Snow Leopard Expedition with Kumbh and Varanasi – Jan 2025

A Scheduled Trip to India

Highlights

We will base ourselves at the luxurious tent encampment erected in the middle of the festival’s action. From here, we will help you safely navigate through a sea of humanity and offer you a front row seat for this spiritual celebration, where photographic opportunities galore. The atmosphere resonates with the sounds of hymns, prayers, and the joyous clamour of diverse cultures converging under the spiritual umbrella of the Maha Kumbh. Pilgrims and sadhus, draped in vibrant hues, create a kaleidoscope of devotion as they embark on this transformative ritual. After imbibing and capturing the festival’s colours, chaos, and essence, we will visit Varanasi, which needs little introduction. In addition to being one of the oldest living cities in the world, Varanasi’s history as a centre for spirituality and learning goes back over 2000 years.

Scheduled group tour from
January 10, 2025 - January 27, 2025

Starting from
USD 10,875
per person sharing

Duration
18 days / 17 nights

Transport
Fly-in Safari

Accommodation
Hotel or Lodge

About this Safari

We fly from Delhi to Leh – the ancient capital of the Ladakhi Kingdom, situated at a height of 3500m with a stunning 16th-century palace in the background. The drastic altitudinal gain from Delhi requires complete acclimatisation to be able to adapt to the new height.

After acclimatising in Leh for two nights with limited activity, we drive to Hemis National Park in our quest for the Snow Leopard. Since Snow Leopards are generally found at elevations between 3350 and 4500m, this epic adventure takes us through stunning Himalayan alpine and sub-alpine zones where vegetation is sparse and temperatures are extreme. Accompanying us are expert local guides whose expertise in this terrain and their intrinsic training to look for the minutest evidence, like pugmarks, scrapes, and scats, to track this elusive cat are unmatched. While we are looking for the cat, we will have opportunities to observe and photograph the other unique mammals found here, which may include the Tibetan Wolf, Blue Sheep, Ladakh Urial, Red Fox, Siberian Lynx, Mountain Weasel and Largeeared Pika. Birdlife is scarce in this harsh environment. The common raptors you can expect to see soaring in the sky are the Golden Eagle, Lammergeier, and Himalayan Griffon.

We will trace our way back to Delhi, where we will spend a night before flying to Prayaraj, the venue of the Kumbh Mela. Prime your senses in preparation for the sensory overload as we spend three days witnessing and photographing this mindboggling spectacle. At the heart of the Maha Kumbh is the sacred dip in the holy river, believed to cleanse one’s sins and bestow divine blessings, thus taking the believers one step closer to heaven.

Rates – Jan 2025
USD 10875 per person on twin sharing room/tent basis.

Request for the Full Itinerary

or call our African safari specialists at
+1 703 220 6393 or +91 9717 275237

Day By Day Itinerary

Day 01/10 Jan 2025/Fri: Arrive in Delhi

Arrive at IGI Airport Delhi. Complete customs and immigration formalities and exit to the
arrival hall meeting lounge. Meet our representative and…..