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Expedition Level Private & Bespoke Wildlife · Winter · Tracking

Snow Leopard & High Valleys

Twelve days in Hemis National Park in winter, looking for snow leopards with experienced local naturalists. This is a proper wildlife expedition, not a sightseeing trip.

Duration 12 Days

Difficulty Moderate–Hard

Best Season Feb–Mar

Max Altitude 4,200m

Group Private

Style Wildlife Camp

From / pp ₹1,85,000

The Journey

In Search of the
Ghost of the Himalayas

There are only a few thousand snow leopards left in the wild, spread across some of the highest, coldest country on earth. In winter, Hemis National Park is probably the best place anywhere to see one: the cats come down to lower valleys to hunt blue sheep, and local spotters know where to look.

"You can scan the slopes for hours and see nothing. Then a patch of rock shifts, and there it is."

It's a genuine expedition — cold, slow-paced, and you'll need patience. We build in five full tracking days to give you a real chance, with experienced naturalists, spotters and a good camp crew handling everything else. Your job is just to watch and wait.

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A snow leopard on a winter slope, its tracks trailing behind

Snow leopard, Hemis National Park

Day by Day

Twelve Days
on the Trail

Day 1

3,524m

Arrival in Leh

Into the Frozen Kingdom

You arrive in a very different, winter Leh — sharp light and serious cold. We take you to a heated guesthouse. The day is for rest and drinking water; at this altitude, and in this season, a slow start really matters. Your lead naturalist runs through the plan over dinner.

Heated guesthouse, Leh Dinner Acclimatisation

Day 2

3,524m

Acclimatisation

Letting the Altitude Settle

A second full day in Leh to keep acclimatising and get ready. An easy walk up to the Shanti Stupa in the morning, then an afternoon checking gear — optics and cold-weather layers — with your guides. Staying warm is what lets you sit still long enough to actually spot a leopard.

Heated guesthouse, Leh All meals Gentle walking

Day 3

3,600m

Acclimatisation Hike

First Tracks on the Snow

A short drive to Spituk and an easy hike above the Indus, starting to read the winter landscape — tracks, scrapes, and the blue sheep herds that bring the leopards down. Your naturalist shows you how to scan a mountainside properly. Back to Leh for one last night indoors.

Heated guesthouse, Leh All meals Acclimatisation hike

Day 4

3,900m

Into Hemis National Park

Establishing the Tracking Camp

We drive to the mouth of the Rumbak valley and settle into our tracking camp — insulated tents, a heated dining tent, proper bedding and hot water bottles, and a kitchen crew who've done this for years. The spotters head out, and the search starts this afternoon.

Tracking camp, Rumbak All meals Drive + short walk

Day 5

3,900m

Tracking · Day One

The Long, Patient Watch

The days now settle into a routine. The spotters climb to their lookout points before dawn; you follow at an easy pace with your naturalist to the day's spot. Then it's hours of scanning the ridgelines — until the radio goes and everything changes. Hot lunch is brought out to you in the field.

Tracking camp, Rumbak All meals Full tracking day

Day 6

4,000m

Tracking · Day Two

Reading the Mountain

Another full day out, moving between side-valleys as the spotters follow fresh signs. There's more here than the leopard — blue sheep, red fox, mountain weasel, golden eagle and lammergeier are all around in winter, if you keep looking.

Tracking camp, Rumbak All meals Full tracking day

Day 7

4,100m

Tracking · Day Three

Deeper into the Valley

We head a bit higher and further, to quieter ground where the cats are less disturbed. Your naturalist talks through the research side — camera-trap work, the individual leopards known in these valleys, and how your trip supports local jobs and conservation.

Tracking camp, Rumbak All meals Full tracking day

Day 8

4,100m

Tracking · Day Four

Patience Rewarded

The extra days are the point — they're what turn a hopeful trip into a real chance. With four tracking days behind you, the odds are good. Today is given over entirely to the search, and to the quiet of having a frozen valley to yourselves.

Tracking camp, Rumbak All meals Full tracking day

Day 9

4,200m

Tracking · Day Five

The Final Ridge

Our last full day in the field — a final chance if you're still hoping for a sighting, and either way a good day to take in a place very few people get to. We head back to camp as the light goes, for a proper dinner under a very clear sky.

Tracking camp, Rumbak All meals Full tracking day

Day 10

3,524m

Return to Leh

Back to Warmth

We pack up camp and drive back to Leh — a heated room and a long hot shower. The afternoon is free to rest, back up your photos and take stock. A relaxed dinner with your guides to go over the trip.

Heated guesthouse, Leh All meals Drive to Leh

Day 11

3,524m

Leh at Leisure

Winter Monasteries

An easier cultural day to finish — the winter-quiet monasteries at Thiksey and Hemis, the old town bazaar, and time to pick up any gifts. Ladakh in winter is quiet and low-key, with almost no other tourists around.

Heated guesthouse, Leh Breakfast, Dinner Cultural day

Day 12

3,524m

Departure

Farewell to the Ghost's Kingdom

A final breakfast before we transfer you to Leh airport. You'll head home from one of the wildest corners of the Himalaya — and, with luck, with a snow leopard sighting to show for it. We see you off at the airport.

Breakfast Airport transfer

The Details

What Your Expedition Includes

Included

All accommodation — heated boutique guesthouse in Leh and insulated tracking camp
Dedicated expert naturalist guide throughout the expedition
Professional local spotting team with radios and optics
Full camp crew, heated dining tent and all camp equipment
All meals throughout, including hot lunches carried to the field
Private vehicle and experienced winter driver
Hemis National Park fees and Inner Line Permits
Airport transfers and oxygen / first-aid support

Not Included

International and domestic flights to Leh
Travel insurance with high-altitude cover (mandatory)
Personal cold-weather clothing and camera equipment
Personal expenses, tips and gratuities
Any costs from itinerary changes due to weather or road closures
Alcoholic beverages

A snow leopard pausing on a snowbound slope

A Eurasian eagle-owl tucked among the crags

A Eurasian eagle-owl watching from a rock crevice

Frozen Ladakh valley

Begin Your Journey

Track the Ghost
of the Himalayas

Winter dates are limited and book up well ahead. Send us your preferred dates and we'll shape the expedition around you — including photography-focused versions and extra tracking days.

Private expeditions from ₹3,95,000 per person

Request This Journey