Ladakh is often overlooked when it comes to wildlife, however, the spectacular landscapes of this remote high mountain region harbours a plethora of rare animal and birdlife waiting to be discovered by the wildlife enthusiast.
The main focus for this journey is to see rare Himalayan brown bear in the wild, however, this region provides sanctuary to a number of other mammals including Tibetan wolf, red fox, long tail marmot and Asiatic ibex. There is also excellent birdwatching too – in areas close to the main centre of habitation, Leh, and in isolated western Ladakh. A stay at the delightful Drenmo Lodge in Drass is sandwiched between two nights in Leh, including a visit to the monastery at Thiksey, and in the rural village of Nurla from where you can birdwatch and from which you will visit Alchi and Likir monasteries. Although not included in this itinerary, depending on the right time of year, a further stay could be incorporated to see the very elusive snow leopard although a further four or five nights will need to be added to this journey.
Delhi – Leh – Drass – Nurla – Leh – Delhi
Trip Highlights
- Track elusive Himalayan brown bear, ibex, wolf and marmot at remote Drenmo Lodge
- The Apricot Tree Hotel is a great base to birdwatch, visit remote villages and walks
- Alchi Monastery is one of the finest in Ladakh and considered a key Buddhist centre
- Visit the monastic complex at Likir which is famous for its huge Maitreya Buddha statue
- In Leh explore the 16th century Leh Palace, Sankar Gompa and Shanti Stupa
- Birdwatch in the wetlands of Shey Marshes which attract migratory and endemic birds
Itinerary
Day 1
Depart the UK
Today fly from the UK to Delhi.
High Altitude: At all places in this Ladakh itinerary the altitude exceeds 3,000m above sea level. Please consult your doctor as to the suitability of this journey in relation to your health and the possible risks of altitude sickness.
Day 2
Arrive Delhi
On arrival in Delhi you will be met and taken to your hotel for a two night stay. Delhi is the capital of India and a city of two halves – the medieval neighbourhood of Old Delhi and the grandiose heart of government, New Delhi. The remainder of the day will be at leisure.
Haveli Dharampura
The Claridges New Delhi
Day 3
Delhi
Today enjoy a tour of Delhi with your local guide. You will spend the morning in historic Old Delhi, commencing with a walk through the area's atmospheric network of crowded alleyways, with their homes, markets and mosques. Whilst here you will visit the Red Fort and Chandni Chowk market then head to Rajghat where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated. This afternoon head to New Delhi to visit Humayun’s Tomb, the Qutb Minar complex, India Gate and Rashtrapati Bhawan, where the President of India resides.
- Breakfast
Haveli Dharampura
The Claridges New Delhi
Day 4
Delhi to Leh – by air
Return to Delhi Airport after breakfast and fly to Leh. Capital of Ladakh, Leh is located in a valley of the Indus River and framed by snow-capped mountain peaks. Leh is centred on the white-washed Leh Palace and, due to its strategic location, the town developed into a historically important trading centre. After arriving at your hotel, the remainder of today will be a rest day so as to allow your body time to adjust to Ladakh’s high altitude.
- Breakfast,
- Lunch,
- Dinner
Chospa Hotel
Grand Dragon Ladakh
Day 5
Leh
As you continue to acclimatise to the altitude, today will be another leisurely day. Later visit the eight-storied 16th century Leh Palace which bears more than a passing resemblance to Lhasa’s Potala Palace. Depending on how you feel visits may also be made to Sankar Gompa with its wall paintings and gilded sculptures, 15th century Tsemo Gompa and Shanti Stupa, a more recent build from where there are far-reaching views over the town.
- Breakfast,
- Lunch,
- Dinner
Chospa Hotel
Grand Dragon Ladakh
Day 6
Leh – visit Thiksey and the Shey Marshes
This morning visit the 15th century Thiksey monastic complex which is one of the most important in Ladakh. Afterwards continue to the nearby Shey Marshes which are one of the best places to birdwatch in Ladakh. This area of wetlands, streams and farmland attract a both migratory and endemic bird species which include Eurasian hobby, water pipit and ibisbill, streaked rosefinch, solitary snipe, bluethroat, water rail and Eurasian golden oriole. Later return to your hotel in Leh.
- Breakfast,
- Lunch,
- Dinner
Chospa Hotel
Grand Dragon Ladakh
Day 7
Leh to Drass – 300kms
Today leave Leh for the long drive into western Ladakh. Here stay for four nights at the remote Drenmo Lodge which is one of the very best places in Asia to see Himalayan brown bear. The first lodge of its kind, the property is set with an alpine landscape at an elevation of 3000m where winter temperatures plummet to below 40 degrees Celsius. Over summer as temperatures rise the mountain slopes bloom with wildflowers with the high-altitude plants attracting not only bear but also over 30 varieties of resident and migratory bird species. Drenmo Lodge has an in-house naturalist and host who will join you during your stay.
- Breakfast,
- Lunch,
- Dinner
Drenmo Lodge
Day 8-10
Drass
Over the next three days and in the company of the in-house naturalist explore Drass. Days will be spent tracking the animals that call this region home and the programme will be flexible. A highlight of your stay will be seeing the rare and elusive Himalayan brown bear in its natural environment, however there are also various other mammals to spot including Tibetan wolf, red fox, long tail marmot and Asiatic ibex. The birdwatching is also excellent with the region home to a variety of warblers, finches and raptors.
- Breakfast,
- Lunch,
- Dinner
Drenmo Lodge
Day 11
Drass to Nurla – 200kms
After breakfast leave Drass and return east towards Leh to stay for two nights in the tiny village community of Nurla. Here you will stay at The Apricot Tree Hotel, a small, charming property more akin to a homestay which is set above the Indus River surrounded by an orchard of apple and apricot trees.
- Breakfast,
- Lunch,
- Dinner
The Apricot Tree Hotel
Day 12
Nurla
Today you are at leisure to enjoy rural Ladakh. Easy walks or more challenging hikes, either to nearby villages or to go birdwatching, can be arranged or, simply, relax at the hotel, take in the beautiful views, learn about local food, explore the orchard or even take a yoga class.
- Breakfast,
- Lunch,
- Dinner
The Apricot Tree Hotel
Day 13
Nurla to Leh via Alchi and Likir – 110kms
This morning leave Nurla and, following the river, drive east to the large religious complex at Alchi. Nestled within farmland and reached via a narrow village path, the monastery is one of the most important Buddhist centres in Ladakh. Constructed of white-washed mud and straw, explore the complex and its many chortens and temples. Later continue to Likir with its enormous golden Maitreya Buddha that towers over the main entrance. The gompa here is particularly interested with its fine collection of images, thangkas and murals. Leave drive to Leh where you will stay overnight.
- Breakfast,
- Lunch,
- Dinner
Chospa Hotel
Grand Dragon Ladakh
Day 14
Leh to Delhi – by air
Today transfer to Leh Airport and fly to Delhi. Stay overnight at an airport hotel in preparation for your flight home tomorrow.
- Breakfast
Andaz Delhi
JW Marriott Aerocity
Day 15
Delhi to the UK
Today transfer back to Delhi Airport and fly non-stop to the UK.
- Breakfast
Extending your stay...
Track elusive snow leopard in the rugged landscapes of the Ulley Valley. Stay at Shan at Uley, a wildlife lodge in the heart of snow leopard territory where days will be spent tracking this majestic creature. Combine a stay at Shan at Uley with Drenmo Lodge.
Explore the beautiful Nubra Valley to the north of Leh. Lying in the shadow of the imposing Karakoram range, the Nubra Valley offers excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. The birdwatching, in particular, is very good and the valley also supports Eurasian lynx.
Hemis is one of Ladakh’s largest monasteries. With wealth accumulated over centuries, the complex has plenty to explore including a library of Tibetan books and a large collection of thangkas. The Hemis Tsechu is held at the monastery annually in June.
Stay for two nights in Stok, incorporating your stay on arrival in Ladakh in place of Leh. Stok Palace, royal residence of the kings of Ladakh, houses a fabulous collection of historic thangkas, jewels, dresses, coins and religious objects.
Guide to Price
19 days from £5950 - £6600 per person
What's Included
- International and domestic flights
- Private car with English speaking driver
- Sightseeing with local English speaking guides
- Hotel accommodation and taxes
What's Not Included
- Cost of visas
- Travel Insurance
- Expenses of a personal nature
from £5950 - £6600
Travel Information
Getting There
British Airways fly direct from London Heathrow to Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad. Virgin Atlantic have daily flights to Delhi and Vistara fly direct to Delhi. Emirates, Oman Air, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways also have excellent connections via their respected hubs to Kolkata, Kochi, Trivandrum, Kozhikode, Goa, Jaipur and Lucknow and fly from airports all over the UK.
Flying Times From UK
Direct flights from the UK take between 8 and 10 hours depending on the destination. Flights with stops en-route take between 12 and 14 hours.
Time Zone
India is +5½ hours ahead of GMT.
Visa Requirements
Holders of British Citizen passports are able to apply for an e-Tourist Visa (eTV). There are three different eTVs - a one month eTV (valid for 30 days), a one year eTV (valid for 365 days) and a five year eTV (valid for 5 years). Applications for the one month eTV can only be made within 30 days of travel to India. Applications for the one year eTV and five year eTV can only be made within 120 days of travel to India.
Please note that the very latest an Indian eTV application can be made is 4 days prior to travel to India. The eTV becomes active from the date of entry into India. It is not valid for Protected or Restricted areas.
All international passengers arriving in India are required to complete an e-Arrival Card up to 72 hours prior to arrival India. This applies to all nationalities and must be submitted online via the official portal https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival
Do’s & Don’ts
Smoking and drinking in public places is prohibited in India – with smoking this includes public areas in hotels, restaurants and bars.
E-cigarettes and related products are banned in India. You will be unable to buy e-cigarettes or bring them into the country.
Always ask permission before entering a temple and remember to remove your shoes and any leather objects such as bags, belts or wallets. It is fine to wear socks.
When in a Buddhist temple you should always walk in a clockwise direction with the main building to your right.
Modest, loose-fitting clothing is preferable and is essential when visiting religious places. When visiting a Sikh Gurudwara the head needs to be covered.
Permission should always be asked before taking a person’s picture.
When eating, only the right hand should be used. Indian culture considers the left hand to be unclean.
Money
The currency of India is the Indian Rupee (INR) and comes in notes and coins. Exchanging money is easy and can be done at international airports, most hotels or banks and it is always a good idea to ask for some small denomination Rupee notes. ATMs are now common and reliable in all main cities and credit cards are widely accepted by most hotels, shops and restaurants. In rural areas or wildlife reserves ATMs and money exchange facilities are limited so having cash is essential.
Please note that there are restrictions on bringing Indian rupees into India. Visitors, including tourists, are not permitted to bring any amount of Indian currency into the country. Pounds sterling and other foreign currencies are allowed to be brought into India. For more information please visit the FCO’s Foreign Travel Advice for India.
Tipping
This is left to your discretion, however, tipping for good service in India is part of everyday life. In restaurants and for room service a 10% tip is appreciated and at smaller hotels and homestays a communal ‘tip box’ is common.
For drivers and guides, hotel staff and at national parks, the following amounts should act as a guideline. Please note that these figures are based on two people travelling together:
Tour driver: INR1000 to INR1200 per day (not per person)
Tour guide: INR1000 to INR1200 per day (not per person)
Naturalist (national parks): INR1000 to INR1200 per day (not per person)
Jeep Driver (national parks): INR 500 per day & per safari (not per person)
Hotels (communal tip for all staff): INR 1000 to INR 1500 per day (not per person)
Food & Drink
India is known the world over for its food and especially its vegetarian cuisine. Spice plays an important role in dishes throughout the country as do breads, rice, pickles and chutneys. Although nearly every region has its own speciality, there is a divide between the cuisine of northern India and southern India – the north with its meat dishes influenced by the Mughals and the lighter, fruitier, coconut based dishes of the south. Desserts are common in India with kulfi ice cream and gulab jamun two of the best known and most popular. Nearly all tend to be very sweet, milk based or fried.
The most common drink in India is chai tea which can be bought on nearly every street corner. The yoghurt drink lassi – whether sweet, salty or fruity – is also easy to find. The popularity of coffee has spread from the south whilst Indian beer is well-respected. There is also a fledgling wine industry centred on Nashik in Maharashtra.
Accommodation
There is a huge breadth of accommodation in India with styles varying across the country. India is famed for its heritage properties, the majority of which tend to be found in the north of India. These come in all shapes and sizes from beautifully restored buildings and luxury palaces operated by distinguished hotel groups to small privately owned forts and ancestral homes.
Homestays are also very popular and found throughout the country. Whether a grand and luxurious family residence, heritage property or simple abode, they offer a high level of service and a unique glimpse into everyday Indian life. Please let us know if you would like to include a homestay into your itinerary. In more remote regions, hotels are likely to be clean and simple whilst wildlife accommodation is generally either in jungle lodges or comfortable tented camps. For those looking to relax there are many excellent beachside hotels and an increasing number of retreats specialising in both Ayurveda and yoga.
Shopping
With wholesale markets and bazaars, innumerable shops and stores, India is a shopper’s paradise. The country is best known for carpets and dhurries with Rajasthan, Kashmir and Leh best for these. There is also a bewildering range of clothing, fabric and leatherwear found not only in the smallest of villages but also the largest cities. Gems, silver and jewellery (valuable or costume) are popular throughout the country but especially in Jaipur and Hyderabad whilst Kochi is noted for its antiques. Spices can be bought all over India but purchased straight from plantations in the south. Darjeeling, Assam and the Western Ghats in south India are all known for tea.
Suggested Reading
For India travel advice, Footprint, Rough Guides, Lonely Planet and Bradt have excellent guide books whilst Nelles Maps have comprehensive and up to date maps of the Indian subcontinent. There is also a wide range of literature including from famed authors such as RK Narayan, Vikram Seth, Paul Scott, VS Naipaul, Arundhati Roy and Salman Rushdie. Vivek Shanbhag's more recently translated book 'Ghachar Ghochar' also comes highly recommended. Other good books on India include:
‘India: A History’ by John Keay
‘The Great Arc’ by John Keay
‘No Full Stops in India’ by Mark Tully
‘India in Slow Motion’ by Mark Tully and Gillian Wright
‘City of Djinns’ by William Dalrymple
‘White Mughals’ by William Dalrymple
‘Chasing the Monsoon’ by Alexander Frater
‘The Tears of the Rajas’ by Ferdinand Mount
‘Plain Tales from the Raj’ by Charles Allen
‘Mughal Architecture and Gardens’ by George Michell
'Tea, Love and War: Searching for English Roots in Assam' by David Mitchell
Health
Your doctor is the best person to advise you on staying healthy whilst abroad but current recommended vaccinations are Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Tetanus and Diphtheria. Yellow Fever is compulsory, but only if you have visited an affected Yellow Fever area within 5 days prior to your arrival. In some instances anti-malarial tablets may also be needed. For current information on health advice you may wish to visit the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website Travel Health Pro on https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/. The Medical Advisory Services for Travellers Abroad (MASTA) website (www.masta.org) is also a useful resource.
Travel Advice
For current information on India the best resource is the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice) which is a comprehensive resource and updated regularly. We would also recommend visiting the Safer Tourism Foundation website (safertourism.org.uk) before you travel and will be happy to address any questions or concerns you may have.
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Our Reviews
What our clients say
We truly had the holiday of a lifetime
CM - India - March 2024
We truly had the holiday of a lifetime thanks to the exceptional guides and drivers we met along our trip in Northern India. The itinerary had the perfect balance of tours, travel days and rest days for us and was meticulously planned and executed. We'd love to use Pettitts Travel again in the future and will absolutely be returning to India.
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Helping you to design your trip
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