14 Jul 2027 - 26 Jul 2027 (13 days)
INR410,000 - Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Amanda Guercio
Tour price (Per person): INR410,000 * USD4,793 * GBP3,705 * EUR4,428 * AUD7,629
Single Supplement: INR45,000 * USD526 * GBP407 * EUR486 * AUD837
Flight costs: INR28,000 * USD327 * GBP253 * EUR302 * AUD521
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.
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.
Pallas’s Cat; Tibetan (Gray) Wolf; Tibetan Gazelle; Himalayan Marmot; Blue Sheep (Bharal); Tibetan Sand Fox; Tibetan Wild Ass (Kiang); Red Fox;
Himalayan scree slopes, grasslands, marshes, riverbanks, saline lakes,
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.
8 with 1 Rockjumper leader
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.
Comfortable hotels with hot water & western toilets.
Undemanding. Most species provide good visuals in open conditions, sightings can be distant due to terrain, a personal scope may be beneficial.
Himalayan scenery; Khardung La Pass; Chang La Pass; Hunder Sand Dunes; Pangong Lake; Hanle Observatory; Leh Tibetan Market
Good to good+. See notes below about minimum focal length.
We really enjoyed both tours. The leader, Stephan Lorenz, was very helpful and worked hard to make the birding trips a success. We appreciated the local guides on both trips as well. They were all very good at getting the job done and making it all enjoyable and seamless. We always feel we are in good hands when we go on a Rockjumper tour.
This was a great trip. A terrific itinerary and we saw lots of birds and we saw tigers at Ranthambhore and Corbett. Glen and [the local leader] were excellent guides—great spotting skills, and they made sure everyone saw the bird. The logistics worked very well because Glen and [the local leader] were a great team.
David Hoddinott is simply outstanding: Calm, focused, truly excellent knowledge of the birds, their calls and habits. He has a wonderful sense of humour, too.
David Hoddinott is wonderful and a great leader.
This was my first Rockjumper trip. I definitely will be a repeat customer. The booking process was easy and painless. The transport and hotel logistics during the trip were flawless. David Hoddinott and Ansar Khan were excellent guides and worked diligently to make sure we saw as many birds as possible.
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