The Indian Subcontinent - Clean Breaks: 500 New Ways to See the World - page 324

of Machaupuchare mountain and involves a
morning on Poon Hill, watching the sun rise
over the Daulaghiri peaks. With plenty of other
trekkers on the path, you could easily negotiate
the trek alone. But if you do it as part of a two-
week Annapurna Trails and Homestay trip with
The Responsible Travellers (who invest all their
profits in local charities), you'll also spend four
days visiting Kathmandu and the medieval
town of Bhaktapur. The trip concludes with four
nights living with a Nepalese family.

snow on the ground to reveal
its tracks. After a few days
acclimatizing in Ladakh's
capital Leh, you and your local
guide, an expert mountaineer
and snow leopard researcher,
head off into the Hemis Valley
National Park to spend six
days in pursuit of this most
elusive of cats. Sightings are
not guaranteed, but even if
you don't spot one, the rugged
mountain scenery is populated
by enough other animals, including the ibex and
Himalayan marmot, to keep you happy.

Need to know The fifteen-day trip starts and ends
in Kathmandu. For itinerary details and prices see
W www.theresponsibletravellers.com. For a similar
experience, but trekking through the foothills of
Everest, see W www.handsupholidays.com/tours/
everest-bound; T [phone].

The ideal time to look
for a snow leopard is
late autumn or early
spring

Need to know Starting and ending in Delhi,
the fourteen-day trip takes place in March and
November. Accommodation in Delhi and Leh is in
guesthouses, while trekking accommodation is in
rural homes and tented camps. For tour dates and
details of itineraries see W www.discoveryinitiatives.
com; T [phone].

441 Track snow leopards in India
The ideal time to look for the snow leopard is late
autumn and early spring, when there's enough
food to tempt it out of hiding but there's still

Traditional houses and
homes of Nepal