mountains of Spiti Valley to the vast expansive high altitude plateau, Changthang - the home of the nomadic Changpa’s in Tibet, is the Parang la trek. The trek reaches it crescendo, not just on one day – the day we cross the Parang la across the ragged mountains, but another – the day we soak in the serenity of the Tso Moriri. The trek is an endless walk along through green meadows where the Kiangs (Tibetan wild horses) run wild, through little bushes of green in the arid brown of the Spiti that are the rhododendrons, along the cobalt blue stillness of the Tso Moriri and then on to the vast expansive ill-populated wetlands of the Changthang plateau. This trek embodies the art of mindfulness – Vipaasana Meditation – One is truly mindful of their surrounding, their breath and the breathtaking visages.
The trip starts with a drive across the stunning landscapes and the lush green meadows of the Kullu valley to the arid mountain scapes of Lahaul and Spiti. To get acclimatised to the high altitude, the next couple of days is well spent understanding the ways of the monks and the people of Spiti in the millennial old, favourites of Dalai Lama -Toba and Kye/Key monasteries, soaking up some good energy and history. Taking the traditional trade route between Ladakh and Spiti, we cross Parang la (5580m), source of the Pare Chu River that flows from India to Tibet and final circles back to India to join the Spiti River. Then we descends to the almost never-ending plateau of Changthang and walk to the Tso Moriri (Lake Moriri) we get to sight some exotic migratory birds like the rare Great crested grebe, endangered Black-necked cranes, the lake is also the lone breeding home for the Bar-headed geese. Camping at the green grounds of Chumik Shilte and Kiangdam, we get to sleep under the stars and uninhabited lands of the Changthang, is a surreal experience of living, even if for few days, amongst the magnificent glacier peaks and still blue lakes. The trip ends with another scenic drive across Changthang to Leh, the main city of Ladakh, for a leisure day in Leh to relax the aching muscles after the challenging yet exciting walk.
This trek is recommended for experienced trekkers who have had some high-altitude trekking experience or maintain an active lifestyle.
- High altitude crossing from surreal Spiti into Changthang, the
Tibetan plateau
- Turquoise Tsomoriri Lake between Kiangdam and Korzok
- Wild Tibetan wild Asses and rare birds at Tsomoriri
- Witness lifestyle and interaction with Changpa Nomads of
Ladakh
- Millennium old monasteries of Spiti
- 2 splendid high altitude drives through awe-inspiring scenery
Goechala Trek
₹50,000
Goechala Trek is your chance to visit the hallowed land of the highest mountain in India and the 3rd highest mountain in the World - Khangchendzonga(8586m) in the Kingdom of Sikkim. You will be delighted each day of the trip by the Buddhist culture of the place, its natural beauty and the warmth of the locals. The trip spans the Nepalese hinterland of East India covering Darjeeling and West Sikkim. Right from day 1, the Khangchendzonga range covers the north sky and grows in size as we inch closer and closer until Goechala, where we are just 9 kms away from its formidable North face. You will have to crane your neck to get a good sight at the summit from here.
The trip starts with 2 days at the Tea Capital of Darjeeling, the charming hill station town built by the British. We then move on to Yuksom in West Sikkim, the start point for the 8 day trek rich in flora and fauna. There is a wide variety of orchids, ferns, rhododendrons and bamboo…the thick vegetation with snow mountains peeking through the branches, the yaks and dzos ambling along with load on their backs is a common sight along the trail. During Spring, this region is home to some of the biggest and most colourful rlooming hododendrons in the Himalaya.
Rated among the finest walks in the Indian Himalaya, the trek to Goechala and back will leave you craving for more.
Highlights of Ladakh
₹50,000
This is an itinerary which covers most of the highlights of Ladakh in an action-packed 14-day package. We start our trip from New Delhi with an overnight Volvo to Manali, a lush Himalayan Hill station famous for its apple orchards. After a day of relaxing and local sightseeing in Manali, we embark on an epic 2-day trans-Himalayan road trip to Leh rated as one of the finest road trips in the World crossing 5 high passes with stunning scenery.
We have a day’s rest to recoup from the driving when we checkout the famous monasteries and palaces in Leh. The next 2 days we visit the northernmost tip of India - Nubra Valley which used to be a major stopover for traders during the silk route days. Enjoy rides on the double-humped camels there and visit Diskit monastery with the 32 mtr statue of the Maitreya Buddha. On the way back to Leh, we enjoy mountain biking from the highest motorable pass - Khardung La(5359m).
We then hike for 3 days through the picturesque Sham Valley interspersed with villages with green farm fields. One of the best ways to feel the essence of Ladakh. We also get an opportunity to stay in Homestays and view first hand the lifestyle of people in Ladakh. We end the trek at Tingmosgang and to Lamayuru, one of the most popular monasteries of Ladakh. Lamayuru is situated in mud spires in a moonlike surroundings which will leave you in total awe. The next day at Leh is reserved for rest and leisure. Checkout sunrise over Tsemo Castle or sunset over Shanti Stupa. A heart warming experience just seeing the sun light up the Valley and turn it crimson during sunset. Visit the charming and bustling market in Leh and shop for your loved ones.
The next 2 days are reserved for a visit to Pangong Lake and a thrilling whitewater rafting experience on the Zanskar.
This is one trip that will leave you with vivid images and special experiences that you will be talking about for a long time.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.