Snow Leopard in Spiti Valley

Himalayas, the abode of snow, with most of the world’s highest peaks, is the greatest mountain range in the world, one of the most extreme places on earth for life to exist. A place frozen in time with mile-long glaciers, icy summits, sheer rock faces, harsh winters, and dry summers, it is savage in every way. Anyone who lives in these high mountains has to bear some of the extreme weather conditions on this planet – snow blizzards which last for a week, avalanches, high altitudes along with landslides, rockfalls which alter the landscape almost every day. Yet a few animals exist over these high mountains; they have had to adapt their body and behavior to survive. Among those who live here, one animal rules these high mountain ridges – the majestic of them all ‘The Snow Leopard’. Snow Leopards are one of the rarest species that exist on our planet. They exist only in 12 countries in the world. Even in these places they are seldom seen. Such is the majesty of this animal that a very few people have been lucky to see this spotted cat in the wild. India is one of those countries where Snow Leopards exist; they rule the cliffs of Trans-Himalayan landscape in Spiti and Ladakh and are highly revered by the people who live here. Due to this respect from people to wildlife, Snow Leopards in these mountains are highly protected from poachers. With a stable population of Snow Leopards, it is also one of the best places to see this rare cat. It is so rare to see a Snow Leopard that people here call it the ‘The Grey Ghost’. Winters in Spiti are the best time to spot rare Himalayan wildlife like – Snow Leopard, Siberian Ibex, Blue Sheep, Tibetan Wolf, Red fox, Lammergeyer, Golden Eagle, Tibetan Snowcock, etc. As the temperatures plummet, these animals descend down from altitude above 5000m to around 4000m in search of food and is the best time to spot them. For several years we ‘Spiti Valley Tours’ have been organizing Snow Leopard sightings in Spiti Valley to provide a unique opportunity for wildlife enthusiasts to spot this wild cat and in turn help local communities. Our local communities support us by providing Home stays, wildlife spotters and guides. The tour also gives you an insight into the hard lives of these mountain people with visuals of breathtaking landscapes. Overall this tour will be an experience of a lifetime for those who brave the winter cold and visit Spiti.

Itinerary