Day 01 Delhi (270 m) to Leh (3500 m)
Reception at Kushok Bakula Rinpochey Airport,Leh, and welcome in traditional Ladakh style by extending white scarf to each and every guests, transfer to Hotel, Leh. Complete day rest for acclimatization (it is very important for those coming from lower altitude) to Leh’s high altitude of 3450 mtr. Hot lunch at the Hotel. Evening easy walk/stroll in the Leh Market for orientation with English speaking Guide. Today is also Dosmochey Festival of Leh and hence a short visit to the Avaokiteshvara Temple/Chamba Temple bellow the Leh Palace for Mask Dances performance that would be the beginning of understanding culture and religious practice of Ladakh.
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Leh during winter with snowfall. Stok Range with Stok Kangri (6152 m)
Day 02 Leh to Likir and back to Leh
After breakfast (b/f) drive to Likir Gonpa/Monastery (57km) which is one of the oldest Monasteries of Ladakh belonging to the Gelukpa Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Attend the Likir Gonpa Annual Mask Dance Festival called Likir Dosmochey. Like many other monasteries in Tibet, Bhutan and Ladakh, Annual Mask Dance Festival of Likir is also popular both for locals and tourists alike. Likir Festival falling in Winter months of the year, still can be witnessed in its natural and ancient set-up with not many tourists attending this festival. Annual Mask Dances are spiritual matters in the Tantric Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism and every moves/steps of the monks adorning the Mask have spiritual meanings which are secret. Laities/devoted masses from the region flock together to witness this festival. This Festival also marks the victory of Good over Evil and destruction of Evil Forces can by witness symbolically be destroying a dough-made evil idol, carried by mask dancers and later taken to a further-off place and burnt. After the Festival, drive back to Leh.
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Group Photo of our Spiritual Tour group on a Pass offering Prayer and Unfurling Prayer Flags in Ladakh.
Day 03 Leh to Husing (Hemis National Park)
After b/f drive (1 hr) to Zingchen in the Hemis National Park and trek for about 1 hr to reach the Husing Camping (3650 m). Camp at Husing for the coming number of days for spotting snow leopard and other wild animals including Blue Sheep, Pica, Wolf, Redfox, Wooly Hare, Eurasian Lynx, Tibetan Argali, Asiatic Ibex, etc.
Camping Husing in Hemis National Park (HNP) is a great experience in Ladakh.
Day 04 Snow Leopard Spotting at Husing
Full Day snow leopard spotting walks/treks into different valleys with inputs and guidance from Spotter(s) who scan the whole valley from morning till evening with breaks for morning tea/breakfast/lunch and evening tea. On spotting snow leopard, the spotters convey the message to our guests with the help of walky talky and also by getting message personally by spotters who come to help guests in getting their heavy camera gears to the spotting point - normally a mount, ridge about 100-250 meter above the camp depending on the sighting spot.
Spotting the elusive Snow Leopard (Pathera Uncia) is not an easy task. Shan or rChan spotters of Ladakh scane the ridges and slopes of HNP from morning 07 till dask.
Day 05 Snow Leopard spotting at Husing
Full Day snow leopard spotting walks/treks into different valleys with inputs and guidance from Spotter(s) who scan the whole valley from morning till evening with breaks for morning tea/breakfast/lunch and evening tea. On spotting snow leopard, the spotters convey the message to our guests with the help of walky talky and also by getting message personally by spotters who come to help guests in getting their heavy camera gears to the spotting point - normally a mount, ridge about 100-250 meter above the camp depending on the sighting spot.
Camping at Husing, Ladakh with Ancient Tracks snow leopard team.
Day 06 snow Leopard Scouting at Husing
Full Day Snow Leopard spotting walks/treks (similar to previous day), The camp is surrounded by few valleys popular for spotting Snow Leopards, like Husing Valley, Tsarbung Valley,Kharlung Valley, Tarbung Valley and Rumbak Valley . Spotter(s) will scan the Valleys on tip-offs and on their own experiences and convey messages to the camp and location of the guests.
Snow Leopard Sceintist Sir Rodney Jackson with Lobzang Visuddha of Ancient Tracks during a snow leopard expedition in Hemis National Park in Ladakh
Day 07 Snow Leopard Search at Husing
Full Day Snow Leopard spotting walks/treks (similar to previous days).
Besides mammals the Rumbak Valley in Hemis National Park is also home to many species of birds like Golden Eagle, Lemmergeier/ Bearded Vulture, Himalayan Griffon, White-winged Redstart, Fire-fronted Serene, Himalayan Snowcock, Chukar, Redbilled Chough, Yellow Billed Chough, Wall Creeper, White-browed Tit Warbler, Great Rosefinch, Mapie, Great Tit, etc.
Robin Accentor @ Husing, Hemis National Park, Ladakh
Day 08 Snow Leopard Quest around Husing
After great spotting of snow leopard - in the evening at the camp and last Dinner Farewell Party with the local staff.
Chukar Partridge @ Husing, Hemis National Park, Ladakh.
Day 09 Husing to Ulley
After an early b/f, while the staff packs the camp, guests can have some time for scanning the mountain slopes for last spotting of the leopard. Trek down to Zingchen and drive to Ulley.Ulley is another snow leopard destination hamlet in sham region of ladakh. It is about 70 km from the Zingchen and the drive is about 3 hrs. Homestay at Ulley
Gyalmo at Ulley. Ulley in Sham region of Ladakh is now a destination for snow leopard enthuisist
Day 10 At Ulley
Whole Day at Ulley for spotting snow leopard and other wild animals like Asiatic Ibex, Wolf, Ladakh Urial, Redfox, etc.
Home Stay Thayokpa is one of the best place in Ulley for spotting snow leopard.
Day 10 Ulley to Leh
After b/f one last time scan the slopes surrounding the village, drive to Hotel in Leh. Hot lunch at Hotel, Leh and whole of the evening for checking photos, connecting with the families back home by phone/email and shopping for souvenirs from Leh Market.
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Likir Monastery is one of the many popular Buddhist Gonpas of Ladakh with Festivals in Winter months called the Likir Festival or Dosmochey
Day11 Leh to Delhi
Transfer to BKR Airport Leh for further travel home with great memories of Ladakh and good photos of Snow Leopards and other winter wild animals of Ladakh
