Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary Snow Leopard Expedition Customized Tour

Leh is located at an elevation of 11400 feet. Therefore after coming from the lowlands, you must gradually acclimate without exerting yourself. It is recommended that you stay for at least two and a half days because you will be traveling to a higher altitude and trekking quite a bit. Meet with the Snow Leopard Conservancy representatives to receive a history of snow leopard protection in Ladakh. We constantly learn more about the threats that snow leopards face and the methods used to counter them. Find out more about Leh, a fascinating maze of narrow alleyways and charming bazaars. Visitors are welcome to experience the distinctive culture of Leh, which is particularly Tibetan and is obvious wherever you look, thanks to the national attire, "stove-pipe" caps, and felt boots with turned-up toes. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The second day is spent more fully discovering Leh's beauties. The town's dominant Royal Palace, reminiscent of Lhasa's Potala, Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, huge chortens, prayer flags, and mud-brick homes with flat roofs, offer a welcome departure from the sweltering, hectic pace of New Delhi. The Snow Leopard Conservancy will be your destination in the morning. Here, we'll witness how they aid in preserving the Snow Leopard, a threatened species, with assistance from the neighborhood. An afternoon excursion to the Thiksey monastery is planned. The monastery in Ladakh with a gorgeous location is Thiksey Gompa, built atop a hill above the Indus

As we move east toward Taglang La and Gya, Lhato, and Meru communities, we will embark on an incredible drive. The Himalayas were formed when the Indian mainland clashed with and was thrust under the Asian land mass. It is a breathtaking drive from the valley of the Indus to this exceptional place, even by Ladakhi standards. There is a strong chance of seeing blue sheep, golden eagles, and bearded vultures in this stunning landscape. The exceptionally attractive Tibetan partridge and the more frequent Chukor partridge can be seen in the fallow fields, where rafts of red-billed choughs display coordinated aerobatics. After that, we'll spend a third night in Leh before continuing to Ulley.

On Day 4, we will leave early in the morning and travel west, following the Indus River, towards Kargil and Srinagar, passing via the little village of Nimmu, one of the most significant in Ladakh, where the Zanskar River merges with the Indus. We will travel north on the road headed to Likir, one of the well-known Buddhist monasteries in Ladakh, a little more than an hour later. We are presently in the home of the snow leopard. Even more vast is the already breathtaking countryside at this location. Our guides will search the slopes and skyline for animal silhouettes as smaller valleys cross the main valley. Excellent Ibex habitat can be found here. Few sights are more stirring than a gorgeously horned male keeping watch on an absurdly little outcrop of rocks a few thousand feet above a sheer precipice.

Ulley hamlet, located west of Leh, is a region just being developed for Snow Leopard viewing. We will stay here in the Snow Leopard Lodge for seven days and six nights. This is a comfortable farmhouse with six beds constructed independently from the main house, not a five-star luxury hotel. We will get the opportunity to live with a Ladakhi family and frequently use their spacious, hospitable kitchens, which are the focal point of their homes and are adorned with brass, copper, and silver ornamentation. When we get here, we'll settle down and get used to Ulley's higher elevation. From here, we'll tour three valleys, which, in addition to being wonderful places to see snow leopards, are also great places to see urial, ibex, wolves, and Himalayan foxes. We will tour the region with a knowledgeable guide during the coming days on foot and in SUVs. You'll be astounded by our guide's level of devotion and commitment to his profession and the effort he puts in to ensure his visitors are satisfied. Every day, our guide narrows down the potential locations for spotting the rare Snow Leopard by using his network of local contacts and local knowledge. Many opportunities will arise during this process to learn about regional folklore, customs, and traditions that are unique to the area.

We will bid our host farewell after breakfast and return to Leh town. The Alchi monastery is where we stop off en route. One of the first monasteries in Ladakh, Saspol, dates from the 11th century and is close to the little settlement where Alchi Gompa is situated. Alchi was built on lowlands, as opposed to a hilltop, like subsequent monasteries, to shield it from marauding troops because it was constructed before the invading wars started in the 15th century. Following the visit, we will continue the trip back to Leh. We'll stay in the same place we did at the beginning of our trip—the Grand Dragon—for one more night. We will depart Leh the following morning for our early flight to Delhi. When we arrive, we will be taken by car to our hotel near the airport, where we may freshen up before our travels home later that evening.