RING OSS: +47 22413030 
Vi leter nå etter din drømmereise
SØK
14
33 024
2022 + 2023 Dates: Search for the elusive Snow Leopard with celebrated Himalayan trekking guide Valerie Parkinson.
On arrival those on the group flight will be transferred to our Delhi hotel. Those who have made their own flight arrangements will join us at the hotel during the day. You are free today to explore Delhi or rest after your flight; rooms may not be available until noon but it is often earlier than this. There is usually a welcome briefing in the hotel lobby this evening.Standard Hotel
Usually we have a very early start today for the flight to Leh. We may have to leave the hotel at around 2am and drive to the airport for the very early morning but highly spectacular flight over the Himalaya to Leh. Incredibly beautiful in winter we fly over the huge expanse of snow-capped peaks. Landing in Leh the temperature will drop dramatically and we will need our down jackets at the airport. If the weather is good and the flight goes on time we should be in Leh for breakfast. The rest of the day is free to relax and acclimatise to the altitude (3,500m). In the morning we rest and catch up on some sleep and in the afternoon there will be a gentle orientation walk of Leh and its bazaars.Standard Hotel
The activities for this day will depend on your departure date. Each year the timing of the monastic festivals change and so the itinerary is flexible to ensure you can attend this time honoured tradition. You will either attend the festival or visit the monasteries on day 3 or day 11. Please note the arrangements below for 2023 departures. Once a year every monastery in Ladakh has a festival where the monks dress in elaborate brocade and silk costumes and re-enact century old stories of the Tibetan Buddhist religion. People come from all over Ladakh to the festivals and these are a great social as well as religious occasion. The whole day will be spent at the festival and in the evening we return to our hotel in Leh. If not attending a festival on this day we visit the most important monasteries in the Indus Valley. First we drive just over half an hour to Shey, once the residence of the Ladakhi royal family. Below the old palace ruins is a small temple containing a two-storey gilded statue of Buddha. From Shey we walk across the fields to Tikse, spotting for birds en route. Set on a hill it is one of the most impressive gompas in Ladakh, it has several temples, one of which contains a superb statue of the Future Buddha. We then drive on to Stakna, a small but friendly monastery perched atop a huge rock. In the late afternoon we return to Leh.Festival attendance – land only start dates19 February 2023 – Stok Festival on day 114 March 2023 – Matho Festival on day 3Standard Hotel
Today we leave Leh and we drive across the Indus towards Jinchen. We follow the road past Phe to the entrance of the impressive Rumbak Gorge. We leave the cars near a bridge and our trail takes us up into the narrow gorge and we start our search for evidence of Snow leopard and Blue Sheep. We camp tonight at our base camp at Rumbak Sumdo (3,800m)Full-service Camping
The next five days will usually be spent in and around the Rumbak, Yurutse, Husing and Tarbuns Valleys in the Hemis National Park. There will be no fixed itinerary and our days will be decided on by our expert wildlife guides - this is to maximise the chances of seeing a Snow leopard. Our days will be spent searching for Snow leopard and other animals which inhabit this area. The extreme cold of winter forces the Snow leopard and other animals down from the high altitudes they normally inhabit. Ladakh is situated at an altitude range of 3,300m - 6,000m and hosts an incredible amount of wildlife. It is full of endangered species including Snow leopard, Tibetan Ibex, Bharal (Blue Sheep), Wolf, Red Fox, Ladakhi Urial and Lynx. We usually spend most of the time at our base camp at Rumbak Sumdo, and day walks will take us into the Rumbak Valley and further towards Yurutse and the Ganda La. We can also explore the Husing and Tarbuns Valleys, all well-known haunts of the Snow leopard. In 2018 the group had five good sightings of Snow leopards in this area and in 2019 the group saw 2 Snow Leopards together from the camp at Rumbak Sumdo. A good pair of binoculars is recommended to scan the slopes in and around camp. We have experienced wildlife spotters (1 per 5 clients), who will carry spotting scopes, which they will set up at camp and on ridges on the day walks. They will also go out in the early mornings and late evenings to search for evidence of any animal movement.Overnight we will use a mixture of camping and home stays. Five nights will be spent camping. We will have a full trekking crew with us including guides, assistant guides, cook, kitchen assistants and porters. At our base camp we have two person tents with foam mattress, dining tent with tables and chairs, solar lights and gas heaters. There are local long drop toilet facilities. At night hot water bottles are provided. You just need to carry your daypack whilst out spotting. Lunch and hot drinks will be brought to us by our camp crew. If you have a heavy camera bag it is possible to hire a private porter to carry this for you. One night will be spent in Rumbak village, where we will stay in a Ladakhi home stays. These are basic but comfortable local houses. The bedrooms have thick mattresses and you can take your sleeping bag from the camp. The dining room and bedrooms have small wood burning stoves. The houses have a local long drop toilet. Food at the home stay will be traditional local food and you will get chance to interact with the villagers in their day to day life.Our guides will be in touch with other guides and if Snow leopards have been spotted in other areas of Ladakh we will need to be flexible and move the camp.Full-service Camping
Today we trek back to Jinchen, where we will meet our transport and drive back to the relative comforts of our hotel in Leh.Standard Hotel
See day 3 for full details of activities and festival dates. This information includes which day your departure attends the monastic festival. Standard Hotel
An early start for the flight back to Delhi. The rest of the day is free in Delhi for individual shopping or sightseeing.Standard Hotel
A free day in Delhi in case of any delays in the flight from Leh. If we fly to Delhi on schedule then today is free for individual sightseeing. You may want to visit Old Delhi with the magnificent Red Fort and Jami Masjid. Humayun's Tomb (a forerunner to the Taj Mahal) is worth a visit. In New Delhi there is India Gate and Parliament House to see; and of course Delhi has a wealth of interesting shops and markets. An optional day trip to Agra to see the Taj Mahal can be arranged by your leader who will provide details and prices. (not available on Fridays as the Taj Mahal is closed)Standard Hotel
The tour ends after breakfast today. Those travelling on the group flight will be transferred to the airport for the flight back to London.
7 nights hotels, 5 nights full-service camping and 1 night homestay7 days
wildlife spotting on footGroup normally 5 to 16, plus leader and appropriate
staff. Altitude max. 4550m, average 3800m (maximum sleeping 3900m)Travel on
foot, by jeep and 2 internal flightsFestival visited varies by departure
dateAll departures led by Valerie Parkinson
All breakfasts are included and in Ladakh all food is included. In Leh the
food will be a mix of Indian, Tibetan, Chinese and Continental. On trek we
provide a full breakfast including porridge, cereals, eggs and toast and a
choice of hot drinks. Lunch will be a packed hot lunch consisting of rice and
chapattis, vegetables, tuna and cheese, which will be carried for us. Dinners
will be mostly pasta, rice or potato based and a mixture of Indian,
Continental and Chinese style. In the afternoon hot drinks and biscuits are
served and in the daytime our camp staff will bring us hot drinks whilst we
are out spotting.
7 nights hotels, 5 nights full-service camping and 1 night homestay7 days
wildlife spotting on footGroup normally 5 to 16, plus leader and appropriate
staff. Altitude max. 4550m, average 3800m (maximum sleeping 3900m)Travel on
foot, by jeep and 2 internal flightsFestival visited varies by departure
dateAll departures led by Valerie Parkinson
This is an adventurous tour and you need to be flexible in your approach to
the trip. The trip takes place in winter when Ladakh is cut off from the
rest of the world by road and temperatures drop well below zero. The hotel
in Leh is simple but comfortable and has central heating and hot water
bottles are provided at night. However, the water pipes can sometimes freeze
in winter and water (both hot and cold) may be provided in a bucket. Out of
Leh conditions will be more basic. Five nights will be spent at a base camp,
which consists of two-person tents with mattresses, dining tent with tables,
chairs, solar lights and heaters and local long drop toilets. There will be a
full camp crew and cooks, who will look after us and guide us. One night is
spent in a local Ladakhi house, which will be heated with a wood burning
stove. Whilst out spotting we will have an experienced local spotting guide
and spotting scope for every 5 clients.The tour is designed to maximise the
chance of spotting a Snow leopard and this will mean you need to be flexible
and we may need to adjust or change the itinerary at short notice should snow
conditions or other adverse or local conditions deem it wise to do so.What
makes this trip challenging is the weather conditions in Ladakh at this time
of year. The walking distances each day will be moderate. Most of the walking
will be optional dependant on your enthusiasm for tracking animals each
day.Internal flights to Leh are operated throughout the winter when the
weather is clear. Delays and cancellations cannot be ruled out.If you are
prepared to be flexible and patient and have a spirit of adventure then this
is a magnificent trip into one of the world’s most incredible best kept
secrets.The leader for all departures is Valerie Parkinson a woman with a
real spirit for adventure and a great love for the wilderness of
Ladakh.
Hotels, Camping & HomestayIn Delhi we use a good standard hotel, which has en suite air-conditioned
rooms. In Leh the hotel is simple but all rooms have en suite bathrooms.
Please note that in Ladakh in winter the water pipes in the hotel may be
frozen and water (hot and cold) is usually provided by bucket. Electricity in
Leh can also be temperamental, although many hotels now have back-up
generators and lanterns and candles are provided in case of power cuts.
The trek itself is on a full-service camping basis, meaning that our camp
staff will erect and dismantle the tents for you, cook, and do all of the
camp chores for you. You need only carry your day pack. We use two-person
tents which have enough room inside for your kitbags. We also have a dining
tent complete with table and folding chairs, and at least one toilet tent
(usually two) for use during the evenings. No running water is available
whilst camping. The camp staff will collect stream water or melt snow to
provide bowls of warm water (to wash with).
We spend one night in a traditional Ladakhi house. The house will be basic
and you may well be sleeping in a sleeping bag on a mattress on the floor.
There will be a basic local toilet and dining room.
If you require a single room whilst in Delhi and Leh and a single tent whilst
camping there is a supplement, From £400 payable at the time of booking.
Please note that single rooms will not be available in the homestay.
All departures of this trip are led by Valerie Parkinson. Valerie has spent
the last 35 years leading groups in Ladakh and other parts of the
Himalaya. She will be supported by local guides/spotters who are expert on
the wildlife of the area. A full camping crew including cook and assistants
are also on hand. The luggage will be carried from the roadhead to base camp
by mules. You only need to carry your daypack when we are out spotting. It is
possible to hire a porter locally to carry any heavy camera gear. Details are
in other sections of these trip notes.
All breakfasts are included and in Ladakh all food is included. In Leh the
food will be a mix of Indian, Tibetan, Chinese and Continental. On trek we
provide a full breakfast including porridge, cereals, eggs and toast and a
choice of hot drinks. Lunch will be a packed hot lunch consisting of rice and
chapattis, vegetables, tuna and cheese, which will be carried for us. Dinners
will be mostly pasta, rice or potato based and a mixture of Indian,
Continental and Chinese style. In the afternoon hot drinks and biscuits are
served and in the daytime our camp staff will bring us hot drinks whilst we
are out spotting.
Depending on the time of day, for transfers in Delhi we use either taxis or
private buses (during busy times such as morning rush hour taxis are
preferable to negotiate the busy narrow streets). For sightseeing in Ladakh
we will use jeeps. The flights to and from Leh will be on one of the internal
airlines operating in India. Please note that flights to and from Leh operate
subject to weather. Flights can be cancelled and you should be aware of this.
Travelling flight inclusive from London: 15 daysThe group flight from London
is an overnight flight departing the day before Day 1 of the
itinerary.Flights from LondonWe normally use the scheduled services of
British Airways (depending on availability). As flight timings and schedules
change regularly we recommend you call one of our specialist sales staff or
your agent to confirm up‐to‐date timings. Please note timings may change
at a later date and cannot be confirmed until approximately two weeks before
departure.Internal flights during the trip are with a local
airline.Travelling land only: 14 days starting and ending in DelhiYour trip
normally starts at our hotel in Delhi in the morning of Day 1 of the
itinerary. Details of how to reach the start point are provided in the Final
Joining Instructions ‐ sent approximately two weeks before departure.Leh
Flight DelaysLeh Airport can sometimes experience adverse weather conditions
and fog which can occasionally cause flights to be delayed or cancelled. If
booking your own flights we advise you to book your international flight home
from Delhi departing no sooner than mid‐ afternoon/evening on the last day
of the itinerary. Please also be aware that should you miss your
international flight as a result of delays from Leh, your insurance may not
cover you for any additional expenses incurred.
Leh Airport can sometimes experience adverse weather conditions and fog
which can occasionally cause flights to be delayed or cancelled. If booking
your own flights we advise you to book your international flight home from
Delhi departing no sooner than mid‐ afternoon/evening on the last day of
the itinerary. Please also be aware that should you miss your international
flight as a result of delays from Leh, your insurance may not cover you for
any additional expenses incurred.The cost of a taxi is likely to be about
£10 (approx. US$15) should you decide to make your way independently.
Ladakh in winter is very cold. From January to March the days can be sunny
but there will be a chill in the air. January is the coldest month in Ladakh.
By March the days can be up to 7°C The early mornings, evenings and night
times will be extremely cold. You must be prepared for temperatures well
below freezing. Day time temperatures in Leh, and on trek, will be from
approximately – 10°C to + 7°C. It is a very dry cold in Ladakh and we can
expect sunny weather with a wind chill. Night-time temperatures can drop to -
10°C down to - 25°C. There is usually snow around in January to March. You
must be adequately equipped and prepared to deal with the cold on this trip.
Please read the equipment section thoroughly. Any February trips will be
colder than the March trips.
Ladakh in winter is very cold. From January to March the days can be sunny
but there will be a chill in the air. January is the coldest month in Ladakh.
By March the days can be up to 7°C The early mornings, evenings and night
times will be extremely cold. You must be prepared for temperatures well
below freezing. Daytime temperatures in Leh, and on trek, will be from
approximately – 10°C to + 6°C. It is a very dry cold in Ladakh and we can
expect sunny weather with a wind chill. Night-time temperatures can drop to -
10°C down to - 25°C.There is usually snow around from January to March. You
must be adequately equipped and prepared to deal with the cold on this trip.
Please read the equipment section thoroughly. The January trips will be
colder than the March trips.In Delhi the weather will be mild with daytime
temperatures up to 15°C.
Please note that the weight limit on the flights to and from Leh is 15kg
checked luggage plus 7kg hand luggage.4/5 season sleeping bag4/5 season
jacketSturdy warm waterproof walking boots or breathable snow boots (e.g.
Sorels or Hi-Tec snow boots)Sleeping mattressWarm glovesWarm socksFleece
jacketThermal tops and bottomsWarm trousersWarm insulated shoes/boots for the
evenings in campDaypackWater bottlePersonal first aid kitHead torchWaterproof
jacket and trousersGaitersSunhatSunglassesSuncreamWarm hatWash kitTrekking
polesToilet paperPlastic bags to line daypack and kitbag If you book this
trip, we provide an Exodus kitbag to pack your luggage in whilst on trek. If
you book via an agent, it is at the agent's discretion and you should speak
directly to them to arrange delivery. Please note that if you book less than
three weeks before the departure date we cannot guarantee that your kitbag
will arrive before your trip starts, so if this is the case please contact us
on datateam@exodus.co.uk to let us know. For full T&Cs see
www.exodus.co.uk/kitbags.At time of writing the standard weight limit for
hold baggage on the recommended international carrier for this trip is 20kg.
We recommend packing only one piece of checked baggage.Internal flights in
the destination country are subject to a weight limit of 15kg.As advice
about luggage allowances for both hand and hold luggage is subject to change,
we suggest you check the airline's website for the latest information prior
to your departure.Please note:As of November 2019 the Indian government has
announced a ban on e-cigarettes and related products. You will be unable to
buy e-cigarettes in India or bring them into the country. Please ensure you
do not pack these in your luggage.
Sleeping mattress (a 2 inch thick mattress is provided in the tents but you
may want extra thickness)Buff/scarfWater purification treatmentThermos
flaskPee bottleHand washing gelBio-degradable soap and shampooMicro
Spikes/Grivel instep crampons/Yaktrax or similar for those who are not used
to walking on snowA good pair of binoculars is highly recommended. (The guide
will carry a spotting scope but you will find a pair of binoculars useful for
scanning ridges and slopes). If you have a spotting scope you may want to
bring it with you.Duvet jackets and sleeping bags are available for hire from
Trek Hire UK (http://www.trekhireuk.com/). Trek Hire UK can also provide a
range of trekking essentials and accessories, from rucksacks to trekking
poles. Please note that supplies are limited, and it is advisable to reserve
any equipment as early as possible. For trips to Kilimanjaro, Nepal and Peru,
certain items such as duvet jackets (not available in Peru), sleeping bags
and thick mattresses (not available in Nepal / provided free of charge on all
Peru trips) can be hired through our local agents. Equipment hire for Nepal
and Kilimanjaro must be pre‐booked through the Exodus office to ensure
availability, whereas hire for Peru is arranged and paid for locally through
your tour leader in Cuzco (and cannot be booked in advance). Please call for
details.
1
Apart from lunches and dinners in Delhi there is not a lot to spend money on.
Allow approximately £50 (approx. US$80) for meals in Delhi. The hotel in Leh
sometimes has beer and cold drinks. Safe boiled water will be provided for
drinking.If you have heavy camera gear or would like your camera gear to be
carried for the trek it is possible to hire a special porter who will carry
your camera pack and help you with the camera. The cost is £100 (9000INR)
for the 6 days out of Leh. Please let Exodus know if you would like us to
arrange a special porter for you at least 4 weeks before departure/when
booking; this must be booked in advance but paid for locally in India.India
has very good opportunities for shopping, especially for locally made goods,
and during your trip it is highly likely that your local guides will take you
to emporiums as well as workshops where these goods are made. Many people
find this a great opportunity to buy local handicrafts, silk, jewellery and
carpets. Guides will often assume that visitors will want to go shopping, it
is very much part of the culture, but if you do not wish to go please make
this clear to your local guide at the time.
Tipping is very much part of the culture in India and is usually expected.
Tipping can often be an awkward affair, especially when in an unfamiliar
country where you are not sure when or how much to tip. As such, your tour
leader will offer to arrange and look after a group tipping kitty which will
be used to tip hotel staff, local sightseeing guides, drivers as well as any
other support staff used throughout your trip. Your leader will suggest how
much to contribute, depending on group size, but it is usually in the region
of 5,000 INR (approx. GBP£60/ US$75) per person. At any time during the trip
your leader will be happy to show you an account of how the kitty is being
distributed. Please note that for smaller groups the leader may have to
collect more than the above amount.Tipping of leaders is not included in the
kitty and is at your own discretion. If you wish to show your appreciation a
tip of around 1,700-2,200 INR per person for the whole trip would be
appreciated.Based on the above distributions, you should allow approximately
7,500 INR (GBP£-85/US$105) per person in total for all tips for the tour
duration. Please try to give all tips in local currency.By definition,
gratuities are not something that can be included in the tour price.
Travel insuranceSingle accommodation (available on request)Visas or
vaccinations
Ved skriftlig aksept av vårt tilbud bekrefter du/dere at våre betingelser er både lest og forstått og at evt kansellerings gebyrer kan tilkomme ved en evt. avbestilling av reisen.
-8.png)
Download PDF 
