COUNTRY: India   PHOTO TYPE: Wildlife   TRIP LENGHT: 13 days   DATES: March 15-27, 2025    GROUP SIZE: 8-10 guests 

THE LAND OF SNOWLEOPARDS 

WITH PHOTOGRAPHER ARNFINN JOHANSEN

Photographing snow leopards has been my great dream for many years. Having the opportunity to do so up close and almost daily was an unforgettable experience

Arnfinn Johansen

With our binoculars and telescopes, we stand gazing out over a landscape in the Himalayas that is as beautiful as it is dramatic, but it’s not primarily the landscape we’re here for. Suddenly, as if from nowhere, it appears – the snow leopard, closer than we ever could have dreamed. We fill our memory cards with pictures of “The Grey Ghost” as the beautiful cat stretches and lies down on the mountain ridge in front of us.

Join us on a unique journey to India and Spiti Valley – one of the best places to see and photograph the elusive and legendary snow leopard. Here, they often move down into the valleys in search of prey, which means you’ll see them frequently and up close.

The journey is led by Arnfinn Johanssen, an award-winning wildlife photographer, whose images of snow leopards have been published in the anthology “Remembering Leopards,” featuring photos from some of the world’s top photographers.
As if the opportunity to photograph snow leopards weren’t enough, we’ll also have the chance to photograph a spectacular landscape and the other animals that, like the snow leopard, have adapted to living at high altitudes, including yaks, ibex, Tibetan wolves, and blue sheep.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

• One of the best places to photograph snow leopards.
• An area where snow leopards are regularly seen and up close.
• A whole five days dedicated to searching for snow leopards.
• The beautiful and spectacular landscape of the Himalayas.
• Wildlife including yaks, ibex, Tibetan wolves, and blue sheep.
• Train journey with the Himalayan Queen, part of UNESCO’s World Heritage.
• Involvement of Arnfinn Johansen throughout the trip.
• Personalized photography guidance, tips, and advice from Arnfinn Johansen.

COUNTRY: India   PHOTO TYPE: Wildlife   TRIP LENGHT: 13 days   DATES: March 15-27 2025    GROUP SIZE: 8-10 guests 

With our binoculars and telescopes, we stand gazing out over a landscape in the Himalayas that is as beautiful as it is dramatic, but it’s not primarily the landscape we’re here for. Suddenly, as if from nowhere, it appears – the snow leopard, closer than we ever could have dreamed. We fill our memory cards with pictures of “The Grey Ghost” as the beautiful cat stretches and lies down on the mountain ridge in front of us.
Join us on a unique journey to India and Spiti Valley – one of the best places to see and photograph the elusive and legendary snow leopard. Here, they often move down into the valleys in search of prey, which means you’ll see them frequently and up close.
The journey is led by Arnfinn Johanssen, an award-winning wildlife photographer, whose images of snow leopards have been published in the anthology “Remembering Leopards,” featuring photos from some of the world’s top photographers.
As if the opportunity to photograph snow leopards weren’t enough, we’ll also have the chance to photograph a spectacular landscape and the other animals that, like the snow leopard, have adapted to living at high altitudes, including yaks, ibex, Tibetan wolves, and blue sheep.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

• One of the best places to photograph snow leopards.
• An area where snow leopards are regularly seen and up close.
• A whole five days dedicated to searching for snow leopards.
• The beautiful and spectacular landscape of the Himalayas.
• Wildlife including yaks, ibex, Tibetan wolves, and blue sheep.
• Train journey with the Himalayan Queen, part of UNESCO’s World Heritage.
• Involvement of Arnfinn Johansen throughout the trip.
• Personalized photography guidance, tips, and advice from Arnfinn Johansen.

KIBBER

The village of Kibber is located in a high-altitude belt in northeastern Himachal and has been designated as the second-highest village in the world at 4,205 meters above sea level. The village is renowned for its natural beauty and monasteries. Many say that Kibber’s landscape resembles that of Tibet and Ladakh with its rugged beauty. The famous Key Monastery, the largest monastery in the valley, is very close to the village and serves as a base for several high-altitude treks.

Adjacent to the village lies the 1,400 square kilometer Kibber Sanctuary. This cold desert sanctuary is home to some of India’s most exotic wild high-altitude animals. The presence of prey species such as ibex and blue sheep, along with the snow-capped mountains and rocky terrain, makes Kibber the habitat for one of India’s most iconic cats – the snow leopard. This feline has adapted its body to survive under such extreme climatic conditions and is regularly spotted in the valley.

MARCH 15-27, 2025

DAY 1, (Mar. 15) – ARRIVAL AND WELCOME DINNER
Arrival during the day at Delhi’s international airport where a transfer bus to the first-class Hotel Pride Plaza Aerocity awaits. Upon arrival at the hotel, there is an opportunity to relax and rest after the long journey. In the evening, you will be greeted by Arnfinn Johansen and a host from Zoom Photo Tours for a welcome dinner where we get to know each other and listen to Arnfinn as he tells more about the photo adventure that awaits us. (D)

DAY 2, (Mar. 16) – DELHI – KUFRI
Today, our journey to higher altitudes begins as we depart from the hotel early in the morning to take the modern and very comfortable Shatabdi Express train to Kalka. Here, we will load our luggage into cars that will continue to the hotel. We will experience one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites by changing trains to the famous Himalayan Queen train, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The train takes us slowly up the mountain towards Shimla. To make this part of the journey comfortable and to allow you to photograph the beautiful landscape we pass, we have booked first-class seats. When we arrive at Kufri, located just outside Shimla, we check into the first-class Royal Tulip Hotel situated at an altitude of 2,200 meters. (B, L, D)

DAY 3, (Mar. 17) – KUFRI – KALPA
Today, we continue by jeeps towards our destination Kibber, where we will stay at Hotel Grand Shambha-La Kalpa located at an altitude of 2,940 meters, to acclimatize to the higher altitude. (B, L, D)

DAY 4, (Mar. 18) – KALPA – TABO
After breakfast, it’s time to obtain the permits needed to visit the areas where we have the best opportunity to photograph snow leopards. We then continue our journey to Tabo, situated at 3,280 meters above sea level, where we check into Mud Huts. Just like during our previous days, we will make stops to both photograph and enjoy the increasingly dramatic landscape as we go further. (B, L, D)

DAY 5, (Mar. 19) – TABO – KIBBER IN SPITTY VALLEY
Today, after about five hours of transportation, we reach our final destination Kibber in Spitty Valley high up in the Himalayas. We are now at an altitude of 4,270 meters above sea level and surrounded by a landscape that is as beautiful as it is dramatic. We check into our hotel Norling Homestay, which will be our base for the next five days as we explore the surroundings in search of the snow leopard, also known as “The Grey Ghost.” (B, L, D)

DAY 6-10, (Mar. 20-24) – IN THE REALM OF THE SNOW LEOPARD
During the days, we explore the surroundings in Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary, together with Arnfinn and our knowledgeable trackers, in search of snow leopards. Kibber is the perfect place to search for this beautiful cat, which often moves down to lower elevations in the valleys in search of prey. Just like with all animals, luck plays a role, but in recent years, it has become common to see and photograph the snow leopards in the area up close. During Arnfinn’s previous trip, he photographed snow leopards at distances ranging from 40-300 meters. Other subjects found here besides the magnificent landscape include yaks, ibex,

Tibetan wolves, and the snow leopard’s favorite prey, blue sheep. Arnfinn is always available for personal guidance, as well as tips and advice, so that we are prepared when photo opportunities of the snow leopard arise. We will spend as much time as possible in the field to maximize photo opportunities, but when we are not out, we will work on image processing and receive feedback on the images we have taken. We will have local guides who are experienced in finding the animals. We will also have the assistance of local sherpas who will carry your equipment. (B, L, D)

DAY 11, (Mar. 25) – KIBBER – RAMPUR
After a final photo session and breakfast, we leave the realm of the snow leopard and begin our journey back to Delhi. In the evening, we arrive at Rampur, where we check into the classic heritage hotel Nau Nabh. (B, L, D)

DAY 12, (Mar. 26) – RAMPUR – DELHI
We continue by bus and then by train to Delhi, where we arrive in the evening. Transfer to our hotel, Hotel Pride Plaza Aerocity, not far from the airport. After check-in, dinner is served in the hotel restaurant. (B, L, D)

DAY 13, (Mar. 27) – DEPARTURE
Breakfast is served at the hotel, after which the day is free for personal activities until it is time to depart for Delhi’s international airport for onward transportation on your own.
For those traveling home in the evening, a city tour of Delhi can be arranged. (B)

ARNFINN JOHANSEN – Wildlife photograper

KALPA:

GRAND SHAMHA-LA**+

RAMPUR:

NAU NABH***+

Photos: Armfinn Johansen