Search for Snow Leopards with Valerie Parkinson

Search for Snow Leopards with Valerie Parkinson

14 Days Starting and ending in Delhi

Visiting: Delhi, Leh, Hemis National Park, Ladakh

Tour operator:

Exodus Adventure Travels

Tour code:

TGL

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

5 - 16

Physical rating:

Moderate

Age range:

16-99

Special diets catered:

Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements

Tour operated in:

English

Trip Styles:

Camping

Activities:

Trekking, Walking

From: $5025

NB: Prices correct on 23-Dec-2024 but subject to change.

Tour Overview

Snow leopards are one of the most elusive mammals in the world but in winter they descend from the High Himalaya in search of food. As they inhabit 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. All departures are led by specialist Himalaya trekking guide Valerie Parkinson.



Valerie won Best Tour Leader 2021 in the prestigious Wanderlust World Guide Awards.







Valerie was born by the seaside in Blackpool, UK, and spent much of her younger days walking with her parents in the Lake District. After finishing her studies, Valerie worked in Germany and Switzerland, until 1984 when she took a break that would change her life forever. She travelled to India for a three-week trek through Kashmir and Ladakh and found her spiritual home in the High Himalaya. She has spent the rest of her life leading treks (and bike trips) in the Himalayan region and her knowledge of the local culture, religion, art and wildlife is second to none. Her enthusiasm for trekking developed into climbing. In 2008, she became the first British woman to summit the 26,781ft (8,163m) tall Mount Manaslu without the use of supplementary oxygen and she attempted Everest in 2009. Over the years, Valerie has been instrumental in setting up and running Himalayan Community Projects, which now operates through the Exodus Travels Foundation.

Highlights

  • Chance to see the rare, elusive snow leopard

  • Wonderful winter walking in mountainous Ladakh, when it is cut off from the rest of the world

  • Visit ancient monasteries and attend a colourful monastic festival with masked dancers

  • Enjoy a homestay night and traditional meal with a friendly Ladakhi family

  • Look for lynx, blue sheep, wolves, bearded vultures, red foxes, Himalayan griffin vultures and golden eagles

Places You'll See

Taj Mahal, India

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1 : Start Delhi

Location: Delhi

Accommodation Name: Hotel Regent Grand (or similar)

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

Location: Leh

Accommodation Name: Mahey Retreat (or similar)

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

Location: Leh

Accommodation Name: Mahey Retreat (or similar)

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

Location: Leh

Accommodation Name: Full-service camping

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

Location: Hemis National Park

Accommodation Name: Full-service camping

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

Location: Leh

Accommodation Name: Mahey Retreat (or similar)

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

Location: Ladakh

Accommodation Name: Standard hotel

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

Location: Delhi

Accommodation Name: Hotel Regent Grand (or similar)

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

Location: Delhi

Accommodation Name: Hotel Regent Grand (or similar)

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

Location: 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

  • All breakfasts, 10 lunches and 10 dinners

  • All accommodation

  • All transport and listed activities

  • Tour leader throughout

  • Free arrival and departure transfers for everyone (in Delhi)

  • Specialist wildlife guide

What's Not Included

  • Travel insurance

  • Single accommodation (available on request)

  • Visas or vaccinations

Food

All breakfasts are included and all food is included in Ladakh. In Leh, the food is 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 is a packed hot lunch consisting of rice and chapattis, vegetables, tuna and cheese, which is carried for us. Dinners are mostly pasta, rice or potato based and a mixture of Indian, Continental and Chinese cuisines. In the afternoon, hot drinks and biscuits are served and, in the daytime, camp staff bring us hot drinks while we are out spotting.



Drinking water



Staying hydrated is important when undertaking any physical activity. However, we strongly encourage you not to buy bottled water as this contributes to the growing problem of plastic pollution in India



On trek, the cooks collect and boil drinking water from the mountain streams and fill up your water bottles for you, but you may need to collect water during the day and may wish to use your own water purification treatment as well. Purification tablets can be an economical way to treat your water, most taking between 30 minutes to one hour to purify one litre of water and are easy to used in water bladders/hydration packs. Purification tablets which contain chlorine dioxide are reported not to leave an obvious taste as other tablets may.



We suggest you may like to bring a reusable bottle with a wide opening and use a Steripen to treat any non-boiled water. A Steripen is a handheld UV water purifier – small, lightweight and battery powered, so easy to pack. It’s quick to use, far more effective than purification tablets, and the water is ready immediately. It’s fine to use a Steripen on non-boiled water so long as it isn’t cloudy or full of sediment (which is uncommon in these regions).



Steripens are widely stocked on Amazon, outdoor shops and other online retailers; look for the latest models but avoid USB charging ones. Models that take lithium batteries are best as they last longer, especially in cold conditions.

Accommodation

In Delhi, we use a hotel with air-conditioned rooms. In Leh, we stay in a 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 a mattress, sheet, pillow, blanket, and a hot water bottle at night. We also have a dining tent with table, folding chairs and a heater 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 Rumbak village, where we stay in a traditional Ladakhi house. The dining room and bedrooms have a small wood-burning stoves, and a generator is normally available at the homestay to charge your electronic devices.



For both the homestay and camping, there will be a basic local long-drop toilet and dining room available.



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.



Worth knowing



At the homestay you may be sleeping on a mattress on the floor. The bedrooms have thick mattresses and you can take your sleeping bag from the camp.

Videos

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

IN SEARCH OF THE SNOW LEOPARD

Very hard, very demanding, very cold, VERY REWARDING. The first view of a snow leopard, like my first encounter with a tiger, was highly emotional and, unashamedly, induced tears ! 

Wildlife Documentary in Real Time

Watching snow leopards on a TV in the comfort of your living room may get you close but you cannot feel the environment. By simply being there you can start to feel, appreciate and understand the very essence of the environment they live in and the remarkable way the local population and wildlife interact. 'in Search of the Snow Leopards' is the title of the trip but it is also a trip in search of many things. If ever there was one journey where the multifaceted aspects of geography came together - this is it. The sightings of the snow leopards being the pinnacle.

Snow leopards aplenty!

This was our second visit to Hemis NP in search of the snow leopard. Our visit in 2011 produced one very brief sighting. On this return visit we were amply rewarded with several lengthy sightings on four of the six days we were there, giving us the chance to view them stalking prey (blue sheep), resting and ridge-walking. Much of our success was due to the incredible skill and dedication of our Ladakhi spotters. We cannot thank them enough. We were also priveleged to have good sightings of a pair of wolves, a herd of urials, picas, woolly hares and several large birds of prey including two Eagle Owls roosting and flying at dusk. Apart from wildlife watching, there were very good cultural experiences too - visiting monasteries, attending a Buddhist masked dance festival at Matho Monastery and a welcoming homestay in the traditional Ladakhi village of Rumbak.

Finding the ghost of the mountains

This is my second time to Ladakh for snow leopard spotting and both times have been incredible.The landscape, people and wildlife are incredible and matched by the dedication of Valerie and her team to ensure you enjoy your time here and have the best wildlife spotting opportunities.It can get cold and you should pay careful attention to the trip notes, bring plenty of layers and be prepared to trek and work for your sightings, but those sightings are the stuff of magic.The homestay and festival visit are a great extra to the wildlife too, giving you an insight into local life and culture.Lastly the food provided by the local team is excellent and plentiful, with Johnny the chef's culinary delights being worth the trip evenif you didn't have the wildlife.

IN SEARCH OF THE SNOW LEOPARD

A very rewarding trip to one of the more remote parts of the Himalaya, with great scenery, a great crew, and overall a great experience!

In Search of the Snow Leopard

This is an amazing and very spiritual place. The scenery is absolutely spectacular. The stars are unrivaled. The hiking is technical and challenging, and makes you focus in a way that is very rejuvenating. The homestay was a wonderful experience. The crew that we had while camping were amazing, and we were always in awe when it felt like we had hiked so far away, and then two of our guys would show up with tea or lunch!!

Wow, simply wow…!

With the pandemic, I had to wait 4 years to go on this adventure. My expectations had a long time to build up and yet they were all exceeded. This trip combines incredible cold mountain desert terrain in the heart of the Himalayas with unique wildlife and crossroads of many cultures. Thanks to the hard work of the spotters who go out at 6 am every morning, a cook (Johnny) who kept our bellies full and a truly inspiring leader (Val), we saw 6 snow leopards, 2 wolves, 1 fox, countless mountain goats, golden eagles and so on. Combined with the amazing frozen landscape and culture, this makes for a truly unique experience and long lasting memories. Thanks to the whole team for something really special.

IN SEARCH OF THE SNOW LEOPARD

A memorable winter holiday, superbly organised and led.  We went for the winter walking, the Buddhist monasteries, Leh out of season and of course the snow leopards, but even had we seen none of the latter this holiday would have been a delight.

Cold Ladakh

In spite of the temperature of Ladakh (very cold) we were well looked after by our leader Valerie and the trekking team.

IN SEARCH OF THE SNOW LEOPARD

My overall rating would have been a 5 'starrer', if we had seen a snow leopard. However, despite recent signs (pug marks, scrape areas and scats) all round our camp, we did not see one of these secretive cats. Anyway I had a great time. 

Read all 20 reviews

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