4 in stock

Snow Leopard Expedition

An expedition to the Himalayas in search of the mysterious and elusive snow leopard

India

Snow Leopard Expedition

Days

From 1 to 13 February

Max participants

6 Participants

Price

€ 5.990

4 in stock

Destination

The Spiti Valley is an area that at first glance might appear arid and desolate, but it hides an infinite number of wonders. Its rocky valleys, frozen rivers and high-altitude villages offer breathtaking views and countless photographic opportunities. Here, the snow leopard, with its elusive presence, adds a further element of charm and mystery to this land. Light is a magical element in this valley. In the early hours of the morning, it floods the mountain ridges, outlining their contours with golden tones and casting long shadows that create a fascinating play of contrasts. At sunset, the entire valley is tinged with pastel shades, creating a spectacle of rapidly changing colours, a gift for any photographer eager to capture the beauty of these moments. But not only the light makes Spiti Valley a fascinating photographic subject. Even its population, with their traditional clothes and faces marked by time and the elements, offers portraits of great emotional intensity. The fascination of these people living in symbiosis with such an extreme environment adds further depth and context to your images.

Dates and participants

Duration

12 nights and 13 days

At your place

From 1 to 13 February

Number of participants

6 Participants

Trip details

Overnight stay and meals

All overnight stays included

breakfast lunch dinner

Photographic activities

Difficulty

🔴 Difficult

Preparation and equipment

Short snow excursions are planned but at a high altitude (4000m)

Mode

Traveling photography and stalking photography

Cost and Tour leader

Tour leader

Jonathan Giovannini

Starting from

€ 5.990

Payment

€1000 deposit upon registration and balance 90 days before departure

The tour in detail

The Kibber area in Spiti Valley is the main area where the snow leopard roams. Here, with the help of expert local guides, you can reach uncontaminated places and observe unique things. Particularly in this period, since, in the heart of winter, temperatures drop and with them the Snow Leopards lower their altitude, making sightings much more frequent. The snow leopard, also nicknamed "the ghost of the mountains", due to its mysterious aura, has always been recognized as the king of these environments. However, their ideal habitat, above 3000 metres, offers the ideal conditions for a biodiversity that goes far beyond the elusive feline. Among the most emblematic animals of the region, we find the Asian ibex, the Himalayan blue sheep, or bharal, red foxes, eagles, Bearded Vultures, hares and, very fortunately, the Tibetan wolf. Pallas's Cat also lives in this valley, but is practically considered a ghost!

From our arrival in Kibber we will have photography activities every day following this daily routine: 07:00 – The day begins with the group waking up, while the guides and observers venture into nature to track the snow leopard. 08:00 – 08:30 – Breakfast at our cozy Home Stay, where you can enjoy delicious local dishes and prepare for today's adventure. 09:00 – Having received the latest news from our guides on the possible locations of the leopard, we will set off, where necessary using jeeps, towards the place designated for the photo session. The transfer time can vary from 10 minutes up to 1.30 hours, depending on the distance of the last leopard report. During the exploration, lunch will be provided in the form of a packed meal, allowing you to remain immersed in nature without interruptions. The photography day will span from 09:00 to 17:00, providing ample opportunity to capture breathtaking images of the snow leopard in its natural habitat. At the end of the day, we will return to our Home Stay to rest and share the emotions and shots collected during the adventure. Each photographer will be accompanied by a local helper who will help us transport everything necessary.

Our journey will be long and will include several stops to reach the final destination, allowing us to avoid excessive tiredness and better manage the altitude. During the route, we will always stop in accommodation facilities of the highest level for the context. We will have all the necessary comforts at our disposal: even in Kibber, where we will stay at over 4000 meters above sea level, we will have heating, electric blankets, electricity and fast internet connection, thus ensuring that we will never feel too isolated. The first structures will be real hotels, complete with restaurant, while the last stages in Spiti Valley will include homestay accommodation, where the services will be shared and the atmosphere will be more authentic. These places, in addition to the magic of the snow leopard, preserve ancient cultural aspects, offering us an adventure rich in history and nature.

Day by day program

Find out how the days will unfold and what activities make up the tour

Day 1

Scheduled flight arriving in New Delhi. Arrival and processing of bureaucratic formalities. Welcome by the professional photographer of the Team. Free meals in New Delhi.

Day 2

DAY 2 – New Delhi – Chandigarh 800 m Internal flight New Delhi Chandigarh. Arrival, welcome by the guide and transfer to the facility. - Meals included - Overnight stay in hotel - Hot water, electricity, Wi-fi and all services are present.

Day 3

Breakfast, welcome by the photographer and the guide and departure for Rampur. Arrival in the small town and accommodation in the hotel. Here we could already find the first fauna with the characteristic Macaques that live in this area. - Meals included - Overnight stay in hotel - Hot water, electricity, Wi-fi and all services are present.

Day 4

Tabo 3600 m Breakfast, welcome by the photographer and the guide and departure for Tabo. Here we will finally enter the Spiti Valley. Not yet at the final destination but already in an area populated by the Snow Leopard. - Meals included - Overnight stay in Home Stay - Heated blankets, sheets, towels, electricity and hot meals are provided in the homestays - Running and hot water is not guaranteed

Day 5/10

Kibber 4.270m Breakfast and departure for the photographic activity. 1 guide and 2 expert local observers will search for the presence of the snow leopard in the incredible Spiti Valley. Using our vehicles we will get as close as possible to the sighting point, then we will have to walk on foot. Depending on the location, you can walk from 10 minutes to 3 hours. 1 porter per photographer will help us transport photographic equipment. In Spiti Valley the snow leopard sighting rate is very high. - Overnight stay in Home Stay - Heated blankets, sheets, towels, electricity and hot meals are present in the homestays - Running and hot water is not guaranteed - A porter and helper will always be with you to help you with photographic equipment NB In case In particular weather conditions it may be necessary to spend the last night in Tabo, to avoid getting stuck in Kibber

Day 11

Our return journey begins. This time, the stop in Tabo for acclimatization will not be necessary and after the last breakfast in Kibber we will leave for Rampur. - Meals included - Overnight stay in hotel - Hot water, electricity, Wi-fi and all services are present.

Day 12

Breakfast, welcome by the photographer and departure for Chandigarh airport. Once we arrive at Chandigarh airport we will board the domestic flight to New Delhi. All within the same day. From here, in the evening we can board our intercontinental flight to Italy or your final destination.

Tour leader. Find out who will accompany you on the tour

Jonathan Giovannini

Born in 1994 in Sassoferrato, in the Marche region, he graduated in computer engineering. However, his true passion has always been the mountains and photography. Over the years, his interest in exploring nature and capturing its beauty has evolved into a deep need, driving him to seek out breathtaking places and unique moments. His mission is to share his adventures and emotions through photography, inviting others to experience the wonders of nature as he sees them. Regardless of the season or climate, day or night, he is dedicated to immersing himself in the natural world to create his personal interpretation of its beauty. Always searching for the perfect moment, he strives to capture the magic of sunsets, wildlife encounters and the essence of the natural environment.

What's included

all private transfers to/from Chandigar

all breakfasts, lunches and dinners;

1 night in a hotel in Chandigarh (double room with facilities)

1 Night Home Stay in Tabo Spiti Valley (Double Room with Shared Facilities)

7/8 days of photographic activity in Kibber

all park entry fees in the villages and the park in KIbber

1 porter for the transport of photographic equipment;

professional drivers, petrol and toll booths;

1 night in hotel in Rampur (double room with bathroom)

6 nights Home Stay in Kibber, Spiti Valley (double room with shared facilities);

water, soft drinks and hot drinks

4x4 jeep for getting around Kibber;

oxygen cylinder and basic first aid kit in Kibber;

the presence of a professional photographer.

What is not included

domestic flight;

single room supplement

tips to guides, trackers and porters;

medical health insurance (strongly recommended);

intercontinental flight;

entry visa;

alcoholic beverages;

everything not expressly indicated in "the price includes"

Frequent questions

How to sign up?

Signing up will be very simple! Simply follow the booking procedure by clicking on "Book Now". Once you have entered your personal data and completed the payment of the deposit, your registration will be confirmed. You will then receive a confirmation email once the procedure is completed.

What equipment will I need?

Snow leopard sightings may vary. With a bit of luck it is possible to observe these animals even at 50/70 meters. You have to be very lucky for a closer sighting, but it is not impossible. For this reason we recommend a minimum lens of 600mm. If you have teleconverters and small sensor cameras (DX/APS-C) they can be useful in case of need. If you are interested in renting equipment, contact us.

What clothing will I need?

Temperatures can be very cold, even below -20°C. For this reason we recommend technical clothing starting from a thermal layer (tights and shirt), socks, trousers and heavy jackets. There are no long walks involved so heavy clothing will not limit our movements too much. It will be very important to have gloves, a wool hat, a balaclava or neck warmer and sunglasses, possibly with side anti-glare. All the most precise indications and advice will then be communicated after registration,

What flight will I have to purchase?

For all the part relating to the purchase of flights you will be assisted after booking by our team. In these itineraries it is essential to avoid any purchasing errors and for this reason we will be fully available to help you identify and purchase the correct flights.

Terms and conditions

By booking via bank transfer to the organizers you accept the following clauses: 1. Since this is a pre-registration, the organizer will undertake to promptly communicate any possible change in the price of the tour, characterized by cost fluctuations. An annual price fluctuation of around 5% is highly probable. In relation to potential changes in the prices of ground services (for example changes influenced by fluctuating costs of electricity, fuel and more). 2. The price of the entire workshop will be paid by advance bank transfer or cash according to the procedures and deadlines established by the organizers. 3. In the event that the tour does not take place due to the organizer, the entire amount paid will be refunded. 4. In case of cancellation for personal reasons, the registration fee will be retained as a reimbursement of expenses. 5. In case of cancellation for personal reasons 60 days before departure, the entire balance of the tour will be required.

Contact us for more information on the trip

We will reply to you by email as soon as possible

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