Snow leopard trek
winter season / 9 nights - 10 days
Tour route : Leh / Zingchen / Leh
Day 01. Leh to Zingchen
After a hearty breakfast, drive to Phey bridge and start walking along the Indus River towards Zingchen Gorge. Continue up the gorge, a dramatic entry to the Snow Leopard’s high altitude home in Hemis National Park. Enroute watch for the cliffs and the base of rocks where they mark their turf for sign of snow leopard, and other wildlife. Camp at wildlife study camp.Trekking time: approx 4-5 hrs. Elevation: 12,400ft
Day 02-08. Wildlife Viewing
Proceed for a full day of trekking Snow Leopard and its Wildlife prey. Hemis National Park is home for Blue Sheep, Argali (a large horned sheep), numerous mountain and migratory birds, as well as an occasional Tibetan Wolf. You are likely to see signs of Snow Leopard as winter is the time that they descend to lower elevations. If lucky, you’ll actually see one perched high in the rocks or balanced on a near vertical ridge. Return to camp for some hot servings and warming tea and share tales of the day. Overnight Camp.
Day 9. Wildlife Viewing and Home Stay
Trek to nearby sites where Snow Leopard may have been sighted recently. Visit and spend some time in a neighbouring village, Rumbak and experience a homestay. Have a cup of tea and snacks Interacting with the locals. Homestay hosts have been trained in hospitality and are members of a community conservation effort to conserve the endangered Snow Leopard. Learn about their livestock herding practices and try your hand at their winter pastimes (spinning, weaving and turning a tale). Spend the days tracking snow Leopard and other wildlife. Overnight in a camp. Elevation 13,500ft
Day 10. Zingchen back to leh
Today is the final day of your trek. Have your breakfast early morning and proceed towards trekking point and drive back to leh. You can also choose to spot the beautiful leopard for one last time before to leave. Today you finish the trek with lot of adventurous moments and tales to share back home.
Trek Ends