A 10-day winter expedition through Spiti Valley in search of the elusive snow leopard, with four full days of tracking in Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary.
Overview
Schedule
Day 1 | The Road: Chandigarh to Rampur
Meet in Chandigarh in the morning and drive through Shimla onto the old Hindustan-Tibet Highway. Reach Rampur Bushahr by afternoon, visit Padam Palace, settle into the stay and join a welcome activity and expedition briefing.
Day 2 | The Threshold: Rampur to Tabo
Follow the Sutlej through Kinnaur, stopping at Nako before crossing Sumdo into Spiti. Reach Tabo, visit the ancient Tabo Monastery and take a village walk at dusk. Evening naturalist session introduces snow leopard ecology and tracking.
Day 3 | The Cold Desert: Tabo to Kaza
Drive to Kaza and explore the high plateau around Langza, Hikkim and Komic. Visit the Buddha at Langza, see marine fossils, send a postcard from Hikkim and visit Komic monastery. Evening tracking protocol session.
Day 4 | Shan's Country: Kaza to Chicham
Visit Ki Monastery before continuing through Kibber into the wildlife sanctuary. Cross the Chicham Bridge and reach the homestay. Afternoon session introduces the tracking terrain, spotting positions and wildlife signs.
Day 5 | The Watch: Chicham
First full snow leopard tracking day. Begin before first light with local spotters positioned across the valley. Use spotting scopes to scan the slopes, watching blue sheep, ravens and other signs that may reveal the leopard's presence.
Day 6 | The Wait: Chicham
Second full tracking day. Continue reading the landscape and searching for snow leopards across different vantage points. Look beyond the main species for blue sheep, ibex, red fox, Himalayan wolf, bearded vultures and golden eagles.
Day 7 | The Ridge: Chicham
Final full day in the sanctuary. Return to the strongest tracking grounds identified during the expedition, either walking to a further vantage point or holding position for the day. Spend time in Chicham with local residents before the final night under the Spiti sky.
Day 8 | The Descent: Chicham to Kaza
Final morning tracking session before leaving Chicham. Drive to Kaza and spend the afternoon exploring the old town and market, with time to rest, reflect and recover from the altitude.
Day 9 | The Long Road Back: Kaza to Rampur
Retrace the Kinnaur road through Tabo and Nako. Stop for photographs along the route before reaching Rampur. End the evening with a closing circle and dinner.
Day 10 | Farewell: Rampur to Chandigarh
Drive from Rampur through Shimla to Chandigarh. The expedition concludes back where it began.
Chandigarh
Starting Point
Chandigarh
Ending Point
What's Included
9 nights twin-sharing accommodation
Breakfast × 9
Lunch × 9
Dinner × 9
Private vehicle transfers from Chandigarh and back
Four full days of snow leopard tracking
Local snow leopard spotters
Shared spotting scopes and field optics
Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary permits and entry fees
Route permits
Snow leopard ecology & tracking session with naturalist
Photography workshops
Monastery and high-altitude village visits
Group activities with trip hosts
24/7 trip-host support
What's not Included
Travel to/from Chandigarh
Flights, trains or buses to/from Chandigarh
Winter clothing
Boots and personal gear
Personal expenses
Laundry
Room service
Camera rental
Medical expenses
Additional meals/beverages not mentioned
Tips
Expenses caused by circumstances beyond the organiser's control
Anything not specifically mentioned in the inclusions
Bucket List
Track the elusive snow leopard in its natural habitat
Spend 4 full days tracking in Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary
Explore Spiti Valley in peak winter
Visit Tabo Monastery
Visit Ki Monastery
Explore Langza, Hikkim and Komic
Cross the Chicham Bridge
Experience traditional Spiti villages and homestays
Photograph snow leopards and Himalayan wildlife
Experience the Spiti night sky
Spot blue sheep, ibex, red fox, Himalayan wolf and Himalayan birds
Getting There
Meet the group in Chandigarh and travel by private vehicle towards Rampur. The expedition continues through Kinnaur and Nako into Spiti Valley, reaching Tabo, Kaza and eventually Chicham/Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary.
Gallery
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