Snow Leopard Safari in Ladakh (8N/9D)
From $2,330£1,750€2,080A$3,350C$3,290
Prices are per person, twin share, private departure, and are rounded. They are estimates and vary with the accommodation you choose and the season. Contact us for a final price.
This itinerary is completely customisable, including accommodation that is not on our list. Speak to our safari specialists and they will design a fully bespoke journey around your pace, your interests and the time you wish to spend in the field.
About This Snow Leopard Safari
This snow leopard safari in Ladakh takes you into the high, silent valleys of the Indian Himalaya in the depths of winter, when the elusive "ghost of the mountains" follows its prey down from the peaks. Ladakh is one of the best places in the world to see a wild snow leopard, and two of its finest areas anchor this journey: the high village of Ulley in the Sham valley, and the Rumbak valley in Hemis National Park, where blue sheep graze on slopes the cats patrol.
Each day is shaped by the spotters, local men and women who scan the ridges from first light with powerful scopes and guide you to a vantage point the moment a cat is found. You spend three nights in Rumbak, the heart of Hemis, giving you more time in the field than on our shorter extension. Two nights in Leh let you adjust gently to the altitude, while Snow Leopard Lodge and House of Rumbak offer warm, intimate comfort in the mountains. A VIP welcome at Delhi airport, chauffeur-driven private SUVs and domestic flights make every transfer effortless.
This is travel that gives back. Snow leopard tourism gives Ladakh's mountain villages a lasting stake in protecting the cats, employing local people as spotters, hosts and cooks. Your journey also contributes to TOFTigers, winner of a Travel + Leisure Global Vision Award in 2025. The best time to travel is January to March, and every departure is private and bespoke, curated around your dates and interests.
Destinations Covered
Delhi (1 night), Leh (2 nights), Ulley in the Sham valley (2 nights) and Rumbak in Hemis National Park (3 nights).
What You Will Experience
- The chance to see a wild snow leopard, guided by Ladakh's most experienced spotters and their high-powered scopes.
- Three nights in the Rumbak valley, in Hemis National Park, one of the finest snow leopard landscapes on earth.
- Ulley, a high village in the Sham valley, known for Himalayan ibex, urial, wolves and red foxes.
- Blue sheep, golden eagles and bearded vultures on the winter slopes of the Trans-Himalaya.
- Warm, intimate stays in Leh, Ulley and Rumbak, each heated against the Ladakhi winter.
- Ladakh's monasteries and village life, from morning prayers to butter tea in a Rumbak home.
Design your journey with a safari specialist
Every journey is private, bespoke and curated around you: share a few details and one of our safari specialists will be in touch within 24 hours.
Thank you
Your enquiry is with our safari specialists, who will be in touch within 24 hours to begin shaping your bespoke, curated journey.
Snow Leopard Safari in Ladakh Itinerary: Day by Day
Time in the field included: five days with expert spotters and a naturalist: a first scan of the ridges at Ulley on the afternoon of Day 4, full days at Ulley on Day 5 and in the Rumbak valley on Days 7 and 8, and a final morning scan at Ulley on Day 6. Day 3 in Leh is kept for acclimatisation. If time allows during the day and permits are available, we can add further sessions in the field at an additional cost.
Day 1: Arrival in New Delhi
A VIP representative meets you at the aircraft and guides you swiftly through immigration, baggage reclaim and customs. Your chauffeur drives you to your hotel, where you can rest, enjoy a quiet dinner and turn in early for tomorrow's flight to Leh.
Day 2: New Delhi to Leh
Flight: about 1 hour 20 minutes
Flight: about 1 hour 20 minutes. An early flight carries you north across the main Himalayan range, with snow-covered peaks stretching below the wing, to Leh, the capital of Ladakh. You are met on arrival and driven the short distance to your hotel. Leh lies at about 3,500 metres (11,500 feet), so today is for rest, warm drinks and plenty of water as your body adjusts.
Day 3: Leh
A gentle day of acclimatisation. In the morning, visit Spituk Monastery on its hill above the Indus, then wander the lanes of the old town beneath Leh Palace. Along the frozen edges of the Indus, your naturalist looks for the ibisbill, a rare wader that winters on Ladakh's rivers. In the evening, a briefing introduces the snow leopard, its prey and the work of the spotters.
Day 4: Leh to Ulley
Drive: about 2 to 3 hours (90 km)
Drive: about 2 to 3 hours (90 km). Drive west along the Indus, pausing at Nimmu where the turquoise Zanskar meets the Indus, before climbing into the Sham valley to Ulley, at almost 4,000 metres (13,000 feet). Snow Leopard Lodge is small, warm and devoted entirely to wildlife, with wood stoves and hearty home-cooked meals. In the afternoon, join the spotters for your first scan of the ridges around the village.
Day 5: Ulley
At first light, the spotters fan out across the valley. Ulley's cliffs are home to herds of Himalayan ibex and urial, and the cats that hunt them, and wolves and red foxes are often seen crossing the slopes. When a snow leopard is found, you are guided to a vantage point where the scopes bring it close. Hot lunches and warm stoves await at the lodge between excursions.
Day 6: Ulley to Rumbak, Hemis National Park
Drive: about 4 hours
Drive: about 4 hours. After a final morning scan, drive back past Leh and into Hemis National Park. From the end of the road, a short walk beside a frozen stream brings you to House of Rumbak Wildlife Lodge, just below Rumbak village, where six heated cottages in traditional Ladakhi style look out over snow-dusted peaks.
Day 7: Rumbak, Hemis National Park
Spend the day with the spotters in the Rumbak valley, where herds of blue sheep graze the slopes and their nervous movements often betray a hunting cat. Bearded vultures and golden eagles ride the thermals overhead. Lunch is served in the field or back at the lodge, depending on where the day leads.
Day 8: Rumbak, Hemis National Park
A third day in Rumbak gives you the best chance of the sightings you have come for, and perhaps a second encounter for photographers. In the afternoon, walk up to Rumbak village to share butter tea with a local family and learn how life is lived through the long mountain winter. Your farewell dinner is served beside the wood-fired stove.
Day 9: Rumbak to New Delhi
Drive: about 1 hour to Leh, then a flight of about 1 hour 20 minutes to Delhi
Drive: about 1 hour to Leh, then a flight of about 1 hour 20 minutes to Delhi. After an early breakfast, return to Leh for your flight to Delhi and your onward journey.
A note from our planners: Leh lies at about 3,500 metres and Ulley at almost 4,000 metres, so the two nights in Leh are essential for acclimatisation. Winter nights can fall to minus 20°C, though the lodges are warm and the days are often bright and sunny. Flights to and from Leh can be delayed by winter weather, so we recommend a spare night in Delhi before your international flight home.
Where You Stay
Every hotel and lodge for this journey is listed below by destination, each with a label that describes its style. In Delhi and Leh you may choose any hotel; few places stay open in Ladakh in winter, so in the mountains the lodges are the ones we trust. Our safari specialists will gladly arrange a stay that is not on this list. Every property is handpicked and has been used by us over many years.
Delhi (Day 1)
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Colonel's Retreat (Boutique).
A family-run guest house in a townhouse in Defence Colony, on quiet, tree-lined avenues in central Delhi. It was begun some twenty years ago by a retired army colonel and is now run by his son and daughter-in-law, with dinner served on the roof terrace.
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ITC Maurya (Luxury).
A landmark of the Diplomatic Enclave, known for its restaurants, among them Bukhara, long celebrated for its north-west frontier cuisine, and Dum Pukht. It offers established comfort and polished service in the heart of the capital.
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The Oberoi, New Delhi (Luxury).
Opened in 1965 on Dr Zakir Hussain Marg, overlooking Humayun's Tomb on one side and the Delhi Golf Course on the other. Its interiors take their inspiration from Lutyens' New Delhi, and it has a wellness sanctuary, indoor and outdoor pools and several restaurants.
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Roseate House (Luxury).
A contemporary hotel of 216 rooms in Aerocity, about 4.5 km from the international airport, which makes it a practical first or last night. It has a rooftop infinity pool, a spa and a fine dining restaurant, Kheer.
Leh (Days 2 and 3)
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Dolkhar Ladakh (Boutique · Michelin Key).
Seven villas built from local wood by regional artisans and furnished with handwoven wool rugs, set in an apple and apricot orchard close to Leh. Awarded one Michelin Key, “a very special stay”, it serves a seasonal menu drawn from its kitchen garden.
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The Grand Dragon Ladakh (Luxury).
A larger hotel in the heart of Leh that combines contemporary and traditional design, with Himalayan views and suites that overlook the Stok range. It has a spa and several restaurants, including a pan-Asian restaurant at 11,562 feet.
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Chospa Hotel (Boutique).
A family-run hotel on Old Leh Road, a short walk from the main market, built in the traditional Ladakhi manner with earth, stone and wood, including walls of compressed earth blocks made on site. Its restaurant has Ladakhi and Tibetan influences.
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The Postcard Willow Suites (Boutique).
An intimate hotel of just five suites in Leh, with a garden and a restaurant, and Stok Palace Museum close by.
Ulley (Days 4 and 5)
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Snow Leopard Lodge (Eco-Luxury).
The region's first dedicated wildlife lodge, in Ulley at 13,000 feet, once a homestay run by a renowned snow leopard tracker. Developed with the Snow Leopard Conservancy to support conservation and local communities, it offers heated rooms, hearty meals and a resident naturalist.
Rumbak (Days 6 to 8)
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House of Rumbak Wildlife Lodge (Eco-Luxury).
Six heated cottages in traditional Ladakhi style, set just below Rumbak village at the edge of Hemis National Park, with a wood-fired stove and warm meals after each day with the spotters.
Prices
| Two guests sharing, per person | $2,330£1,750€2,080A$3,350C$3,290 |
|---|---|
| Two guests sharing, total for two | $4,660£3,500€4,160A$6,700C$6,580 |
| Solo traveller | $4,250£3,200€3,800A$6,110C$6,010 |
| Single supplement | $1,920£1,450€1,720A$2,760C$2,720 |
Estimated prices, per person, based on two guests sharing one room, one safari vehicle and one car. A solo traveller pays the per-person price plus the single supplement. Prices vary with the accommodation you choose and the season, and are rounded. Contact us for a final price. See what is included
Tailored Leisure & In-Lodge Experiences
- Morning Prayers at Thiksey: join the monks of Thiksey Monastery for their dawn prayers as the sun reaches the Indus valley.
- Butter Tea with a Rumbak Family: share tea and conversation in a traditional Ladakhi kitchen, warmed by the family stove.
- Old Leh Heritage Walk: explore the lanes, stupas and mud-brick houses of the old town with a local guide.
- Ladakhi Cooking Session: learn to make momos and thukpa with the lodge team, then enjoy them by the stove.
Something Else in Mind? Our safari specialists can arrange any activity you would like, depending on the destination and your accommodation, such as an extra day with the spotters, a dawn session photographing ibex on the cliffs at Ulley, or an evening talk on snow leopard research and conservation.
Dining & Reservations: in Delhi, our private concierge secures reservations at the finest restaurants the city has to offer, including hard-to-book tables, and arranges private dinners for special occasions. Share your tastes, whether a celebrated tasting menu or classic Mughlai cuisine, and we will arrange every detail.
Popular Fauna
- Mammals: snow leopard, bharal (blue sheep), Himalayan ibex, Ladakh urial, Tibetan wolf, red fox and mountain weasel
- Birds: bearded vulture, golden eagle, Himalayan griffon, chukar and ibisbill
Sightings vary by season and are never guaranteed.
National Parks & Wildlife Reserves
- Hemis National Park: a vast high-altitude park in eastern Ladakh, established in 1981 and among the largest in India. Its Rumbak and Markha valleys are renowned as some of the best snow leopard habitat in the world, rich in blue sheep, Tibetan wolves and birds of prey.
- Ulley and the Sham Valley: a high village west of Leh, beyond the protected areas, where community conservation shelters herds of ibex and urial, and the snow leopards and wolves that follow them.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Included
- Eight nights of handpicked accommodation, with breakfast in Delhi and Leh and full board in Ulley and Rumbak
- VIP meet and greet on arrival at Delhi Airport
- All transfers in comfortable, chauffeur-driven private SUVs
- Domestic flights: New Delhi to Leh and Leh to New Delhi
- Five days in the field with expert local spotters and a naturalist, with high-quality spotting scopes
- Visits to Spituk Monastery and Rumbak village
- All park entry fees, wildlife permits and conservation levies
Not included: international flights, visa fees, travel insurance (which should cover high altitude), personal gratuities, premium alcoholic beverages, camera fees, additional field sessions beyond those listed (arranged on request, subject to permit availability), and experiences marked “on request”.
Possible Extensions
Golden Triangle: begin or end your safari with Delhi, the Taj Mahal at sunrise and the palaces of Jaipur.
Keoladeo Birding: in winter, add the wetlands of Keoladeo National Park, alive with cranes, storks and migrant waterfowl.
Snow Leopard Safari in Ladakh FAQs
When is the best time for a snow leopard safari in Ladakh?
January to March. Deep winter snow pushes blue sheep and ibex down the valleys, and the snow leopards follow them to lower slopes where the spotters can find them.
What are my chances of seeing a snow leopard?
Snow leopards are wild and famously elusive, so a sighting can never be guaranteed. With five days in the field across Ulley and Rumbak, two of the finest areas in Ladakh, and the most experienced spotters, your chances are very good.
How cold is it, and how fit do I need to be?
Winter nights can fall to minus 20°C, but days are often bright and the lodges are warm. Most viewing is from vantage points close to the road or lodge, with short walks at altitude, so a reasonable level of fitness is all you need. We provide a detailed packing list when you book.
Is this snow leopard tour suitable for everyone?
It is best suited to adults and older children in good health. Leh lies at about 3,500 metres and Ulley at almost 4,000 metres, so we build in two nights to acclimatise and recommend speaking with your doctor before you travel.
How do I book a private snow leopard tour in India?
Speak with our safari specialists, who will curate this itinerary around your dates, interests and pace. Every journey is private and bespoke, and we recommend booking six to nine months ahead, as the lodges in Ulley and Rumbak have only a handful of rooms.