Extravagant Snow Leopard Trek

The very name evokes all that is most wild, mysterious and elusive in nature – for this is an animal that comes cloaked not just in the subtle beauty of its own coat but also in all the high drama of the harsh and magnificent environment that it dominates. Well known for its beautiful fur, the snow leopard has a whitish-tan coat with ringed spots of dark, ashy-brown and rosettes of black. Its tail is heavy with fur and the bottoms of its paws are covered with fur for protection against snow and cold.

There are a couple different ways these treks are conducted. First is to carry all your luggage and gear and trek from village to village spending nights in homestays within some of these remote areas. The second option and the one that is preferred is to make a base camp and then each day trek searching for the snow leopard. This way you get to explore in different directions radiating from the base camp. Along with you on your trek you will be accompanied by an expert guide, Khenrap Phuntshog. Khenrap has been associated with the Wildlife Protection Department of Jammu and Kashmir for the last fifteen years and has spent much of his time ‘in the field’ tracking and monitoring the wildlife and birds of the region. He is an expert in the snow leopards as well as being a keen conservationist and wildlife guard and, by default has become a keen wildlife photographer. Having spent most of his life monitoring this region, he knows each hill and valley as well as the territories roamed by the local fauna making him one of the best people to lead this trip. (An expert guide should be booked in advance and can be finalized depending on availability on the requested dates. We do have other wildlife experts in the region with similar profiles).

An attractive contrast of the snow leopard trek is the beginning and ending of your tour. This includes tours of the monasteries in Leh with its picturesque villages and also a city tour of Delhi. Enjoy the culture of the people and the gentle and cheerful Buddhism that they practice.

Please note: The Snow Leopard being an elusive and a very shy cat, it is very difficult to get a sight of it during the summer months, but during the winter the snow leopard comes down for water and prey. We have chose the months of this tour specifically as this is the time when they are mating, marked by a noticeable increase in marking and calling. This tour does consist of a moderate to strenuous trek 7 days out of the 14 day tour. The trek is definitely for those looking for a unique wilderness experience, however, with this uniqueness comes the challenges and one must fully understand the situation that they are getting into. This is NOT a luxury safari, it requires a certain level of fitness and flexibility in terms of adjusting to the lifestyle of the area. Uphill climbs and climbing a ridge are possible depending on the movement. Please confirm with your practitioner on your physical fitness level regarding this tour.