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MYTH OF HIMALAYAS- LADAKH

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01-Feb-2023 to 07-Feb-2023

INR 1,10,000/- per person

Uley is the area that has recently been developed for Snow Leopard tracking and has quickly gained a reputation not
just for the high numbers of snow leopards but as one of the best areas to see Ibex, Urial, Wolf, Himalayan Fox,
Bearded and Himalayan Griffon Vultures and Golden Eagles.
Ideal period for spotting Snow Leopard is from October to March, that’s from end of autumn to beginning of spring.
These elusive cats are spotted throughout the Hemis National Park. Beside Snow Leopard there is always a good
chance of spotting many other famous and rare animals like “Nyan” or “Tibetan Argali” (Ovis Ammon); Himalayan Blue Sheep, called “Bharal” or “Napo” (Pseudois Nayaur); Uriel, locally called “Shapo” (Ovis Orientalis), Asiatic Ibex (Capra Sibirica), and among the predators are Red Fox, Tibetan Wolf, Lynx, Pallas Cat, and many others.

  • Reviews 1 Review
    0/5
  • Vacation Style Holiday Type
    Small Group Holidays
  • Activity Level Moderate
    3/8
  • Group Size Medium Group
    8 Pax
All about the MYTH OF HIMALAYAS- LADAKH.

FACT FILE:
• Type of Tour : Road Trip
• Grade : Moderate
• Maximum Altitude : 4328m/14,200 ft.
• Tour Duration : 07 Nights
• Tour Date : 01-Feb to 07-Jan 2023
• Reporting Time & Venue : 10:00 hrs at Leh airport.
• Dispersal Time & Venue : 09:00 hrs from Hotel in Leh
• Accommodation (Nights) : Hotel – 03; Cottages- 3
• Food Plan : All meals including lunch on day 01 to breakfast on day 07
• Travel & Transport : Transfers and sightseeing in SUV / MUV
• Tour Cost per Person : : INR 1,10,000/-

HIGHLIGHTS

• Drive safely and comfortably in a SUV/MUV’s driven by experienced local drivers.
• Stay at heated lodges with attached bathrooms.
• Explore and photograph rare wildlife of the mountains in their snowy realm.
• Possibly see and photograph one of the world’s most elusive cats – the endangered Snow Leopard!

The tour package inclusions and exclusions at a glance
What is included in this tour?Items that are included in the cost of tour price.

COST INCLUDES:
1. Accommodation:
• Leh: In a Premium category hotel on twin sharing basis.
• Uley: Luxury lodges on double sharing with sharing bathroom.
2. Food: All meals including lunch on Day 01 to breakfast on day 09.
3. Travel: Transfers and sightseeing in SUV/MUV.
4. Others:
• Complimentary Sack & cap.
• Permit fees.
• Local guide & Spotters for Snow leopard tracking from Day 05 – 07.
• One experienced Tour Leader from “Countryside Adventure Holidays Pvt. Ltd.”

Whats not included in this tour?Items that are not included in the cost of tour price.

COST EXCLUDES:
• Goods & Service Tax as applicable.
• Travel to & from Leh.
• Camera fees.
• Any expenses of personal nature such as mineral water, laundry, liquor, etc.
• Any kind of insurance such as accident, theft, medical, evacuation, etc.
• Tips to camping team, driver, guide, hotel staff, etc.
• Any extra costs incurred due to extension/change of the itinerary because of natural calamities, flight delays, road
blocks, vehicle breakdown etc. factors beyond the control of “Countryside Adventure Holidays Pvt. Ltd.” and its
associates.
• Items not specified in the above in “Cost Includes”.

  1. Day 1 Arrival in Leh (3500m/11,484 ft.)

    Pickup from Leh airport. The day is spent in resting at the hotel and a leisurely orientation walk in the evening in Leh
    market. To aid acclimatization it is necessary to have plenty of water along with rest. Dinner and overnight stay at
    hotel in Leh.

  2. Day 2 Leh- Acclimatization & sightseeing

    Today we set out for some sightseeing. We tour around Leh visiting Hall of Fame, Shankar Gompa, Leh Palace and
    Shanti Stupa which is a Bhuddhist white domed stupa on a hilltop in Changspa, after enjoying panoramic views of the
    lit up Leh city and sunset from the top we recommend that you walk down, making use of this opportunity to acclimatize further and walk through the back lanes into Leh. Explore the bazaar of Leh and head back to the hotel for dinner. Dinner and overnight stay at hotel in Leh.

  3. Day 3 Transfers to Uley (4050m/13,287 ft; 76 km, 3-4 hrs)

    Today post breakfast, we drive west on the road to Kargil and Srinagar, generally following the Indus River. We will pass through the small town of Nimmu – one of the most important in Ladakh, where the Zanskar river meets the Indus. After a little over an hour you head north on a road marked to Likir – one of Ladakh’s famous Buddhist monasteries. This is all Snow Leopard country. The landscape here is even bigger, more expansive and open, until you turn off onto a dirt road, winding up a narrow valley, following a stream called the Uley Chhu. Uley village, west of Leh is an area that is only recently being developed for Snow Leopard watching. Settle in on arrival and acclimatize to the higher altitude of Uley. We will be based here over 04 nights and the advantage of Uley is that it is relatively free of tourism and the chaos that has enveloped the first Snow Leopard destination – Rumbak.

  4. Day 4 to Day 5 Out for Excursion.

    The other advantage is that from here you explore 3 valleys, which, apart from Snow Leopards, are great for finding Urial, Ibex, Wolf and Himalayan Fox. Over the next few days we will explore the area on foot and SUV’s with spotter tracking the Snow Leopard. You will be amazed at the sheer dedication and commitment the local spotters bring to their trade and the effort they make to ensure that the guests leave happy. In the process there will also be plenty of opportunity for us to get insights into local folklore, as well as learn about local customs and traditions. Whenever there is a report of a sighting, we will be taken to the spot by dedicated vehicle comfortably. As per the sighting Lunch will be either at the lodge or will be served in the field. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodges. Lodges are luxurious with well insulated rooms having heaters installed in rooms. Hot water bags under the sheets are provided. Also 24 hours hot water and electricity backup, well-appointed chef having mastery in multiple cuisines. Full multiple course meals. Place where you will feel comfortable even at that high altitude.

  5. Day 6 Drive back to Leh

    After another morning out, we say our goodbyes to our host after lunch and drive back to Leh town. Enroute we visit the Alchi monastery if time permits (The morning can drag longer if there is good wildlife movement). Alchi Gompa is one of the oldest monasteries dating back to the 11th century. It is the only low land monastery in the region as it was built in a time of peace, before the marauding armies forced the monasteries to take shelter amongst the slopes and gorges. Overnight at Leh hotel.

  6. Day 7 Final departure

    This morning, we will check out of from our hotel after breakfast and then transferred to the airport.

     

    End of arrangements …

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Accommodation (Nights) :

• Leh: In a Premium category hotel on twin sharing basis.

• Uley: Luxury lodges on double sharing.

  • Minimum 18 years completed
  • Medical Certificate is required from all age groups.

 

Dispersal Time & Venue are specified in the Itinerary wherein the time of dispersal at a particular venue is stated. Dispersal time in the itinerary should be considered as an expected time of dispersal and you should take into consideration delays due to traffic, breakdowns, etc. Further your return travel arrangements should take into account the flight reporting time.

This tour is recommended for people with a good level of physical fitness. The highest altitude that we attain on
this tour is 4500m/14,765 ft. We do not recommend this tour to people with chronic problems like epilepsy and
those related to blood pressure or heart or diabetes.
The biggest advantage of Uley is the fantastic road access that takes guests right up to the wildlife spots in most
occasions. We do encourage guests to walk (simple walks) into the valleys and to some low passes as these are
the best ways to connect with the starkness of the landscape and develop a real appreciation and understanding
the wildlife of the region.

 SETUP – The Lodges is set in two blocks at the start of Uley village, separated by a 40-50 metre walk. The main block which is the original Snow Leopard lodge has 6 rooms, 4 bathrooms (1 attached), the kitchen, dining and a common lounge. The second block, the annexe has 5 rooms (3 rooms with attached bathrooms) and a lounge.

• POWER SUPPLY – the lodge gets power from the local grid and in times of power outage, there is a generator backup which comes up in the evening till 10pm and then in the morning again. Multi pin chargers are also provided on request at the lodge because of the limited number of power sockets in each room.

• HEATING – Heating in the rooms is done using electric heaters and kerosene burners (Bukharis as they are known locally). Gas heaters are used in periods of long power outages or limited of fuel availability.

• BATHROOMS – The lodge is a mix of attached and common bathrooms and depending on your room assignment (we allocate on first come basis usually). Out of the 11 rooms there are 4 rooms with attached bathrooms and the remaining 7 rooms share 4 bathrooms. The common bathrooms are close to the rooms and in the same blocks (down the hallways) and do not involve much of walking to access.

• RUNNING WATER – Running water is not available at our lodging in remote locations but water will be provided at all times (both hot and room temperature) in buckets. Even the toilets will have to be flushed down using the water from the buckets. Hot and room temperature water will be provided in buckets on request. (24 hrs)

• OXYGEN CYLINDERS – Oxygen cylinders are available at all times in both the vehicles and in the lodges for guests who experience health complications while on the expedition. Anything more complicated and the guests will be driven to Leh (2 hours) to consult a doctor or hospital.

• MEALS AT THE LODGE – Leh is completely cut off in the winter months and this makes bringing in fresh supplies a lot harder than usual. Food at the lodge is cooked using ingredients that are available at that time in the local markets and villages. Most of the food is locally sourced. The cuisine is a mix of Indian, Chinese, Ladakhi and continental meals and is served on a fixed menu basis. Guest preferences are taken into consideration (if informed in advance) when these menus are setup. Specific food requests or allergies need to be mentioned in advance so that the right ingredients can be flown in on time. • Both alcoholic (specifics based on availability in Leh) and soft beverages are served.

• LAUNDRY – very minimal laundry can be done at the lodge.

• BINOCULARS and SCOPES – Good scopes and simple binoculars are there at the lodge but those are shared by all and not for personal use.

• PORTERS AND MULES – The drivers and spotters will help where they can but for guests who want dedicated help, porters/mules need to be pre-booked. (at an extra charge on a per day basis)

. • TIPPING – Tipping will be done separately for spotters, staff and the driver who drives you to and from Leh and in the valleys around Ulley. If there is someone who has lost livestock in the course of your stay to wildlife, and if we see the animals owing to that kill, we recommend that some amount of money is contributed by the guests to that family to keep the ideas of wildlife among the local communities positive. 

This trek involves walking for 7 hours daily at an average pace, but we recommended this trek for people with an extremely good level of physical fitness. The highest altitude that we attain on this trek is 4131m/13,554 ft. We do not recommend this trek to people with chronic problems like epilepsy and those related to blood pressure or heart or Diabetes.

The permits to visit Khardungla is processed once you are in Leh. It’s mandatory that all the participants carry a valid photo id., (Driving License, Voter Id., Passport or Adhar Card) for issuance of permits and 02 passport size photographs.

• For accompanying children above 12 yrs (who do not have a Passport or Adhar Card), it’s mandatory to carry the School Id. Card/College Id. Card along with 02 passport size photographs. It is mandatory that all participants carry 02 passport size photographs for issuance of permits.

 

  • Hand Baggage is not allowed on Leh – Delhi flight.

Day temperatures average minus 13ºC and at night it drops to minus 30ºC. However, the temperatures would
vary a lot depending on the season and altitude.

The tour involves exposure to extreme cold temperature upto minus 30 degrees Celsius, causing cold injuries & sickness. One must exercise caution & protect themselves from these temperatures. Acute mountain sickness (AMS) can be caused due to high altitudes. The AMS may be avoided by taking precautions given in the document attached on high altitudes, please read the document carefully. The high altitude can cause Acute Mountain Sickness and may lead to serious critical medical conditions such as cerebral or pulmonary edema.

On this tour we drive on the ice & snow-covered roads which can be dangerous. The weather can change dramatically causing blizzards, heavy snowfall and severe drop in temperatures, causing severe physical hardships and at times one can be stranded in the vehicle during the excursions

Flights in Leh sector are subject to weather condition, so it is advised that, you should book your return international flight 2-3 days after your expected date of arrival in New Delhi. • Vehicles in Ladakh are not at disposal. Any additional transfers or pick up drops are to be settled at actual. • The vehicles in Ladakh are hired from Leh union hence there is a possibility of change of vehicles every day, however we will try for the same vehicles.

COUNTRYSIDE ADVENTURE HOLIDAYS PVT. LTD. Email: info@countrysideindia.com Website: www.countrysideindia.com

• It gets very cold in winter i.e. December through February with temperatures hitting – 30C. You will need to be mentally and physically fit and must have done some high-altitude travel in order to be able to handle travelling through this terrain. • We can make last minute plan changes due to bad weather for your safety and wellbeing. • Expected to walk around 1 – 2 km per day; but will depend more on road/snow conditions. • In peak winter i.e., January and early February all the places might not be open due to adverse weather conditions. We will keep you updated of the same in case any last-minute changes need to be made to your plan.

Overall Rating
0/5
Jane Eagleson
Reviewed On 26/08/2020

My first trip with Countryside was more than 10 years ago and I have used them repeatedly since then. As an experienced and frequent traveller my requirements can be quite demanding but I can't praise Countryside highly enough for their responsiveness, attention to detail and country knowledge both in India and internationally. My most recent journey was a winter trip to Ladakh in February 2020 for the Dosmoche festival and to look for wild snow leopards. Everything was well planned and ran smoothly, the Countryside guide who joined me was great company and the accommodations were top notch. The best indication of my high regard for this company is that I have already asked them plan another private trip, this time to Zanskar in a few months. Highly recommended

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