Seek a Snow Leopard

Known throughout the world for its beautiful fur and shy, elusive behavior, the endangered snow leopard (Panthera uncia) is found in the rugged mountains of Central Asia. Snow leopards are perfectly adapted to the cold, barren landscape of their high-altitude home, but human threats have created an uncertain future for the cats. Despite a range of over 2 million km2, there are only between 4,000 and 6,500 snow leopards left in the wild.

On this trip we search for a snow leopard in the highlands of Spiti valley. Rudyard Kipling describes Spiti in "Kim" in these words: "At last they entered a world within a world - a valley of leagues where the high hills were fashioned of the mere rubble and refuse from off the knees of the mountains... Surely the Gods live here. The valleys of Kullu and Lahaul bound Spiti, locally pronounced “Piti”, on its south and west; the region of Ladakh lies to the north and the Kalpa valley lies to the southeast. Geologically and archaeologically, Spiti is a living museum. The mountains are devoid of any vegetation and erosion by wind, sun and snow over thousands of years has laid bare the rocks. The rugged and rocky mountain slopes sweep down to the riverbeds giving the landscape a moon-like appearance.

From Chandigarh, we go via Shimla and Rampur to Kaza- headquarters of Spiti. From here we head out to Kibber, and then into the back-of-the beyond wilder parts of the Spitian Himalayas where we track Snow Leopards.

Day 1: Chandigarh- Thanedar- 6 hrs

Leave from Chandigarh between 1100-1200 hrs and drive to Thanedar. Reach Thanedar at around 1800hrs. Check into retreat and rest.

Day 2: Thanedar- Kalpa- 6 hrs

Leave for Kalpa after breakfast. Drive along River Sutlej for most of the way. Reach Kalpa in the evening. Check into the hotel for the night. Kalpa is famous for its apple and chilgoza plantations and offers an unparalleled view of the Kinner Kailash. Night stay in hotel.

Day 3: Kalpa- Kaza- 8-9 hrs

We leave early in the morning after breakfast and head to Kaza. Here the landscape changes from lush green to complete barren. Reach Kaza in the evening. Stay the night in a local homestay.

Day 4: Kaza- Kibber- 1 hr

Day for acclimatization. Also meet the Nature conservation foundation to gather information on snow leopard. Night stay in a homestay.