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India - Ladakh - Land of High Passes

© Ladakh by Adam Riley
India - Ladakh - Land of High Passes 2027

14 Jul 2027 - 26 Jul 2027 (13 days)

INR410,000 - Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Amanda Guercio

Tour price (Per person): INR410,000 * USD4,788 * GBP3,707 * EUR4,438 * AUD7,642

Single Supplement: INR45,000 * USD525 * GBP407 * EUR487 * AUD839

Flight costs: INR28,000 * USD327 * GBP253 * EUR303 * AUD522

Can be linked with: India - Leopard & Lesser Florican Extension 2027

This bird and wildlife-watching tour takes us through India’s finest highlands and mountain passes, renowned for their rich and diverse high-altitude avifauna. Located on the Tibetan Plateau, Ladakh’s rugged mountain ranges, sparse vegetation, picturesque valleys, and majestic rivers—such as the Indus and Zanskar—create a unique habitat that supports rare wildlife and serves as a crucial breeding ground for migratory birds.

Ladakh, meaning "land of high passes," is a region in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, stretching from the Kunlun Mountain range to the Great Himalayas in the south. It is home to people of Indo-Aryan and Tibetan descent and is one of the most sparsely populated areas in the region. Its culture and history are deeply intertwined with that of Tibet. Historically, Ladakh encompassed a vast area, but in modern times it shares its borders with Tibet to the east, the Lahaul and Spiti regions to the south, the Vale of Kashmir, Jammu, and Baltiyul to the west, and the southwestern corner of Xinjiang across the Karakoram Pass in the far north.

Ladakh is celebrated for its breathtaking remote mountain landscapes and rich cultural heritage. Its high-altitude terrain is home to some of the world’s most enticing bird species such as Tibetan and Himalayan Snowcocks, Black-necked Crane, Tibetan Lark, Tibetan Sandgrouse, Great Rosefinch, Ground Tit, Brandt’s Mountain Finch and several mammals including Pallas’s Cat, Tibetan (Gray) Wolf and Tibetan Gazelle.

Top Birds

Tibetan and Himalayan Snowcocks; Chukar Partridge; Black-necked Crane; Ibisbill; Tibetan Lark; Tibetan Sandgrouse; Great Rosefinch; Ground Tit; Brandt’s Mountain Finch; Mongolian Finch; Red-fronted Serin; White-browed Tit-Warbler; Bearded Vulture; Hill Pigeon; Robin Accentor; Siberian Sand Plover; Blanford’s Snowfinch; Saker Falcon.

Top Mammals

Pallas’s Cat; Tibetan (Gray) Wolf; Tibetan Gazelle; Himalayan Marmot; Blue Sheep (Bharal); Tibetan Sand Fox; Tibetan Wild Ass (Kiang); Red Fox;

Habitats Covered

Himalayan scree slopes, grasslands, marshes, riverbanks, saline lakes,

Expected Climate

Temperatures vary considerably in the Himalayas, from a low of 8-10°C at night and in the early morning to a high of 35°C during the day.

Max Group Size

8 with 1 Rockjumper leader

Tour Pace & Walking

UNDEMANDING: This tour is ideal for birders and wildlife enthusiasts of all experience levels. It’s suitable for most mobility levels and offers a relaxed pace, ensuring an enjoyable experience for everyone.

Moderate to undemanding. Aside from the high altitude, this tour is suitable for all birding / wildlife interest levels. India is an assault on the senses first time around, requiring a little tolerance to begin with.

Accommodation

Comfortable hotels with hot water & western toilets.

Ease of Birding

Undemanding. Most species provide good visuals in open conditions, sightings can be distant due to terrain, a personal scope may be beneficial.

Other Attractions

Himalayan scenery; Khardung La Pass; Chang La Pass; Hunder Sand Dunes; Pangong Lake; Hanle Observatory; Leh Tibetan Market

Photographic Opportunities

Good to good+. See notes below about minimum focal length.

What our clients say about us

Stephan Lorenz
LC & PD, Northern India 2017

We had a wonderful trip with Rich Lindie and Stephan Lorenz, and we would certainly be happy to travel with either of them again. They were both excellent with the birds, had a great sense of humour, and were helpful and patient when individuals required extra assistance. In addition to the birding, we enjoyed a long list of mammals sighted in the various national parks. The accommodations and meals were also very good.

David Hoddinott
FG, India 2018

David Hoddinott was at his best even on new grounds full of lifers.

Peter Kaestner
JR, India 2020

This trip was great! We were told the trip should generate about 250 bird species and our total was very close. Peter was excellent at finding birds, leading us and keeping a positive group atmosphere. The local guides also were competent and helpful. Accommodations are not an important aspect of a trip to me but the ones we stayed at were excellent, as were the meals. The trip was an excellent introduction to India for me tho I was happy to have it very much concentrate on birding.

Glen Valentine
DH - India 2024

We had a great tour. It was smaller even than usual, as two of the participants departed after two days due to illness. Glen, was as always his uber-keen birder, cheerful self. His magic pulled out quite a few surprising sightings.

Robert Williams
PR, India 2023

As usual another fantastic journey masterfully organized and enabling us to discover places and birds in the best possible way. Supreme guide, all matters perfect, except the lack of heating in the bus. Chilly India, believe it or not !

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