Terra Incognita \"ter-a-in-kag-net-a"\ [L] (1616): unknown territory: an unexplored country.

India

Himalayas: Search for the Snow Leopard.


Snow Leopard (Milan Trykar, courtesy Snow Leopard Trust)

Travel with Dr. Raghu Chundawat into the heart of the Himalayas and the habitat of the endangered Snow Leopard — a truly enigmatic creature. 16 day expedition (land only).

The Snow Leopard is the “Ghost of the Himalayas,” superbly adapted for a life in the harsh montane conditions of the remote Ladakh region of northern India. The appeal of Ladakh’s wildlife lies not only in this uniqueness, it also derives from the remoteness and harshness of the land, consisting mainly of high plains, brackish lakes and deep valleys, the area is located over 12,000 feet above sea level. It is very sparsely populated and it is so cold in places like the Zanskar region that people and cattle remain indoors for much of the year. This trek is meant for those who are purely interested in tracking and viewing the elusive snow leopard. This trek can be undertaken throughout the year, though the best time is from late-December to early-April when the Blue sheep or bharal come down the valley to participate in the annual rut - the rut takes place among the most rugged terrain and it allows us to watch them at relatively close range without having to climb the steep mountain slopes. Since these ungulates are the favourite prey of the snow leopard prey and the higher slopes are under snow cover, the Snow Leopard follows its major prey to these slopes.

Please join us for this unique expedition into the heart of the natural habitat of this enigmatic species.

Group size is limited to only 12 individuals.
Departure date: 9 - 24 April 2011 (land only)
Cost per person is $6,999
Single supplement is $1,000

For each participant a donation will be made to the Snow Leopard Trust to continue their important work protecting the endangered Snow Leopard in the wild.

This is an Ecotour that will make a difference to you, and to the areas we visit.
We will employ local people.
We will use locally owned and operated lodges and outfitters.
We will use local goods and services.

We hope to encounter wild Snow Leopards on this trip. Sightings of wild Snow Leopards cannot be guaranteed.


Wild Snow Leopard, Himalayas in Ladakh, India (Milan Trykar, courtesy Snow Leopard Trust)

April is good time to visit Ladakh because:

  1. Weather is very cool
  2. After the long and harsh winter, the new vegetation growth pulls wild animals on the lower slopes.
  3. The new flush of wild growth on the lower slopes attracts bharal (Himalayan blue sheep, Pseudois nayaur) in large numbers, allowing us to watch them at relatively close range without having to climb the steep mountain slopes. These ungulates are favourite snow leopard prey. As the higher slopes are still under snow cover, snow leopards, following their major prey, are active on these slopes more easily accessible to us. Hence an expedition during March/April increases our chances to see a snow leopard and other wildlife.

Snow Leopard habitat, Ladakh, India (Bill Hogue, Snow Leopard Trust)

Daily Itinerary:

Please note details of our exact trekking locations are highly secret and will only be reveled once you have booked the trip.

Day 1 - Saturday 9th April 2011 - Arrive Delhi
On arrival at the Indira Gandhi International airport, you will transfer to our hotel.

Delhi, Capital City of independent India rewards the determined sightseer with more than a thousand monuments and two old capital buildings complexes - including the present seat of Government, designed by the British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens. Cosmopolitan hotels, shopping, and fine restaurants abound. Delhi also offers a glimpse into the real India - the labyrinthine street bazaars of Old Delhi, and the temples and monuments of Indian’s chequered colonial past. In the deepest sense, from Old Delhi’s Red fort and Jama Masjid mosque to New Delhi’s chic art galleries and nightclubs, Delhi is profoundly an Indian city. (Check in is no earlier than 12 noon).
Overnight at Hotel Claridges/Oberoi Maidens. (D)

Day 2 - Sunday 10th April 2011 - Delhi to Leh
We are transferred to the domestic airport this morning to board a domestic flight to Leh. This is an amazingly beautiful flight and takes you right across the main Himalayan range into the trans-Himalaya region. We are met on arrival at Leh and transferred to the hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure to begin to acclimatize to the altitude. In the afternoon we meet Dr Chundawat and his team.

Leh is Ladakh’s capital, and is built into the base of the snow-covered Karakoram Range at over 11,500-ft. An important Buddhist center since the 3rd century B.C, Leh has also been a major commercial hub on the Silk Road in central Asia. The 20th century has turned Leh into an important India Military base and tourist boomtown. Leh lends itself to walks and relaxation. The narrow lanes behind the main bazaar have tempting little shops.
Overnight at Hotel Omasila. (B,L,D)

Day 3 - Monday 11th April 2011 - Leh
Acclimatization continues. Enjoy a Lazy morning. Late in the afternoon take a gentle stroll up to the market. We will view a short film on the wildlife of Ladakh this evening.
Overnight at Hotel Omasila. (B,L,D)


Himalayas in Ladakh, India (Pranav Trivedi, courtesy Snow Leopard Trust)

Day 4 - Tuesday 12th April 2011 - Leh
Guided tour to Shey palace, Thiksey and Hemis monastries. Shey, about 10 miles from Leh, was once the residence of the royal family and is famous for its high gilded statue of Buddha. The monastery has a two-floor statue of the sitting Buddha. Shey was the former summer palace of the kings of Ladakh. The gompa, still partially used, is being restored. There is a small library and a collection of thankas, and some stupas and Mani walls nearby. Shey is easy to get to and can be easily combined with a visit to Thiksey by any form of transport.

Thiksey is one of the largest and most impressive gompas (monastery). There are several temples in this gompa containing images, stupas and exquisite wall paintings. It also houses a twenty-foot statue of Buddha, which has the main prayer hall around its shoulder. The great views of the valleys and villages can be seen from the roof.

Twenty-five miles from Leh, Hemis is one of the richest, biggest and most famous gompas in Ladakh. Built during 1630s, it has numerous tankhyas, silver chortens studded with precious and semi precious stones, and various images of Buddha. The Hemis monastery belongs to the Drukpa order and was founded in the early 17th century. It has an excellent library, well-preserved frescoes showing some Kashmiri influence and good Buddha figures. Of its many frescoes here, the most famous is the Wheel of Life.

Illustrated talk on Ladakh wildlife and Snow Leopard conservation before dinner and briefing for the expedition.
Overnight at Hotel Omasila. (B,L,D)

Day 5 - Wednesday 13th April 2011 - Leh/Hemis National Park
Expedition in search of the snow leopard and its associated species begins. After early morning breakfast, drive into Hemis National Park (2-3 hours) where we meet camp staff and horsemen, our camp and personal luggage is loaded on the horses and we start trekking.

During our first day trekking we have chances of encountering lots of interesting summer migrants and ubiquitous Chukar partridges and occasional brown and white breasted dippers, oriental hobby etc. We stop for lunch at a small village, a green oasis with a grove of amazingly large poplar trees. The stark contrast of this place against the dry and brown mountains is strikingly beautiful. Watch lammergeyer and Himalayan vultures and scan for nests on the cliffs nearby. We continue trekking this afternoon into the realm of the Snow Leopard. Tonight enjoy an early dinner.

Walk time- 3-4 hours (excluding break)
Drive time- 2-3 hours.
Overnight at the Camp


Wild Snow Leopard, Ladakh, India (Dr Raghu Chundawat)

Day 6 - Thursday 14th April 2011 - Tracking
Early breakfast and collect pack lunch. Trek in search of snow leopard and its major prey the blue sheep or bharal. Trek through narrow deep gorges to get an idea of snow leopard preferred habitat. Look for fresh signs — scrapes and spray sites etc — on the way up and also keep an eye out for mouse hares among the rock piles. Scan the slopes for bharal. The females prefer this steep terrain for lambing. Picnic lunch next to a mountain stream. Check out one of the nests of the golden eagle pair that patrols this area if it is in use. Walk back to camp. Tea, rest at the camp and walk around for evening pictures.

Walk time - Total 4 hours (excluding break) 2½ hours gradual climb along the valley floor (3700 to 4100m) and back.
Overnight at the Camp

Day 7 - Friday 15th April 2011 - Tracking
After early breakfast, pack and leave the camp with picnic lunch. Base camp shifts today. Easy day trekking, visit to a local village we get to know the locals and their natural friendly life style. Join our horseman/local family friend in his house for authentic Ladakhi meal. Photographic opportunities throughout the day for shutter bugs.

Evening learn some local cuisine from camp staff. Scan slopes around the camp and village to locate herds of blue sheep coming down to lower slopes to take advantage of green flush at lower slopes.

Camp at 3900 m.
Walk Time- 1½ hours.
Overnight at the Camp.

Day 8 - Saturday 16th April - Tracking
Early breakfast. Packed lunch. Day in the mountains with snow leopard expert Dr. Raghu Chundawat who did his Ph. D. research in the 1980s on this elusive cat in this very area. Participate in SLIMS (Snow Leopard Information Management System) to help BAAVAN Trust. Dr. Chundawat will lead us along one heavily used snow leopard path - a secret trail discovered by him eighteen years ago. More recently, several wildlife documentary crews have used this area to successfully capture on film this mysterious creature. Easy pace but steep climb, stop at many places to check snow leopard signs and record fresh movements. Learn about geological history of Himalaya and its ecological importance to several million of people dependent on its welfare, sitting at a high vantage point over looking Ladakh and Karakoram range.

Lunch break at top looking down the gorge towards our first camp site.

Divide in two or three groups to climb down to increase chances of encountering a snow leopard on our walk back to camp.

Walk time - total 4 - 5½ hours.
Overnight at the Camp.

Day 9 - Sunday 17th April 2011 - Tracking
Pack and shift camp again. On the way, look for bharal and wolf signs. Likely to find a few herds of blue sheep, plenty of Chukar partridges, plus we may see red-billed and yellow-billed choughs. Check two known traditional nests of golden eagle on the way. This is a habitat for one of the rarest species of wild sheep, the great Tibetan sheep or Tibetan argali. Look for the diminutive mouse hares and their predator, the Himalayan weasel among the caragana bushes. Observe and hear the Himalayan marmot, a giant ground squirrel.

Walk time - Total 4-5 hours. Gradual climb (3900 to 4300 m) along the river bank.
Camp - 4300 m.
Overnight at the Camp.

Day 10 - Monday 18th April - Tracking
Search for herds of the world’s largest wild sheep. Divide in two or three parties armed with spotting scopes and expert local guide and survey three separate valleys and try to locate these rare animals. High chances of encountering wolves and large grouse size Himalayan snow cock and Tibetan woolly hares. We conduct a count of argali, collecting data on age, sex, number seen and group size. This information will go to the local wildlife Department and to the Nature Conservation Foundation, an Indian NGO working actively with the International Snow Leopard Trust.

Walk time - 4-5 hours.
Elevation range - 4300-4500 m.
Overnight at the Camp.


Blue sheep silhouette, Himalayas, Ladakh, India (Pranav Trivedi, courtesy Snow Leopard Trust)

Day 11 - Tuesday 19th April 2011 - Tracking
Pack and shift camp. Trekking day. Wildlife spotting en route. Downhill for two hours and one hour walk through pasture lands.

Elevation range - 4300 to 3900 and up again 4100 m.
Walk time - 3½ hours
Overnight at the Camp.

Day 12 - Wednesday 20th April 2011 - Tracking
Shift camp again. Pack and ready for a steep two and half hour climb to negotiate a high mountain pass (16,000 feet above sea level). Stop at the pass for lunch break photographic opportunity. Climb down and trek through some amazing vertical rock formation. Discuss geological significance learn more about formation of Himalaya. Likely to see several herds of bharal. Look for snow leopard evidence. This is favourite snow leopard terrain.

Reach camp site, tea and if still feeling energetic, wonder around some of the side valleys to sit and listen for calls, look for evidence and locate any sign of movement among the cliffs. Back to camp.

Walk time - 4-5 hours.
Elevation range - 4100 to 4600 m
Camp - 4000 m
Overnight at the Camp.


Ladakh scenery, India (Dr Raghu Chundawat)

Day 13 - Thursday 21st April 2011 - Tracking
Easy morning. Divide in different groups and survey side valleys and spot Blue sheep herds. The topography of the valley is unique and geology very interesting. We will discuss the geology and origin of Himalaya and see the sign of continents collusion.
Overnight at the Camp.

Day 14 - Friday 22nd April 2011 - Tracking and return to Leh
Today morning trek to location where we board our Jeeps and drive back to Leh, visiting the Stok palace and museum en route.

Walk time - 3 hours
Explore the quaint market and the old palace this afternoon.
Dinner in one of the local restaurants.
Overnight at Hotel Omasila

Day 15 - Saturday 23rd April 2011 - Leh to Delhi
Transferred to the domestic airport this morning to board flight to Delhi. On arrival at Delhi’s domestic airport, greeted and transferred to hotel.
Overnight at Hotel Claridges/Oberoi Maidens.

Day 16 - Sunday 24th April 2011 - Flights home
The entire day is at leisure to rest. This evening transferred to the International airport for our overseas flight. (Check In is three hours prior to flight departure)

We suggest you fly only in the evening as we need a buffer day in case flights out of Leh do not operate due to bad weather.

Cost per person is $6,999
Single supplement is $1,000

Cost includes:

Not included:


Wild Snow Leopard, Himalayas, India (Mr. Rinchin, Snow Leopard Trust)

Claridges Hotel, Delhi
Set in the leafy boulevards of New Delhi, Claridges Hotel has been a landmark in Lutyens Delhi since the 1950’s. The 3 floor low rise building, dating from the 1930s, has a mildly Art Deco feel to it and a calm understated elegance, in keeping with the spacious bungalows that line the streets of the city. The lobby, with its fine double-crescent staircase, sets the tone for the rest of the hotel. There is a business centre, a swimming pool and a health club. The hotel also has a number of restaurants and a congenial bar.

Oberoi Maidens, Delhi
Oberoi Maidens was one of the earliest hotels in the Civil Lines area originally built as a single storey structure in 1900. Edwin Lutyens stayed in this hotel when he first came to Delhi to decide on the site for the new capital of British India. A white plastered British classical building, it is now called Oberoi Maidens, and continues to breathe the air of the Raj. Set in acres of gardens it is a quiet retreat with easy access to Central Delhi.

Hotel Omasila, Leh
Hotel Omasila is in the popular area of Changspa about a 10 minute walk from the centre of Leh. It has a large terrace with superb views of the mountains and a very good restaurant. In summers they serve dishes with vegetables grown in the garden outside.

Terra Incognita Ecotours Inc. is registered with the State of Florida as a Seller of Travel. Registration # ST36712