3 Best Wildlife Safaris to Visit in Ladakh
Ladakh is considered heaven on earth due to its magnificent beauty. However, with its attractive landscape, Ladakh is also an adobe of different famous wildlife including rare snow animals. In addition, tourists can also spot different birds in Ladakh.
So, if you are travelling to Ladakh, you must visit these wildlife safaris in Ladakh and get a unique experience. Scroll through the article to know more.
List of Top Wildlife Safaris in Ladakh
1. Hemis National Park
Hemis National Park is one of the most popular wildlife hotspots in Ladakh. The national park was named after Hemis Gompa which is a famous monastery in Ladakh. Hemis National Park is extremely popular for the rare snow leopards. With a wildlife safari tour in Ladakh, you can spot marmots, the Tibetan wolf, the Himalayan mouse hare, red foxes etc.
- Area Covered: 4400 km
- Best Time to Visit: May to October
- Average Time to Spend: 1 to 2 Days
- Operational Hours: 9 am to 5 pm
- Distance from the Airport: 47.7 km from the nearest Leh Rimpochee Airport
- Entry Fee: Indians: ₹ 20 per person and foreigners: ₹ 100 per person.
- How to reach: Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport in Leh is the nearest. Fly to this airport and then take a bus or cab.
2. Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary
Situated in Leh district, Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the high-altitude national parks in Ladakh and also a famous spot for trekking. Here you can spot rare Tibetan antelopes which come here during migration. You can explore wildlife such as wild yak, Himalayan mouse, Ladakhi urial, lynx, Bactrian Camel etc. Bird lovers can also spot some rare bird species here.
- Area Covered: 5000 km
- Best Time to Visit: May to October
- Average Time to Spend: 2 to 3 Days
- Operational Hours: Throughout the day
- Distance from the Airport: 177 km from the nearest Leh Rimpochee Airport
- Entry Fee: Indians ₹ 30 per person
- How to reach: Fly to Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport in Leh and then take a bus or cab.
3. Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife Sanctuary
Changthang Cold Desert Wildlife Safari is a great Ladakh wildlife safari and is a must-include in the Ladakh bucket list. This is a Trans Himalayan area which is notable for its gorgeous icy landscape. Apart from wildlife, there are also around 200 species of plants. Famous animals you will spot here are snow leopards, Tibetan gazelle, wild yak, etc.
- Area Covered: 4000 km2
- Best Time to Visit: May to December
- Average Time to Spend: 2 to 3 Days
- Operational Hours: Throughout the day
- Distance from the Airport: 129 km from the nearest Leh Rimpochee Airport
- Entry Fee: No entry fee
- How to reach: Fly to Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport in Leh and then take a bus or cab.
Therefore, if you are planning a Ladakh tour you must include any of these wildlife sanctuaries in your bucket list. They will provide you with an extraordinary experience of exploring authentic Indian wildlife. Besides, the natural beauty of these wildlife safaris in Ladakh will never fail to amaze you.
FAQs About Wildlife Safaris in Ladakh
What is the speciality of the Hemis National Park in Ladakh?
The most attractive aspect of Hemis National Park is the rare snow leopards.
Name some rare bird species found in Ladakh.
Black-necked cranes, Golden eagles, brown-headed gulls etc are some rare bird species found in Ladakh.
What animal product is Ladakh famous for?
Changthang goat of Ladakh which gives Pashmina wool (Cashmere) is the famous animal product in Ladakh.
What kind of wildlife is found in Ladakh?
Marmot, Tibetan argali sheep (nyan), Tibetan wild ass, Tibetan bharal (blue sheep), and Tibetan urial sheep (shapo) are a few of the most prevalent animals in Ladakh.