On the Trail of Snow Leopards

Snow Leopard Conservancy India Trust (SLC-IT) rackers have an intimate knowledge of Ulley Valley and the movements of its snow leopard inhabitants.

While a comprehensive understanding of snow leopard behaviour is critical, a good relationship with the local community is equally important. Local shepherds and farmers will know where snow leopards have been most recently spotted and so the chief tracker has developed a strong bond with the community of Ulley, taking full advantage of hundreds of local pairs of eyes and ears on the ground.

A typical day will start with hot tea/coffee, followed by a bowl of hot water for a refreshing wash. Our expert guides will already be on the search for snow leopards, either from the homestay or from a close-by lookout. Trackers may have gone out into the valley and are in constant communication with the team from the Snow Leopard Conservancy. After breakfast, the group will set out and drive into the valley before hiking on foot to search for snow leopards.

The trackers will be in constant communication with one another and keep the group informed of any information along the way. In the evenings, there will be opportunities to hear from the leaders during post-dinner presentations.

From the end of January to March, as the snow on the mountains starts to melt, this drives the snow leopards, and their prey (the blue sheep) to lower, almost snow-free elevations, this allows the guides and trackers much better access to look for them, and concentrating them in a smaller area.

To see a snow leopard requires luck but as with any safari, to some extent luck can be improved by patience, planning and professional guiding. It is no coincidence that the best guides are also the luckiest guides and on the most recent safaris clients have been rewarded by excellent snow leopard sightings. All our clients travelling in 2019 had sightings of snow leopard.

Whilst in the Ulley Valley out searching for snow leopards there will be some small hikes on rough terrain so it is vital that you have adequate hiking boots. However, the amount of hiking you choose to do is up to you. It is our aim to hike a few miles every day, with the uphill sections being at a slow pace due to the altitude. Due to the small group size, there will be several guides with us on all the hikes that will happily stay with members of the group that may get tired or just want to rest.

From January to March in Ladakh, the days will be cool, and the nights can get below -25. This tour departure is out of the main tourist season for the region, so it makes it a lot quieter.

It is vital that you have the correct clothing for this tour. Our travel specialists can advise you on clothing and packing lists to make your stay as comfortable as possible.

On this tour, accommodation is a homestay style lodge, hosted by a local Ladakhi family known to Steppes personally. Lodgings are basic but far more comfortable than camping and to enhance your stay, we bring in our own cook and camp staff along with gas heaters, a warm shower, comfortable mattresses, and bed linen. The homestay has undergone some upgrading to offer higher comfort.

Whilst in Leh, the hotel is the best available, offering comfortable rooms, stunning views of the Stok Range, great hospitality and in-house dining.

Our group tours are perfect for solo travellers, as travelling as part of an organised group in faraway places does provide security and peace of mind. We handle all of the arrangements for you and there will be a local tour guide on hand throughout to provide advice and help if needed, as well as the expertise of our tour experts.

If you are willing to share, we will always do our best to match you up with another solo traveller of the same sex so that you do not have to pay for a single room.

If you would prefer the privacy of your own room and would like this guaranteed, then the single room price supplement will apply. For this tour, it is capped to two people due to the size of the property in Ulley.

Absolutely. India is a vast country with vibrant cities, fabulous beaches and iconic wildlife. Please speak to one of our India specialists for further information.