- 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 lynxes, blue sheep, wolves, bearded vultures, red foxes, Himalayan griffin vultures and golden eagles
Search for Snow Leopards with Valerie Parkinson
14 Days
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15 Days
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Walking & Trekking
A rare chance to see the elusive snow leopard and attend a monastic festival
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
Key Information
- Seven nights in hotels, five nights of full-service camping and one night in a homestay
- Seven days of wildlife spotting on foot
- Group normally 5 to 16, plus leader and appropriate staff
- Altitude maximum: 14,930ft (4,550m); average: 12,470ft (3,800m)
- Maximum sleeping altitude: 12,795ft (3,900m)
- Travel on foot, by jeep and two internal flights
- Festival visited varies by departure date
- All departures led by Valerie Parkinson
- Countries visited: India
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
Exodus Leader: Valerie Knows..
In Search Of The Snow Leopard with Exodus Travels
At Home In The Mountains: Flat Felting Community Project
At Home In The Mountains: Valerie Parkinson
Itinerary
Delhi Delhi
Depart London
The group flight usually departs London Heathrow in the evening.
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 L Affaire (or similar)
Arrive Delhi
On arrival those on the group flight will be transferred to our Delhi hotel. Those who have made their own flight arrangements will join us at the hotel during the day. You are free today to explore Delhi 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 L Affaire (or similar)
Fly across the Himalaya to Leh
Usually, we have an early start for the flight to Leh. We may have to leave the hotel around 2am 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)
Full day at a monastic festival or visit Shey, Thikse and Stakna monasteries
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)
Drive to Jinchen; trek to Rumbak Sumdo
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
Five days of wildlife spotting in Hemis National Park
The next five days is usually spent in and around the Rumbak, Yurutse, Husing and Tarbuns valleys in Hemis National Park. There is no fixed itinerary and our days are decided by our expert wildlife guides – this is to maximise the chances of seeing a snow leopard. Our days are spent searching for snow leopards and other animals. The extreme cold of winter forces the snow leopards and other animals down from the high altitudes they normally inhabit. Ladakh is situated at an altitude range of 10,825ft-19,685ft (3,300m-6,000m) and hosts an incredible amount of wildlife. It is full of endangered species including snow leopards, Tibetan ibexes, blue sheep, wolves, red foxes, Ladakhi urials and lynxes. We usually spend most of the time at our base camp at Rumbak Sumdo, and day 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 2018, the group had five good snow leopard sightings in this area; in 2019, the group saw two snow leopards together from the camp at Rumbak Sumdo. A good pair of binoculars is recommended to scan the slopes in and around camp. We have experienced wildlife spotters (one per five clients), who carry spotting scopes, which they set up at camp and on ridges on the day walks. They also go out in the early mornings and late evenings to search for evidence of any animal movement.
Over night, we use a mixture of camping and home stays. Five nights are spent camping. We have a full trekking crew with us including guides, assistant guides, cook, kitchen assistants and porters. At base camp, we have two-person tents with foam mattress, dining tent with tables and chairs, solar lights and gas heaters. There are local long-drop toilet facilities. At night, hot water bottles are provided. You just need to carry your backpack for the day while out spotting. 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. One night is spent in Rumbak village, where we stay in Ladakhi homestays. These are basic but comfortable local houses. The bedrooms have thick mattresses and you can take your sleeping bag from the camp. The dining room and bedrooms have small wood-burning stoves. The houses have a local long-drop toilet. Food at the homestay is traditional local food and you get the chance to interact with the villagers.
Our guides are in touch with other guides; if snow leopards have been spotted in other areas of Ladakh, we need to be flexible and move the camp.
Accommodation: Full-service camping
Return to Leh
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)
Full day at a monastic festival or visit Shey, Thikse and Stakna monasteries
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
Fly to Delhi
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 L Affaire (or similar)
Free day in Delhi for individual sightseeing
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 L Affaire (or similar)
End Delhi
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.
Fly to London
The tour ends after breakfast today. Those travelling on the group flight will be transferred to the airport for the flight back to London.
Extend Your Trip
Golden Triangle extension
A visit to the incredible Taj Mahal and other great Moghul cities close to Delhi is an excellent way to begin or end a visit to northern India. The five-day Golden Triangle extension may be booked before or after your main itinerary or both options might be available depending on the trip start and end location. The Taj Mahal in Agra was built by the Moghul emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died in 1631, and is one of the most beautiful sights on earth. Close by is the imposing Red Fort of Akbar with its beautiful courtyards and palaces and let’s not forget the deserted royal city of Fatehpur Sikri. The extension also visits the pink city of Jaipur, capital of Rajasthan, which is one of the most attractive and colourful cities in India. The detailed itinerary and if pre or post tour is available can be found here.
Please ask your sales representative for more details. Prices listed are starting prices.
Code: XBS
Price per person: £ 549
Mandatory Single Supplement: £ 190
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Hotels, camping and homestay
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.
Trip Experts
Reviews
Add your own reviewLoads of Snow Leopards
An amazing time spent in Ladakh amongst stunning scenery and the local people. We were incredibly lucky to see 6 snow leopards in total thanks to the incredible skills of the spotters. The time spent in Delhi and Leh made an interesting contrast to the mountain wilderness.
Most Inspirational Moment
The snow leopard sitings.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Valerie was a fantastic leader and also a great friend to the local people.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Definitely hire the really warm sleeping bags and down jackets from Trekhire (who will deliver to anywhere in the UK). It is cold in the mountains in February!
Search for snow leaopards
Winter trip in Ladakh to search for snow leopards. Amazing scenery , saw snow leoaprds on 3 consecutive days , also other wildlife. Tough going on occasions and lots of concentration required walking on frozen rivers, snowy icy paths or loose shale .
Most Inspirational Moment
Seeing the snow leopards , albeit through spotting scopes . Completing some tough walks at altitude and cold temperatures.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Delhi airport arrivals - painfully slow immigration procedure , over 2 hours before being cleared and then collecting luggage. In camp - very cold at night so check if extra blankets / duvets can be hired from local homestay to offset cold ( even with a good sleeping bag temps of minus 23 in a tent at night not to be disregarded ). Wear lots of layers as once snow leopards spotted you then wait for hours to see what they get upto. Standing still means you chill down quickly , also when sun sets late afternoon the temp plummtes. Delhi airport departure to UK - make sure you have copy of itinerary . Airport security (Army) outside will deny you entry to terminal unless you have passport AND proof of flight , either on line checkin screen shots / boarding pass ( even with online check in no boarding pass issued until inside terminal, wifi unavailable to show online checkin ) etc. If someone already inside terminal they may be able to get printed itinerary from checkin desk ,showing name of passenger but then that person unable to leave terminal to pass itinerary to army security guard outside plus waiting passenger. Makes for a stressful time.
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.
Most Inspirational Moment
On our first full day in the high mountains, we saw a female snow leopard with her two cubs, which were about 18 months old. The terrain they were crossing was insanely steep and yet the cubs started to play fight - what a privilege to see a window into their world. The golden eagles were numerous too, and some kind enough to do low level flybys.
Thoughts on Group Leader
In one word - inspiring, but equally I could say passionate, fun, friendly, knowledgeable, professional, experienced, calm, helpful, kind, compassionate, interesting, engaging, interactive, inclusive Val’s ‘bedtime stories’ were truly inspiring - what an amazing woman reaching the summit of an 8000+ meter peak without oxygen and being within a whisker of the summit of Everest, yet knowing when to call time to save lives. Val’s knowledge of the region is encyclopaedic so if history and culture lights you up, you’ll enjoy hours of chat
Advice for Potential Travellers
Three bits of advice: 1) This trip takes you to the realm of the snow leopard. We saw 6 snow leopards and 2 wolves across 4 days, at a distance of between 500 and 1200 meters. Do not expect a zoo or petting farm, but do bring good binoculars or powerful camera lenses (1000mm equivalent or more). The spotters have superb scopes and will happily take smartphone pictures down the eye piece - they are good at this..! 2) The wildlife is truly wild. Depending on where sightings are made may mean short or long / challenging treks at altitude (3800 to 4500 meters) are needed. This is very different to African safaris where spotting is easy and close… so bring realism and adventure into your expectations 3) Camping for 5 nights at 3900 meters in temperatures of down to -25oC is hard unless you have the right kit - such as merino thermals, multiple layers, down jacket and expedition sleeping bag (which can be hired). I often wore 7 layers in the evening and early morning.
Suggestions
No, just thanks for an amazing trip..! I will process my photos and then will be happy to share
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.
Most Inspirational Moment
Simply being there. Drawing the threads together of previous trips to Ladakh. The very first sightings of the snow leopards. The drama of the landscape that provided the backdrop to these sightings. The opportunity to see the snow leopards in a variety of situations from a mating couple, solitary ones and mothers with cubs. The chance to engage with the local people as they openly shared their festivals with us and the sheer entrancement and enjoyment of villagers at the Stok Festival with masked dancers and the Oracles. All the smaller moments that made this trip - Exhilarating' - feeling the cold that draws the snow leopards down to lower altitudes at this time of year. Camping and the early morning calls from the team to muster behind the scopes which is the quickest I have ever crawled out of warm sleeping bag in such cold temperatures. The optional extras that put a real perspective on the challenges of living in such an environment - felt snow leopards from the local villagers - even each one of these having its own character, the ice stupas made by villagers to create a sustainable water supply for crops, winding up the road from Leh in a taxi as opposed to cycling up. The amazing opportunities we had to see so many snow leopards due to the expertise of the spotters. The trek and camp crew who always approach things with their great sense of humour and a smile. They are constantly in the background, and whilst I congratulated myself that I had survived the night in the cold, it is down to the team who make it all happen. Simply being there. Finishing off with high tea at The Imperial!!! They do a lovely scone and provide surreal setting to end the trip.
Thoughts on Group Leader
I have never had a bedtime story of local tales read to the group by the leader in the warmth of the mess tent after a lovely supper - so soporific that snuffles can occasionally be heard from the darker corners!!!! Valerie makes it happen. She encapsulates everything positive about the moment. Everyone has a their own personal reasons for venturing on this specific trip, purely to see snow leopards, to capture the perfect photograph of this elusive creature, to engage with the opportunity to see a wide variety of animals, to go to a place few go to and especially at a perceived 'difficult time of year', to engage with everything the region has to off - the reasons are personal and with Valerie your own personal needs and wants are engaged. Through travelling, living and working with the locals and the environment over several decades you benefit from all that she has done and the understanding she has of the area. All the hard work has been done by Valerie and you can get the best of the area and still feel like you are taking ownership of your own experience. She is dedicated to the multifacted nature of the area. There is an honest openness to share her many years of experience, knowledge, respect and dedication to the region. Valerie allows people to be who they are and goes with ease between being a leader and a friend to ensure everyone is safe and most importantly has a 'trip of a lifetime'.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Just do it!!! This very trip kept playing in my mind during the coronavirus lockdown of 2020 and I am so glad that I bit the bullet and booked the last place on this trip. Memories of the sightings, the landscape, the local people, the Exodus crew and fellow travelers kept me company during the months of solitude that followed our return. READ the trip notes and make sure you have all of the essential gear - it is a unique environment and there are challenges re the cold and altitude but by following the advice on the trip notes you will be able to enjoy and engage with every aspect of the trip. Go with an open mind - it is a trip of wildlife, trekking, culture, opportunities that arise that can't be planned for. For example one of the days 'scheduled' to see Leh at the start was 'diverted' to spotting the mating snow leopard couple. Don't understimate the cold - take responsibility for your own warmth and comfort. An excellent sleeping bag is essential and down jacket - there are excellent ones to hire through the trip notes if you don't want to spend loads of money. Weight of luggage on the flight to Leh is limited there are various ways to get over this so look at this before travelling. You don't need a change of clothes for every day but lots of layers. Even though it is cold the sun will burn so protection is essential - sunscreen and sunhat. Footwear suited to the environment is necessary - see trip notes. Enjoy the bedtime stories - sets you up for pleasant dreams!!! Book a porter to help carry your extra equipment - running to see the snow leopards early in the morning meant that those that had heavy camera gear were 'good to go' and spot and take photographs as soon as they got to the spotting platform. Totally trust the team with your phone - they were amazing at getting the shots of the snow leopards using your iphones/camera phone - using the scopes - people at home think I am a wizard with an iphone camera!!! Take advantage of some of the things to do in Leh and Delhi. Hiring a local taxi in Leh took us up into the hills and the local ice stupas. Delhi was the opportunity to take part in a tour run by a street children's charity.
Suggestions
This is a region that I have been to a couple of times, but never in winter and again it did not disappoint. The trip is unique in so much as the snow leopards don't appear at this altitude all year round - that is the reason to book it. If you are looking for real sustainable tourism then this is your chance - it is local, determined by the timings of nature and most importantly a chance to experience a Himalayan winter without going to remote extremes. It is a trip of a lifetime but I think I will join the 'cat population' and have nine lives so I can go again and it will still be the trip of a lifetime. Enjoy anticipation of considering going, booking, preparing, participating and most importantly reflecting on your return. It is one trip that will never leave you.
6 Snow Leopards, two Oracles and a Woolly Rabbit!
Ladakh is a beautiful region of Northern India. Add to that the friendly welcome and the variety of wildlife and culture and you have a destination that it would be hard to find fault with. This was my second visit and this time I was there to see Snow Leopards. Except, of course, they’re so rare that the chances of spotting just one would be very low. And indeed spotting just one was impossible – I saw a total of 6 during the 10 days I was there, including relatively close sighting of a mating pair on our first day in the mountains, a mother and her two cubs and a solitary Snow Leopard rolling in the dust to hide its scent before hunting. Our group as a whole saw 12. This amazing tally was due largely to the experience, skill and dedication of the spotting team and our leader, Valerie, who between them took us to the right places at the right time and found the well camouflaged big cats where we may have only seen a buff coloured rock. And let’s not forget the Blue Sheep, Lammageier Vultures, Bearded Griffon, Golden Eagles, Woolly Rabbits, Uriel Goats and Alpine Chough.
This is a challenging trip – cold, altitude and remoteness all add to the adventure although its well within the abilities of anyone with the right kits and who has trudged the hills in the UK. But it’s worth it for the experience of the incredible Himalayan landscapes, the unique culture and the amazing flora and fauna. If you have the chance, book the trip that coincides with the Stok Festival, a colourful and spectacular celebration of Tibetan Buddhism in the form of music and dance culminating in the appearance of the village oracles.
Most Inspirational Moment
There were many inspirational 'stand out' moments for me. These are a few of my personal ones. Watching the mating behaviour of a pair of Snow Leopards; the Oracles in a trance at Stok; having a local ask me if he could take a photo of me and his little daughter; the 'Street Kids' walking tour of Old Delhi. I loved standing outside the tent at 6.30am, watching the mountains light up while drinking a cup of steaming hot black tea. The rush up to the viewing platform when one of the spotters shouted 'Snow Leopard'. One of our crew demonstrating the correct way to slide down a frozen river on a flat stone.
Thoughts on Group Leader
This is my second trek with Valerie and she proved to be every bit the excellent leader on this trip as she did on the previous one. Knowledgeable, understanding of individual and group needs, Valerie's decades of experience in the region enabled her to be flexible with arrangements and cope with the changes forced on us by the Covid-19 outbreak at the end of our trip. Evenings were spent listening to her tell us about the region, the wildlife and the people. The crew she had picked were excellent and dedicated to the roles they played. They were clearly very loyal to Valerie.
Advice for Potential Travellers
In general, come prepared for cold weather. The nature of this particular trip means you will be standing around searching for wildlife or viewing and taking photographs so the heat normally generated trekking will quickly go. I found I was wearing a thick down jacket most of the time simply because although the sun can be warm, there is usually a cold breeze in the valleys and much of the time is spent stationary. If you're out all day, as soon as the sun disappears below the mountains the temperature drops very quickly. I wore thick winter socks for the same reason. The terrain underfoot was, in general, no harder than UK hills and a 3 season boot would probably suffice. We didn't need crampons but 'yaktrax' or similar might be useful as we had to cross a couple of frozen rivers. The Exodus kit list is a good starting point; vary it according to your own preference for cold weather. Don't skimp on the sleeping bag as this is your refuge and a good night's sleep is important. You don't need lots of changes of clothing because you don't end up sweating a lot and everyone is in the same situation. Exodus provide top quality spotting scopes (Swarovski) but you might want to bring your own, which can help with spotting and will enable you to digiscope. The nature of our encounters with Snow Leopards meant that big lenses were necessary because of distance and digiscoping would be ideal in these circumstances. Some great photos were taken with scope and mobile phone. Our encounters lasted a while, so a tripod (or at least a monopod) would makes things easier on the arms. But don't forget camera kit to cope with the amazing landscapes, villages and festivals too. Be aware that there is close scrutiny on the internal flights - all our camera kit had to come out of the back packs and was checked by the security people at Dehli before boarding the internal flight.
Suggestions
Approach this trip with realistic expectations and you won't be disappointed.
Excellent trip
A very well balanced and well organised trip – a very good combination of a little time in Delhi, time at a festival and of course looking for snow leopards and other wildlife. We were incredibly lucky to see lots of snow leopards along with lynx, blue sheep, eagles and a mountain hare. Loved the festival too – lots of colour and a fascinating experience. The crew were efficient, knowledgeable and helpful – in fact, really couldn’t have hoped for more. The hot water bottles at night were particularly appreciated! Quality of the hotel in Leh was great too. It was a shame we had to miss out on the homestay but coronavirus meant that we were asked not to do it by the local people (a very fair request). I found that where required Valerie was great at allowing flexibility during the trip and, all in all, I don’t think it could have been better organised or executed. Just make sure you have lots and lots of very warm and appropriate clothing as it’s really cold – and apparently it was warmer on our trip than it normally is!
Most Inspirational Moment
Seeing the pair of snow leopards on the first day.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Excellent
Advice for Potential Travellers
Factor 50 sun cream and as many warm clothes as you can cram in your bag.
Snow leopards found
If you have ever dreamed of seeing the elusive snow leopard then this is the trip for you. Don’t think about it just book it.
Ladakh is an incredible region and you couldn’t ask for a better guide than Valerie. Been there, done that and probably knows the location of every rock on the mountain.
As for the area – if you saw nothing but the scenery you would get your moneysworth, however the team scour the countryside for wildlife – with lammegeiers and golden eagles regularly sighted overhead.
As for the snow leopards themselves we had 12 sightings – an extraordinarily good year, some were very distant and only visible with the fantastic Swarovski scopes. However we were also lucky enough to get a mother and cubs sighting and a mating pair at distances under 600m – this isn’t a petting zoo – which is clear enough for binoculars and long lens cameras.
Photographers with a dslr need to thing 500m or bigger with tripods and teleconverters. It will not be Africa Serengetti encounters, but that makes them even more magical.
Failing this kit the guides are adept at taking mobile shots through the spotting scopes – good enough for keepsakes and memories of an incredible trip.
It is cold though and involves trekking on rocky trails – so heed the trip notes, get good warm boots and kit and enjoy your complimentary hot water bottle ( after a lovely filling meal)
Icing on the cake is the Street Kids tour of Delhi and the inspieational stories of the work done by the charity.
Can’t thank Valerie and team enough and gladly go and do it all over again – if she can take the stress of getting my mountain of camera kit through customs.
Most Inspirational Moment
Seeing a mother and two cubs on the same day we saw a pair of snow leopards above camp. Everyone raced up the hill to the spotting scopes, forgetting the altitude. We were still chatting excitedly over our luck at evening meal, having watched them for 3 hours.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Valerie is rightfully a legend - she knows everyone and even read us local tales from a book. She lives and breathes the region and that in turn feeds into the group and how good the trip turned out to be. She is also widely respected by the local people and staff, case in point one evening a ranger had his own client with an eye problem - first port of call was Valerie to see what she thought.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Don't scrimp on a warm sleeping bag, proper boots for the terrain and warm layers. This is not extreme terrain but you will enjoy life a lot more if you are comfortable. Take a small bag to leave in Delhi and another drybag of something to change into when you get bag to Leh. Likelihood is you will be wearing same clothes for daysin camp so just be warm.
Suggestions
Probably one of the best experiences I have done. I had thought I'd be lucky to see snow leopards once. To have 12 sightings, a lynx and then high tea in The Imperial just made the trip beyond my wildest dreams. Thanks to Valerie, the crew and my camera porter / assitant photographer Chosgun. Without whom the 600mm lens would have travelled up trails a lot slower.
Stunning
This was a wonderful trip, well organised and lead by the wonderful Valerie Parkinson.
We had a great mix of people, who all got on together, and this does really help when your trekking in extreme conditions.
The hard work put in by the spotters, porters, cooks and helpers was gratefully appreciated. No task was too much trouble, and always done with a lovely smile. These guys certainly earn their money.
Most Inspirational Moment
The whole trip from start to finish was good fun, but seeing a couple of snow leopards was the highlight of the trip. The wonderful scenery. We had 36 hours of snow, but when the sun came out and seeing the snow capped Himalayas in all there glory, was truly magnificent.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Valerie is a natural. Laid back, well organised, and was great fun to be with. You can see the pleasure she gets from being in the Himalayas, and helping the local people.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Do take the warmest of sleeping bag. We had very low temp. so everything does freeze during the night, so if you need to keep anything warm, just put in your sleeping bag. My face wipes, contact lens solution where all frozen after the first night. I have to admit, that over the six days camping, I only changed once, and probably only washed once, but everybody is in the same boat, so don't worry. As we had a lot of snow, I was really glad to have a pair of micro spikes. They made a huge difference trekking on the snow and ice. They give you a lot more confidence, but do buy decent ones ( Yak Trak ) as cheaper ones will fall apart after one day.
Suggestions
The home stay was a welcome relief after a few nights camping. The people in the mountain village are really wonderful. Nice to be in a room with a log burning fire, and to get up to a hot cup of tea and freshly baked bread.
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.
Most Inspirational Moment
Seeing one of the leopards, after resting, stand up then roll around on the ground with paws in the air! We were told this helps camouflage its coat and hide its scent from its prey.
Thoughts on Group Leader
As we have said many times, Valerie Parkinson is second to none in all respects!
Advice for Potential Travellers
If you have visited the Himalaya during the summer months, we would highly recommend the contrasting experience of winter in Ladakh. There are very few other tourists, the scenery is different but more spectacular for its frozen rivers and snow-covered slopes. Yes, it can be very cold, but it can also be very bright and sunny, so, as long as you have the appropriate kit, there should be no problem. And don't take too many changes of clothes! Do as the local Ladakhis do in winter.....
Suggestions
Again, thanks to our Ladakhi team who looked after us with great care and thoughtfulness - nothing was too much trouble for them - and, of course, Valerie Parakinson.
Cold Ladakh
In spite of the temperature of Ladakh (very cold) we were well looked after by our leader Valerie and the trekking team.
Most Inspirational Moment
The magnificent views of the Himalayan mountain scenery.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Excellent, experienced and knowledgeable of the region.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Make sure you are prepared for the cold and take more warm clothing than on other treks
Start
Finish
Availability
Adult Price From
Optional Single Supplement
Saturday Friday
17 Feb 2024 16 Feb 2024
Friday Friday
01 Mar 2024 01 Mar 2024
Availability Guaranteed (Available)
Adult Price From £ 2,799 £ 3,649
Optional Single Supplement Single Rooms sold out
Led by Valerie Parkinson
Led by Valerie Parkinson
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSaturday Friday
01 Mar 2025 28 Feb 2025
Friday Friday
14 Mar 2025 14 Mar 2025
Availability Guaranteed (Available)
Adult Price From £ 2,999 £ 3,949 Book with 25% deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 575
Led by Valerie Parkinson
Led by Valerie Parkinson
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesWould you like to include flights with your booking?
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- Regional flights available from many UK airports
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