Himalayan Brown Bear (Drass - Ladakh)
Imagine waking up to the sight of majestic Himalayan Brown Bears right outside your window. That’s the incredible experience you can have at Drenmo Lodge, the first ever dedicated wildlife lodge in western Ladakh. Located in the remote Mushkow valley, which is known as a prime habitat for these magnificent creatures, this lodge offers an unparalleled opportunity to witness these bears in their natural habitat.
Not only does Drenmo Lodge provide a chance to observe Brown Bears up close, but it also offers comfortable and cozy accommodations. With six rooms that have been refurbished with modern amenities and adorned with touches of traditional architecture, this lodge is the perfect place to unwind after spending long hours in the chilly outdoors. The warm and inviting atmosphere of the rooms will make you feel right at home, allowing you to relax and rejuvenate before your next wildlife adventure.
What sets Drenmo Lodge apart from other accommodations is its dedicated team of local experts. With a decade of field experience, these professionals are passionate about wildlife conservation and ensuring that guests have the best possible experience during their stay. They will guide you through the mesmerizing landscapes of Ladakh, providing insights into the behavior and conservation efforts of the Brown Bears. Their knowledge and expertise will make your time at Drenmo Lodge truly unforgettable.
Whether you are a wildlife enthusiast or simply seeking a unique and extraordinary experience, Drenmo Lodge is the ultimate destination for you. Come and be captivated by the beauty of the Mushkow valley, immerse yourself in the tranquility of Holiyal village, and witness the awe-inspiring presence of the Himalayan Brown Bears. Book your stay now and get ready to embark on an adventure like no other.
Let’s Customise your Himalayan Brown Bear Expedition !
About the Forest
The Trans-Himalaya of Ladakh slowly transforms from a cold dry desert in the east dotted with plateaus and barren hills, turning greener beyond Namika La towards Kargil and Drass. The Zoji La (3500m) pass is the dramatic divide between the forested hills of Kashmir to the west and the trans-Himalaya to the east. Known as ‘The Gateway to Ladakh’, the picturesque valley of Drass is situated at the cusp of this great divide making it a unique landscape.
To explore and discover the flora and fauna here is like unfolding a miracle. One can see Sirens, Accentors, Rose finches, Choughs, Golden Eagles and Lammergeiers soar in the skies and its grassy slopes are home to specials like the Musk Deer, Himalayan Grey Wolf, Himalayan Fox, Pika, Long Tailed Marmot, Asiatic Ibex and the largest land carnivore in India – the Himalayan Brown Bear
Regarded as the “Second coldest inhabited place in the world” – Drass is an alpine terrain situated in western Ladakh at an average elevation of 3000m with winter temperatures plummeting to below 40 degree celsius and an average snowfall of about 4 to 5 feet. As the summer months arrive (between May to September) the mountain slopes bloom into meadows of wild flowers when the temperatures become a pleasant 20-30 degree celsius. This unique microclimate of Drass nurtures over 50 varieties of high altitude plants with a majority of them having medicinal properties, and over 30 varieties of resident and migratory avifauna
Your Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive at Drenmo Lodge in Drass from Srinagar / Leh. Check in at the Lodge in Brown Bear Landscape by afternoon. Briefing & Orientation by Tour Leader and
Spotter. Post lunch, rest. In the evening bear sightings, high tea/snacks followed by dinner.
Day 2
Brown Bear Tracking / Birding Day
Start the day with early morning bear sightings followed by breakfast at the lodge. Post breakfast, Mushkow river walk followed by outdoor lunch or high tea subject to weather. Here we try spotting the bears in the mountains/valleys around. During summer months, on a good day youwill be able to spot over 30 varieties of resident and migratory birds. Post lunch, wildlife and landscape excursion to Manman top. Bear sightings in the evening. Film screening and high tea/snacks in the lounge. Dinner followed by a briefing for the next day.
Day 3 & Day 4
Brown Bear Tracking
Early Start to the day with scanning for bears and have breakfast at the lodge. Post breakfast, depending on the snow conditions, we will hike up or drive to reach the adjacent hillside, which provides a good vantage point to scan for bear movements in the area. Also our spotters will accompany us and with their trained eyes and tracking skills help us get to find and see this magnificent animal. Again depending on sighting situations the naturalist/spotters will decide for lunch as a picnic or back at Lodge.
Morning and evening Brown Bear tracking. Depending on the sightings in our base valley, we can drive to other adjacent valleys such as Umba La (based on snow levels at that time of the year) Pandrass, Matayen, Shimsha Kharbu,Suru or the apricot orchards in the beautiful village of Karkitchu.
Alternatively, you can also choose to take a driving excursion to Kargil to explore its history and culture and visit the Hondurman heritage village and the Munshi Aziz Bhat Museum of Central Asian and Kargil trade heritage.
Day 5
Day 5: Drive back to Srinagar / Leh
Post a leisurely breakfast, you can choose to drive back to Leh and fly out from there or you can also consider continuing further towards Kashmir and fly out of Srinagar.
Our Standard tour packages packages are for 4 nights. For customisation for more than 4 nights covering surrounding areas in Drass and Kargil or Adding Snow Leopard Expedition along with Brawn Bear please be free to contact us.
About Dream Lodge
Located in the remote Mushkow valley – a prime Himalayan Brown Bear Habitat, Drenmo Lodge is the first ever dedicated wildlife lodge in western Ladakh. Set in the picturesque village of Holiyal, it offers opportunities to view bears right from your room window.
Refurbished with modern amenities and thoughtful touches of traditional architecture, the warm and cozy rooms are the perfect place to come back to after spending long hours in the chilly outdoors viewing bears and other wildlife of the region.
A local team with a decade of field experience will ensure you have the best time while in the outdoors and a comfortable and memorable stay at the lodge.
Choosing the travel company that can deliver your dream trip is the most important decision you’ll make as you plan your trip. We know there are many choices available but we’re confident that none will offer the combination of wildlife expertise, good lodging , exclusive activities and overall value for money and we take your trust in deciding to travel with us.
