Soul of Ladakh
A winter wildlife expedition into the Rumbak valley in Hemis National Park, one of the best places in the world to see the snow leopard. Walk in from Spituk through the Zingchen gorge, then spend five days based in Rumbak village, heading out each day with expert spotters to track snow leopards, Tibetan wolves, blue sheep and golden eagles. Best in February and March, when the cats come down to lower valleys.
15.7 km5 hrs+375 m / −161 m
Visit Spituk monastery, then follow the south bank of the Indus and turn into the Zingchen gorge. The walk can be shortened by jeep.
6.5 km2–3 hrs+555 m / −0 m
Enter Hemis National Park through a narrow gorge and climb to Rumbak village (3,956m). Overnight in a village homestay.
Five days out with an expert guide and spotters, scanning ridges and side valleys with spotting scopes for snow leopards, Tibetan wolves, blue sheep, Ladakh urial and birds of prey. Evenings by the stove in the homestay.
6.5 km2–3 hrs+0 m / −555 m
Walk back down the gorge to Zingchen and drive to Leh.
More soul of ladakh
EasyAn 8-day journey through the living heart of Ladakhi Buddhism. Visit the great monasteries of the Sham valley (Lamayuru, Alchi and Likir) and the Indus valley (Shey, Thiksey and Hemis), sit with a Ladakhi oracle, then cross the Khardung La to the gompas of Nubra before ending at the high lakes of Pangong and Tso Moriri. The pace is slow, with time to join morning prayers and simply be still.
EasyA gentle walk up the Sang (Shang) valley, a green side valley off the Indus near Hemis. Starting from Martselang, the trail follows the stream through barley fields and poplar groves to the village of Shang, its old gompa perched high above braided irrigation channels, and on to the new Shang monastery and Shang Sumdo. Do it as a day walk, or stay the night with a local family.
EasyA day in Stok, the village of Ladakh's royal family, just 15 km from Leh across the Indus. Explore Stok palace, built in 1820 by King Tsepal Namgyal and still home to the royal family, with a museum of royal costumes, jewellery, coins and thangkas. Visit Stok monastery, then wander through the barley fields and lanes of the village below Stok Kangri.
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