The Warden's Expedition
Twelve days, Delhi to Delhi, in Ladakh's snow leopard valleys, led in person by the man who protected them.
Among lichen-covered rock, Ladakh. Photograph: Karanjit Singh.
- Duration
- 12 days, starting and ending in Delhi
- Season
- November to April
- Group size
- Maximum 6 guests in our Founding Season, each with a private room
- Led by
- Jigmet Takpa, with a deputy naturalist and two teams of Ladakhi spotters
- Field days
- Six full days of tracking, seven nights in the valley
- Activity level
- Moderate: short walks on uneven ground at 3,500–4,300 m in severe cold
- Price
- Founding Season 2027–28: US$8,900 per person
- Our Promise
- No sighting? Return as our guest
Not a tour. An expedition with the man who knows these valleys.
This is not a search led by a tour guide reading from notes. It is led by the man who wrote the management plan for Hemis National Park and spent three decades working with the communities who now protect the snow leopard.
Your days are guided by two teams of Ladakhi spotters from the villages where the cats live, working with top-quality spotting scopes and radios. Your evenings are spent understanding what you saw: the prey, the conflict, the recovery and the people behind it. And every search follows a simple rule: the snow leopard's welfare comes first.
Your journey, day by day
- Day 1
Arrival in Delhi
You are met at Delhi airport and taken to a hotel close by. The evening is yours to rest after your flight.
- Day 2
Fly to Leh
The morning flight crosses the Himalaya into the Indus valley. You are met at Leh airport with a traditional khatak welcome. The rest of the day is for rest; at 3,500 metres, acclimatisation begins the moment you land. In the evening, a welcome and safety briefing.
- Day 3
Acclimatisation
A gentle walk along the Indus and a visit to Thiksey or Hemis monastery. In the evening, the first Author's Evening: the founder introduces the snow leopard, its mountains and the story of how Ladakh became its capital.
- Day 4
Into snow leopard country
A drive to our field base in the snow leopard valleys of central Ladakh. After settling in, your first afternoon scan with the spotters.
- Days 5–10
Six full days in the field
The spotters leave before dawn to scan ridgelines and gullies. You join them after tea. When a cat is found, you watch through scopes, for as long as it chooses to stay. Middays are for rest, reading and warmth; the late afternoon brings the second session. One day includes a visit to a host village and its conservation committee. On the last evening, at the farewell dinner, you receive your Odzer Field Journal, your signed copy of the book and a gift hamper from the villages.
- Day 11
Fly to Delhi
An early drive to Leh airport and the morning flight south. An afternoon at leisure and a night at a hotel near Delhi airport.
- Day 12
Departure
Transfer to Delhi airport for your flight home. Tiger and Changthang extensions can be arranged on request.
Guests over 65 take an extra acclimatisation night in Leh.
Warm, private rooms throughout
In Delhi, a premium hotel near the airport with 24-hour room service. In Leh, a boutique hotel with heated rooms. In the valley, seven nights at the best available Ladakhi-owned lodge: rooms heated to between 18 and 22°C, hot water round the clock, a clean kitchen and a warm common room for the evening talks.
- A private room for every guest throughout: Delhi, Leh and the field (11 nights)
- All meals in Leh and the field; breakfast in Delhi
- Economy flights Delhi–Leh–Delhi
- The founder as expedition leader, a deputy naturalist, and two teams of Ladakhi spotters
- 4×4 vehicles with experienced drivers
- Premium Swarovski spotting scopes (one for every two guests) and binoculars
- Permits and park fees
- Oxygen at the field base, in every vehicle and at the Leh hotel; a portable altitude chamber (Gamow bag) at base; medical kit and first-aid-trained leaders
- The e-book of LADAKH: Snow Leopard Capital of the World, to download from your Guest Area as soon as you book
- At the end of your expedition: a signed copy of the book (a numbered first edition for Founding Season guests) and a gift hamper made by the village communities
- Your personalised Odzer Field Journal
- Pre-trip planning with the founder's team: an altitude briefing, a detailed packing list and answers to every question
- All airport transfers, with a personal welcome at Delhi and Leh airports
- Photography advice in the field from the leaders
- International flights to and from Delhi
- Indian visa
- Travel insurance (required; must cover high altitude and helicopter evacuation)
- Gratuities, drinks and personal expenses
- Optional: a personal porter for heavy camera equipment, and telephoto lens hire (on request)
Founding Season 2027–28
Every guest has a private room as standard, with no single supplement. Couples and friends who would like to share simply tell us. Our first guests travel at a founding rate. From 2028–29 the price will be US$9,700.
A 30% deposit confirms your place. The balance is due 90 days before departure. INR pricing is available for Indian guests.
| Per person, private room (4–6 guests) | US$8,900 |
|---|---|
| Small-group supplement (2–3 guests) | + US$1,500 per person |
| Single room supplement | None |
Departure dates for 2027–28 will be published in March 2027. Register your interest to receive them first.See the enquiry page for 2027–28 departures and places remaining.
If the mountains keep their secret, you return as our guest
No one can promise a wild snow leopard. We promise everything else: experienced spotters, six full days in prime habitat, two valleys to choose between, and a leader who knows where the cats have been.
How it works
If you do not see a snow leopard on your Warden's Expedition, you may join a future departure within two years as our guest. You pay only for your flights. The Promise applies when you have completed at least four full field days; days lost to flight cancellations or road closures are not counted; places are offered subject to availability.
What the Promise never changes
Our Code comes first. We never move closer, stay longer or follow a cat to secure a sighting, and our spotters are paid the same whether or not a cat is seen.
We publish our sightings record each season. Sightings record
On every expedition we watch from at least 300 metres, never bait or call, never pursue, and leave if a cat shows signs of stress.
Read the full CodeIs this expedition right for me?
How fit do I need to be?
You should be able to walk for 30 minutes on uneven, rocky ground. Most of the day is spent at viewpoints. The altitude and cold are the real challenge; we prepare you for both.
How cold is it?
Days are often around 0°C in sunshine; nights can fall to −20°C or below. Rooms are heated. We send a detailed clothing list and can lend spare down jackets.
Is it safe at altitude?
We spend at least two nights in Leh before the field (three for guests over 65), check oxygen levels morning and evening, and carry oxygen in every vehicle.
Can I bring a satellite phone or GPS messenger?
No. Satellite devices such as Garmin inReach are illegal in India without a licence. Our team carries licensed radios.
Join the founder in the field
Founding Season departures are limited to six guests. Tell us your preferred month, and we will reply personally within twelve hours.