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Ladakh birding Trip
Ladakh is a vast and diversified habitat, which ranges from Changthang plateau to Karakoram and is now considered a bird watcher's paradise.In the summer from May to September, a wide variety of finch, robin, redstart, and hoopoe species can be seen. The brown-headed gull can be spotted on the Indus River and on a few Changthang lakes. The Brahminy duck, also known as the Ruddy Sheldrake, and the bar-headed geese are resident waterbirds . A rare species of crane, the black-necked crane (Cha-trhung-trhung), can be found scattered throughout the Tibetan plateau. In the summer, it can also be seen nesting in some areas of Eastern Ladakh. The raven, red-billed chough (Chungka), Tibetan snowcock, and chukar are further birds (a partridge, srakpa). Here, common raptors include the golden eagle and Lammergeier. A lot of migrating species find the Ladakh marshes to be suitable breeding grounds.
- Cost: 2200 Euros/person for a private group of 2-3 Pax
- Cost: 1950 Euros/person for a group of 4-8 Pax
- Ideal period: April-September
- Duration: 11 Days
In search of Snow Leopard. March 26th 2017
Joseph, George, Emma, & Tom
From Switzerland
Our Trip to Rumbak (Hemis National Park) was organized by Dreamland Trek and tour and our main ambition was to see the Snow Leopard. Excellent service and logistics food was nutritious and tasty. More importantly Gyalson the Snow Leopard guide was amicable he has vast knowledge not only about Snow Leopard but he has lot of things to tell you about the rare species of birds in Ladakh. Over all it was a great team work including local villagers that resulted positive outcome yes we spotted two solitary leopards on different days. Thanks to Gyalson & Javeed and the whole crew we will come back to LADAKH again definitely !!!!!!
An Unforgettable experience with Dreamladakh Team (February2016)
It was an amazing winter in Ladakh, amazing in the sense that my dream of seeing a Snow Leopard came true. In Feb 2016 we hired dreamladakh for this trip including me we were five. From day one we felt that we are in safe hand and the trek was amazing Gyalson the lead guide was experienced, from his every day briefing I could imagine that he has vast knowledge about wildlife in Ladakh, beside that the cook was awsome, I can’t imagine that he can cook so many varieties in that climate, more importantly whole crew was supportive and friendly.
For the first 4 days of the trek we just saw older and fresh foot prints of the Leopard, and with each passing movement my wish to the Snow Leopard was slowly dying, though with his best efforts Gyalson was also looking grim. Suddenly around 11:00 am we had an unbelievable news, Stanzin was running towards us he was sent by Dreamladakh owner Mr Javeed. Stanzin told us that there is a Kill at Matho Vaillge, that means the Leopard won’t be moving away from the kill atleast for a couple of days. Matho Village approximately 50 kms from Rumbak. Gyalson said, “look guys we have to move as soon as possible , and we won’t have to waste any time in packing our team will pack everything and will bring to Matho, so without waiting for our equipment we just took our cameras and spotting scopes and rushed to Matho Village along with Gyalson the driver and 5 of us.
After the motorable road we walk for half an hour than suddenly my life time dream came true, Yes it was truly a Snow Leopard with a long tail feeding on a Blue sheep. Could you believe we kept on seeing this single leopard for complete two and half days, eating, sleeping and threatening the birds coming near his kill.
I will highly recommend dreamladakh & Gyalson, WE MADE IT just because of their sincere efforts.
Visitors: Eric, Jean Marc, Linda, and Kannika From France & Switzerland
,Marielle Thirion . Lorgues. Voyage effectué en février 2015
Excellente équipe que celle qui nous accompagnés pour notre periple au ladakh en hiver. Que ce soit notre guide Padma, notre tracker Gyelson ou le reste de l'équipe tout le monde a été aux petits soins pour nous. La cuisine était tres bonne et tres copieuse, les conditions vraiment dures mais supportables grace aux attentions de tout le monde. Seule déception du voyage: notre trek pour voir les leopards des neiges ne nous a pas permis d'en approcher un de suffisamment près pour pour faire des photos. Encore un grand merci à dreamladakh .....
marielle.thirion@wanadoo.fr
Humbert Schaffer & Friends Jan 2013
Humbert Schaffer (Swiss)
"Ladakh is known as the capital of Snow Leopards, and Hemis National Park is the venue to realize your dream"
An unforgettable winter trek in search of Snow Leopard, When we booked with Dreamland I was sceptical whether it’s possible to sight a Snow Leopard. However it proved to be perfectly organized trip on the very second day of the trek we spotted the Snow Leopard with its kill a Blue Sheep, and we got amazing shots beside the Leopard we saw Golden Eagles, Eagle Owl, Fox and Tibetan Argali. Our guide Gyalson was outstanding, great team good food better than the restaurants in Leh and overall an unforgettable experience. I will definitely come back to Ladakh.
2200/1950€
4850mts
2 Min & 8 Max
11
OUTLINE ITINERARY
- Day 1: Arrival at Leh airport, to be received by our representative and transferred to the Hotel. Check in to the hotel for a complete day of rest wherein welcome tea/coffee will be served by the Hotel. After lunch visit Leh Market, Leh Palace and Shanti Stupa. Overnight Hotel.
- Day 2: An easy trip to Stok and Shey(Monastery, Palace, Museum) and along the Indus river Bird watching in wetlands and marshes of Indus River. The Bluethroat Luscinia svecica, the Water Anthus spinoletta and Rosy A. roseatus Pipits, the Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus, the Ibisbill Ibidorhyncha struthersii, and the Hobby in the summer, or the Water Rail Rallus aquaticus, the White-winged Redstart Phoenicurus erythrogaster, and the Streaked Rosefinchare spotted in this belt.
- Day 3 : Leh to Tsokar drive 170 km, 5/6 hrs drive.. Here on the plateau you can spot Bar-headed Geese, Great Crested Grebe, Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea, Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus, and others, use the saltwater lake Tso-Kar and freshwater lake Startsapuk-Tso as major nesting sites. Black-necked Cranes can be seen hunting in the swampy marshes east of Tso-Kar, and Tibetan Sandgrouse Syrrhaptes tibetanus will come to the water in the morning on the northern plains. Wading birds live around the edges of both lakes, and accentors, larks, and finches, notably the Plain-backed Snowfinch Pyrgilauda blanfordi, inhabit the nearby grasslands and arid hillsides. The Golden Eagle, Upland Buzzard, Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), and Tiny Owl (Athene noctua) are among the local raptors. Obernight stay in Camp at Tsokar
- Day 4) : Another full days at tsokar here is always chances of Spotting many mammals like wolf, fox, weasel, kiang (wild ass), blue sheep, argali, marmot, woolly hare and pika. Some characteristic and rare birds found in Ladakh Overnight in camps.
- Day 5) : Tsokar to Tsomoriri (4520m) about 3 to 4 hrs. drive crossing Polokong ka la (4920m) & Namshang la (4800m). We drive watching along the way, stopping at Puga. We have good chances of Bharal, Himalayan Marmats and Ladakh Urial apart from birds like Bar headed Goose, Afternoon explore the lake area. O/n in fixed tented camp.
- Day 6) : Driver to Tsomoriri Lake Located at a height of 4,650 m, the largest lake in the Rupchu Plains is reachable in a day's magnificent journey from Tsokar via breathtaking panoramic scenery. Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis and Great Crested Grebe P. cristatus can also be found in Ladakh, and the lake is the most well-known and significant nesting habitat for the Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus. A Brown-headed Gull (Larus brunnicephalus) was once chased by an Arctic Skua (Stercorarius parasiticus) over a lake! The northern slopes, which are covered in peashrub, are home to accentors, rosefinches, and mountain finches. Blue sheep, foxes, weasels, marmots, woolly hares, and pikas are examples of mammals.
- Day 7): Tsomoriri to Hanle via Mahe. Diatance of 160 km, 4/to 5 hours drive in jeep. Most of the places you will feel that you are driving on the Mars, and it will be amazing to see the great green wetlands its idealplace to spot the Black necked Crane . Overnight in tents but you can spent enough time to see the starry night at Hanely its amazing there..
- Day 8): Hanle to Lake Pangong 5-6 hrs drivegoing through gorgeous scenery of unexplored world. When you visit the lake in the afternoon, you will frequently encounter Brahmani Duck and Bar-Headed Geese. Overnight in Tents.
- Day 9: Pangong Lake to Leh after experiencing the beauty of the lake on the Banks of Pangong while appreciating the changing colors and fascinating high altitude of the Lake.Pangong Lake enroute visit Hemis, Thiksey, & Stakna overnight Hotel.
- Day 10 Extra Day/Security day
- Day 11 Early morning Transfer To KGR Airport for your Departure to Delhi, with Sweet memories of Ladakh & Your Trip finishes here
For the Trek it Includes:
- Transportation both ways (to the starting point and coming back from the finishing point by Jeep)
- Homestays
- Tents
- Mattresses
- Food
- Wildlife Guide
- Assistant Guide
- Cook
- Cooking gears
- Spotting Scope (Swarovski)
- Portable Generator (for charging batteries)
- Walkie-talkies
- wildlife fees
- First aid Box
- Oxymeter
- Portable Oxygen Cylinder
- camping fees
- and inner line permission where ever it’s needed.
For the Package it includes:
- Accommodation on twin sharing at
- The Grand Dragon Hotel www.thegranddragonladakh.com
- All Meals (Bed Tea, Breakfast, Hot / Pack Lunch, Dinner)
- Flight tickets
- To & Fro Airport Transfer in Leh
- All sightseeing as per the itinerary
- All Transportation by Toyota Innova Car
- Innerline Permit
It does not Include:
- Monument & Museum Entrance Fees
- Any Kind of Personal Expenses or Optional Tours / Extra Meals Ordered
- Anything not specifically mentioned under the head “Prices included
