Birding and Wildlife Tour in Ladakh

Arrive at Leh Airport and transfer to the Hotel. Rest in the hotel for acclimatization to Ladakh's high altitude. With enough free time in the afternoon, one can explore nearby areas and expect to see species like Black-billed Magpie, Black Kite, Common Kestrel, Mountain Chiffchaff, Red-Billed Chough, etc. Stay overnight at the hotel.

Be ready for birding the full day. Reach the Indus River Belt from Shey, 18km east of Leh, by passing through the irrigation channels and marshes, or follow the river upstream from the bridge at Choglamsar.

Expect to see Bluethroats (Luscinia svecica), Streaked Rosefinch (Carpodacus rubicilloides), Water Pipits (Anthus spinoletta), White-Winged Redstart, Rosy Pipits (Anthus roseatus), the Ibisbill (Ibidorhyncha struthersii), the Hobby (Hypotrichosis) in summer, or the Water Rail. Also, get to explore the grazing land, the shoreline, wetlands, and thick buckthorn patches along the riverbanks of the Indus. Spend the night at the hotel.

By crossing Khardung La Pass, the world's highest motorable pass (18,380 ft/5,700m), drive to Nubra Valley where visitors can expect to see raptors, ducks, waders, and White-browed Tit Warbler, etc. here.

Mammals, including Tibetan fox, lynx, pika, Himalayan blue sheep, and Bactrian camel (semi-feral), can be among the exciting discoveries for birdwatchers. Further, cape hares (race tibetanus) can only be spotted in India. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Drive back to Leh using the same route, crossing Khardong La Pass. Overnight stay at Leh in the Hotel.

Full day birding around the Rumbak Valley. Birds like brown and robin accentor, streaked rose-finch, tickell's leaf warbler, chukar, Tibetan snow-finch, red-billed chough, Himalayan snow-cock, common and fork-tailed swift, fire-fronted serin, twite, etc can be seen.

Mammals, including Urial, Himalayan marmot, Tibetan wolf, and argali, above Yurutse, are also present here. Later, drive back to Leh for an overnight stay.

Situated at an altitude of 4,650m, Tsomoriri is the largest lake in Rupshu Plains, can be reached in a day by driving from Leh, enjoying beautiful panoramic scenery. The lake is the best-known and most important breeding ground for the Bar-Headed Goose Anser indicus in Ladakh. Black-Necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis and the Great Crested Grebe P. cristatus can both be found there.

Once an Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus was seen chasing a Brown-Headed Gull Larus brunnicephalus over the lake! Accentors, rose finches, and mountain finches can be seen in the peashrub-covered northern slopes. Mammals include blue sheep, fox, weasel, marmot, woolly hare, and pikas. Overnight in a Home stay

Reach Tsokar via Puga Valley and Polo Kongka La after breakfast. Black-Necked Cranes, waterfowl, Common Redshanks, and lots of waders can be seen at the lake. The most common mammal species spotted here are Tibetan wild ass, Stolizka's mountain vole, and marmot.

Other than this, Little Owl, Plain-backed Snowfinch. Tibetan Sandgrouse, Horned Lark, Tibetan Snow finch, and Hume's Short-Toed Lark are the exotic birds found in Tsokar Lake. Avocet, Ruddy Shelduck, the breeding colony of Crested Grebe, and Black-Necked Cranes may be seen around the freshwater lakes in the afternoon. Overnight in a Homestay

The lake's surroundings, comprising marshes, wetlands, and grasslands, provide an ideal habitat for various bird species and wildlife. The diverse ecosystem around Tsokar contributes to the presence of different avian life. So let’s take one more day to watch these beautiful lives. Overnight in a Homestay.

Driving back to Leh via the Tanglang Pass, stop on the route for more bird watching. Intriguing species Tibetan Snowcock and the White-capped Redstart, can be spotted on the way. Reach leh by late afternoon, stay overnight.

After an early breakfast, reach Ladakh airport for an early flight and get back to Delhi with lifelong memories of an adventurous trip you just had.