Land Tour
11 days
$AUD 1,088 per day
Departure: India Tours
Arrival: India Tours
Adventure
This epic adventure takes you to the Ulley Valley, Ladakh – one of India's most protected Snow Leopard areas with expert trackers on hand to trace the cats’ scents, trails and markings, this journey will keep the pulse racing as you follow every sign of their movements whilst exploring some of the world’s most spectacular scenery.
This snow leopard trek offers you the chance to track these ‘ghosts of the mountains’ and their prey through the snow, with the ability to witness these sadly diminishing but stunning creatures in their natural environment.
Snow Leopards are most active at dawn and dusk and show a strong preference for cliffy habitat with moderately to very broken terrain, rocky outcrops and ravines. They are opportunistic predators and are known to take prey up to three times their own weight, though a large part of their diet comprises of small prey like marmots, pika, hare, birds and domestic livestock. Enjoy exploring winter wildlife, birdlife and being further educated on all things conservation and the natural world by your expert guides.]]>
* Pricing is subject to change at any time until full payment has been received.
* A minimum of 4 adults is required to guarantee this departure.
**Snow Leopard sightings cannot be guaranteed.
A non-refundable deposit of 40% AUD per person is required to secure your place. Final payment is due no later than 60 days prior to departure. Travel insurance is mandatory for travelling with Crooked Compass. For full terms and conditions, please click here.]]>
Namaste and welcome to India! On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Aerocity. Today you have time to recover from your journey. Our wildlife expert will meet you in your hotel to discuss your expectations from the tour and answer any questions you may have. Should you be interested a birding excursion on the outskirts of Delhi, this can be arranged. Delhi and its surrounding region has a bird count of 227 species and surprisingly, is an interesting birding destination. In the winter months when migrating birds arrive from central India, some of these regions can be great for photography as well.
Overnight Roseate House or similar
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Following an early breakfast, you will transfer to the airport for your flight to Leh in Ladakh. Framed by the jagged snow-capped Himalayas, the city itself sits on the historic Silk Road. Dotted with humbling monasteries, stupas and crumbling mud houses, this enchanting city is very easy to fall in love with. Ladakh is Buddhist country with prayer flags fluttering brightly in the wind and long ‘Mani walls’ covered in exquisitely carved prayer stones, stupas and chortens are found along with Buddhist monasteries called ‘Gompas’.
Leh is located at just over 3500m, and it is not uncommon to suffer from a little altitude sickness, whether it be a headache, breathlessness or dizziness. Be sure to drink lots of ginger tea, remain well hydrated and remember, no strenuous exercise while acclimatising. (D)
2 nights at The Grand Dragon or similar
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We have allowed two more days in Leh to acclimatise before starting your trek.
We have allowed two more days in Leh to acclimatise before starting your trek. Early this morning, attend the morning prayers at Thiskey Monastery followed by a gentle hike (1-2hrs) to Gotsang and Hemis Monastery. (B,L,D)
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Acclimatised and well rested this morning, you make your way to Ulley Valley (approx. 2.5hrs). Ulley is a very small village in the vast expanse of the upper Himalayas. It is home to only seven households that make up this village. A few years ago, one of the families realised the importance of wildlife that surrounded them and started promoting wildlife travel to the region to showcase the elusive ‘grey ghost’.
The drive to Ulley is quite scenic and you will cross some famous sites enroute such as Gurudwara Pathar Sahib (one of the highest places with a Sikh temple), you will see the confluence of two rivers – Indus and Zanskar along with the famous Alchi monastery. Based on the information your team receive on the sighting of the snow leopards around Ulley, they will make a call on whether you explore these beautiful sites and destinations now or on your way back.
Once you are close to Alchi, take a detour on to a road that is less travelled. Be on the look out for wildlife from this point onwards. There will be only one or two villages that fall on this route and from this point on, you will encounter very few people who travel or live in this remote wilderness. The region is home to the Tibetan Wolf, Himalayan Fox, Ibex, Ladakh Uriel, Golden Eagle and Lammergeiers alongside the magnificent snow leopard.
The total journey from Leh to Ulley should take about 2.5 – 4hr depending on the number of stops you make (the landscape is stunning and you will feel like stopping for a picture as you cross each bend in the road). (B,L,D)
5 nights Shan at Uley Valley or similar
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Continue exploring the valleys and mountains around Ulley in search of wildlife. Please note this is not hard core trekking – this is all about searching for wildlife and will take place a comfortable pace for the group accompanied with expert trackers and naturalists.
Distances covered and the level of activity will depend on wildlife sightings and how strenuous you wish to make the journey. You are likely to see signs of the snow leopard, as winter is the time that they descend to lower elevations. If you are lucky, you may see one perched high on the rocks or balanced effortlessly on a sheer vertical ridge.
Snow leopard sightings are a game of patience. Your schedule on these days is subject to previous sightings of the snow leopards, and your guide will collect information from locals and other guides on a daily basis to determine the movement of your day. You will either follow on from the previous day’s route, or trek and explore nearby areas, waiting and watching for the gracious Snow Leopards using a scope.
The moment you witness these beautiful and elegant cats, your breath will be taken away. Everything will seem silent as you watch, captivated by their beauty. Soft padding paws, brush like powerful tails. Every move planned and executed with precision. This will truly be one of the most awe inspiring moments of your journey.
Watch as they scavenge and search for prey. Camouflaged so perfectly into the snow covered rocky terrain. The only sounds to be heard are your gasps of amazement and the click of camera shutters. You will never forget this moment.
All meals will be at the lodge unless you decide to trek the whole day – in which case a packed meal can be carried with the team.
The evenings are spent talking about stories of the various wildlife experiences not only in the region but also in other parts of the country. These stories are a fun interaction with the local boys, naturalists, and your fellow travellers. The lodge also has a few documentaries about wildlife in the Indian Subcontinent which can be projected on a wall in the common area. (B,L,D)
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After spending the morning searching for the snow leopard, enjoy a restful lunch before you return to Leh. Enroute, you may visit Alchi Monastery and Pathar Sahib Gurudwara. The remainder of the day is yours at leisure. (B,L,D)
Overnight at The Grand Dragon or similar
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This morning, transfer to the airport for your flight back to Delhi. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. (B)
Overnight Roseate House or similar
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This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight. (B)
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Schedule of Professional Service Fees
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Planning Fee |
$125 per itinerary. Creating unique travel itineraries is our specialty. For detailed quotations providing tailored recommendations for custom designed tours, a non-refundable planning fee applies. Should you proceed with booking, this fee is credited towards your trip.
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Service Fees |
$40 Domestic/Trans-Tasman airfare per person or as discounted
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$150.00 International airfare per person or as discounted
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$50.00 Domestic/Trans-Tasman business class airfare per person or as discounted
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$200.00 International business class airfare per person or as discounted |
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NIL Domestic/Trans-Tasman package, tour, or cruise per booking
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NIL International package, tour, or cruise per booking |
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$ Other Services dependent on service explained to you |
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$200 to $500 Itinerary planning per booking (credited towards reservation once booked) |
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Deposit & Balance |
For all bookings, the initial deposit is 20% and the balance of payment is due 60 days before departure. If Travel Provider terms and conditions vary, we may request an additional deposit from you, after the initial deposit is paid, plus the balance payment date may also vary. After you have paid your initial deposit, you will have five days cooling off period to accept these Booking & Advisory Terms and Conditions, during which time your deposit is refundable. After 5 days has passed, or you have accepted the Terms and Conditions, the deposit will automatically become non-refundable. Note, some Travel Products must be paid in full at time of booking. Service Fees must also be paid at time of booking and are non-refundable. After you pay the balance of payment this will become fully non-refundable 60 days before travel, or earlier, if specified by the supplier. |
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Amendment Fees |
Changes to Domestic/Trans-Tasman bookings will incur a fee of $50 per passenger per booking in addition to Provider and credit card fees.
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Changes to International bookings (excluding Trans-Tasman bookings) will incur a fee of $50 per passenger per booking in addition to Provider and credit card fees.
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Cancellation Fees |
Cancellations to Domestic/Trans-Tasman bookings will incur a fee of $75 per passenger per booking in addition to Provider and credit card fees.
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Cancellations to International bookings (excluding Trans-Tasman bookings) will incur a fee of $150 per passenger per booking in addition to Provider and credit card fees.
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Credit Card Fees |
Visa - an additional 2.0% applies
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Mastercard - an additional 2.0% applies
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American Express - an additional 2.0% applies
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(All fees exclude GST, where applicable).
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ANNEXURE – TRAVEL TIPS FOR TRAVEL PRODUCTS
These tips set out below are NOT legally binding terms and conditions.
Passports, Visas and Health Requirements
It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the required documents, including visas and passports, before travelling to a destination. For more information please log on to www.dfat.gov.au and www.smarttraveller.gov.au. Please check with the respective Embassy or Consulate of each country that you are travelling to, as many destinations require visas for both Australians and non-Australian passport holders. For more information, log on to www.visalink.com.au. You need to ensure that you have at least 6 months validity on your passport from the date of your departure return.
For International travellers booked on flights to the USA, including Hawaii, it is now mandatory, under the Visa Waiver Program to receive an electronic authorisation known as ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation) no less than 72 hours before travel to the USA. This can be obtained from the following website: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/ .
For international travellers booked on flights to Canada, you either need a visitor visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to fly to, or transit through, a Canadian airport. An eTA can be obtained from the following website: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/eta/apply.html
It is your responsibility to ensure that you are aware of any health requirements for your travel destinations. Vaccinations are strongly recommended for certain destinations. You need to contact your local doctor who will advise you of these requirements. Please note that vaccinations may be recommended before your travel departure date.
Travel Advice
We recommend that you contact the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) or visit their website at www.dfat.gov.au for general travel advice, as well as specific advice (including safety alert levels) relating to the destination you wish to visit.
Ticketing
For international and domestic departure, e-tickets will be issued upon payment and completion of the booking process. All other travel documentation, such as hotel booking confirmations, will be emailed to the email address you provided as an e-document. Should the Provider issue paper vouchers, these will be posted to the address you provided.
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Baggage allowance varies from airline to airline and in many cases the airfare you have paid may not include the cost to cover checked baggage. Please check with your Travel Advisor and/or the airline providing your flights for the allowances.
Frequent Flyers & Special Requests
For more information on whether your airfare is eligible for Frequent Flyer rewards, please contact the airline directly. When booking online, please ensure that you have entered your correct number. For bookings made by telephone via our Customer Service Team, please advise of your Frequent Flyer details and these will be added to your reservation. We do not take any responsibility should an airline not register your trip. You should retain copies of your air ticket and boarding pass.
Special requests will be passed on to the Providers but cannot be guaranteed.