₹39000 + 5% GST
Shimla to Shimla
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Snow Leopard - the elusive big cat is best seen in the mountains of Spiti in the winter months of December to March when the valley is painted white with snow-clad landscapes and stunning visuals. This unique itinerary curated specifically for you will give you a once in a lifetime opportunity to track and spot a snow leopard in its natural habitat with the help of local guides and experienced trackers. Explore the harsh yet stunningly gorgeous winter settings on the Spiti valley in search of the most exotic wildlife that call this beautiful place their home. This trek is best done between the months of January to March. Even though this doesn't involve a lot of trekking it is recommended to have good physical fitness and mental endurance to brave the brutal conditions of Spiti winters. Stay on this page for more information on the Spiti Snow Leopard Trek.
Shimla to Kalpa - 225 km Drive
Report in Shimla by early morning and board your vehicles for the drive to Kalpa. We will drive through the precipitous Sutlej gorge to the beautiful Kinnaur valley till Kalpa. You will get the first view of Kinner Kailash today. Overnight in hotel / guest house in Kalpa.
Kalpa to Kaza - 200 km Drive
Travel from Kalpa to Kaza village in Spiti valley. Overnight in hotel/guesthouse/homestay.
Introduction and acclimatization day in Kaza
Your first day at altitude will be utilised for acclimatising with the elevation gain, orienting with the terrain and introduction with the guide and other members.
Kaza to Chicham - 21 km Drive
Today we will drive to Chicham, one of the most isolated villages in Spiti. We will rest and acclimatize to the altitude. This will also be your base for the next few days as the chances of spotting snow leopards is high in this region.
Snow Leopard Spotting
We explore different reaches of the valley in search of the snow leopard where they frequent with the help of local trackers and guides.
Snow Leopard Spotting
We spend the day in the same place waiting patiently to spot these snow leopards, the majestic beasts and other wildlife that is indigenous to Spiti valley.
Snow Leopard Spotting
Number of days spent on the area in search of the snow leopard depends on the inputs from the local guide. We come back to Kibber today evening.
Kibber to Kalpa - 220 km Drive
Today we drive from Kibber to Kalpa. Overnight stay in homestay/guesthouse.
Kalpa to Shimla - 225 km Drive
Today we drive back to Shimla from Kalpa.
We will pick you up from Shimla ISBT and the drop off location remains the same.
Expect to reach Shimla by late night.
ID Proof (Soft Copy to be sent to us in Advance & original to be carried) and Medical Certificate (Soft Copy to be sent to us & original to be carried) are the mandatory documents required for this trek.
If you want to offload your rucksack, you will have to make a request for offloading a few days prior the trek through an email so that arrangement can be made in advance. You will be charged per day for offloading your rucksack. In case you decide to offload on the spot, you may have to pay a higher price than usual. However offloading your rucksack is not recommended since it is not a safe practice.
A team of participant will be led by a course certified trek leader and a local guide. All participants are requested to abide by what their leader says. There will also be a team of kitchen staff and porters on the trek. We maintain 1:8 ratio of trek leader and participants. All our trek leaders and staff have a certified training in first-aid and rescue operation.
It is not mandatory but it is more convenient with the pole. If you don’t want to buy one, you can rent it from us on minimal daily basis charges. You can request the renting link from us.
It is recommended to come prepared with all the necessities and buy the same beforehand.
Yes, it is absolutely safe for solo woman to travel in fix departures. Women on the trek will be sharing tent with each other. In case you are the only woman on the trek, you will be given a separate tent.
Yes, e-certificates will be given at the end of each trek provided that you completed it. It will bear your name, the trek, and the maximum altitude you achieved on the trek.
Winters in Spiti are very harsh and extremely cold. With heavy snowfall and temperatures plummeting to -20 to -30 degrees.
There will be snow on this trek.
We provide 4 seasons tents by Gipfel for higher altitudes which can easily withstand heavy snowfall and storms. They are spacious enough to accomodate 3 people at once with a vestibule to place the backpacks Our sleeping bags are made up of Heatseeker Pro synthetic insulation that can provide you comfort in -10 degrees celsius. We also use additional fleece liners to have thermal efficiency even in the extreme temperatures of -17 degrees Celsius. If you carry your own sleeping bag, you will get a cashback reward, provided that you inform us as soon as you have booked your trek.
Toilet tents will be provided to you on the trek.These are portable toilets tents where a deep pit will be dug. A shovel will be provided inside the tent to cover the waste after you have made your business. You can take a toilet roll inside. Make sure you dig used toilet paper along with the waste. Though water is recommended in place of toilet paper. Please refrain from using wet wipes as they are non-biodegradable. There will be no facility for bathing on the trek. Go through our blog section for tips on how to maintain personal hygiene on treks.
You will be provided with good quality of gaiters and microspikes from us depending upon the situation of the snow. Our trek leaders will also be carrying ropes and ice axe.
Vegetarian food will be served throughout the trek. The only non-vegetarian item served on our treks are eggs. Our kitchen staff follows a proper menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner which has been designed in order to fulfil the nutritional requirements of the participants. There will be milk, poha, eggs, muesli/corn flakes, bread and butter served for breakfast. Rice or simple roti sabzi will be packed for lunch. In dinner, you will have dal, egg curry or any other vegetarian dish along with rice, roti, and a dessert item. Packed lunch will be provided to you on the days you are trekking. You are requested to carry your own tiffin box and a mug to consume food. The meals consumed on journey and arrival day are not included in our cost.
You can rent following items from us- Trekking Pole, Trekking Shoes, Fleece Jacket, Rucksack
You will be accommodated in a mix of hotel/guesthouses/homestays. On the days we go in search of the snow leopard, we will be staying in tents and camps.
The minimum age limit is 13 years. However, minors aged between 13 to 17 should be accompanied with their parents or guardians. If you are above the age of 60, kindly carry a medical certificate from your doctor that deem you fit for adventure activities like trekking.
The high altitude villages of Komic, Demul, Langza are some of the most pristine places to explore in Spiti along with the likes of Tabo and Nako. Similarly, Kalpa in Kinnaur valley and the exquisite Sangla valley are some of the most amazing destinations one can look forward to visiting. Shimla which is considered as the quintessential travel destination has a range of good options for you to explore.
The base of the Spiti Snow Leopard Trek is Shimla which is easily accessible by road, rail and rail from Delhi and other major cities. From Shimla our vehicles will pick you up and drive to Kaza in Spiti valley.
Kaza has intermittent network service but mostly BSNL. There will be little or no signal beyond Kaza.
Click here for packing list.
December to March are the best months to visit this trek.
This trek can be done by both beginners and experienced trekkers. For beginners, it is recommended to have good physical fitness and learn about campsite basics, ascending and descending on mountain trails, basics of high altitude acclimatization process.
If you are not meeting these benchmarks, please use the preparation schedule to improve your fitness till you achieve the above benchmarks.
Our community is an integral part of us and we take pride in our trekkers and climbers. When you complete at least three days on any trek or expedition with us, you become eligible for our membership and referral programs.
For us, a successful summit is not about reaching the highest point of a mountain but about making it safely back to base.
Cancellations up to 30 days prior to departure date
5% Deduction
Between 30 days to 15 days prior to departure
50%
deduction
Less than 15 days of departure
No Cash Refund
Cancellations up to 5 days prior to departure date
No Deduction
Cancellations less than 5 days prior to departure
No Refund
Sarthak Madan 21 May 2021
<p><span style="color: #000000;">Your choice of trekking shoes can make your trek a blissful or blister-full experience based on how well it fits you. A good pair of trekking shoes is the most essential piece of equipment you will use while hiking.&n
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