In the depths of winter, the Bharal (or'Blue Sheep') of Ladkah in north-westIndia descend from the high peaks tothe lower slopes and valleys. They arepursued by hungry Snow Leopards, one ofthe world's most charismatic and elusivemammals. This beautiful cat inhabits someof the most remote and mountainousregions of Central Asia, in its element atextremes of temperature and terrain. Fewof you will have missed Steve Winter'simage of a Snow Leopard, making its waythrough a mountain pass at night, whichwon the 2008 BBC Wildlife Photographer ofthe Year competition. On this tour we go insearch of this extraordinary animal, goinginto the heart of the mountainous regionwhere this photograph was taken andexperiencing at first-hand a fascinatingblend of rare, high-altitude wildlife, as wellas isolated Buddhist communities.This pioneering 14-day tour is, quitesimply, one of the most amazing, originaland wild trips you are ever likely to do! Youmay not see many birds on this tour, youmay not see many mammals (exceptperhaps for the Bharal), you may not evensee a Snow Leopard (though the chancesare real, our success rate being 50% todate); but the opportunity to visit thespectacular ancient kingdom of Ladakh,situated today within the Indian state ofJammu and Kashmir, in the middle ofwinter is not to be missed!This is a very adventurous tour, and shouldnot be undertaken lightly. Because ourchief aim is to see a Snow Leopard,absolute flexibility is the key. If we arescheduled to spend the night at a guesthouse, but we hear that a Snow Leopardhas been seen in another area where theaccommodation is extremely basic, or inwhich it would be better to camp out in theopen, we reserve the right to move thegroup there immediately. However,snuggling down into a 4-season sleepingbag in such a setting really is anunforgettable and magical experience. We begin our tour with a domestic flightfrom Delhi, taking us over the greatHimalayan range to Leh. The town of Lehis situated at a height of 3,500 metres andyou will have time to explore its windingstreets and bazaars while acclimatising tothe altitude. An impressive 16th centurypalace towers above the town and duringour first days we will visit nearby Buddhistmonasteries (or 'gompas'). One of thefinest examples of Ladakhi architecture inthe region is the gompa at Tikse. This is an incredibly atmospheric place and we will explore its artistic treasures,listening to the hypnotic chanting of monks as we walk round!Having fully acclimatised to the altitude, wewill then set off on our dedicated 6-daysearch for Snow Leopards in HemisNational Park. This is an incredibly sceniclandscape and raptors such asLammergeier and Himalayan GriffonVulture make an impressive sight here,rising up above the high peaks. A variety of other hardy birds, including Brown andRobin Accentors, and HimalayanSnowcock also remain for the winter. Thearea is home to some other rare mammalsincluding Wolves, Lynx and Tibetan Argali,though these are rarely seen. Morecommon are the Red Fox, Pika and WoollyHares which also brave the midwinter cold.Led by extremely experienced local, andNaturetrek, guides and researchers we willscan the mountainsides, valleys andgorges in areas that Snow Leopards areknown to frequent in the winter. It is thebest time of year for sightings and ourmovements will be dictated by signs offeline activity. If we find a kill we will sit andwait, hoping to see the Snow Leopardreturn to its meal. If we find fresh tracks,we will follow them and you will need to beprepared to trek through light to mediumsnowfalls for up to several hours a day,though it could be much less. There is nogreater wildlife thrill than seeing a SnowLeopard - whether at a kill or making itssolitary way up a remote mountain pass,blending into the wilderness in which it istotally at home and which to us seems so inhospitable!This tour is not luxurious, and you will needa high level of fitness to enjoy it. What itoffers you is a wonderful opportunity toexperience a genuine wildlife adventureand the chance of seeing a Snow Leopard,one of the rarest and most beautifulanimals on our planet!Ladakh - A Snow Leopard QuestAn exciting and adventurous 14-day expedition in search of Snow Leopards and other high-altitude winter wildlife in the mountains of Ladakh, north-west India. Sunday 26th February - Saturday 10th March Cost: £2,895Book direct on 01962 733051or see page 280 for Booking InformationTIBET NEPALPAKISTAN NEW DELHI LEHHEMIS NATIONAL PARKTHE GREAT HIMALAYA INDIA Outline itineraryDay 1Depart London.Day 2Arrive Delhi; fly Leh.Day 3/4Leh.Day 5 Hemis National Park.Day 6/10Trek/search in SnowLeopard country.Day 11Leh.Day 12Fly Delhi.Day 13Delhi.Day 14Fly London.AccommodationBasic accommodation. On trek thiswill involve camping or a villagehomestay; please note that on trekonly shared facilities will beavailable.FoodAll included in the price, except forlunches and dinners in Delhi. Allow£40.Grading C/D. You must be accustomed toregular, very strenuous hill treksand have a level of fitnesscompatible with trekking inmountainous terrain. Treks willcover uneven, snowy ground ataltitudes of up to 4,000 metres,where even gentle activity feelsmore tiring than usual.Focus Snow Leopards; other Himalayanwildlife, plus local culture.LeaderDave Mallon, Manoj Sharma orGerald Broddelez. RinchenWangchuk, or another researcherwith similar experience, will be ourlocal guide.Single room supplement£495; please note that singleaccommodation may not beavailable at some places on trek.Web quick search: IND27237Hemis NationalParkSnow Leopard

If you are seeking awildlife holiday which alsoleaves you feelinghealthier, happier and more relaxed, thisgroundbreaking Naturetrek wildlife andyoga combination could be the answer!Yoga, a system of exercises that emergedan astonishing 5,000 years ago to fosterboth physical and mental well-being, hasits origins in northern India. Theseexercises are documented in the Vedas,the oldest records of Indian culture, andyoga's founders were the great sages,famed for their remarkable powers ofphysical and mental concentration. Yogatoday combines stylised postures withexercises in deep breathing andmeditation, the word itself being derivedfrom a Sanskrit word meaning 'to jointogether' - the ultimate aim of yoga being to unite the human soul with theuniversal spirit. Our base for this holiday will be TarangiResort, situated in the buffer zone forest onthe edge of Corbett National Park. Whilsthere, we will rise early and focus eachmorning on exploring Corbett in search ofthe park's Tigers and fabulous range ofother mammals and birds. Then, afterlunch each day, and a suitable period atleisure, we'll offer a daily yoga class eachafternoon and evening, each lessoncarefully tailored to the level of experienceof the participants. In addition, informaltalks on yoga lifestyle will also be given.The flexibility offered by the yogainstructors here will provide for bothnewcomers to yoga as well as moreexperienced aficionados. All you will needare reasonably good health, a yoga matand a willingness to have fun and takehealthy exercise in inspiring naturalsurroundings. Indeed, the delightful situation of TarangiResort puts us in utter harmony withnature. Its 21 cottages are set in 13 lushacres of landscaped grounds beneath theHimalayan foothills and, nearby, on a fast-flowing river, White-capped River Chatsand Plumbeous Redstarts flit among theboulders whilst Brown Dippers plunge inand out of the torrent. Wallcreepers notinfrequently explore the rocky shorelinehere and the shaggy crested HimalayanPied Kingfisher is another regular visitor.The surrounding forests are also rich inbirdlife and, unlike the nearby nationalpark, it is possible to explore these on footwhich greatly increases the number ofbirds and smaller mammals we shouldsee. The lodge has been especiallydesigned with yoga in mind, andincorporates both a meditation and yogahall; it also offers Ayurvedic treatments andhas a large riverside swimming pool.Private vegetable and herb gardens supplythe restaurant inside, while the ruralsituation and the Himalaya to the northensure a rich supply of healthy fresh air.Indeed, it is our aim that when you leaveTarangi Resort, you will feel refreshed andrejuvenated, and possess a sense ofaccomplishment.Our holiday begins, however, in India'scapital, Delhi. From here we'll spend a daybirdwatching in Sultanpur National Park, aseasonal wetland attracting a wealth ofwaterbirds and passerines. We will thendrive north-east into the scenic forested hills and wide river valleys ofCorbett National Park where we have achance of seeing Tiger and IndianElephant plus a fine supporting cast ofmammals and birds. We will be spendingsix days in Corbett, the famous nationalpark named in honour of Jim Corbett. He was born in nearby Nainital in 1875 and,for over 30 years during the first half of the20th century, he achieved 'god-like' statusin these hills as he rid them of 19 man-eating Tigers and Leopards that betweenthem claimed over 1,200 lives. His modestaccounts of these exploits became best-selling books, but by 1920 he was turningto photography, one of that early breed ofnaturalists to turn from hunter toconservationist, and was duly honouredwhen Corbett National Park was founded in1957. Here the wealth and diversity thatCorbett experienced throughout theKumaon hills remains protected todaywithin the jungles and forested hills ofCorbett National Park. As well as a mouth-watering selection of sub-Himalayan birds,the park also supports a wealth ofmammals, among them Indian Elephants,Wild Boar, and herds of deer which are theprey of a healthy population of Leopardsand Tigers, all of which we will search foron elephant back and jeep. We will alsolook for the rare fish-eating GharialCrocodiles along Corbett's fast-flowingrivers, where enigmatic Ibisbills andWallcreepers may also be found in winter.Our holiday concludes back in Delhi, butparticipants may choose to extend theirvisit in a variety of ways, whether with avisit to another of the well-known TigerReserves, such as Ranthambore orSuklaphanta, or by further pursuing theirinterest in yoga with a visit to an Indianashram.India - Wildlife & Yoga!A unique 9-day holiday combination offering you the chance to explore the jungles of Corbett National Park in search of wildlife as well as to enjoy yoga in the beautiful surroundings of the Himalayan foothills. Sunday 13th November - Monday 21st November 2011 Cost: £1,995Sunday 18th March - Monday 26th March 2012 Cost: £1,995Sunday 11th November - Monday 19th November 2012 Cost: £1,995Ranthambore extension available on all tours Cost: £750Outline itineraryDay 1Depart London.Day 2Sultanpur National Park;overnight Delhi.Day 3/7Corbett National Park.Day 8 Delhi.Day 9Fly London.Ranthambore extensionDay 9/11Ranthambore NationalPark.Day 12Delhi.Day 13 Fly London.Accommodation5-star hotel in Delhi andcomfortable yoga resort on thebanks of the beautiful Kosi River inCorbett. All rooms have privatefacilities.FoodAll included in the price, except formain meals in Delhi. Allow £30.GradingA. This is a wildlife and yogaholiday that includes no strenuouswalking.FocusYoga, mammals and birds.LeaderHarish Sharma, Karan Modi, BuntyMandhayan or Nick Acheson, pluslocal guides.Single room supplement£395 (extension: £195).Web quick search: IND44238Call now or visit www.naturetrek.co.uk for your free Trip ItineraryTIBETNEPALPAKISTANNEW DELHINAINITALAGRABHARATPURRANTHAMBORETIGER RESERVE(EXTENSION)CORBETT NATIONAL PARK KOLKATABAY OFBENGALINDIARAJASTHANTHE HIMALAYA YAMUNA RIVERRIVER GANGES Tiger