Venture into the remote mountains of Ladakh on an unforgettable expedition in search of the elusive snow leopard.
Welcome to India! Upon arrival at Delhi International Airport, you’ll be met by the local team and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the day is yours to relax and reset after your journey, a quiet moment before the adventure begins.
This morning, you’ll fly to Leh, the gateway to Ladakh. Leaving the hotel early with a packed breakfast, you’ll return to the airport and board your short flight north. Descending over the snow-dusted Himalayas, the landscape's scale and remoteness offer a striking introduction to the days ahead. Upon arrival at Leh Airport, at an elevation of around 11,400 feet, you'll take a short transfer to your hotel.
The rest of the day is set aside for gentle acclimatisation, allowing your body to adjust to the rarefied mountain air. Later, if you feel up to it, a quiet walk through Leh’s streets offers a first taste of local life in a high-altitude town.
Today, you'll step into Ladakh’s spirituality when witnessing the morning prayers at Thiksey Monastery. The deep chanting of monks resonating through the mountain air is a profoundly moving experience.
From Thiksey, you'll wander to the Shey and Hemis monasteries. Along the way, you’ll engage with local villagers, hearing stories and glimpsing the ways culture and conservation intertwine in these remote valleys. Each monastery holds centuries of history, art, and faith, demonstrating how the locals have long lived in harmony with the high mountains.
You'll return to Leh for the evening, resting before venturing into the heart of snow leopard territory.
Today, you leave Leh behind, journeying west into Ulley, a remote enclave of mountains, valleys, and wildlife. During a 3-hour drive, you’ll follow the Indus River. Rugged ridgelines, steep cliffs, and vast open valleys stretch as far as the eye can see. Every hill and shadow holds the possibility of a rare encounter with the elusive snow leopard. Along the way, you may also glimpse the majestic ibex, perfectly balanced on cliffs thousands of feet above the valley floor.
Ulley sits at around 13,000 feet and lies at the centre of three interlocking valleys known to support a healthy snow leopard population. Right here is considered one of the best places to see snow leopards in the world.
You’ll spend the rest of the day getting to know your surroundings and settling into the lodge, your base for the coming days. The lodge is a quiet retreat that lets you feel the mountains while treading lightly on the land.
These days are dedicated to exploring the expansive three valleys, tracking snow leopards with expert local guides whose intuition and knowledge are unparalleled. Reading the subtle language of the mountains, tracks, scrapes, and scent markings, your guide will teach you the ways to uncover the hidden lives of these extraordinary animals.
While the snow leopard is the ultimate focus, the valleys also host Ladakh urial, Tibetan wolf, red fox, and a wealth of high-altitude birdlife. Each sighting is a privilege, and well-earned with the advanced hiking you’ll be taking part in daily. Though some days, you may travel by truck depending on wildlife movements.
Your presence here directly supports community-based conservation initiatives that protect wildlife while empowering local people. Beyond the animals, you’ll gain insight into a way of life shaped by tradition, survival, and respect for the land. This is your chance to explore the mountains, spot otherworldly wildlife, learn from highly skilled naturalists, and experience the spiritual culture, as you’re regaled with the region's folklore and participate in their customs and traditions.
After breakfast, you'll return to Leh, pausing to visit the 11th-century Alchi Monastery. Its intricate wooden carvings and rare Indo-Tibetan art offer a glimpse of centuries-old devotion, unlike anywhere else in the region.
Arriving in Leh, you'll settle into your hotel for a final moment to reflect on your journey through some of the most remote and beautiful valleys on Earth.
This morning, you’ll fly back to Delhi ahead of your final night's stay. This gives you the opportunity to relax and recharge before continuing your onward journey, though if you’d prefer, you can also arrange a late-night flight departing the same day.
After breakfast, you'll be transferred back to the airport to catch your return flight home or continue your onward travel plans.
To secure a place, a deposit of $1,344 per person is required at the time of booking, with a further deposit of $1,344 due 5 months prior to your start date. The remaining balance is then due 90 days before your start date.
This expedition is offered on a double/twin-share basis as standard. For solo travellers or for single rooms, a supplement of $2,289 will apply.
Start Dates: You can join any day between December and February. If your preferred date is not listed, please contact our travel team to confirm availability.
Flexible Payment Options: Booking to travel in 3 months or more? We offer convenient payment plans that let you pay off your balance in instalments.
Tour Comfort: Deluxe (Expedition)
This tour is categorised as ‘Deluxe’, reflecting the standard of accommodation and transport used throughout. While the journey is adventurous and physically demanding, your accommodation provides a comfortable and well-located base in each destination. In general terms, you can expect a level of comfort broadly comparable to a 4–5-star standard, though the experience is defined more by its remote setting and access to extraordinary wildlife than by luxury facilities.
Your first night in Delhi will be spent at one of two comfortable airport hotels, which you’ll also return to at the end of your tour, an ideal place to relax before or after your travels. Rooms are allocated on a same-sex twin-share basis (unless travelling as a couple). Check-in is from around 2pm, and transfers will aim to arrive as early as possible so you can make the most of the hotel’s amenities, including free Wi-Fi, a swimming pool, and on-site restaurants (meals are not included on these nights).
For your first few nights in Ladakh, and again for one night before returning to Delhi, you’ll stay in Leh’s only 5-star hotel in the heart of this ancient city. Overlooking the dramatic Cold Desert and surrounding mountains, it’s the perfect setting to acclimatise to the high altitude while taking in the scenery. The hotel offers free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and a 24-hour coffee shop, and is conveniently located within walking distance of Leh Palace and the main market.
In Ulley, you’ll settle into your home away from home: a beautiful, eco-conscious lodge set against Ladakh’s dramatic mountain backdrop. With its warm, family-run atmosphere and stunning views, it’s a welcoming retreat after long days in the mountains.
Rooms are designed for comfort, featuring electric heaters or traditional wood-burning stoves to keep you warm in the high-altitude chill. You’ll also enjoy inviting communal spaces, including a dining area serving hearty home-cooked meals and a cosy lounge, perfect for relaxing, sharing stories, or unwinding with a wildlife documentary in the evenings.
The tour starts and ends in Delhi, and you will need to arrive into Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) on your start date and depart on your end date. Upon arrival, you will be met by a driver in the arrivals hall who will transfer you to your first night's accommodation in the city. From Delhi, you will fly to Leh, and this domestic flight is included in the tour price.
To enter India, you will need to obtain a tourist visa prior to travel, and all visa applications must be made online at India Visa Online.
Your passport must also have at least 6 months' validity from your arrival date in India and at least two blank pages for stamping by the immigration officials. Foreigners arriving from or transiting through Yellow Fever countries must also present a valid vaccination certificate. Please ensure you check with your local Indian Embassy for any additional requirements if you are unsure.
Fitness Level: Very High.
Due to the demanding nature of this tour, a very high level of physical fitness is essential. Treks can last up to 7 hours per day and may involve technical terrain, requiring both stamina and hiking experience. You should be prepared for long distances, sustained exertion, high altitude, and cold weather conditions throughout.
Meals on this tour are a real highlight, offering a delicious mix of Indian, Continental, and local cuisine. From your time in Leh onwards, all meals are included, along with one packed breakfast in Delhi.
At the lodge, fresh green vegetables are sourced directly from its own backyard polycarbonate greenhouse, ensuring quality and freshness even during the harsh winter months. Here, you’ll also enjoy hearty, home-cooked meals designed to warm you from the inside out. On excursions, you’ll be provided with thoughtfully prepared packed lunches, while tea, coffee, and purified drinking water are available throughout. Vegetarians, vegans, and other dietary requirements can be catered for with advance notice.
Due to their wild and elusive nature, leopard sightings cannot be guaranteed. However, Ulley is widely regarded as one of the most reliable places in the world to see snow leopards, and in recent years, the team has achieved an impressive success rate of around 90%, with the most recent season proving the most successful to date.
