Ladakh, Indian Himalayas – Snow Leopards & Buddhist Festivals | Wild Photography Holidays - Photography & Adventure Travel

Ladakh, Indian Himalayas – Snow Leopards & Buddhist Festivals

Highlights include…

• Snow Leopard photography
• Two separate Snow Leopard expeditions
• Diverse wildlife
• Experienced guides and spotters
• Traditional Buddhist culture
• Rumbak village homestay
• Shan at Uley wildlife lodge
• Luxury hotel in Leh
• Stok festival Ladakh (2 days)
• Ladakh winter landscapes
• Buddhist monasteries
• Medieval streets and bazaars
• Surreal snow clad landscapes
• Spectacular flights over the Himalayas
• Himalayan snow peaks
• Matho Buddhist festival (optional extension)

Introduction

Nestled in the Himalayas, Ladakh is India’s highest and most remote plateau. It is south of K2 the world’s second highest mountain and the mighty Karakoram mountain range. Technically part of the Tibetan plateau, Ladakh is renowned for its stunning landscapes and unique wildlife. Ladakh was isolated for centuries to the outside world although it has been welcoming visitors for several years now. The Snow Leopard ‘Grey Ghost’ roams freely through this wild terrain and has become the holy grail for many wildlife photographers. Our fourteen day Snow Leopard expedition will give participants a deep insight into the Ladakhi way of life together with seven days out in the field searching for Snow Leopards with a local team of expert spotters and guides.

We will have two separate Leopard expeditions in different locations. The first based in the mountain village of Rumbak where we stay with local families who have always co-existed alongside the Snow Leopards. Our second location is Shan Lodge at Uley, a relatively luxurious accommodation in the mountainous heart of Snow Leopard terrain. During the tour as a whole we explore the very best locations that this Buddhist area can offer the adventure travel photographer including exceptionally vibrant Buddhist festivals, palaces, Gompas, abandoned forts and busy Tibetan bazaars. Throughout we will be transported by our experienced Ladakhi drivers in spacious vehicles suitable for the sometimes challenging winter conditions. In addition to Snow Leopard images we can expect to return home with travel and landscape images second to none! For all nights in Leh we have chosen to stay in the Grand Dragon Hotel where participants can enjoy views of the snow capped mountains whilst relaxing in warmth and luxury, a welcome respite from the cold dry air outside.

For an excellent insight into Shan Lodge at Uley and their traditional Ladakhi way of life take a look at the captivating BBC film On Snow Leopard Mountain from Planet Earth 11 behind the scenes. It was filmed in 2015 and features Tsewang Norboo, as he shares his lifelong bond with snow leopards and the importance of community-based conservation. Set in the majestic Himalayas, the film offers a glimpse into Tsewang’s life and the deep commitment behind Shan at Uley.

 

Photography Tutors & Guides

The 2026 Expedition will be lead by WPH owners Geraldine Westrupp and Martin Sammtleben who have visited this fascinating area many times over the last three decades. They have stayed in and photographed at all the locations mentioned in this itinerary and are well qualified to lead this expedition.

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Delhi Airport

Our first evening in Delhi is spent at an Aero-city airport hotel where the group will meet together for a briefing regarding the following day’s flight and dinner together with our Delhi representative.
Airport hotel

Day 2: Flight from Delhi to Leh (3500m)

Our Delhi representative will transfer the group the short distance to the domestic airport for the early morning plane to Leh. The flight across the snow clad Himalayas is spectacular given clear weather, quite often you will glimpse Everest and some of the other Himalayan giants. Leh is located at an altitude of 3500 metres. We will meet you at the airport for the transfer to our Luxury Hotel in the centre of Leh for breakfast followed by a rest for acclimatisation. There will be a get together for introductions together with an expedition briefing for all participants during the early afternoon. In the evening we will drive the short distance to Shanti Stupa for sunset over the Indus Valley and Namgyal Tsemo Gompa.
Grand Dragon Hotel Leh (B,L,D)

Day 3: Leh & Thiksey & Shey

This morning we leave Leh early to catch the haunting Buddhist chants and prayers at Thiksey Monastery which is situated in the Indus Valley. This monastery is in a remarkable location and we will be there at first light. The remainder of the day will be spent exploring the town of Leh with its ancient medieval streets, striking Gompas and palaces with superb vistas over the surrounding mountainous landscape.
Grand Dragon Hotel Leh (B,L,D)

Days 4,5,6: Snow Leopard Expedition

This morning after breakfast we leave Leh for the tiny village of Rumbak our mountain base deep in the mountains. Here we will meet our expert spotters who continuously search for sightings of the Snow Leopard. Each guest will be allocated a simple private room within different houses in the village. The rooms are carpeted and feature mattresses with thick Ladakhi blankets, pillows and a Bukhara style (wood burning chiminea) heater. Please note that a 4 season sleeping bag is recommended to ensure extra comfort against the cold. Our meals will be taken together as a group and we have our own experienced cooks on hand to make sure we eat well. The village itself is in a wonderful setting amidst snowy mountains featuring Buddhist Stupas and white painted mudstone houses bedecked with fluttering prayer flags. Yaks, sheep and goats wander around the village during the daytime but are securely housed at night or they would surely become some lucky Leopard’s evening meal. This a good area for snow leopard sightings as herds of blue sheep (Bharal) are common and they attract predators including the Snow Leopard. Yaks are housed in the village. Our priority in Rumbak is to encounter Snow Leopards and sometimes we will need to walk a few kilometres in the rarified air for better vantage points. If our spotting team hear about sightings in different areas, then if it is feasible we will travel by car to the area of the sighting.
Rumbak Homestays (B,L,D)

Day 7: Rumbak to Leh

Today we will head back to Leh although if there has been a snow Leopard sighting we will be able to spend more time in the village. The drive to and from the village is spectacular.
Grand Dragon Hotel Leh (B,L,D)

Days 8,9: Stok Guru Tsechu Festival

Stok Guru Tsechu festival is held in Stok village the home of Stok Palace. This is the present seat of Ladakh’s royal family. We visit twice, the first day to photograph the preparations which include getting the costumes unearthed from storage, and rehearsals without costume. Not many people will be around for this and we can expect to get some interesting behind the scenes shots. For our second visit, the exciting masked festival is a fine opportunity to photograph all the pomp and ceremony of the yellow hat lamas, traditional music and wild masked dancing which is both vibrant and energetic. The local people will turn out en-masse, many in their best clothes to witness the festival most famous for its oracles who make predictions for the coming year. The oracles are not monks but laymen who are trained by monks from the Spituk gompa to allow the spirit of the deities to enter their bodies. Before the festival, these laymen live in seclusion in order to be spiritually cleansed and prepared by the monks. People from Ladakh firmly believe in the predictions made by the oracles.
Grand Dragon Hotel Leh (B,L,D)

Days 10,11,12: Snow Leopard Expedition Shan Lodge at Uley

After breakfast we set off for three nights and four days on our second Snow Leopard Expedition. We will be based at the beautifully located Shan Lodge at Uley. At the heart of snow leopard territory this pioneering wildlife lodge is family-owned/operated nestled in the heart of Ladakh. The family have a commitment to wildlife, conservation, and provide heartfelt hospitality and delicious food. It goes without saying that the whole team will be committed to ensuring that we have the best opportunities possible of wildlife encounters, in particular the Snow Leopard. Other wildlife to be found in Ladakh include woolly hare, Royale’s pika, Blue Sheep and red fox, Birds include Lammergeier, Himalayan Griffon Vulture, golden eagle, red-billed and alpine chough, several species of snow-finch and Himalayan snow-cock. Less common are the Tibetan wolf and Eurasian lynx. The family is headed by Tsewang Norboo who is a talented spotter and his son Morup, a superb photographer and environmentalist. Some of Morup’s images are in our gallery and the header image of the Snow Leopard on a snowy Ridge across from Shan Lodge is also his work.
Shan Lodge at Uley (B,L,D)

Day 13: Shan Lodge and Basgo Fort

Sometime after breakfast and during the morning we will leave for Leh. We will stop for photographic opportunities en-route. After checking back into our hotel we will have time for some last minute souvenir hunting in Leh and our last celebratory evening meal together in the Hotel’s lush restaurant.
Grand Dragon Hotel Leh (B,L,D)

Day 14: Flight to Delhi

After an early breakfast we take an early flight back over the Himalayas to Delhi and homeward flights.

Matho Festival Extension, 2–4 March, price: £600

We are offering a 2-night extension in Leh based at the Grand Dragon Hotel. This is for guests who would like to go to photograph and experience the Matho Buddhist festival with Martin Sammtleben & Geraldine Westrupp.

What’s Included

• All meals
• All accommodation
• All airport transfers in India
• English-speaking local guide
• Local/experienced wildlife spotters
• Shared use of spotting scopes
• Private vehicles for transport to & around the locations we visit
• Return Leh flights from Delhi

What’s Not Included

• International flights
• Travel and medical insurance
• Accommodation Day 14
• Alcoholic drinks
• Soft drinks
• Snacks apart from meals stated
• Tips for local staff
• India visa

Accommodation

Airport hotel Delhi (1 night).
Grand Dragon luxury hotel in Leh, en-suite facilities (6 nights).
Rumbak Village homestays in village houses, shared facilities (3 nights).
Shan Lodge Uley comfortable, heated wildlife lodge, en-suite facilities (3 nights).