Plan Your Trip
The Journey Before The Quest
Located deep in the Trans-Himalayas of Ladakh, India, our mountainous abode is safely away from the din of city life and the hum of 'regular'.
Nestled in the Ladakh Range, south of the mighty Karakoram and north of the Great Himalaya, we are at 12,300 feet above sea level, about an hour outside the town of Leh, the capital of Ladakh.
Hundreds of miles of mountains, and five high mountain passes, ranging from over 13,000 feet to just under 18,000 feet separate us from the Indian plains.
The LUNGMĀR operates each winter from November 1 through April 30. As the snowline descends across the greatest mountains on our planet, our passes close - disconnecting us from the outside world over land. Thankfully, air travel remains open all year.
Leh, situated on the legendary Indus river, is just an hour by jet from New Delhi, India's teeming capital. Guests fly in to Leh and stay there for two days to acclimatize to the 11,300 feet of altitude. Day 1 is complete rest. Day 2 includes both resting and some sightseeing. On Day 3, our vehicles transfer you to the LUNGMĀR.
We're happy to provide seamless services from either Delhi, or Leh. Read on to learn about the logistics.
Flights to Leh
New Delhi is the recommended connecting airport for flights to Leh, and is the nearest international airport. Though Leh is connected by air with Srinagar, Chandigarh, and Mumbai, flights often do not run everyday. Leh airport has no direct international flights.
Flights to Leh only operate during the mornings. International guests may need to spend a night in Delhi, depending on when their flights get in. Many guests get into Delhi in the wee hours of the morning and catch an early morning flight into Leh, minimizing their time spent in Delhi. Others arrive during the day and get a hotel for an overnight stay, before flying to Leh the next day.
Our team will be happy to help you figure this out and make any arrangements, including booking hotels in Delhi and arranging airport transfers.
Leh : Acclimatizing To The Altitude
Ladakh, being a high altitude region, requires all travelers to acclimatize to the altitude before embarking on travel in the area. Acclimatization is the biological process that creates more red blood cells and increases the flow of oxygen in the blood. Time is the only thing that helps the body acclimate to altitude.
All of the LUNGMĀR's guests must stay in Leh for two full days before they can transfer to the camp on day three. This is done to ensure that your body has sufficient time to rest and begin to cope with lower atmospheric pressure.
It is recommended that the first day, the day of arrival, is one of total and complete rest at your hotel in Leh. We recommend reading a good book, hydrating well, and just taking in the incredible views. No walks, exercising, or sightseeing. Day 2 can have a few activities peppered in, like visiting the Thiksey monastery, while keep the afternoon free to rest some more.
On the morning of Day 3, a LUNGMĀR vehicle will transfer you to camp to begin your adventure.
Acclimatizing to the altitude is a key requirement to enjoying the search for the snow leopard. All our itineraries are designed for this. We live by the 6Ps, a British army adage that states "proper planning and preparation prevents poor performance."
In case of emergencies, we are always prepared. Our camp and vehicles have oxygen cylinders. The LUNGMĀR has a field first-aid station, a doctor on call, and a portable hyper-baric chamber. Our team has decades of experience running operations at high altitude. You're in good hands.
If you have questions, please send us a message and we'll help answer them.