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OVERVIEW

ACCOMMODATIONS

ITINERARY

NOTES

Upon arrival at the Delhi International airport, and once you have cleared customs and immigration, you are met by your Epic Private Journey guides and transferred by private vehicle to The Imperial Hotel.  Once you have settled in to your rooms, your guides will brief you on the marvellous adventure you have in store and answer any questions you may have.  What remains of the day is at your leisure.  You have the option of heading out for a short walking tour with a local guide or just relaxing and settling in to your room.   This evening you enjoy a welcome dinner at the hotel with your guides and fellow travellers.

Overnight – The Imperial Hotel – Heritage Room – Dinner, bed and breakfast basis

Today, after an early breakfast, you are transferred to the airport to connect with your flight to Leh.  Flying time is around one hour.  On arrival at Leh, you are met by your local guide and transferred to the Grand Dragon Hotel.  No activities have been planned for today to give you time to acclimatise to the altitude.  We suggest you do as little as possible to give your body the best chance to adjust.

Overnight – Grand Dragon Hotel – Standard Room – Full board basis excluding alcoholic beverages

Today is spent touring the surrounding countryside and continuing your altitude acclimatisation.

You drive to Phiang Monastery.  The building of this 16th century Gompa was ordered by the king Tashi Namgyal.  The Gompa sits on a small hill above the attractive village and belongs to the Kagyupa (Red Hat) order of Monks.

Following lunch you continue on towards Likir, to the confluence of Zanskar and Indus River just before Nimu.  Likir Monastery dates back to the 12th century though the original structure was partially destroyed in fire and rebuilt 200 years back. The monastery belongs to the Gelukpa monks and kushok is the younger brother of the Dalai Lama.  The monastery is located in the Likir village, situated on the banks of the Likir Tokpo, a tributary of Indus.

Time permitting you may also see the painted caves at Saspol.  You return to Leh mid-afternoon and are free to spend what remains of the afternoon exploring the markets and shopping for any last minute ration and equipment requirements.

Overnight – Grand Dragon Hotel – Standard Room – Full board basis excluding alcoholic beverages

This morning, following breakfast, you drive to Zinchen.  En route you may have the opportunity to stop at the Spituk Monastery.  In Zinchen you transfer your baggage and equipment on to pack horses and trek to Housing base camp.

This area is the start of the snow leopards hunting area and habitat.  You will stop regularly to scan the surrounding slopes looking for bharal or blue sheep, a major prey of snow leopard, and also search the valley floor for signs of snow leopard movement.

You may also see Ladakh urial (a species of wild sheep) on the way.  Some interesting species of birds that you may see here include the lammergeier, the himalayan griffon and chukar partridge.

Trekking time today is between 2 – 3 hours and is approximately 5 kilometres in distance.

Overnight – Tented Camp – Twin share – Full board basis excluding alcoholic beverages

This morning after breakfast, you trek to a side valley – Turbung.  Here you may see the blue sheep, ibex and other mountain species. 

You crisscross the frozen Turbung River looking for snow leopard tracks and scan the slopes for blue sheep.  This is the time of the ‘rut’ and if your guides find a rutting herd of blue sheep then you will spend some time observing them and look for sign of snow leopard.  Snow leopards do follow the rutting herds, for this is a time when they may be distracted and provide the leopard with easy prey.

You return to camp in time for lunch.  Following lunch you take a stroll for an hour or so exploring the geological history of the area, look for fossils and visit some of the rock carvings that are found in this area.

Trekking time this morning is around 4 hours and is approximately 5 kilometres in distance.

Overnight – Tented Camp – Twin share – Full board basis excluding alcoholic beverages

This morning you trek to Housing Valley. 

This area is known for snow leopard sightings.  It is also famous for a 500 – 600 m (nearly 2,000 ft) deep narrow gorge.  You will encounter plenty of snow leopard signs here and will stop several times to scan the mountains looking for the leopard signs and its prey.  Trekking time today is around 5 hours and is approximately 6 kilometres in distance.

Overnight – Tented Camp – Twin share – Full board basis excluding alcoholic beverages

After two long days of trekking, you spend today between the Housing and Turbung Valleys close to the camp.  This area is in the midst of the main traversing zone of the snow leopard.  Your guides and you will scan the slopes for snow leopard signs and rutting blue sheep herds.

The nearby stream always offers a chance to see birds like redstarts, dippers, accentors and pipits.

Your team will disperse at different locations looking for snow leopard signs.  When snow leopard is sighted you will immediately move to that area hoping to see this elusive cat.

Trekking time today is around 5 hours and is between 3 – 6 kilometres in distance.

Overnight – Tented Camp – Twin share – Full board basis excluding alcoholic beverages

Today you trek to Rumbak.  Rumbak and the surrounding area is reasonably reliable for snow leopard sightings.  There are small villages here where the leopards and wolves come down to hunt on the livestock.

Your trek takes you past the campsite looking for argali sheep and wolves.  After spending time looking for signs of animals you will return to camp and have time to relax and freshen up prior to visiting the neighbouring village of Rumbak where you join a family for tea and enjoy the local hospitality.

This evening you may enjoy a family dinner in a small village hut.  The Tibetans grow barley, turnips, potato, carrots and some other vegetables.  You can try the local dish called ‘tsampa’ tonight or try the local wines.

Trekking time today is around 6 hours and is around 6 kilometres in distance.

Overnight – Tented Camp/Homestay – Twin share – Full board basis excluding alcoholic beverages

Overnight – Tented Camp/Homestay – Twin share – Full board basis excluding alcoholic beverages

Early this morning following breakfast you trek back to Housing. 

The route back to Housing will be decided on the day.  You may travel back via the path in or via a steeper but more scenic route.  This alternate route will take you behind Rumbak and across the mountain into the Housing Valley.  You will get to see the Karakorum and Ladakh range, weather permitting.

On arrival at Housing Camp you have time for a short break and some lunch.  Following lunch you walk down to Zinchen where you join your vehicles for the drive back to Leh.  Upon arrival in Leh, you are transferred to your accommodation.

Trekking time today is around 5 hours and is around 7 kilometres in distance.

Overnight – Grand Dragon Hotel – Standard Room – Full board basis excluding alcoholic beverages

This morning are transferred to the Leh Airport to connect with your flight to Delhi.  Flying time is around 1 hour 15 minutes. 

On arrival at Delhi you are met and transferred to the Trident Gurgaon Hotel.  What remains of the day is at your leisure.

Overnight – Trident Gurgaon Hotel – Superior Garden View Room – Bed and breakfast basis

DAY 12 – DEPART INDIA

This morning you are met and transferred to the International Airport to connect with your homebound flight and depart India.

END OF ARRANGEMENTS