pallas’s cat extension

The drive will be about 6 hrs from Leh including lunch and tea stops. Will stop 40 kms before handle to scan for Pallas cat. Later evening will continue drive to Hanle for Overnight in guesthouse.

Welcome to the Hanle basin - one of the most remarkable high-altitude cold deserts in the world. Over the next four days, we will explore the Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary, a sanctuary for rare and endemic species that have adapted to survive at altitudes above 4,300 meters. Our journey focuses on the elusive 'ghost of the steppe,' the Pallas's cat, but the landscape is teeming with other incredible predators and grazers. During day we can visit Tibetan nomad family and experience their lifestyle and stories.

Pallas’s Cat (Manul): Our primary target. Known locally as Ribilik, this small, stocky cat is famous for its thick, frosty fur and 'grumpy' expression. They are master camouflagers that live in rock crevices and abandoned marmot burrows. We will look for them primarily at dawn and dusk when they are most active.

Tibetan Wolf (Shangku): A powerful apex predator of the plateau. We may see them trotting across the plains in small packs or alone, often on the hunt for gazelles or young livestock.

Tibetan Sand Fox: Distinct from the Red Fox by its square-shaped face and greyish-tan coat, these foxes are often found near pika colonies, their main source of food.

Tibetan Gazelle (Goa): One of India's rarest mammals, with only a small population remaining. They are extremely shy and usually found on the high, windswept plateaus above 4,800 meters a place called Kalak Tar Tar.

Eurasian Eagle-Owl: One of the largest owls in the world. We will scan the rocky cliffs where they roost during the day and hunt at night.

Tibetan Wild ass:- The Tibetan wild ass, locally known as the Kiang, is the largest wild ass species in the world and a prominent resident of Ladakh’s high-altitude plains. These resilient animals are specially adapted to the harsh, low-oxygen environments of the Trans-Himalayan cold desert.

Nomadic people and culture: The Changpa nomads are deeply religious people who live in special eight-sided tents called Rebos, made from tough yak hair. They move their homes several times a year to find fresh grass for their yaks, sheep, and goats. These goats are famous for growing the soft wool used to make world-class Pashmina (Cashmere). Even though it gets incredibly cold—sometimes reaching -40°C—the nomads live peacefully with nature by carefully moving their herds so the land stays healthy.

Morning after breakfast we drive back about 6 hrs to Leh. Overnight in Hotel.

Morning after breakfast transfer to airport for your flight back to Delhi.