Search for Snow Leopards in Ladakh — Self-Launched Winter Trek
14 days · Ladakh, India
Exodus charges £4,390
No-markup version: ~£1,290 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Exodus's guided winter snow leopard expedition through Hemis National Park. Fly independently from Delhi to Leh, acclimatise, then hire a local Ladakhi wildlife spotter and a shared camp crew (arranged through Leh guesthouses) to search for snow leopards in the Rumbak, Husing and Tarbuns valleys. Camp in winter base camps, spend a night in a Rumbak homestay, visit Shey and Tikse monasteries, and time your trip around a monastic masked-dance festival. Same wildlife, same mountains, a fraction of the tour price.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Delhi
Delhi
Land at Delhi (DEL) and make your own way to a budget stay in Paharganj or Karol Bagh — the backpacker heart of the city, right next to New Delhi railway station. Grab an eSIM or local SIM (Airtel/Jio, ~£6 for 28 days with data), change some rupees and rest up. In the evening, wander Connaught Place for a cheap thali (~£3) and pre-book your Leh flight for tomorrow online.
🚌Metro Airport Express ~£2.50, or auto-rickshaw from ~£4
🛏Budget hotel or hostel in Paharganj, ~£15/night
- →Arrive Delhi, airport transfer by prepaid taxi or metro Airport Express (~£2.50)
- →Buy local SIM and exchange cash
- →Evening walk around Connaught Place
Fly across the Himalaya to Leh
Leh
Book an early-morning IndiGo or Air India flight Delhi–Leh (book 6-8 weeks ahead for ~£55-80 one way; winter flights are cheaper but weather can delay them — build in flexibility). The approach over the snow-capped Zanskar range is spectacular. Landing at 3,500m the cold hits hard: have your down jacket in hand luggage. Check into a family-run guesthouse near the Main Bazaar, hydrate heavily, and take a gentle afternoon orientation walk through Leh's bazaars. Do NOT over-exert today — altitude sickness is real here.
🚌Flight Delhi–Leh ~£70; airport-to-town shared taxi ~£4
🛏Family-run guesthouse in Leh old town, ~£20/night
- →Early flight Delhi to Leh
- →Rest and acclimatise
- →Orientation walk around Leh Main Bazaar
- →Arrange local wildlife spotter and camp crew through your guesthouse
Shey and Tikse monasteries
Indus Valley
Hire a shared jeep or take a local bus toward Shey (30 min from Leh). Shey was the old royal residence — the two-storey gilded Buddha in the temple below the palace ruins is worth the stop. Walk across the fields to Tikse (about 45 min on foot), scanning for birds en route, then climb the hill to the impressive gompa with its temples and giant Future Buddha statue. Return to Leh in the late afternoon. If the lunar calendar works out, a monastic festival may be on at one of the Indus Valley monasteries today — ask your guesthouse owner to check, as festival dates shift with the Tibetan calendar.
🚌Local bus or shared jeep to Shey ~£1-2 each way; walk to Tikse
🛏Family-run guesthouse in Leh, ~£20/night
- →Shey Palace and gilded Buddha temple
- →Walk Shey to Tikse through the fields
- →Tikse Monastery and Future Buddha
- →Optional monastic festival if dates align
Drive to Jinchen; trek to Rumbak Sumdo base camp
Rumbak Gorge, Hemis National Park
Leave Leh and follow the Indus valley road past Phe to the Rumbak Gorge entrance (about 1.5-2 hrs by shared jeep). Meet your camp crew and spotter at the trailhead — in winter, camps are set up by local operators in Leh; book your spotter and camping package through Zanskar/Leh trekking agencies or directly via guesthouses ~£350-450 for a week of camping + spotter sharing. Walk up the narrow gorge, reading tracks and scanning for blue sheep, to Rumbak Sumdo base camp (3,800m). Full-service winter camping: heated dining tent, mattresses, blankets, hot water bottles.
🚌Shared jeep from Leh ~£12 pp
🛏Full-service winter camp, Rumbak Sumdo (3,800m)
- →Shared jeep Leh to Jinchen (~£12 pp)
- →Trek into Rumbak Gorge, ~3-4 hrs
- →Tracking for snow leopard sign and blue sheep
- →First night in winter base camp
Wildlife spotting in Hemis — Rumbak Valley
Hemis National Park
Your spotter is in radio contact with other local spotters across the valleys, trading sightings to maximise your chances. Early mornings and late evenings are prime cat activity — dawn and dusk scans of the rocky slopes with a spotting scope. Walk up the Rumbak Valley, scanning ridge lines for snow leopard, lynx, bearded vulture, Himalayan griffin and golden eagle. Lunch and hot drinks are brought to you by the camp crew. Bring your own binoculars — a decent 8x42 pair is essential.
🚌On foot
🛏Full-service winter camp, Rumbak Sumdo
- →Dawn and dusk spotting scans
- →Guided walk into Rumbak Valley
- →Birding for raptors and Himalayan species
Wildlife spotting — towards Yurutse and Ganda La
Hemis National Park
Today's walk follows the valley toward Yurutse and the lower slopes of the Ganda La pass, classic snow leopard territory. Keep an eye out for blue sheep herds (their presence usually means a leopard is nearby) and wolf tracks in the snow. Return to base for a late-afternoon scan and a hot meal in the dining tent. Spotting packages typically include a private porter for heavy camera bags if you pay a small extra — worth it if you're carrying big glass.
🚌On foot
🛏Full-service winter camp, Rumbak Sumdo
- →Walk toward Yurutse / Ganda La slopes
- →Blue sheep and wolf track surveying
- →Afternoon ridge scan
Wildlife spotting — Husing and Tarbuns valleys
Hemis National Park
Vary the search by exploring the Husing and Tarbuns valleys, both well-known haunts of the snow leopard. The days are flexible and led by recent sightings, so trust your spotter's local knowledge rather than a fixed route. Spend the afternoon at camp scanning the slopes as light drops, and enjoy the silence — in winter the park is cut off by road and almost empty of other travellers.
🚌On foot
🛏Full-service winter camp, Rumbak Sumdo
- →Walking and tracking in Husing Valley
- →Tarbuns Valley scans
- →Evening camp naturalist session
Night in a traditional Ladakhi homestay in Rumbak
Rumbak village
Spend the day tracking, then move your kit a short distance to a homestay in Rumbak village. You sleep on thick mattresses on the floor, with blankets and small wood-burning stoves, and there's electricity to charge devices — a welcome change from the camps. Share a traditional Ladakhi dinner with your hosts and get a genuine insight into Himalayan Buddhist village life. There's a basic long-drop toilet.
🚌On foot, short transfer of kit
🛏Traditional Ladakhi homestay, Rumbak village, ~£25/night (incl. meals)
- →Final morning tracking session
- →Move to Rumbak village homestay
- →Shared traditional Ladakhi meal with hosts
- →Village evening with your hosts
Continue wildlife spotting; return towards base
Hemis National Park
Head out from Rumbak with your spotter for a final full day of tracking, then return to your base camp in the gorge. Winter scanning sessions at dusk are often the most productive — snow leopards become active as light fades. Keep your binoculars up and your spotter's scope dialled in on any rocky outcrops.
🚌On foot
🛏Full-service winter camp, Rumbak Sumdo
- →Full day of tracking with spotter
- →Dusk scan from a ridge position
- →Final camp dinner
Trek out to Jinchen; return to Leh
Leh
Trek back down the gorge to Jinchen, where a shared jeep meets you for the drive back to Leh. After a week in the cold, a hot shower, a proper bed and a bowl of thukpa in a Main Bazaar café feels like luxury. Rest and refuel — the next day is a big one.
🚌On foot + shared jeep ~£12 pp
🛏Family-run guesthouse in Leh, ~£20/night
- →Trek out of Rumbak Gorge to Jinchen
- →Shared jeep back to Leh
- →Rest in Leh, warm dinner in the bazaar
Full day at a monastic masked-dance festival
Leh / Indus Valley monastery
Every monastery in Ladakh holds an annual festival where monks dress in brocade and silk costumes and re-enact centuries-old Tibetan Buddhist stories through masked cham dances. These run on the Tibetan lunar calendar and shift by days year to year — check locally or with your guesthouse which monastery is celebrating during your stay (Stok, Phyang, Matho and Spituk are the big winter ones). Entry is free or a small donation. People travel from all over Ladakh to attend, so it's as much a social occasion as a religious one. Spend the full day watching, then return to Leh in the evening.
🚌Shared jeep or local bus to the monastery ~£3-5 return
🛏Family-run guesthouse in Leh, ~£20/night
- →Full day of masked cham dance performances
- →Monastery courtyard festival atmosphere
- →Photography (check if permitted)
- →Meet Ladakhi families visiting from across the region
Fly back to Delhi
Delhi
Fly Leh–Delhi (again, book in advance; morning flights are far less prone to cancellation than afternoon ones in winter). On arrival, head back to a Paharganj or Karol Bagh hotel. Rest, shop for souvenirs, and enjoy your first warm weather in two weeks.
🚌Flight Leh–Delhi ~£70; airport transfer ~£3
🛏Budget hotel or hostel in Paharganj, ~£15/night
- →Flight Leh to Delhi
- →Relax and recover in Delhi
- →Optional shopping in Janpath or Dilli Haat
Free day in Delhi — Old and New Delhi
Delhi
A buffer day in case the Leh flight was delayed, and a good excuse to see Delhi properly. Walk Old Delhi's Red Fort and the vast Jama Masjid, then take a cycle rickshaw through Chandni Chowk's spice and silver lanes. Cross town to Humayun's Tomb — the forerunner to the Taj Mahal — and the Qutub Minar. If you want a day trip to Agra for the Taj Mahal, an AC tourist bus or the Gatimaan Express train gets you there and back in a day (note: Taj is closed Fridays).
🚌Delhi Metro day card ~£2; auto-rickshaws ~£1-3 per hop
🛏Budget hotel or hostel in Paharganj, ~£15/night
- →Old Delhi: Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk
- →Humayun's Tomb and Qutub Minar
- →Optional day trip to Agra and the Taj Mahal (~£25 transport + £12 entry)
Trip ends in Delhi
Delhi
Trip ends after breakfast — onward flight or the start of your onward Indian travels. If you've got time, the Golden Triangle (Delhi–Agra–Jaipur) is easy to self-launch from here by train.
🚌Airport transfer ~£3
🛏—
- →Departure
- →Optional onward travel — Golden Triangle by train
Self-launched vs. Exodus
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Exodus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,290 | £4,390 |
| Duration | 14 days | 14 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £3,100 per person (71%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Exodus-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,290
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Search for Snow Leopards in Ladakh — Self-Launched Winter Trek cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,290 per person for 14 days in Ladakh, India. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Exodus?+
Yes — Exodus charges around £4,390 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,290 — a saving of roughly £3,100 (71%) per person.
How long is the Ladakh, India trip?+
This itinerary runs 14 days, covering 14 day-by-day stops through Ladakh, India.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, wildlife, hiking trip through Ladakh, India, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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