A Quest For The Snow Leopard

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.

Guests visit the LUNGMĀR for snow leopards. Snow leopards are crepuscular, meaning they are most active at dawn and dusk. The spotters leave camp at dawn. One of the 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 day’s 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.

Standard group wildlife tracking is included for all our guests. The groups sizes usually range from 6 to 8 guests per tracker, and the groups consists of various guests staying at the LUNGMĀR. For example, a couple could be paired with a group of 4 friends to make a group of 6.

If they choose, guests can also upgrade to our private guiding service, where they can operate separately from our group wildlife tracking. This is our equivalent of a private safari. If a snow leopard is sighted, all groups will converge to the same sighting area to ensure all our guests get a chance at seeing it.

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.