Snow Leopard Tour
Ulley Valley
A high altitude wildlife journey in Ladakh focused on snow leopard tracking, Himalayan landscapes, monasteries, and mountain wildlife.
10/11
Nights / Days
Ulley
Valley
06 Days
of Snow Leopard Tracking
04
Fixed Departures
+Customizable
Tour Dates
Snow Leopard Tour - Ulley Valley
Four fixed winter and early-spring departures, timed to the months when snow leopards move lowest into the valley - or we design a private itinerary around your calendar.
26 Jan - 05 Feb 2027
Peak Winter
03 Feb - 13 Feb 2027
Late Winter
11 Feb - 21 Feb 2027
Season Finale
20 Feb - 03 Mar 2027
Early Spring
Prefer your own dates?
We'll build a private departure around your schedule, group size, and reserves of choice.
Tour Overview
This tour is built around one of the hardest wildlife sightings to get in the Himalayas. Ulley Valley in Ladakh is one of the best places in India to track snow leopards during winter, and the days are spent moving through remote valleys and rocky terrain with trackers who know the ground well.
There's a cultural side too. Monasteries, local markets, and small mountain settlements give the trip some texture beyond the wildlife search. The pace stays slow throughout, partly to help with altitude and partly because good sightings take patience.
A good fit for photographers, birdwatchers, and anyone drawn to remote mountains and rare predators.
- Track snow leopards across the rugged terrain of Ulley Valley with experienced local trackers
- Visit Thiksey Monastery and take in Ladakh's Buddhist culture and mountain views
- Watch for Himalayan wildlife including ibex, Tibetan wolves, red foxes, and marmots
- Bird sightings that can include golden eagles, bearded vultures, and Himalayan snowcock
- Time in remote villages and valleys across the Trans Himalayan region
- A slow pace built for proper acclimatization and long hours of wildlife watching
One valley, tracked patiently
No jeep tracks here either - a high-altitude base near Ulley, with local trackers working the surrounding ridgelines each day the weather allows.
01
Ulley Valley
Ladakh
Trans-Himalayan rock and scree above the Indus, among Ladakh's most consistent stretches for winter snow leopard tracking - worked on foot from a remote village base, with ibex, Tibetan wolves, and golden eagles moving through the same terrain. Thiksey Monastery sits on the road in.
6 Days of Active Tracking · 1 Valley
The route, stop by stop.
A single journey from Delhi, flying into Leh, then overland into Ulley Valley for the length of the tracking, closing back at Leh for the flight to Delhi.
01
Delhi
Days 1
02
Leh
Days 2 - 3
03
Ulley Valley
Days 4 - 10
Arrival
Days 01
Day 1
Arrive in New Delhi. Airport welcome and transfer to hotel.
Leh
Days 02 - 03
Day 2
Fly to Leh and rest for acclimatization.
Day 3
Visit Thiksey Monastery and spend time along the Indus River for birdwatching and local exploration.
Ulley Valley
Days 04 - 10
Day 4
Drive to Ulley Valley with stops at scenic Himalayan viewpoints and river confluences.
Day 5
Full day snow leopard tracking with local wildlife experts.
Day 6
Continue wildlife drives and treks in search of snow leopards Tibetan wolves and Himalayan birds.
Day 7
Another day of tracking and mountain wildlife observation around Ulley Valley.
Day 8
Explore nearby villages and wildlife areas known for snow leopard activity and ibex sightings.
Day 9
Continued wildlife exploration in surrounding valleys and mountain terrain.
Day 10
Final day dedicated to snow leopard tracking and local exploration.
Departure
Days 11
Day 11
Drive to Leh airport and fly back to New Delhi.
Itinerary Map
Inclusions and Exclusions
Included
- Accommodation in New Delhi, Leh, and Ulley Valley with all meals during the expedition.
- Airport transfers and assistance on arrival and departure.
- Snow leopard tracking with experienced local trackers and naturalists.
- Wildlife drives and guided walks in Ulley Valley and surrounding areas.
- Visit to Thiksey Monastery and nearby cultural sites.
- All road transfers in a suitable vehicle for mountain travel.
- Inner line permits and required local permissions.
- Drinking water during drives and wildlife excursions
Not Included
- Personal expenses like laundry, phone calls, liquor, à la carte food, etc.
- International or domestic airfares and rail tickets.
- Travel insurance.
- Tips and Gratuities.
- Anything that is not mentioned in the inclusion section.
Booking & Terms.
Booking Procedure
To confirm your seat, a 10% booking amount along with a valid Government ID must be submitted.
The remaining payments follow this schedule:
- 40% to be paid 120 days before the departure
- 50% to be paid 30 days before the departure
Accepted identity cards include: Aadhar, PAN Card, Driver’s License, OCI, Passport, Voter ID, or School/College ID. For non-Indian nationals, only a Passport is accepted.
Please scan your ID and email it to: sa****@**********ia.com
Cancellation Policy
| Notice Given | Refund |
|---|---|
| 120 days or more before departure | Full refund |
| 60 days or more before departure | 80% refunded |
| 30–59 days before departure | 60% refunded |
| 21–30 days before departure | 40% refunded |
| 11–20 days before departure | 20% refunded |
| 10 days or less, or no-show | No refund |
Extend Your Wildlife Journey
Extend by 2 days
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Extend by 5 days
Golden Triangle Extension
Extend by 4 days
Jim Corbett Wildlife Extension
Guest Testimonials
We thank all of our guests for trusting Big Cats India and for trusting us with planning their wildlife holiday with us. Read all our guest's reviews
Mr. Maxim Vetsuypens
Netherlands
We were a bit late with planning the safari trip and many good spots were fully booked, but Krunal was very helpful and creative in planning a trip that met our needs. The resorts where very comfortable and the food was tasty. Krunal was very responsive to our messages Read More
Marisa Romeo
Switzerland
magnificent safari tour/wonderful tour & safari I discovered Big Cats India via the internet, looking through various operators and having asked for some offers to go to national parks and possibly see and photograph tigers (mission accomplished, but it is never obvious to be Read More
Lewis Johnson
Australia
Had such an amazing tiger safari tour with Big cats at Pench tiger safari. Had 6 tiger sightings, 1 leopard sighting and 100s more wildlife over our 4 day tour. Big cats couldn’t have been more helpful with the whole booking and right the way through they were always asking how it Read More
Guest Gallery
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the Snow Leopard Tour to Ulley Valley?
10 nights / 11 days, based mainly out of Ulley Valley in Ladakh.
Where does the tour take place?
Ulley Valley in Ladakh, reached by flight from Delhi to Leh, with two days in Leh for acclimatization before driving to Ulley.
How is this different from the Spiti-based Snow Leopard expeditions?
This tour tracks snow leopards in Ladakh's Ulley Valley, reached via Leh, rather than Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh. The route, terrain, and cultural stops (Thiksey Monastery rather than Key Monastery) differ accordingly, though the core format of homestay-based daily tracking is similar.
Is a snow leopard sighting guaranteed?
No - snow leopards are elusive by nature, and sightings depend on the animal's own movement. Expert scanners work the surrounding slopes daily to give the best realistic chance.
Is this trip physically demanding?
It involves high-altitude travel and time spent outdoors in cold conditions rather than jeep safaris, so travellers should be reasonably fit and prepared for the altitude. Two days in Leh are built into the route specifically for acclimatization before the group heads to Ulley.
What other wildlife might I see?
Bharal (blue sheep) and ibex are commonly seen, along with high-altitude bird species across the ridgelines and valleys.