Himalayan Homestays was started in Ladakh in 2002 by the Snow Leopard Conservancy, The Mountain Institute, local tour operators and villagers living in important snow leopard areas. In 1999, local people had expressed an interest in generating income from increasing numbers of visitors that passed through their villages, and wanted to offer a tourism experience that would benefit visitors, hosts and the local environment. The first Homestays were established in Hemis National Park, “snow leopard capital of India,” in 2002 and later-on more villagers joined from Sham, another important snow leopard area. We hope that more communities in Ladakh will join the Himalayan Homestay network in 2004.
Homestays generate additional income for local people – helping offset unavoidable income losses from livestock depredation by snow leopards and other predators. With income from tourism that highlights wildlife viewing, local people have a reason to conserve predators which may threaten their herds, especially since poaching and retributive killing of snow leopards are the major threats across the Himalaya to this rare and beautiful cat.

Homestay Services: Selected villages along the Markha and Sham trekking routes have been given Himalayan Homestay training by the Snow Leopard Conservancy with support from The Mountain Institute and UNESCO. These settlements are situated in excellent habitat for the endangered snow leopard and its prey. One can see the cat’s sign and herds of blue sheep or ibex.

As a visitor you will be provided:

• a clean, comfortable room (with candle or solar light), furnished in the Ladakhi style
• traditional Ladakhi meals, cooked hygienically using eco-friendly methods
• clean solar-boiled spring water to drink
• a clean traditional dry-composting toilet
• the opportunity to enjoy the rhythm of life in a village where farming and livestock herding has been the way of life for centuries

In some sites there are local guides who can take you wildlife watching and on village walks. Check with the Homestay Coordinator, Overland Escape, where guides are currently available.