Snow Leopard Sightings and other Winter Tourism Activities in Ladakh are suspended

Because of the rising threat and fear of the new Covid-19 Omicron variant, the Ladakh administration has decided to suspend the Chadar Trek in 2022. Additionally, the authorities have suspended snow leopard sighting expeditions in Leh and other winter tourism activities.

A popular adventure tourism activity in the region is the Chadar trek, which involves a 15-day trek mostly over the frozen Zanskar river.

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“Keeping in view the current Covid situation, the District Magistrate of Leh, Shrikant Suse has issued notification for the suspension of #ChadarTrek 2022, #snowleopard sighting expedition and other #wintertourism activities in the Leh district,” The tweet from Ladakh Tourism read.

The Leh DM stated in his official notification that the order was issued based on the occurrence of Covid-19 cases and detection of Omicron variants in the district. Chadar Trek 2022, snow leopard sighting expeditions, and other winter tourism activities in the district are hereby suspended until further notice. Any violation shall invite punitive action,” according to the document signed by the Chairman, Disaster Management Authority of the Administration of Union Territory of Ladakh.

Santosh Sukhadeve, the District Magistrate of Kargil, had already issued an order to impose a strict curfew in the district from 9 pm to 6 am, during which all non-essential travel services will be prohibited in the district. On arrival, RT-PCR testing is now mandatory for all travelers coming from outside the district, regardless of their vaccination status or whether they have a negative Covid-19 test report.

There has been the first snowfall of the season in Ladakh and tourists come from all over the country to experience the sub-zero temperatures in the region.