February in Ladakh: A Practical Guide

Ten days, minus twenty at dawn, and a realistic view of your odds on a snow leopard.

Fly to Leh and lose two days to acclimatisation whether you feel you need them or not — 3,500 m is not negotiable and the trailheads are higher. Hemis and the Ulley valley are the standard bases.

Budget ten days minimum. Sighting probability on a well-run ten-day trip with local spotters is meaningfully above fifty percent; on four days it is closer to a coin flip weighted against you.

Bring a spotting scope or accept that you are dependent on someone else's. Most of the work is glassing opposite slopes for hours. Camera time is measured in minutes across the whole trip.

Layer for standing still, not for walking. The activity level is close to zero and the wind is the entire problem.