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An expedition to the Himalayas in search of the mysterious and elusive snow leopard
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€ 500,00
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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.
All overnight stays included
Andrea Benvenuti
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!
Since 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 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 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 fatigue and better manage the altitude. During the journey, 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 spend the night at about 3800 meters above sea level, we will have heating, electric blankets, electricity and a 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 the Spiti Valley include homestay accommodations with a more authentic atmosphere but always with private bathroom, heating and continuous electricity. These places, in addition to the magic of the snow leopard, preserve ancient cultural aspects, offering us an adventure rich in history and nature.
Find out how the days will unfold and what activities make up the tour
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 – New Delhi – Chandigarh 800 m
Domestic flight New Delhi Chandigarh. Arrival, welcome by the guide and transfer to the facility.
– Meals included
- Overnight at Hotel
– Hot water, electricity, Wi-fi and all services are present.
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 at Hotel
– Hot water, electricity, Wi-fi and all services are present.
Tabo 3600 m
Breakfast, welcome by the photographer and the guide 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
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 provided in the homestays
– Running and hot water is not guaranteed
– A porter and helper will always be with you to help you with the photographic equipment
NB In case of particular weather conditions it may be necessary to spend the last night in Tabo, to avoid getting stuck in Kibber
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 at Hotel
– Hot water, electricity, Wi-fi and all services are present.
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.
5.00 PM Arrive Chandigarh
7.00 PM: Flight
Time: 8.30 am Arrival in New Delhi
From here, in the evening we can board our intercontinental flight to Italy or your final destination.
All flights from 11.00 PM onwards will be compatible with the itinerary
Arrive at your final destination.
Nature photographer from Rome, he has cultivated a passion for photography since the age of 18, fascinated by the animal world since he was a child. Having graduated in Environmental Sciences with a thesis on the man-wolf conflict, he then obtained a master's degree in Ecobiology. Develop global photography projects integrated with bird and mammal conservation initiatives. He has won national and international competitions and published in magazines such as National Geographic.
Discover all the places and views that you can admire during this trip. All the material shown here comes from our trips
Signing up will be very simple!
Simply follow the booking procedure by clicking on "Book Now". Once you have entered your personal data, you will only be asked to pay a deposit, not the full price. At the end of the operation the registration will be confirmed. You will then receive a confirmation email once the procedure is completed. The balance will then be requested according to the terms reported at the top of the page, usually 60 days before departure.
Snow leopard sightings can vary. With a bit of luck, you can see these animals 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 cameras with a small sensor (DX/APS-C) they can be useful in case of need. If you are interested in renting equipment, contact us.
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,
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.
By booking by paying the deposit to the organizers you accept the following clauses:
1. Since this is a pre-registration, the organizer will endeavor 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 likely if booking is made more than one year in advance. in relation to potential changes in 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 via the payment methods offered by the organizer, such as bank transfer, PayPal, credit card or cash according to the procedures and deadlines established by the organizers, taking charge of the transaction costs.
3. In the event that the tour does not take place due to the organiser, the entire amount paid will be refunded.
4. In case of cancellation for personal reasons of any kind and in any case not dependent on the organizer, the deposit and any other registration fees will be retained as a reimbursement of expenses.
5. In case of cancellation for personal reasons within 60 days of departure, the entire balance of the tour will be required.
By registering, paying the deposit and sending your personal data you again accept clauses 1,2,3,4,5.
We will reply to you by email as soon as possible
JUST EXPLORERS SRLS
VAT number: 01708500556
Address: Via G. Verdi 86 Castel Viscardo 05014
PEC: just.explorers@pec.it
+39 328 856 6896
info@justexplorers.com
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