Description

05DAYS-04NIGHTS

Witness the rare Himalayan Brown Bears in the second coldest inhabited place in the world. Our lodge is arguably the best location in Western Ladakh for sighting these magnificent mammals in Ladakh. Along with Tibetan Wolf, Himalayan Red Fox, Longtail marmot, Asiatic Ibex, Ladakh Urial and even the elusive Snow Leopard. Drass is also a haven for birding as it is home to a variety of warblers, finches and raptors.

Total Duration: 4 Nights / 5 Days (Ex Kargil)
Region: Kargil
Tour Starts: Kargil
Tour Ends: Kargil
Style of Tour: Jeep Safari and Hiking
Max Altitude: 3700m
Best Season: April to November
Stays: Brown Bear Lodge
Meals: All Meals
Vehicle: Innova (3 per car)

ITINERARY

Day 1 Arrive in Kargil from Leh and drive to Drass

Arrive at Kargil and transfer by our vehicles to Brown Bear Lodge. Check in at Lodge in Brown Bear Landscape, Briefing by Tour Leader and Spotter. Dinner at the lodge.

Day 2 Brown Bear Tracking

Early Start to the day at 5 am. Depending on the snow conditions, we will hike up or use ponies
to reach the adjacent hillside, which provides a good vantage point to scan for bears. Our spotters will accompany us. Packed breakfast can be reached on site.

During the day, we will visit the nearby Shina villages towards Mushkow valley. This valley also boasts of other wildlife such as marmots, Ibex, Fox and Wolves. A variety of birds are also present in this region. This area has some great walks amidst blooming tulips and other wildflowers through the summer.

Day 3 & 4 Brown Bear Tracking

Morning and evening Brown Bear tracking. Depending on the sightings in our base valley, we can drive to other adjacent valleys such as Umba La (based on snow levels at that time of the year), Pandrass, Matayen, Shimsha Kharbu, Suru or the apricot orchards in the beautiful village of Karkitchu.

Day 5 Drive back from Drass to Kargil and onto Leh

Return to Kargil visiting the Hundurman border museum near on the LOC.  Continue journey from Kargil.

These itineraries are customizable based on guest interests to an extent and within the limits of the region/scope of operation.

Depending on the time of the year these itineraries can be started from both Srinagar and Kargil and any further assistance on either end of the fixed departure can be provided by us if one feels the need.

END OF JOURNEY

COST PER PERSON:

INR 67,200/- +5% GST

(for a minimum of 4 PAX and maximum 10 PAX. )

Fixed Departure Dates 2020

14^th – 18^th April
5^th – 9^th May
18^th – 22^nd August
15^th – 19^th September*

*Departures in September and October can be clubbed with Dachigam National Park located near Srinagar during this period. Dachigam is a great place to see the Asiatic Black Bears during the months of September and October. Those interested in this can let us know and we will organize the same.

Inclusions:

Transport fully engaged on disposal throughout the journey Ex Kargil

All Meals in Kargil and Drass

Accommodation at the lodge in Drass including all meals

Tour Leader

Spotting scope to share

Local Spotters

Local Porter/Mules

Community Fee

Permits

First Aid and oxygen cylinder

Exclusions:

Museum and Monastery tickets

Personal binoculars/spotting scopes

Personal expenses such as mineral water, beverages, alcohol

Medical/Travel insurance

Emergency evacuation cost

Cost incurred due to change in itinerary on account of road blocks, weather change, vehicle breakdown

Tips to drivers/guides

Donations to The Himalayan Brown Bear Project:

Conservation fee (INR 1000) to be included. This will be handed over to The Himalayan Brown Bear Project to be used in conservation projects in the Kargil area.

Facilities At the Lodge:

Power: Erratic power (based on site) with generator backup on schedule

Food:   Mix of Indian / Continental / Ladakhi. Set Menus

Rooms: 5 Twin Rooms (with 1 or 2 shared Toilets)

Small library of reference books and fiction

Binoculars available on request

Tea / Coffee & cookies available all day in the dining / lounge area

Drinking water provided

Packed lunches / tea coffee provided when in the field

No credit card facility – nearest ATM in Drass/Kargil

Vehicles / guides / spotters at disposal

Rooms are heated with gas heaters or bukharis

Hot/Cold water in bathrooms/toilets provided in buckets.

Toilet – Cleanwaste technology – odour-free dry chemical toilets

Projection system for screening films

Nearest Hospital in Drass/Kargil (approx.15min/1 hour drive)

Payment and cancellation policy:

Full payment must be made before commencement of the journey

Booking confirmation- 15% advance 1 year prior to the trip or at time of booking if its less than one year (non-refundable)

35% – 6 months prior to the trip (non-refundable)

Balance 50% – 3 months prior to arrival (non-refundable)

No refund will be granted for portion/portions of the journey not performed by the traveller.

No refund will be granted in case of non-performance of journey due to external and natural events.

In the event of any dispute, the matter shall be resolved under the jurisdiction of the District Court, Kargil.

Additional Information:

These itineraries are customizable based on guest interests to an extent and within the limits of the region/scope of operation.

Depending on the time of the year these itineraries can be started from both Srinagar and Kargil and we can provide any further assistance on either end of the fixed departure if one feels the need.

THE FIXED DEPARTURE DATES WILL OPERATE ONLY WHEN A MINIMUM OF 4 PAX SIGN UP PER TRIP.

Minimum stay at the Lodge – 2 nights (suggested is 4 nights)

The Himalayan Brown Bear Lodge can be used as a base to explore the heritage of Kargil, Suru Valley, Drass and other regions of Western Ladakh, apart from being the best site to view the Himalayan Brown Bears.

Access – Less than 30 mins from Drass town. From Leh it is a 6 hours drive and from Snow Leopard Lodge Ulley it is 4 hours 30 mins, From Srinangar the drive takes 4 – 5 hours to our lodge depending on snow and traffic around Zoji La Pass. (open only after May)

Fine Print & Trip Specific Important Information:

By signing up for a trip with Roots, you acknowledge that you have voluntarily applied to participate in this trip and that you have read the description of the trip as it appears and the information below:

All outdoor-related activities involve a certain level of risk. You are expected to sign an Indemnity Form in agreement to the risks involved through part taking in such outdoor activities.

Delays are expected on account of roadblock & weather conditions. Our effort will be to continue with the trip as per the schedule & make you as comfortable as possible. But in such situations we may have to compromise and adjust to these situations then & there. Our Lead Guide on location will take the final call.

The itinerary should be viewed as ideal we may have to make some spot changes due various unavoidable reasons.

The distances & altitude mentioned in the above itinerary are to the best of our knowledge & information; marginal variance in the actual distances & altitudes is possible.

You are expected to be in reasonable shape and fitness

Roots Ladakh reserves the right and permission to use photographs of individuals and photographs submitted by them on tour for use in promotional and publicity purposes