Private 19-Day Kashmir and Ladakh Birding Expedition

Meet at Srinagar airport and transfer to the hotel for rest and preparation. A gentle local walk may be possible if timing allows.

Bird the wooded slopes of Shankaracharya Hill, then continue to accessible habitat around Dachigam for flycatchers, warblers, finches, woodpeckers and mountain raptors.

Make a full-day high-altitude excursion from Srinagar for rubythroats, finches, nutcrackers and other alpine specialists, subject to weather and road conditions.

Combine conifer forest and meadow birding at Yousmarg with a wetland session at Hokersar for waterbirds and marsh species.

Follow the Sind River valley to Sonmarg and search suitable riverbanks for Ibisbill, dippers and redstarts after arrival.

Cross Zoji La with stops for high-mountain birds, then scan suitable slopes near Drass for Himalayan Brown Bear and other wildlife under local guidance.

Travel through Kargil, Namika La, Fotu La and Lamayuru to Leh, using selected stops for mountain birds along the way.

Keep the day deliberately light to adjust to altitude. Rest is the priority, with only a gentle optional walk if participants feel well.

Explore rocky habitat around Magnetic Hill, then visit Shey Marshes and nearby river channels for Ibisbill and wetland birds.

Cross Khardung La with high-altitude birding stops, then search the valley's cultivated patches and seabuckthorn for rosefinches, pipits, thrushes and White-browed Tit-Warbler.

Begin with birding along river corridors and cultivated areas, then travel through remote mountain country to Agham.

Cross Wari La and search alpine slopes for White-browed Tit-Warbler, serins, partridges and high-altitude redstarts before descending to Shakti.

Cross Chang La with stops for snowcocks and snowfinches, then explore accessible lakeshore habitat for shelduck, geese, rubythroats and rosefinches.

Bird along Pangong Tso before travelling via Chushul and Tsaga La toward Hanle, subject to road access and security restrictions.

Work Hanle's mosaic of shallow water, salt-edged ground, broad steppe and rocky slopes during the cooler morning and evening hours. Priorities include Black-necked Crane, Tibetan larks, Ground Tit and Upland Buzzard.

Travel through Nyoma and Pologongka La to Tso Kar, birding mountain valleys and upland plains along the route. Visit the western marshes if daylight permits.

Explore saline margins, freshwater springs, marshes and steppe for Tibetan Sandgrouse, snowfinches, Horned Lark, cranes and raptors.

Return to Leh via Taglang La with stops for snowcocks, accentors, mountain finches and raptors, then review the expedition highlights.

Transfer to Leh airport according to the confirmed flight schedule.