Join me on a wildlife safari like no other, as we seek out and photograph the elusive snow leopard, also known as the Ghost of the Himalayas. We have the best guides in the business to help us seek out and find snow leopards, as they know the area where our lodge is and the best areas to be in.

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Our trip puts us in the best position for viewing and photographing snow leopards in the wild. We have a long stay in a remote valley, where guides and trackers know the area and can get us into position.

• Knowledgeable and passionate guides and trackers will drive and help us get the images we are after.

• We will explore the beautiful Himalayan landscapes of Ladakh, long closed off to the outside world. Here we will be in the heart of Tibetan Buddhist culture.

• This itinerary focuses on a real wildlife experience in very remote areas of the Himalayas

• Round out your trip with a Tiger Safari extension that will begin before our Snow Leopard adventure (highly recommended)

Is this trip For you?
Here are some key points to help you decide:

1. We welcome photographers of ALL levels. This safari will be conducive to learning from one another and include instruction that will suit everyone’s photographic needs. No question is off limits, no inquiry too basic.

2. We are BIG on photographing in the field. We spend most our time and effort on safari activity and making images, however we also have time back at camp to talk about anything you would like help with.

3. Non-photographer or videographer spouses / travel companions will love these safaris. We have specialist guides leading all safari activities and optional activities are also available at any time.

The Schedule

January 24, 2025 - Arrive Delhi, India

On your arrival in Delhi you will be met by our local representative, who will assist you with your bags and will drive you to your hotel for the night, which is about 15 minutes away from the airport. You will be assisted with your check-in, and depending on the time of day when you arrive you can lounge by the swimming pool or enjoy a nice meal. The group will likely have a welcome dinner tonight if you have arrived in time.

Overnight JW Marriott

January 25, 2025 - Delhi to Leh, Ladakh

Today we are flying from Delhi to Leh, Ladakh and we will use the remainder of today to get acclimatized to the higher elevation. No matter how fit you are, today and tomorrow will be the days to get used to the higher altitude of the Himalayas. Ladakh is a region of India that is in the Himalayas and where we run our snow leopard trips. The area is not only about snow leopards, as there are a host of other wildlife and birds to see, as well as dramatic scenery and the colorful Buddhist culture.

Leh is situated in a very scenic valley, as it is bounded by two of the world’s biggest mountain ranges and are home to numerous monasteries. We will visit a few palaces and monasteries during our two days in Leh. It will also be helpful for us to get acclimatized with the high altitude, before we start our snow leopard safari.

Overnight at Grand Dragon Hotel

January 26, 2025 - Leh, Ladakh

Day of acclimatization, in and around Leh. We will visit some Buddhist monasteries at a slow pace, which are great for photography. On our list to visit are Sankar Gompa, Shanti Stupa and Leh Palace.

Overnight at Grand Dragon Hotel

January 27, 2025 - Leh to Ulley

Today we will drive 2-3 hours on the road to Kargil and Srinagar, following the Indus River. We will pass through the small town of Numb, one of the most important in Ladakh, where the Zanskar River meets the Indus River. We will reach Likir, one of Ladakh’s famous monasteries.

The road continues and the beautiful Himalayas are all around you on this drive to Ulley. The large valleys around Leh transition into smaller valleys as we approach our final destination. We enter snow leopard country, as well as optimal habitat for ibex. We will keep our eyes out for ibex silhouettes on the ridges as we approach Ulley. We will be staying in the area for six nights, using Snow Leopard Lodge as our base of operations. We will be staying in a remote area of Ladakh and until recently was cut off from the rest of the world and has only opened in recent times for tourism. Our small lodge is built around a dining room, lounge and kitchen and we will be staying with a local Ladakh family who operates this small lodge of eight rooms.

Overnight at Snow Leopard Lodge

January 28 - February 1, 2025 - Ulley Valley for Snow Leopards

Due to the rugged terrain of the Himalayas, most of the herbivores are related to the agile-footed sheep and goats. They can move easily through the mountainous regions, from one pasture to the next. During the winter months the Ibex move down to lower altitudes, where food is found and they are followed by the snow leopards and other predators, such as the Tibetan wolf. These ungulates form the primary diet of the snow leopards and where we will concentrate most of our time. Each day we will head out in different directions to track the Grey Ghost of the Himalayas, while also looking out for wild yak, Ibex, red fox and other species.

In Ulley Valley the tracking of snow leopards is done mainly by car, with variable amounts of walking that can be done at your own pace. The trackers and spotters are exceptional at locating wildlife, so we follow them and their excitement. Their dedication and commitment to finding wildlife is exceptional and they work hard to keep us happy and engaged. Our trackers interact closely with the locals and they use their network of local knowledge to narrow down the likely sites for snow leopard movement. There is estimated to be between 3,500 and 7,000 snow leopards in the wild and this is one of the best locations to see them.

Overnights at Snow Leopard Lodge

February 2, 2025 - Ulley to Leh

Today we will drive back to Leh and check into our hotel.

Overnight at Grand Dragon Hotel

February 3, 2025 - Flight from Leh to Delhi

After breakfast we will drive to the airport, in time for our 12pm flight back to Delhi. Upon arrival in Delhi our local representative will greet us and transfer us to our hotel, where we will check in and have the rest of the day and evening to relax until your flight back home. Most international flights depart in the middle of the night and we will handle all transportation of the airport for you.

Rooms at JW Marriott, near the airport

February 4, 2025 - Departure for Home

At any time today you can fly back home and we will handle the transfer for you from the hotel to the airport

Tiger Safari Extension - January 18-24, 2025

Please join us in Bandhavgarh National Park for a pre-trip Tiger Safari

January 18 - Arrive Delhi, meet and greet at the airport and overnigh at JW Marriott

January 19 - After breakfast we will be collected and driven to the airport for our 13:50pm flight to Jabalpur. Upon arrival we will be greeted and will drive in a private vehicle to Bandhavgarh National Park, which will take around 4 hours. We have Wifi in our comfortable and safe Toyota minivans, so sit back and relax as we drive you through the Indian countryside. Overnight at Bandhavgarh Jungle Lodge

January 20 - Tiger Safari day, with both morning and afternoon game drives

January 21 - Tiger Safari day, with full-day safari permits arranged. These permits allow us to go into any zone, all day long, and we can enter and leave Bandhavgarh early and stay later than other people

January 22 - Tiger Safari day with morning game drive. Wednesday afternoons in all tiger reserves in the area are closed

January 23 - Tiger Safari day, with full-day safari permits arranged. These permits allow us to go into any zone, all day long, and we can enter and leave Bandhavgarh early and stay later than other people

January 24 - after our morning safari drive we will drive back to Jabalpur to fly back to Delhi. Overnight at JW Marriott

NOTE: Customized extensions to this safari, including the Taj Mahal can be arranged for you.

The Cost

The cost of this all-inclusive safari is $10,750 per person. This fee includes all in-country ground and air transportation as well as hotel accommodation (double occupancy) and all meals.

Due to the limited number of spaces available, if a solo guest is willing to share a room and we can match with another guest of the same gender, we will do so. If a solo guest is unwilling to share, then a single supplement will be charged $2,600 (please contact us if you would like to have your own accommodation as we have a very limited number of single slots available).

The Tiger Safari Extension will be $6,900 per person sharing and a $800 single supplement

Please note: We will attempt to adhere to this itinerary as much as possible. However, certain conditions (political, climatic, environmental, cultural, or wildlife migrations) may necessitate changes in the itinerary. We reserves the right to alter any itinerary at any time, if necessary. We will attempt to notify participants of changes as far in advance as possible. Costs incurred by such changes will be the responsibility of the participant.

What Do I Do Next?
This group will be super small so space is limited. If this exciting trip has your name on it; if you're excited by the thought of becoming a member of this trip, then now is the time to register. Remember, there will be limited space available for this workshop. When they're spoken for, that's it. If you have any questions before registering, send us an e-mail with any inquiries to hello@andybiggs.com.