Black Necked Crane &
birding in Ladakh
Delhi - Leh - Rumbak Valley - Puga - Tso Moriri - Tso
Kar - Leh - Delhi
Duration: 12 Nights / 13 Days
Best Season May - Mid September
Grade Moderate
This tour is meant for birders who are in good physical
health and can walk in high altitude area. The treks and
walks are moderate in nature. The bird species are special
trans-Himalayan species while a lot of them are Palearctic.
Day 01: Arrive at Leh airport by
morning flight from Delhi. This flight is one of the most
sensational flights in the world. On a clear day from one
side of the aircraft can be seen in the distance the peaks
of K2, Nanga Parbat, Gasherbrum and on the other side of
the aircraft, so close that you feel you could reach out
and touch it, is the Nun Kun massif.
Upon arrival you will be transferred to your hotel. You
would take a little time to settle in and acclimatize since
you have gone from a relatively low elevation in New Delhi
to over 11,000 feet! During the afternoon, you can walk
through the old town, beneath the Leh Palace, to allow you
to get oriented to this fascinating city. Overnight in a
hotel.
You may book your flights at www.indian-airlines.com &
http://www.itn.net/cgi/get?itn/air/jetairwaysusb/index
Day 02: Surrounding area of Leh
Today morning we will bird along Shey marshes. One can expect
common rosefinch, Hume's lesser white-throat, blue rock
thrush, Eurasian hobby, common coot, booted eagle, blue
throat, common tern, Hume's short-toed lark, plain mountain
finch, rock bunting, citrine and grey wagtail etc. Afternoon
visit to Trisul Lake for red-crested pochard, northern pintail,
common teal, tufted duck, little grebe, garganey etc. Overnight
hotel.
Day 03: Surrounding area of
Leh
Today morning we will bird at Thiksey. One can expect to
see golden oriole, long-tailed shrike, blue-whistling thrush,
Eurasian cuckoo, common rosefinch, hill pigeon etc. Afternoon
visit to Hemis area after Stok Palace for Tibetan snowfinch,
Eurasian crag martin, northern house martin, lammergeier,
white wagtail, fire-fronted serin, plain mountain finch,
blue sheep etc. Overnight hotel.
Day
04: Leh - Khardung La (18,380 ft) - By Surface / 49 km /
Approx 2 ½ hrs
Today morning we will be going on an excursion to bird at
Khardung La. We will be reaching a height of 18380 ft, the
highest motorable pass in the world. One can expect winter
wren, brown dipper, robin & alpine accentor, Himalayan
snowcock, Brandt's mountain finch, great rosefinch, white-winged
redstart, yellow-billed chough etc. Mammals will be Himalayan
marmot, mouse hare, wooly hare, and blue sheep. Afternoon
is free to discover the riches of this exotic destination
with a visit to Leh town. Overnight hotel.
Day 05: Leh - Zingchan - By Surface / Approx 1
hr - Rumbak (12,540 ft) - Trek / Approx 5 hrs
Drive to Zingchan in the morning. Trek to Rumbak for birding.
Full day birding in Rumbak Valley. One can expect golden
eagle, Himalayan griffon, Tibetan snowfinch, chukar, fire-fronted
serin, sulphur-bellied warbler, white-throated dipper etc.
Overnight stay in a tented camp or in a home stay (promoted
by Snow Leopard Conservancy).
Day
06 - 07: Rumbak
Full day birding around Rumbak Valley. One can see brown
& robin accentor, tickell's leaf warbler, streaked rosefinch,
Tibetan snowfinch, chukar, common & fork-tailed swift,
red-billed chough, Himalayan snowcock, fire-fronted serin,
twite etc. One can also expect to see blue sheep, Red fox
and the elusive snow leopard. Overnight stay in a tented
camp or in a home stay (promoted by Snow Leopard Conservancy).
Day 08: Rumbak - Zingchan - Trek / Approx 3 ½
hrs - Leh - By Surface / Approx 1 hr
Morning birding in Rumbak Valley. Trek to Zingchan. Check
the forest patch at Zingchan for unusual species such as
rusty-tailed flycatcher, grey bushchat etc. Travel to Leh
for overnight stay in a hotel.
Day
09: Leh - Puga (14,520 ft) - By Surface / Approx 5 ½
hrs
We will spend the day travelling to Puga stopping en route
for birding at Chumathang. One can expect to see golden
eagle, common merganser, Ibisbill, horned lark etc. Check
the stream at Puga emerging out of sulphur spring for black-necked
crane, brown-headed gull, ruddy shelduck etc. Overnight
stay in a tented camp at Puga.
Day
10: Puga - Across Namshang La (15,840 ft) - Thadsang Karu
(15,246 ft) - Tso Moriri (14,916 ft) - Puga
Morning excursion to the lakes for ruddy shelduck, bar-headed
goose, ruff, lesser sand plover, white-winged black tern,
long-legged buzzard etc. Black-necked crane is big a possibility
too. Spend the evening near the camp checking the stream,
rock faces and bushes for Eurasian eagle-owl, white-winged
redstart, robin accentor, Asian house martin, white-throated
dipper, lammergeier etc. Overnight stay in a tented camp
at Puga.
Day 11: Puga - Across Polo
Konga (16,236 ft) - Tso Kar (14,949 ft) - By Surface / Approx
2 ½ hrs
Travel to Tso Kar in the morning across Polo Kongka Pass.
One can see large flocks of Brandt's mountain finch. As
you enter the lake area, you may see black-necked crane,
common redshank, lots of other waders and waterfowl. Tibetan
wild ass, marmot, Stolizka's mountain vole are mammal species
that are seen commonly. Explore the area for little owl,
Tibetan sandgrouse, plain-backed snowfinch etc. Horned lark,
Hume's short-toed lark and Tibetan snowfinch are some of
the common birds here. Afternoon visit to fresh water lake
for avocet, breeding colony of crested grebe, ruddy shelduck
etc. Black-necked crane is a possibility too. Overnight
stay in tented camp at Tso Kar.
Day
12: Tso Kar - Across Taklang La (17,358 ft) - Leh - By Surface
/ 140 km / Approx 4 hrs
After morning birding at Tso Kar, travel to Leh via Tanglang
La stopping en route for birding. Arrive Leh in the afternoon.
Afternoon at leisure. Overnight stay in a hotel.
Day 13: Leh-Delhi
Transfer to airport to fly to Delhi.
Please let us know the number of people travelling on
this tour and we will send you the total cost. We also specialize
in customizing the tour. Should you need any changes we
would be happy to modify the itinerary.
The tour may include arrangements such as accommodation,
travel, meals, permit, guides, activities etc. or services
as required by the client.
How
to book
The booking
of this itinerary is with Asian Adventures, F-313,
Lado Sarai, New Delhi - 110030. Phone: (+91 11) 44128785
. Email: wildindiatours@vsnl.com
To confirm your booking
please send a 25% deposit by wire transfer to Standard Chartered
Bank, Account No 52805001839 which is in the name of "Asian
Adventures", using Swift Code "SCBLINBBDEL".
Branch address: M-1 NDSE Part I, New Delhi-110049. India.
Or you can send a cheque payable to Asian Adventures at
F-313, Lado Sarai, New Delhi - 110030. India
Cancellation charges are 30
days before arrival date 25%, 21 days before arrival date
50%, 15 days before arrival date 90%, 7 days before arrival
date 100% of the total itinerary cost.
Remaining
balance to reach Asian Adventures at least 30 days before
tour commencement by wire transfer (to bank account
stated above) or by sending a cheque made payable to Asian
Adventures to the above address. Alternatively you can pay
the balance in cash upon arrival.
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