After arriving in Delhi, you will be met and transferred to your hotel where you will check in and spend the day relaxing.

An early start as we transferr to New Delhi airport for our flight into the incredible mountains of Ladakh.   Here we will be met and transferred to the Grand Dragon Hotel.

Located in a valley of the Upper Indus River, Leh is a small town steeped in grand history. Situated at 11,550 feet (3,520 meters) above sea level, Leh is ringed by peaks of the Ladakh Range, a southeastern extension of the magnificent Karakoram Range, home of K2.

One of the most remote areas of India, Leh is also one of the highest permanently inhabited towns in the world. It was an important trading center on the Great Silk Road. It was a crossroad for traders coming from the Indian plains to the South, Tibet in the East, Xinjiang, Turkestan, and the great Khanates of Samarkand and Bukhara to the north, and Kashmir to the West.

This made it a cultural melting pot and helped it develop a warm and hospitable culture - one welcoming to travelers.

Sandwiched between Buddhist Tibet and Islamic Central Asia and Kashmir, Ladakh is religiously diverse, with a population that is roughly half Buddhist and half Muslim. The major Tibetan Buddhist orders are all represented, including the Gelugpa Sect (Yellow Hat Order), led by HH The Dalai Lama and the Drukpa (Red Hat Order), led by HH The Gyalwang Drukpa.

Due to the altitude of the region, acclimatization is very important. The first day is one of total and complete rest. Just relax in your room, stay hydrated, and enjoy the view. No walks, no exploring, and no physical exertion.

After spending the first day acclimatizing to Leh’s altitude of 11,550 feet, we will do some easy sightseeing on the second day to get a feel for the rich history of the region, with visits to the 15th century monastery of Thiksey, a trip to Leh’s main market, in the shadow of the impressive 16th century Leh Palace, and to the Central Asian museum.

We’ll take it slow as you’re still acclimatizing.

Sightseeing will be split between the morning and evening, with a rest period in and around lunch. Those interested in picking up souvenirs or one of the fine Pashmina shawls that Ladakh is famous for, can do so during the market visit today.

The Snow leopard conservancy is a non-profit organization that was established in 2000 by leading snow leopard expert Dr Rodney Jackson, with the main incentive of changing local people’s perception of the Snow Leopard from a pest to valued asset.

Depart the Grand Dragon after an early breakfast and change your sightseeing cap for your explorers hat. Though the road journey itself takes a little over an hour, the transformation between Leh’s urban landscape and the LUNGMĀR’s wild environs is total.

Nestled deep in the Ladakh Range, beyond medieval Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries and past ancient shepherding hamlets, our spectacular location and timeless Silk Road feel strike the perfect balance between remote luxury and rugged adventure.

Your transfer team will take you to Camp to check in, unless they receive word of an active wildlife sighting, in which case they will explore that opportunity first.

At Camp, after a tour of your accommodations and a briefing, you will set out in search of wildlife with your tracking team.

Guests visit the LUNGMĀR for snow leopards. Snow leopards are crepuscular, meaning they are most active at dawn and dusk. Our spotters leave camp at dawn. One of our 4x4s drops them off at various points in different valleys. They scan the ridge-lines and slopes for wildlife, reporting any sightings back to camp.

Usually guests start waking up around 7 AM. Our restaurant, the SUMDO SARAI is already warm and inviting.

The LUNGMĀR’s snow leopard trackers are world-renowned and legends. Senior trackers have two decades of experience, and work internationally on snow leopard expeditions across North India and Central Asia. All of them are equipped with the finest Swarovski optics.

Trackers and spotters work through the day, carefully scanning for wildlife and looking for signs. If a snow leopard is seen, guests head to the closest vantage point. They are either driven there or walk, depending on the spotter’s location. Our spotters at other locations pack up and converge on the sighting location. Under the leaderships of our Chief Tracker, they use their combined experience to decide on a plan for the day to best track the snow leopard for as long as possible. They take care to ensure they maintain appropriate distance and that the snow leopard, or other wildlife, is never stressed. Meals, coffee, tea, snacks, all keep arriving from camp for as long as guests are at a sighting.

Based on the days plans, guests accompany the spotters and trackers to various parts of the valley as they search for the snow leopard. Spotters, trackers, and the field team always point out interesting birds and wildlife, as well as share details about local life and culture.

There will be opportunities to visit local homes and villages as well. These visits are an important way to understand what life is like in this beautiful region of the world, and how essential communities are to conservation.

Daily guided wildlife tracking may include driving, walking, hiking, or a mix.

Today is our last day at Bandipur and we go for a game drive in the morning and return to the lodge for breakfast. We then drive for about 8 hours to reach Munnar, stopping on the way for lunch. Munnar is a beautiful town up in the hills, best known for the tea grown here.

The tea, which has a delicate flavor of cardamom, can be used to brew the famous Indian 'Chai'! (Tea), Munnar also offers a splendid view of pristine valleys and mountains, exotic species of flora and fauna, and the aroma of cool, spice-scented air! You can spend the evening relaxing and enjoying the lovely weather and the spectacular view.

Overnight Hotel

Depart Delhi.