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Our journeys · Private journey
The Snow Leopard Winter
A luxury Himalayan journey through Ladakh's hidden valleys · 12 days · Delhi, Leh, Ulley, Rumbak
Starting at $13,199 / person
- Length
- 11 nights
- Route
- Delhi · Leh · Ulley · Rumbak · Leh · Delhi
- Pace
- Patient winter tracking, with acclimatisation and weather flexibility
Per person, two sharing, excluding international flights. Private, on your dates.
Overview
For patient wildlife travellers seeking snow leopards in Ladakh’s winter valleys.
Most snow leopard journeys follow one line: fly to Leh, drive to a single valley, wait. This one gives you two. After at least 48 hours of acclimatisation in Leh and selected Sham Valley visits when conditions allow, you settle into Ulley, then move on to Rumbak at the edge of Hemis National Park, each with its own terrain, its own trackers and its own odds. Longer stays in each valley mean you are never rushing a search that rewards patience. It is made for travelers who want the thrill of the search wrapped in real comfort: hours of scanning ridgelines beside the people who know them best, warm lodges, Ladakhi feasts and skies full of stars. It is designed for January to March, when the cats follow their prey down into the lower valleys and tracks show clearly in the snow.
Pace: patient winter tracking, with acclimatisation and weather flexibility. Like all of our journeys it is private throughout, with your own car and chauffeur, private guides in each place and someone to call from the first day to the last.
Journey highlights
- Two initial nights in Leh for at least 48 hours of acclimatisation
- Two distinct tracking valleys: Ulley and Rumbak
- Five full days in the field with a private naturalist and local trackers
- Warm field lodges, Ladakhi meals and photography guidance
- A final Leh night before the onward flight, with weather flexibility
Itinerary
11 nights, stop by stop.
A designed route, not a fixed one. Each stop can be lengthened, shortened or swapped before we confirm your journey.
Day 1 · Delhi
A Quiet Arrival
Day 1: Delhi and a Wildlife Briefing
Subject to airport permissions and service availability, you are met at the aircraft door, assisted through immigration where airport permissions allow, and driven to The Imperial, the Art Deco grande dame on Janpath, with its colonial verandas and tea lounge beneath the palms. Nothing is scheduled today. Rest, and let your body clock catch up. In the evening, your wildlife specialist meets you for a short briefing: how tracking works, how the altitude will feel, and what to wear.
Moments
- A private arrival transfer
- Rest after the international flight
- An evening briefing on winter tracking
Stay · 1 night
The Imperial
Days 2–3 · Leh
Time to Acclimatise
Day 2: Over the Himalayas
An early flight of about an hour and a half to Leh, over glaciers and serrated peaks, landing at 3,500 metres. Where airport permissions allow, you are met on arrival and driven to The Grand Dragon Ladakh, among the finest hotels in Leh, with underfloor heating, radiators and warm Ladakhi interiors that keep the winter outside. The only goal today is to rest. A full rest period is built in before travelling higher. Medical support and any oxygen arrangements are confirmed with the hotel and local team before travel. In the evening, a quiet dinner of warm Ladakhi dishes.
Day 3: Rest in Leh
A second restful day in Leh completes the initial acclimatisation stay. There is no scheduled monastery circuit or long drive today. Your team can suggest a very gentle nearby outing if appropriate, but rest comes first. At least 48 hours after arrival are allowed before any higher-altitude transfer, with the onward plan adjusted to your condition and local advice.
Moments
- Two initial nights at The Grand Dragon
- At least 48 hours before higher-altitude travel
- A naturalist’s introduction to the valleys
Stay · 2 nights
The Grand Dragon Ladakh
Days 4–6 · Ulley
Snow Leopard Country
Day 4: The Indus and the Sham Valley
After the initial acclimatisation period, selected Sham Valley stops such as Nimmu, Basgo, Likir or Alchi may be arranged on the onward route, subject to winter access, your condition and the time available. A family-home lunch can be arranged where hosts are available; the full circuit is adapted so the transfer remains manageable.
A drive of about two and a half hours west along the Indus to Ulley. Check in to Snow Leopard Lodge, a small, warm, homestay-style lodge of about six bedrooms, just under 4,000 metres, in a valley developed for community-based snow leopard watching. After lunch, a first scan of the slopes with a spotting scope as the light turns gold.
Day 5: Reading the Ridgelines
The days follow the rhythm of the cat. You rise in the dark for the first scan at dawn, climb into position with your tracker and naturalist, and spend long, quiet hours glassing ridgelines for ibex and blue sheep, since where the prey go the leopards follow. A hot flask of tea and a field breakfast keep you going. After a midday break at the lodge, return to a vantage point for the late afternoon scan. Other wildlife you may see includes Ladakh urial, Tibetan wolf and red fox, and birds such as golden eagle and Himalayan griffon.
Day 6: Another Day with the Trackers
Your evenings are spent by the wood stove, with Ladakhi meals and tales from the trackers, many of them herders who have spent their lives in these valleys.
A second full tracking day gives you time to return to promising vantage points, following the naturalist’s reading of signs and prey movements.
Moments
- Two full days of tracking
- Spotting scopes, field breakfasts and hot tea
- Ladakhi evenings with local trackers
Stay · 3 nights
Snow Leopard Lodge
Days 7–10 · Rumbak
At the Edge of Hemis
Day 7: A Second Valley
A final dawn scan at Ulley, then a drive of about three hours back toward Leh, with a long lunch, and on to House of Rumbak Wildlife Lodge in the Rumbak valley, at the edge of Hemis National Park. The lodge sits at about 3,960 metres, with six cottages, a wood-stove-heated dining room and fresh bakes each day. Transfer details depend on road and snow conditions and are confirmed with the lodge in advance. After settling in, a first scan of the valley in the late afternoon.
Day 8: Rock, Scree and Patient Scanning
Three full days in what many consider India's best-known snow leopard valley. The terrain is steeper and more dramatic than Ulley, with peaks above 6,000 metres in view and a landscape of rock and scree that hides the cats. Your team moves between vantage points depending on the previous days' signs: fresh pugmarks, scrapes, alarm calls from prey, and the movements of bharal herds. February coincides with the snow leopard mating season, when cats are more vocal and mobile.
Day 9: Photography in Winter Light
Between scans, a wildlife photography session with your naturalist, covering telephoto technique, cold-weather camera care and how to read the light on snow.
Day 10: A Final Full Tracking Day
Return to the vantage points chosen by your trackers for a third full day in Rumbak. The signs, weather and movements of prey determine where you spend the quiet hours.
Sightings are never guaranteed, even in peak season. The journey allows time and skilled local tracking without promising an animal encounter.
Moments
- Three full days in the Rumbak valley
- Private naturalist and local trackers
- Wildlife photography and cold-weather camera care
Stay · 4 nights
House of Rumbak Wildlife Lodge
Days 11–12 · Leh
A Celebration and Weather Flexibility
Day 11: Return to Leh
A relaxed morning, then a transfer to Leh and The Grand Dragon. Soak in a hot bath, then join your naturalist and guide for a celebration dinner to close the journey. Flights in and out of Leh are sensitive to winter weather, so this day also serves as a buffer. If conditions are clear, an easy afternoon visit to Thiksey Monastery, the Shanti Stupa at sunset, or the old town makes a quiet close.
Day 12: Departure via Delhi
A private transfer to Leh airport for your flight to Delhi, with an assistant to help with luggage and check-in. The onward international connection is planned with winter-weather disruption in mind; an additional Delhi buffer night may be recommended and quoted separately.
Moments
- A final night at The Grand Dragon
- A celebration dinner with your team
- Winter flight connections planned with additional margins
Stay · 1 night
The Grand Dragon Ladakh
Planning this journey
Planning this journey
For the service and design process, explore private India journeys. For accommodation choices and price considerations, see luxury travel in India.
A typical tracking day
- Dawn: Arrive at your vantage point before first light, when cats are most active.
- Morning: Scan slopes slowly with a spotting scope, row by row, looking for the shape of a cat or the movement of prey.
- Midday: A warm lunch at the lodge while the cats rest.
- Late afternoon: Return to a good position for the cats' second active window.
- Your tracker's eyes matter more than your equipment. Local spotters can pick a cat out of a rock face at a distance most visitors would never notice, and patience is the real luxury here.
Altitude and winter conditions
- Leh sits at about 3,500 metres. Ulley and Rumbak are close to 4,000 metres.
- The first two nights in Leh are for rest and acclimatisation. Do not skip them, even if you feel well.
- Speak with your doctor before travelling about altitude medication and any health conditions.
- Winter temperatures in the field can fall well below freezing, and occasional hiccups, such as frozen pipes in the coldest weeks, are part of a real Ladakh winter.
What to pack
- A down jacket rated for extreme cold, plus layers: thermal base, fleece mid-layer, windproof shell
- Insulated boots, thick wool socks, liner and outer gloves, a warm hat, a neck gaiter
- Hand and foot warmers
- Sunglasses and strong sunscreen, since the snow glare at altitude is intense
- A camera with a long telephoto lens, spare batteries kept warm inside your jacket, and a tripod
- Travel insurance with high-altitude and medical evacuation cover
Before you travel
- Best season: January to March. Early-season trips are quieter but sightings are harder; late-season trips see the snow melt.
- Wildlife: Sightings are never guaranteed. The structure above gives five full days of tracking, time to make a patient search, without any sighting guarantee.
- Getting there: Leh is reached by direct flight from Delhi. Winter flights can be delayed or cancelled, so we have built in a buffer day and recommend not scheduling anything critical for the day after you leave.
- Permits: Park and area permits are arranged by your operator. Confirm requirements for your nationality before booking.
- Responsible tourism: Ulley is a community-led model, and your stay supports local families whose livelihoods depend on the leopards surviving. Keep your distance, stay quiet, and follow your tracker's instructions at all times.
- Availability: Confirm lodge opening dates and room availability for your chosen winter, since small field lodges can adjust their winter operations.
- Visa and permit requirements, transport schedules, opening days and individual travel-health advice are checked for your passport, dates and circumstances before confirmation.
Stays
Where you would stay.
Both field lodges are small, so booking early for a January to March departure is essential. Your proposed properties and room categories are subject to availability for your dates.
- DelhiThe ImperialAlternative: The Oberoi New Delhi.Supporting stay1 night
- LehThe Grand Dragon LadakhHero stay2 nights
- UlleySnow Leopard LodgeSmall, homestay-style field lodge.Supporting stay3 nights
- RumbakHouse of Rumbak Wildlife LodgeField lodge; winter access and operations require confirmation.Supporting stay4 nights
- LehThe Grand Dragon LadakhHero stay1 night
Indicative price
From $13,199
per person, two travellers sharing
- Length
- 11 nights
- Departures
- Your dates, private
- Travel dates
- Advised for your route
- Festive periods
- Priced on request
An indicative starting point in the proposed accommodation, excluding international flights. Your proposal is priced against your dates, rooms and final inclusions.
Included
- A dedicated trip designer who plans and manages every detail, from booking to your return home
- 24/7 in-country support, with a named contact you can reach by phone at any hour
- Private transfers by heated vehicle at every stage, including airport meet-and-greet and immigration assistance where permitted in Delhi
- A private naturalist and local trackers throughout the field days, with spotting scopes provided
- Domestic flights, all accommodation and meals
- Experiences as listed, including selected Sham Valley visits after acclimatisation and the photography session
- Emergency planning, with supplementary oxygen arrangements confirmed with the local team before travel. Guidance on travel insurance with high-altitude and medical evacuation cover; insurance itself is not included
Not included
- International flights to and from India
- Visas, travel insurance and vaccinations
- Meals not described in the itinerary, and drinks
- Gratuities for guides, drivers and hotel staff
- Festive-period supplements, quoted individually for travel over Christmas and New Year
Questions
Before you enquire.
Is this a fixed departure?
No. This is a private journey designed around your dates. Stays, room categories, transport and experiences are confirmed in your personal proposal.
Are all experiences guaranteed?
Specialist hosts, performances, private venues, park activities and airport assistance depend on availability, permissions and local conditions. Optional activities and spa treatments are priced separately unless explicitly included in your proposal.
How much time is allowed for acclimatisation?
The first two Leh nights allow at least 48 hours before any higher-altitude transfer. The monastery visits move after that initial rest period. Your onward plans remain subject to local advice, your condition, road access and weather.
What does the from-price cover?
It is an indicative starting point per person, based on two travellers sharing a room in the stays listed, in the proposed accommodation and room categories, excluding international flights. Your proposal is priced against your dates, room categories and final inclusions.
When is the best time to travel?
Choose dates around the route and the experiences that matter to you. Northern city sightseeing, Kerala’s hills and waterways, and central India’s safari parks have different weather and operating calendars. Tell us your preferred dates; we will discuss the tradeoffs and confirm activity availability before finalizing the journey.
Can the hotels be changed?
Yes. The stays listed are the ones we propose for this route, subject to availability when we design your journey. We suggest alternatives of similar character where a property is full, or where a different one would suit you better.
Are the journeys suitable for families?
They can be. Tell us the ages of everyone travelling and we will adjust the pace, rooming and experiences accordingly. Children's pricing depends on ages and room arrangements and is confirmed in the proposal.
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Make The Snow Leopard Winter yours.
Tell us your dates, who is travelling and what matters most. We will shape this route, its stays and its pacing around you, and confirm the price against your own design.
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