Snow Leopard Expedition Tour in Leh

Fixed Departure Tour

Join us on an exhilarating Snow Leopard Expedition Tour in Leh, where rugged landscapes meet elusive predators. Traverse through pristine Himalayan valleys, guided by expert trackers. Witness the graceful snow leopards in their natural habitat, amidst breathtaking vistas. Embark on an unforgettable adventure, immersing yourself in the raw beauty of Ladakh.

Snow Leopard Expedition Tour in Leh

10 Nights / 11 Days

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Rated 4.8 out of 5

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Discover the mystical allure of the snow leopard in the heart of the Indian Himalayas with our exclusive group tour to Ulley, Ladakh. This meticulously planned 200-word adventure offers wildlife enthusiasts an unparalleled opportunity to spot these elusive creatures in their natural environment. Ulley, renowned for its remote beauty and high density of snow leopards, provides the perfect backdrop for this once-in-a-lifetime expedition.

Our journey begins in Leh, where we acclimatize to the high altitude, before venturing into the rugged terrains of Ulley. Alongside experienced local guides, our group will embark on daily excursions tailored to maximize the chances of snow leopard sightings. These majestic animals, adept at camouflage, require patience and keen eyes to spot, making each sighting a rewarding experience.

In addition to snow leopards, Ulley is a sanctuary for other Himalayan wildlife, including ibex, Tibetan wolves, and red foxes, set against the dramatic landscapes of the Himalayas. Our tours are designed to be small and eco-friendly, ensuring minimal impact on the environment and wildlife.

This tour isn’t just about wildlife spotting; it’s an immersive experience into the culture of Ladakh. You’ll have the chance to visit local villages, interact with the indigenous people, and learn about their life in one of the most inhospitable regions on Earth. Join us for an unforgettable adventure in search of the ghost of the mountains, where every turn offers a new surprise and the beauty of nature is overwhelming.

Guest Reviews

    
 
 
       Posted on Tripadvisor  
    Manique G 
 
 
 
 Verified Seamless Experience
Nature Safari India arranged our safari to Kanha and Pench Tiger Parks in April 2026. My husband and I did not have to worry about anything everything was seamless and professional. Abishek was contactable and responded to queries promplty. Choice of accommodation was very good. Special mention of our naturalist in Kanha Mahesh who ensured that we had the best views of the sightings but equally considerate of others which we liked. His knowledge of the wildlife made the safaris interesting. Nature Safari was also able to arrange an additional safari for me at short notice. I have used Nature Safari before and will certainly use them again.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
    Erin K 
 
 
 
 Verified Amazing experience!
We were amazed how many puzzle pieces it takes for this adventure to come together. Everyone we interacted with from Nature Safari helped make our trip memorable. From Pritam who greeted us to Alam, one of our guides, to Gulab who helped complete our journey. Everyone was friendly and super knowledgeable. The travel from one park to another is an experience unto itself and we felt completely safe with every driver! They even handled a flight change that happened while we were travelling and it did not affect our vacation at all!!! This is vacation for anyone; from children to grandparents, I guarantee everyone will be impressed!
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
    Toh JC 
 
 
 
 Verified The leader in tiger Safari
Did the Just tigers and Golden Triangle tour with Nature Safari India (NSI) in april What a wonderful experience this had been. Pre trip, booking & communication with Ishana was excellent. All my queries were answered fast. The itinerary she put together for me was perfect. Airport transfer were seamless. Thank you pratim. For the golden triangle tour, the 3 stars accomodation option totally exceeded my expectations. The heritage hotel in Delhi and Jaipur add to the cultural experience. The Guides were great. Mr Ram, my private driver is hard working and diligent. Always on time, he navigate the insane traffic of India with ease, getting me from point to point safely. Thank you Mr Ram. Did 4 national parks (Corbett, Pench, Kanha and Bandhavgarh) and in total I got 30 tiger sightings over 22 Safari drives!!! A job well done to all the Naturalists and guides. The vehicles are kept clean, they know the forest inside out, and all have keen eyes to spot tigers hidden in the thick vegetation. Their professionalism and ethics are exemplified by the fact that they follow parks rules (No phones/no speeding) while others are not. You can tell that they enjoy working with NSI. Special mention to Ajwet and JP from Bandhavgarh. Their teamwork, chemistry and experience together got me 17 sightings in 2 days. Their ability to predict the tigers movement and behaviour ( close to 99% accuracy) astounded me. Got many exclusive quality sightings of tiger crossing my path. In a particular incident where we were enjoying a quiet moment with a lone male tigers on a narrow path in tala zone with 2 other vehicles, words got out and soon, things turned pretty ugly. 20 vehicles came speeding, front and back, surrounding us and the tiger. Drivers behind were shouting at us to get out of the way. Guides were cat calling to get the tiger attention to look in their direction. Other tourists were using their phones for photography. The tiger was just metres away and started growling. I felt uncomfortable with the situation. I requested Ajwet to forgo the sighting and get me out asap. We managed to get out safely and fast amidst the chaos. Other than the safari drive in Bandhavgarh, we visited other point of interest in the park like the fort. One particular site call "charger point" stood out. Ajwet shared stories of the tigers who had roam the park at "charger point" and it was a joy listening to them. It adds depth to the safari experience. Thank you Ajwet and JP In Corbett, I stayed in Gairal rest house. Facilities are basic and all amenities are provided by NSI. For the other safaris, 3 stars accomodation are good (jungle camp pench, jungle camp Kanha, tiger dens) and I could not find any fault with them. For any future safari trip in India, I will definitely use NSI services again. NSI is without the doubt the leader in tiger safari in India. I hope the safari ethics in India will improve with time, benefitting both animals and tourism.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
    Phil and Janet O 
 
 
 
 Verified Excellent and memorable safaris across 3 National Parks. Love those tigers!
My wife and I booked with Nature Safari India on the recommendation of friends. Over a couple of weeks we had 9 days (18 safaris) 3 days each at Pench, Kanha, and Bandhavgarh National Parks. The tigers (our main focus) are wild animals, free to roam; they do not turn up to order. Nevertheless, we had some amazing encounters / sightings across all three National Parks. We saw tigers crossing and walking along the road, a tigress lounging in the middle of the road, and a tiger sleeping off a meal, the remains of the kill nearby. One tigress passed within 5 metres of our car, untroubled by us and intent on walking her territory. In addition to tigers, we lucky enough to have two leopard sightings in Pench where we also saw wild dogs. There were numerous deer and antelope, monkeys, and a myriad assortment of birds. We had knowledgeable guides and brilliant drivers at each park who helped us identify different species. Our accommodation was always of a high quality. Our whole trip was expertly planned and put together by Ishana. Ishana is an excellent communicator. We had an amazing experience and thoroughly recommend the services of this long established business.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
    894elked 
 
 
 
 Verified Wonderfull
It was a pleasure traveling with Nature Safari. There were no worries throughout the entire trip, and you truly feel welcome—they listen to your wishes and do everything to ensure you have a pleasant journey. Before the trip, there was a lot of communication via WhatsApp to tailor everything to our preferences, and they were always available to answer any questions. During the trip, we also had the pleasure of having a fantastic driver who told us so much about the country, its culture, its customs, and even things you won’t find in a travel guide. The local guides also did their best to provide as much information as possible about the culture. We did find some to be better than others, but that’s not something Nature Safari can control. We were also lucky—thanks in part to their efforts—to spot two tigers, which made the experience even more special. If you’re planning a trip to India, I can truly recommend traveling with them.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
    SydneyAdi 
 
 
 
 Verified Another great wildlife safari
Three years after our last trip we ventured to India once more to indulge in Wildlife - this time Lions of Gir, tigers of Corbett, Rhino’s etc of Kaziranga. We saw focus animals on each drive and none of them disappointed. Excellent naturalist guides in all three parks. The lions were fabulous, even saw young cubs, and thanks to a sharp eyed guide, a leopard (our first and only over two trips to India) in first half hour whilst it was still dark! Corbett was to also include some focus on Jim Corbett (his houses, Nainital) as well as tigers. We had the same guide as in 2023, who again was excellent. One hiccup was missing out on one safari because of a mismatch for the opening hours for the Jim Corbett museum and Nainital. Instead we were taken down to river for a birding walk, with an amount refunded. Nainital is a beautiful hill town, and very glad to have done that as we had not included any additional sightseeing to our itinerary. The Corbett museum was good though tired but could be a whole lot better - think museum studies uni students etc becoming involved. Jim Corbett national park and Dhikala lodge were excellent. Tiger sightings on each drive- including a tiger swimming/walking across the river and also a tiger drinking from a water source on the road in front of us. Those guides just know where the tigers will come out of the forest or grassland. In Kaziranga we saw sooo many rhino’s, and maybe 2 days would be sufficient, but we went to different locations and over the three days saw rhinos elephants, deer, monkeys, many birds, and even lucky to see “the golden tiger”. Our hotel was wonderful, food was delicious and we even organised a couple of massages in our room. All in all another successful trip organised by Nature Safari India.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
    Gary B 
 
 
 
 Verified Tiger safari and tours of major cities.
Absolutely perfect. Everything was planned and arranged with precision and care. We first toured Kanha National Park and saw tigers - lots and lots of tiger sightings - while never guaranteed, our success rate was high. We then explored Bandhavgarh National Park with our guide Ragu (32 years of experience in the Park) and our tiger sightings and wildlife viewing was even better. Finally, we toured Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. All accommodations were incredible as were the transfers between all locations. If you are considering a wildlife/tiger safari to India or touring the major cities/attractions, you should use Nature Safari of India, without a doubt.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
    Navigate34004106819 
 
 
 
 Verified Trip of a lifetime
Our trip to India was amazing, truly unforgettable. Nature Safari India took care of everything, and Ishana made the whole process smooth and stress-free. We loved the mix of city life, culture, and wildlife: Mumbai with its stunning views, safaris in Pench, Kanha, and Bandhavgarh (saw incredible wildlife), and the Golden Triangle with Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur. Every hotel was comfortable and welcoming, and the guides and drivers were not only professional but genuinely kind. India itself completely stole our hearts, the energy, the chaos, the colors, and especially the warmth of the people. We came home with memories we’ll treasure forever. Big thanks to Ishana and the team. We’ll definitely be back!
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
    MElliott_51 
 
 
 
 Verified Memorable time in India.
This compnay did an amazing job of making our trip memorable. The organised everything to suit our requests. We had exceptional accommodation and service. Our safaris were successful with wildlife sightings. I would recommend them with our hesitation.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
    Alessandro Paolucci 
 
 
 
 Verified Fantastic Tiger Safari
We had a great time in India across three different National Parks (Pench, Kanha, and Bandhavgarh). Ishana at Nature Safari India organised a great trip, was very responsive and helpful throughout the booking process as well as when we were in India, and went above and beyond in helping us deal with some last minute changes after everything was already booked. Truly a great service. In every National Park we had an experience guide and a driver who knew a lot about the local wildlife and helped us see and identify a lot of animals and birds. Overall we saw nine different tigers, including some very close encounters. The hotels recommended were incredible: the Pench Jungle Camp had a great jungle vibes, the Meru Vann in Kanha is run directly by Nature India Safari and has the most amazing staff (shout outs to the manager Okmar and our guide Mahesh), and Untamed Bandhavgarh is truly an immersive experience being really at the border of the safari area. All staff was super helpful and the food was great. Would definitely go back and book again with Nature India Safari.

Outline Itinerary

Day 01 : Arrive New Delhi
Day 02 : New Delhi – Leh (Flight)
Day 03 : Leh
Day 04 : Leh – Ulley
Day 05 : Ulley
Day 06 & 07 : Ulley
Day 08 & 09 : Ulley
Day 10 : Ulley - Leh
Day 11 : Leh to Delhi
Day 12 : New Delhi – Fly home

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Detailed Itinerary for Snow Leopard Expedition Tour in Leh

Upon arrival at the airport, a team member from Nature Safari India will be waiting for you outside the arrival lounge. He will escort you to the hotel. After checking in, enjoy some leisure time at the hotel. You will spend the night at the hotel in New Delhi.

After early breakfast transfer to the airport to board a flight to Leh. Leh airport is a military airport and taking pictures is not allowed. On arrival transfer to the hotel which is only half an hour from the airport. When you fly to Leh from Delhi there is more than 3000m altitude jump in a short period of time, so acclimatization is the most important factor for all flying in this region.

The first day in Ladakh is kept for the acclimatization to the low oxygen level. To better acclimate, consider these guidelines:

Refrain from climbing stairs or engaging in strenuous activities.
Ensure you stay hydrated by drinking sufficient water, hot water is recommended.
Avoid taking showers on the first day.
Try not to nap during the day to prevent difficulties sleeping at night.
Rest is crucial; however, walking at a leisurely pace is acceptable.
Should you experience nausea or vomiting, promptly inform the front office.
Report any discomfort or unusual symptoms you encounter.

Following these steps can help ease your acclimatization process.

Overnight at the hotel in Leh.

This day in Leh promises to be a day of cultural immersion and natural exploration, aiding further in your acclimatization process. Given Leh’s altitude, spending an additional day here prepares you for the even higher elevations you’ll encounter next.

Your day begins with a visit to the Thiksey Monastery, the largest monastery in Leh. This architectural marvel, resembling the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet, offers a serene and spiritually enriching experience.

As you wander through its halls and courtyards, you’ll encounter a rich tapestry of Tibetan Buddhist culture, art, and history.

Following the monastery visit, you’ll engage in your first nature activity in Leh—a visit to the banks of the Indus River. This tranquil setting is a haven for birdwatchers, where you might spot the elusive Ibisbill among other native birds. The time spent by the river not only connects you with the unique avian life of the region but also offers moments of peaceful reflection amidst the natural beauty of Leh.

After a fulfilling day of exploration and discovery, you’ll return to your hotel. The remainder of the day is yours to rest and rejuvenate or to take a leisurely stroll through the nearby market. The market visit provides a glimpse into the local lifestyle, offering an assortment of handcrafted souvenirs, traditional Ladakhi clothing, and an array of local foods to try. This blend of cultural and natural experiences ensures your stay in Leh is memorable and sets a contemplative tone for the adventures that lie ahead.

After enjoying a leisurely breakfast, prepare yourself for an exciting transfer to Ulley, a small village with only six houses is renowned for being one of the best places to observe snow leopards and other high-altitude wildlife. The journey from your hotel to Ulley spans approximately two and a half hours. As you leave the outskirts of Leh behind, you’ll be greeted by the breathtaking beauty of the Trans-Himalaya. Shortly after joining National Highway 1, you’ll arrive at a remarkable spot known as Sangam, the confluence of the Indus and Zanskar rivers. This provides a splendid photography opportunity, capturing the moment where these two mighty rivers merge.

Continuing your journey towards Ulley, you’ll pass through several Ladakhi villages and military bases, immersing yourself in the region’s unique culture and landscape. Should our team receive news of a snow leopard sighting en-route, they’ll divert to the location, where your lunch will also be served, if not then you will continue the journey to the lodge. The route to Ulley navigates through the twists and inclines of the high Himalayas, leading you to your lodge, where a warm welcome awaits with tea and coffee.

Once you’ve settled in and enjoyed your lunch, the adventure continues with a visit to nearby areas known for frequent sightings of the elusive snow leopard. Every morning, dedicated trackers venture out in search of this magnificent creature, sharing any sightings or signs with one another to ensure the best chances of witnessing a snow leopard in its natural habitat.

After a day filled with exploration and the thrill of the hunt for the snow leopard, return to the lodge for the evening. Here, you can unwind and reflect on the day’s adventures over dinner before retiring to your room for a well-deserved rest, ready for whatever the next day holds on this extraordinary journey through the Himalayas.

Wake up early, bundle up in your winter clothes, and step outside. You’ll find the lodge’s trackers scanning the mountain slope. Join them, and you might spot an ibex, a red fox, or, if you’re lucky, catch your first glimpse of a snow leopard right outside the lodge. Several of our guests have spotted snow leopards here in the past. If not, get ready to venture out after breakfast in search of them. If the team receives information about a snow leopard or another interesting sighting, they will head directly to the location. It may be close to the road, or you might need to walk or even hike to get there.

Be prepared for some trekking. Once you reach the spot, you can observe them through a spotting scope or, if they’re close enough, with your naked eyes or binoculars. Bringing a mobile holder for the spotting scope will enable you to take clear pictures of the snow leopard with your phone.

Return to your lodge in the evening, and after dinner, share the day’s sightings with others before heading to bed.

Another day brings the same excitement. On this tour, nothing is pre-planned; everything unfolds based on sightings of the snow leopard. In the morning, get ready to join the team as the trackers scan the surrounding gigantic cliffs and mountains for any movement. Spotting an animal in these mountains is challenging due to their excellent camouflage with the surroundings. Only through careful observation with eyes accustomed to the environment can one hope to spot them.

After breakfast, you will be taken on a drive in search of snow leopards, the Tibetan wolf, and other wildlife. During your quest for the snow leopard, you might encounter some interesting birds of the Trans-Himalayan region. These include the Golden Eagle, a major bird of prey known to hunt animals as large as a fox or the young of Himalayan ungulates; the Lammergeier or Bearded Vulture, which is the largest vulture species with a wingspan of 2.31 to 2.83 meters.

Bearded Vulture feed on carcasses, particularly bones, which they carry to a height and then drop to break open so they can devour the bone marrow. Other birds you might find are the Himalayan Snowcock, Chukar Pheasant, Red-billed Chough, Robin Accentor, Eurasian Magpie, Brown Accentor, etc. After a hectic day in search of the snow leopard, return to the lodge, and after dinner, head straight to bed to rest up for the next day.

All Meals and overnight at the lodge.

Nearby, the villages of Saspoche and Hemis Shukpachen are also destinations where spotters go in search of the snow leopard. These two villages are hotspots for both snow leopards and wolves. Situated between these villages is a small pack of 5-8 wolves that have made this area their home range. While trekking in search of the snow leopard, other animals you may encounter roaming the Trans-Himalayan cliffs include the Ladakh Urial and Asiatic Ibex.

All Meals and overnight at the lodge.

In the morning, depending on the weather conditions, start preparing for your transfer to Leh.

Today is your last chance to spot the elusive snow leopard on this tour, so you’ll definitely not want to miss this opportunity. Start early, get ready, and join the search team to scan the surrounding area. If something interesting is spotted, transfer to the Leh can be delayed, but in any case, you must leave the lodge before it gets dark. On the way back, we’ll also check the places where chances of spotting wildlife are good.
Once you reach Leh, take some rest, and if time permits, take a stroll through the market. You might like to do some shopping here to carry back souvenirs.

Meals and overnight at the hotel in Leh.

After a relaxed breakfast, transfer to Leh airport to board a flight to New Delhi. Upon arrival at the airport, our representative will meet you and transfer you to your hotel.

After a relaxed breakfast and depending on the flight schedule, you will be transferred to the international airport to board your flight home.

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Important Note

As per new rules by the Supreme Court of India, applicable from Dec 2025, smartphones are not allowed during wildlife safaris in Indian national parks.