After breakfast, transfer back to the airport for your scenic flight to Leh, the cultural heart of Ladakh. As you approach, the Himalaya unfurls in ridgelines and river-cut canyons—keep a window seat if possible for spectacular views of the Indus Valley. Touch down in a starkly beautiful high-altitude landscape that signals the beginning of your true mountain chapter.

Ladakh is now a Union Territory of India, a trans-Himalayan region once aligned with the old state of Jammu & Kashmir. Leh, the former royal capital, shelters a 17th-century hilltop palace whose austere, tiered façades echo Tibetan monastic design—an atmospheric introduction to the crossroads of cultures you’ll encounter over the coming days.

Because this is a high-altitude desert, there are fewer trees and the sun can be intense. Wear a hat and sunscreen, sip water steadily, and allow your body to adapt. If you’re comfortable later, consider a very easy, level stroll near the hotel to loosen your legs—no stairs or exertion today. This measured start helps you enjoy the wildlife-rich days ahead.

The rest of the day remains at leisure for acclimatisation. Organise kit for the days ahead, charge devices, and enjoy quiet time as the mountains work their slow magic. Tomorrow, you’ll be better set to appreciate Ladakh’s monasteries, markets and wildlife corridors at a comfortable pace.

Flight: Delhi (DEL) ➔ Leh (IXL), morning/midday sector (timings subject to confirmation). Overnight: Leh (city area).

Today is deliberately easy-paced to help your body settle at altitude in Leh. After a relaxed morning, if you feel up to it we can arrange a gentle orientation of town: browse the Leh market where prayer flags flutter and spices scent the air, pause at the hilltop Shanti Stupa for wide-angle views (minimal steps; we drive close to the top), and step quietly into a local Buddhist monastery to hear the soft murmur of mantras and the ring of a prayer bell.

By late afternoon, return to your hotel to unwind. As dusk settles over the Indus Valley, we’ve arranged a special session with the Snow Leopard Conservancy. This engaging talk lifts the lid on the ecology of the snow leopard, its mountain habitat and prey species, the lives of the people who share this landscape, and the real-world conservation responses—such as community partnerships, predator-safe corrals and respectful wildlife tourism—that are helping protect Ladakh’s fauna.

Evening at leisure. Organise layers and optics for the days ahead, charge batteries, and rest well—the mountains are calling, and a measured start today pays off when you venture deeper into Ladakh’s wildlife corridors.

Overnight: Leh (city area).

Route Snapshot: Approx. 6 hours’ drive (allow longer with scenic pauses). We’ll break the journey with birding and landscape photography stops, plus short breathers in roadside villages. Keep a warm layer within reach—high-elevation winds can be crisp even under bright sunshine.

Cultural Insight: When pausing in villages, ask before photographing people, keep voices low near monasteries and homes, and consider picking up a small snack or tea to support local vendors. Your respectful presence helps sustain community-based tourism.

On Ladakh’s western fringe, just before the rise to Zoji La, the Dras Valley opens into surprising greens: flower-rimmed fields, meltwater streams and summer pastures where nomadic herders move with their flocks. It’s a vivid counterpoint to the stark, rock-bare slopes of eastern Ladakh and a haven for distinctive wildlife—long-tailed marmot, Himalayan red fox and, most notably, India’s largest land carnivore, the Himalayan brown bear.

Here, bears favour open alpine meadows and scrub over forest, hibernating through the hard winter from roughly December to late March. Emerging hungry in spring, activity peaks at dawn and dusk—today is dedicated to careful, ethical viewing supported by experienced spotters.

Late morning and afternoon, time permitting, add gentle cultural stop-offs that deepen your sense of place. In Kargil/Dras, the compact Munshi Aziz Bhat Museum illuminates caravan-era lifelines—textiles, ledgers and trade gear—once linking these valleys to Central Asia.

Optional excursions (conditions/time allowing): The War Memorial beneath Tololing offers a powerful perspective on the 1999 conflict and the region’s resilience. A longer foray to the lush Suru Valley rewards with the pre-Tibetan Buddha at Trespone, Kartsekar Fort ruins and superb views of the Nun–Kun massif near Pannikhar. West of Kargil, the restored Hunderman Museum in an old Balti hamlet preserves intimate fragments of frontier life. For wide panoramas, the road to Umba La climbs to one of Dras’s highest passes, affording top-down views of ridgelines and, in summer, encounters with Bakkarwal nomads and rich alpine birdlife.

Return in the late afternoon to unwind, review sightings and ready optics for another early start tomorrow in this remarkable brown-bear country.

Tracking Brief: Depart around 05:00; gentle uphill walking 40–60 minutes. We scan until ~09:00 when activity tapers, then return for a relaxed late breakfast/brunch. You may remain out longer with your spotter if you wish; a hot field lunch can be arranged to the viewpoint.

Wildlife Etiquette: Your guides manage distance and angles for ethical wildlife viewing. Keep voices low, avoid sudden movement, never approach bears or cubs, and remain behind your guide when repositioning. In villages, ask before photographing and consider a small purchase to support local livelihoods.

Set off west-to-east across Ladakh towards Ulley, a tranquil hamlet perched in the side valleys above the Indus. Today’s route stitches together frontier histories and raw Himalayan scenery: terraced fields and willow-lined streams give way to stark canyon walls as the road threads the dramatic Indus River gorge.

First, trace the borderlands near Hundarman, a historic Balti settlement close to the Line of Control. The restored village-museum preserves intimate fragments of everyday frontier life—tools, letters, tins and textiles—quietly evoking families separated by shifting lines on a map.

Back on the highway, the road slips into the burnished chasm of the Indus gorge. Along this sector you’ll pass through the realm of the Brokpa (Drokpa) communities—famed for distinctive traditional attire and terraced barley fields that cling to improbable slopes. Light and shadow chase each other across cliffs as the river carves its relentless path east.

Before Ulley, pause at Domkhar to view ancient petroglyphs—etched silhouettes of ibex, hunters and geometric motifs pecked into dark desert varnish. These rock carvings are among Ladakh’s most tangible links to deep time, a quiet counterpoint to the rushing Indus below.

Arrive in Ulley by late afternoon, where rugged side-valleys, rocky spurs and high grazing slopes set the stage for the next chapter of your wildlife journey. Unwind, sort optics and layers, and enjoy the quiet of the mountains—tomorrow, the high country beckons.

Welcome to Ulley, a tiny hamlet north of the Indus River in West Ladakh, perched at roughly 3,960 m / 13,000 ft. Past terraced fields and summer pastures, rocky spurs overlook a lattice of side-valleys where the legendary snow leopard pads unseen along ridgelines. The air is crisp, the silence profound, and the horizons feel close enough to touch.

This corner of Ladakh is superb for Himalayan ibex scaling near-vertical rock, urial on open slopes, and wide-ranging wolf. Closer to the villages, you may encounter red fox, while overhead golden eagles, bearded vulture (lammergeier) and Himalayan griffon trace lazy circuits on thermals. With patience, good light and the valley’s incomparable stillness, the mountains begin to reveal their rhythm.

Afternoons remain flexible for extended scans, short village tea breaks, or a quiet return to the base to review images and warm up before an evening session. As dusk paints the ridges, settle behind the scope for one more sweep—this is prime country, and patience here is often rewarded.

Spotting Strategy: This isn’t a trek—it’s precise wildlife searching. Short, steady walks link vehicle-supported viewpoints; pace and gradients are tailored to your comfort. We rotate lookouts through the day to follow wind, sun and shadow, using scopes for quiet, long-range observation.

Pace & Comfort: Movement remains at your preferred pace with trackers and a naturalist guiding each decision. Layers, wind protection and sun care are essential; short tea stops can be woven in, and packed refreshments arranged for longer forays when you wish to stay out.

At first light, make a final, unhurried sweep across Ulley’s ridgelines for the snow leopard and companion species—Himalayan ibex, urial, red fox, and raptors tracing early thermals. After a relaxed lunch and a last look over the side-valleys, it’s time to turn east for Leh, carrying with you the stillness and stark beauty of Ladakh’s high country.

En route, pause at Alchi Monastery, a serene complex on the Indus plain renowned for its early medieval murals and woodwork. Step quietly through dimly lit temples where intricate mandalas and Bodhisattva figures glow on ancient walls—an exquisite contrast to the raw, wind-scoured peaks you’ve just explored.

Arrive in Leh by late afternoon. The evening is at leisure—browse the bazaar for last-minute keepsakes, enjoy a café stop, and organise bags for tomorrow’s onward journey.

Bid the mountains a quiet farewell and transfer to the airport for your flight from Leh (IXL) to Delhi (DEL). As the aircraft climbs, snow-streaked ridgelines and glacial valleys fall away beneath you—on a clear day the views are unforgettable. Touch down in Delhi late morning/around midday (subject to schedule) with the remainder of the day at leisure or free to explore at your own pace.

After arrival, ease into city tempo: enjoy a relaxed lunch, catch up on rest, or take a gentle stroll in a nearby park. If you prefer to venture out, choose one concise theme rather than trying to do everything—Delhi rewards an unhurried approach.

Evening at leisure. Organise your bags, charge devices and keep travel documents accessible for tomorrow’s onward journey.

Flight: Leh (IXL) ➔ Delhi (DEL), morning sector; timings subject to confirmation.

After breakfast, it’s time to close the loop on your Himalayan journey. Meet your driver for a smooth airport transfer and proceed to international departures at Delhi (DEL). As you check in, savour a last glimpse of India’s colour and cadence—memories of wind-sculpted ridges, prayer flags and rare wildlife will travel with you.

Once airside, relax with a coffee or light meal and browse for last-minute souvenirs. Your flight home marks the end of this adventure—but the stillness of Ladakh’s high valleys and the thrill of wildlife encounters will linger long after landing.

Flight: Delhi (DEL) ➔ Home city (international sector); airline and timings as per ticket.