After a night in Delhi, a short early morning flight brings you to Leh in the heart of Ladakh. At 3500m above sea level a couple of days here, surrounded by high mountain ranges, gives you the necessary time to acclimatise to the high altitude while making gentle exploration of ancient Buddhist monasteries.  

Photo credit: Angus Fraser 

Driving west, following the Indus River you will reach wilder, remote valleys and snow leopard country. Your guide will already be on the look out, scanning the hill sides and skyline for any silhouette. It's one of the best areas to see ibex, as well as red fox and wolf, as well as bearded Himlayan griffon and bearded vulture soaring above the plunging cliffs. 

Photo credit: Angus Fraser 

Staying in relative comfort, without having to deal with the exhausting issues of camping in the intense cold aggravated by high altitude, you will venture out from your simple lodge or homestay into the snow each day. Starting out by vehicle you will continue on foot to vantage points and possible siting areas - the amount of walking you do can be adjusted to suit your capabilities. 

The trackers and spotters are exceptional, interacting closely with the local people and using their network of local intelligence to narrow down the likely sites for snow leopard movement. While there is a realistic chance of spotting one, it must be regarded as a great privilege to even catch a glimpse of a snow leopard. They are wild and by necessity elusive creatures with no fixed routine and finding them requires not only the skill and patience of trackers and guides but also considerable luck!

We work closely with the Snow Leopard Conservancy which engages with  local communities in the Himalayas to secure Snow Leopard habitat; you will have the opportunity to witness their work first hand in Ladakh. Before flying back to Delhi and returning home, we encourage everyone to make a contribution of USD 200 per person.