Our trip starts in the capital, Leh, a small town, in the Indus valley. Cut off by road from the rest of India for the five months of winter, life is sedate and far slower-paced than almost any other town anywhere on the sub-continent. It is not until the onset of summer, in May, that Leh gets busy. We will stay two nights to help us acclimatize to the altitude – at some 12,000 feet the lack of oxygen will be noticed both by day and by night. We will take gentle excursions, exploring for wildlife along the banks of the Indus in search of enigmatic birds such as Ibis bill, Solitary Snipe and Gouldenstadt’s (White-winged) Redstart. We will also visit a monastery as part of our stay. The shops in Leh offer the last chance to purchase any items that you may have forgotten.

As the main aim of this trip is to see Snow Leopard, after a full day around Leh, we head off to the mountains. Ten nights of camping are the core of the trip, in an area where Snow Leopards spend the winter. Our timing is carefully chosen to be optimal, towards the end of the mating season, and as the coldest temperatures of winter are abating. The winter snows, such as they are in this arid environment, are at their maximum extent, driving the Snow Leopards, and their prey, the Blue Sheep to lower, almost snow free elevations, thus offering us much easier access to look for them, and concentrating them in a smaller area. As cats do, they often snooze for hours during the day, so when one is spotted, it often allows prolonged viewing. We will have local guides who know the area, and the habits of the Snow Leopards, well. By keeping in radio contact with the park rangers and other local guides we will increase our chances of seeing leopards even more.

This is just one sample programme and if you want to customize it then our tourplanner will help you to make your trip memorable.