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Snow Leopard Trek Overview
Quick Facts of Snow Leopard Trek
Altitude: 13500 ft
Duration - 8 Days
Temperature: Daytime; –24°C to +5°C, Nighttime; -11°C to - 24°C
Snow Leopard Trek Difficulty Level: Difficult
Starting and ending point: Leh Airport
Nearest Airport - Leh Airport
Base Camp: Zingchen
Region : Ladakh
Snow Leopard Trek Best Season : November to March
Short Itinerary for Snow Leopard Trek
Snow Leopard Trek Detailed Itinerary
Arrival in Leh
Arrive at Leh airport and transfer to the hotel.
Rest in the hotel for some time and enjoy lunch served with warm beverages.
Visit Shanti Stupa and watch the sunset.
Explore Leh palace on a quick tour.
Spend time in the local markets of Leh.
Arrive back in the hotel and rest for the night.
Leh Local Sightseeing at Chilling
Eat a healthy breakfast and drive to Zanskar and the Indus River.
Visit Spituk Gompa, Ladakh Hall of Fame, Gurudwara Pathar Sahib, and Magnetic Hill.
Walk over the frozen Zanskar river as a part of the chadar trek and travel to chill.
Stay overnight in Leh.
Leh to Zingchen to Rumbak Valley
Enjoy early breakfast, check out of the hotel, and head to the snow leopard trek.
Transfer to the base point- Zingchen.
Gradually ascend to Rumbak valley from Zingchen.
Be alert enough to catch the magnificent site of snow leopards.
Stay in the camp overnight.
Rumbak Valley to Stok La to Rumbak Valley
Ascend to Stok La to witness snow leopards.
Chances are that you will encounter many.
Reach Stok la and have a look at the beautiful landscape below.
Head back to Rumbak valley and stay there overnight.
Rumbak Valley
Explore Rumbak valley and neighboring areas Husing Valley, Tsarbung Valley, Kharlung Valley, and Tarbung Valley.
Catch the cute sight of snow leopard footprints.
Witness snow leopards as they famously shelter ok these places.
Rest in the camps for the night.
Rumbak Valley
Explore Rumbak valley without the indulgence of formal itinerary plans.
Roam in the Rumbak valley freestyle.
Catch sight of other Himalayan animals, birds, and insects as a part of Hemis National Park.
Visit nearby villages to learn about folklore.
Stay in the camp for the night.
Rumbak Valley to Zingchen to Leh
Descend to Zingchen from Rumbak valley.
Witness Spituk monastery and travel to Leh.
Get transferred to the hotel and stay overnight.
Leh to onwards journey
The snow leopard package comes to an end.
Transfer to Leh airport with memories of the trek.
What to Pack for Snow Leopard Trek?
Winter weather prompts wearing winter coats.
The best clothing for this kind of climate is thermal wear which includes inners, sweaters, and jackets.
Wearing several layers of T-shirts will help you stay warm on your trek because you can add or remove them as the weather changes at various points.
If there is ever an emergency, rain gear should be carried.
Since cold waves cause you to lose the most body heat from your head, scarves, hats, and woolen ear covers are essential.
The head should be completely covered as a result.
Carry several pairs of gloves and socks.
Trekking-appropriate pants with zippers are advised to bring two pairs.
Thermal layers are necessary to stay warm because the chilly winds can cause discomfort.
Trekking shoes that are suitable for any kind of terrain, especially for snow.
Toothbrushes
Toothpaste
Soaps
Tissues
Moisturizer
Cold coral
Sanitizer
Anti-fungal cream
Eatables
Snacks
Biscuits
Protein bars
Glucose-based chocolates
Cup noodles
Dry fruits
Quick energy bites
Cutlery
Leakproof lunch box,
Mug
Spoon
Disposable plates
Camera
Binoculars
UV-protected sunglasses for preventing snow blindness.
Sunglasses and sunscreen for sun protection.
Water Bottles.
Instead of a single beam or torch, carry a headlamp that covers a large area.
The headlamp will free up your hand to perform another task.
Plastic covers to keep your used clothes separate from your new clothes and food.
Carry chargers, power banks, and a magnetic compass with you to ensure proper communication and navigation.
Know Before You Go to Snow Leopard Trek
Don’t harm snow leopards or any other animals.
Keep yourself safe from all the animals by following the instructions of the tour guide.
Don’t go near snow leopards.
Don’t tease or follow snow leopards.
Visit a doctor before the trek to know about your fitness level and have other mandatory checkups.
Keep cash with yourself as there is no ATM or UPI facility in the entire trekking route from base camp to the top.
There would be no mobile phone network after Zingchen. Hence, you should inform your family about snow leopard trekking.
Headaches, hypoxic conditions, vomiting, and many other health problems can happen due to sudden loss of oxygen.
Carry medicines and take necessary measures to avoid any health combination.
Wear thermal layers or multiple layers of warm clothes to protect yourself from cold.
Cover your head with woolen clothes and wearables as cold waves hit your head and face causing your body temperature to drop.
Wear sunglasses to protect yourself from the UV reflection of the snow.
The sleep 7-9 hours during the days of your trek as moving restlessly would hinder your journey keeping you uncomfortable.
Carry a 50-60 liter backpack for keeping all the necessary items.
When you arrive in Leh via Leh airport, you will transfer to the hotel for an overnight stay. You will be taking quick tours of Shanti Stupa, Leh Palace, and local markets. The next day, you will indulge in Leh Local Sightseeing like Chilling, Spituk Gompa, Gurudwara Pathar Sahib, Zanskar lake, Ladakh Hall of Fame, and Magnetic Hill. On the third day, you will start the snow leopard trek from Zingchen at 3380 meters and start trekking to Rumbak Valley at 4100 meters. Once you reach the valley, you will be staying there in the camps for 3 days. The next day you will descend to Stok La at 3497 meters for sightseeing and come back to Rumbak Valley. You will explore Husing Valley, Tsarbung Valley, Kharlung Valley, and Tarbung Valley on the following day. The next day, you will explore Rumbak Valley and all the nearby villages by yourself. On the last day of the trek, you will descend to Zingchen and reach Leh for staying in the hotel overnight. The next day or last day marks your departure from Leh airport.
Reaching Leh
Snow Leopard Trek happens to be in the Hemis National Park, Leh. You have to reach Leh to gain access to the trek.
By Air: The best way is to reach Leh Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport in Leh City. This airport is well connected to other Indian cities with daily. arrivals and departures.
Reaching Zingchen
By Road: You can take a cab/taxi to reach base camp Zingchen at a distance of 50 kilometers from Leh Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport.
Rumbak Valley, Hemis National Park, and other surrounding mountainous areas stay in the snow all year. The temperatures range from 20 degree Celsius to -20 degrees Celsius. The best time to enjoy snow leopard trekking is during the months of winter from November to March, making it ideal for a classical winter trek. January is the coldest month, but is a bit sunny during the day but extremely cold during the night as temperatures fall below -25 degrees Celsius.
Winters: The coldest times of the year when the weather becomes chilling and frosty with temperatures ranging from -5 degrees Celsius to -15 degrees Celsius. In the months of January and February, the temperatures may fall up to -20 degrees Celsius.
General Trivia About Snow Leopard Trek
Snow leopards are called ‘Ghost of the Mountains’ because of their shy and reserved behavior.
Snow leopards cover their skin with colored fur which makes them difficult to spot in the snow.
Rumbak Valley is sometimes addressed as the land of ‘Grey Ghost’, meaning the land of snow leopards.
There is a monastery in Rumbak valley where 80 monks live.
Why to Go for Snow Leopard Trek?
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FAQs of Snow Leopard Trek
How Difficult is the Snow Leopard trek?
Snow leopard trek ranges from moderate to difficult as you will travel up to 4100 meters at Rumbak Valley. The trek starts from Zingchen at 3380 meters to Rumbak Valley, taking 2-3 hours to complete. The trail is simple with a range of moderate treks as you have to move through the snow. Once you reach the valley, you will have to stay at the campsite for the next 2-3 days and explore the place. The idea of living in such harsh cold climatic conditions makes this trek a bit difficult. Moreover, the temperatures fall up to -20 degrees Celsius, making the weather extremely cold and frosty to survive. You will have to stay in the tents and stay safe all the time from snow leopards and other beings.
Will I find snow during the Snow Leopard trek?
Yes, you will find snow anytime you indulge in snow leopard trekking.
Is the mobile network present on the Snow Leopard trek?
Beyond Zingchen, mobile networks aren’t accessible. You should inform your family and loved ones before starting the Snow leopard trek.
What kind of places will the trekkers rest in during Snow Leopard Trek?
During the six-day trek, the first, second, and night of the seventh day will accommodate you in a hotel in Leh. From day 3 to day 7, you will rest in the tents at the camping site of Rumbak valley.
Will I experience altitude sickness at such altitudes? If so, how do I protect myself?
Regular hydration can aid in maintaining the body's balance. To avoid getting altitude sickness, you need to get enough sleep when you are climbing more than 1000 feet per day. Pre-training establishes a solid base for efficient acclimatization and management of altitude-related issues.
What will I see at Hemis National Park?
Besides the snow leopard, you will witness a variety of rare snow animals, birds, and insects. Some popular ones include the golden eagle, snow vultures, Blue sheep, Eurasian brown bear, horned lark, red-billed chough, ibex, marmot, shapo, Tibetan hare, antelope, argali sheep, etc.
What fitness levels are required for the Snow Leopard Trek?
You have to be physically sound and active to cover the ascending distance. For this, prior fitness training is required. You can start to jog 5 km in 35 minutes to increase cardiovascular endurance.
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