An expedition to the Himalayas in search of the mysterious and elusive Snow Leopard

Spiti Valley

The Spiti Valley is an area that at first glance might appear arid and desolate, but it hides an infinite number of wonders. Located in the cold heights of the Himalayas, its beauty will surprise and inspire you.

Its rocky valleys, frozen rivers and high-altitude villages offer breathtakingly beautiful views and countless photographic opportunities.

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, however, the entire valley is tinged with pastel shades, giving life to a spectacle of rapidly changing colours, a gift for every 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 is an element that adds further depth and context to your images.

WILDLIFE

SNOW LEOPARD

One of the most fascinating aspects of this trip will be the chance to meet and photograph the mysterious snow leopard. This elusive predator is an emblem of Himalayan wildlife, famous for its beauty and rarity.

Despite its habitat being among the most inhospitable on the planet, the snow leopard has perfectly adapted to living in these extreme conditions, making it a unique and fascinating photographic subject.

The encounter with this elusive predator is a moment of tension and expectation. Being able to capture an image of this animal in all its majesty is a challenge that requires patience and dedication, but which can provide shots of inestimable value.

This adventure will enrich your photography portfolio, but above all your vision of the world through the lens of your camera. Don’t miss this extraordinary opportunity to combine your passion for photography with an unforgettable travel experience.

OTHER ANIMALS

The biodiversity of Spiti Valley goes far beyond the presence of its most famous inhabitant, the snow leopard. Among the most emblematic animals of the region, we find the Asian ibex, the Himalayan blue sheep, the Tibetan wolf, the red fox and, very fortunately, the pallas cat also lives in these valleys.

The Spiti Valley is therefore much more than just a landscape of astonishing natural beauty; it is a complex and dynamic ecosystem, a living laboratory for biodiversity that offers countless opportunities for research, environmental education and responsible ecotourism. Its rich fauna, together with the cultural heritage of the local communities, makes this region a unique treasure to be protected and enhanced for future generations.

The Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary is the main area where the snow leopard moves and with the help of expert local guides, you can more easily reach pristine corners in which to take unique and unrepeatable photographs.

The snow leopard has always been recognized as the Ghost of the mountains. Their ideal habitat, above 3000 meters above sea level, offers them refuge in the mountains together with numerous prey such as blue sheep, ibex, marmots, hares and much more. The snow leopard is also nicknamed the gray ghost, due to its ability to escape and mysterious nature.

In this area is also possible to see the  Bearded Volture, the Tibet Wolf and the Pallas Cat but you need to be really really lucky.

This snow leopard expedition is an unmissable experience for nature photographers and wildlife enthusiasts who want to explore the high altitude kingdom of Spiti Valley.

Daily Routine:

07:00 – The day begins with the group waking up, while the guides and observers venture into nature to track down 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 3 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.

This is a limited seat tour. We like to travel with small groups to maximize the experience and to give each participant the right space to enjoy this adventure.

If you want to be part of this adventure, just enter your email in the box below and you will receive all the information on how to sign up and a small guide with all the additional information to this trip. Always check your SPAM inbox if you can’t find our email.

For any other questions you can fill out the contact form at the bottom of the page or contact us via whatsapp by clicking the icon at the bottom right.

Snow leopard sightings can vary widely. With luck you can observe these animals even at 50/70 meters. You need 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) which can be useful for extending the shot in cases of necessity.

If you are interested in renting equipment, contact us.

DAY 1 Italy – New Delhi

Scheduled flight from Italy to New Delhi. Arrival and processing of bureaucratic formalities. Welcome by the professional photographer from the Just Explorers Team.

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DAY 2 India – New Delhi – Chandigarh 800 m

Domestic flight New Delhi Chandigarh. Arrival, welcome by the guide and transfer to the Hotel.

• Meals included

DAY 3 India – Chandigarh – Rampur

Breakfast, welcome by the photographer and the guide and departure for Rampur.

The journey is very long, for this reason there will be regular stops to avoid accumulation of tiredness and promote good acclimatization. Arrival and relax.

• Meals included
• Electricity, hot meals, sheets and towels, hot water.

DAY 4 Rampur – Tabo 3600 m

Breakfast, welcome by the photographer and the guide guide and departure for Kibber.

The journey is very long, for this reason there will be regular stops to avoid accumulation of tiredness and promote good acclimatization. Arrival and relax.

• Meals included
• Overnight Home Stay
• Electricity, heated blankets, hot meals, sheets and towels, running and hot water not Guaranteed.

DAY 5-6-7-8-9-10 Kibber 4,270m

Breakfast and departure for the photographic activity. 1 guide and 2 expert local observers will undertake to look 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 1.30 hours. 1 porter per photographer will help us transport photographic equipment.

In Spiti Valley the snow leopard sighting rate is very high.

• Meals Included
• 1 Porter per person always with you to help you.
• Overnight
• Overnight Home Stay
• Electricity, heated blankets, hot meals, sheets and towels, running and hot water not Guaranteed.
• Stove in the room

*In case of particular weather conditions it may be necessary to leave in the afternoon of day 9 to avoid getting stuck in Kibber with a stop in Tabo 3600m

DAY 11 India – Kibber – Rampur

Breakfast, welcome by the photographer Michele Bavassano and departure for Rampur. Arrival and relax.

• Meals included
• Overnight at Hotel
• Electricity, hot meals, sheets and towels, hot water.

DAY 12 India – Rampur – Chandigarh – New Delhi

Breakfast, welcome by the photographer and departure for Chandigarh. Arrival, processing of bureaucratic formalities and departure with internal flight Chandigarh New Delhi. In the evening, boarding for the flight back to Italy.—-

DAY 1 3 Arrival in  your country

Arrival in your country