Village homestay
Traditional Ladakhi homes with a warm kitchen, mattresses on carpets and simple shared toilets — the heart of the experience.
All ridesWinter 2026–27
Snow Leopard Trail: Rumbak, Hemis National Park
Twin sharing · 5 nights in Rumbak · GST extra. Private and tailor-made versions on request.
Overview
Patient days in snow-leopard country
Hemis National Park is one of the few places where snow leopards can be seen with some regularity in winter, when the cold pushes their prey down to lower slopes. We base ourselves in Rumbak village for five nights and walk out each morning with experienced spotters who scan the ridges with powerful scopes.
This is wildlife travel at the animals' pace: early starts, long hours of watching and short walks on snowy trails. Even without a leopard, the valleys are rich with blue sheep, urial, foxes and great birds of prey — and evenings in a Rumbak homestay are a highlight in themselves.
Day by day
The itinerary
9 days, Leh → Leh. Open a day for the route, travel time, stay and meals.
Settle inDays 1 – 2
Rest and acclimatise in Leh.
Day 1Arrive in LehRest at 3,500 m
Route Leh airport → hotel
Travel 15 min
Stay Leh
Meals Dinner
Altitude 3,500 m
Fly in over the Himalaya. The day is for rest: drink plenty of water, stay warm and avoid any exertion while your body adjusts.
Day 2Monasteries of the IndusA gentle first outing
Route Leh → Shey → Thiksey → Leh
Travel 1 hr in total
Stay Leh
Meals Breakfast & dinner
Altitude 3,600 m
Morning prayers at Thiksey and the old palace at Shey, then back to Leh for lunch. In the evening your naturalist explains how the coming days will work and checks your kit.
In the valleysDays 3 – 7
Spotting days from Rumbak.
Day 3Into the parkZingchen to Rumbak
Route Leh → Zingchen (drive) → Rumbak (walk)
Travel 1 hr drive · 3–4 hrs walk
Stay Rumbak homestay
Meals All meals
Altitude 3,950 m
Drive to the park entrance at Zingchen and walk up the frozen Rumbak gorge, scanning the slopes as you go. Settle into your homestay by mid-afternoon.
Day 4Husing valleyDawn and dusk watches
Route Rumbak → Husing → Rumbak
Travel 4–5 hrs on foot, with long stops
Stay Rumbak homestay
Meals All meals
Altitude 4,100 m
Spotters head out at first light to check fresh tracks. When there's a sighting, everyone moves; otherwise we settle in with the scopes and wait.
Day 5Tarbung & YurutseThe upper valleys
Route Rumbak → Tarbung → Yurutse → Rumbak
Travel 4–5 hrs on foot
Stay Rumbak homestay
Meals All meals
Altitude 4,100 m
Explore the side valleys towards Tarbung and the tiny settlement of Yurutse, where blue sheep often graze on the open slopes.
Day 6The spotters' choiceFollowing the latest signs
Route Around Rumbak
Travel Varies
Stay Rumbak homestay
Meals All meals
Altitude 4,000 m
The day is planned around fresh signs — tracks, a call from another spotter or a kill being watched. Keep a flask of tea handy.
Day 7A last morning watchOne more chance
Route Around Rumbak
Travel Half day
Stay Rumbak homestay
Meals All meals
Altitude 3,950 m
A final dawn watch near the village, then a slow afternoon with your host family.
ReturnDays 8 – 9
Back to Leh.
Day 8Walk out to LehDown the gorge
Route Rumbak → Zingchen (walk) → Leh (drive)
Travel 3 hrs walk · 1 hr drive
Stay Leh
Meals Breakfast & dinner
Altitude 3,500 m
Walk down the gorge to the road and drive back to Leh for a hot shower and a farewell dinner.
Day 9Depart LehMorning flight
Route Hotel → Leh airport
Travel 15 min
Stay —
Meals Breakfast
Altitude 3,500 m
Transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Where you'll stay
Stays along the route
Chosen for warmth, cleanliness and character. Exact properties are confirmed when you book.
Heritage hotel
Centrally heated rooms in a quiet part of town for your first and last nights.
Day shelters
Sunny walls and stone shelters where we stop to brew tea between watches.
Dates & prices
Departures and prices
Prices are per person. Private journeys can start on any date in season.
| Departure | Type | Status | Enquire |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Jan 2027 | Small group | Few seats left | Enquire |
| 8 Feb 2027 | Small group | Open | Enquire |
| 1 Mar 2027 | Small group | Open | Enquire |
| Any date, Jan – Mar | Private journey | Open | Enquire |
| Option | Indian residents | International |
|---|---|---|
| Small group, twin sharing | ₹78,000 | USD 1,350 |
| Private · 2 travellers | ₹1,18,000 | USD 1,950 |
Twin sharing · 5 nights in Rumbak · GST extra. Single rooms, upgrades and extra nights on request.
What's included
- 8 nights: 3 in Leh, 5 in Rumbak homestays
- All meals in Rumbak; breakfast and dinner in Leh
- Naturalist and two local spotters with scopes
- Park entry and wildlife fees
- Airport transfers and all ground transport
- Oxygen and first-aid kit on every outing
Not included
- Flights to and from Leh
- Personal winter clothing and gear
- Tips for spotters and hosts
- Travel and medical insurance (required)
- GST at 5%
Before you go
Good to know
Practical notes on altitude, kit, permits and connectivity for this journey.
How much walking is involved?
Usually three to five hours a day on snowy trails at around 4,000 m, with long stops. When spotters radio a sighting we sometimes move quickly, so a reasonable level of fitness helps.
Cold-weather gear
Expect –10 °C during the day in the shade and –20 °C at night. Bring a down jacket, insulated trousers, warm boots, liner gloves plus mittens and a good sleeping layer.
Cameras and optics
A telephoto lens of 400 mm or more is ideal. Spotting scopes also work well for phone photography, and spotters are happy to help you line up a shot.
Our wildlife ethics
We never bait, call or chase animals, and we keep a respectful distance from kills and dens. If an animal changes its behaviour because of us, we move away.
Journey essentialsLeh → Zingchen → Rumbak → Husing → Tarbung · Jan – Mar
Route notes: getting there & permits
Along the way
Photographs from the route
A few of the places you'll pass through.
Before you book
Questions we're often asked
What are the chances of a sighting?
Rumbak has one of the better sighting records in Ladakh, but nothing is guaranteed. Spending five full days in the valleys gives you a real chance, and the spotters' network covers a wide area.
Is the homestay comfortable?
It's simple and warm. You'll sleep on thick mattresses in a heated room, eat home-cooked food and use a traditional dry toilet.
Can I do this privately?
Yes. Private departures run on any date between January and March and can be combined with a few days in Leh or a winter drive to Pangong.
Can I join as a solo traveller?
Yes. On small-group departures we pair solo travellers of the same gender in twin rooms, or you can pay a supplement for a room of your own.
How do I pay?
A 25% advance confirms your booking and the balance is due 30 days before you travel. We accept bank transfer, UPI and cards.
What if I need to cancel?
Our cancellation terms are set out on the booking terms page — the earlier you let us know, the more we can refund. We strongly recommend travel insurance that covers trip cancellation and high-altitude evacuation.
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