Snow Leopard Adventure 2024

Himalayan Wildlife Tour 2024!

Mission accomplished!

Snow Leopard Adventure

What a captivating and awesome sight of this Himalayan Cat. They are also called as, “Ghost of the mountain”. It was a great trip that we had this still winter from Feb 01st to 12the Feb with an American clients John St, the, “Trip f the Year 2024”!

Leaving Kathmandu on first Feb, in a great anticipation, we finally arrived at Dharapani (by jeep around 7pm in light rain), situated by the Marsyangdi, beautiful Himalayan river. Earlier had to walk all the way, taking some 3-5 days from Besi Sahar and now all the way from Kathmandu in one day. The road, sign of development and need has many positive impact, however, also has many negative impact that I am not going in details this time.

Snow Leopard Trek

Next day, when we woke up after a good, we were blessed with an awesome, sunny with beautiful view with snow on the hillside around. We stared our day after enjoying the buckwheat bread and omelet.  It was nice and easy walk to Bagar and Danaque with a wonderful view. We got the first sight of couple of Himalayan Vultures on the other side. The ascending trail after Danaque was beautiful white washed. Due to the snowfall last night, it was beautiful though not so easy to walk to Timang, where we managed to find a place to eat Dalbhat. As this is still off season and winter, most of the hotels and lodges were closed. Getting to Chame was bit challenging due to snowy, icy and wet trail. Chame was the coldest place with -11 deg C in the night.

Our journey continues to Pisang, Upper Pisang, Gheru and Ngawal, snowy day and night. We had to use the hot water to clear the toilet, hahaha! The walk to Manang was pleasant and scenic with the wider valley and the views of Annapurna and other mountains. It was nice to be back in Manang, where we met Snow leopard expert and researcher – Tashi Ghale. We checked in his hotel Mountain Lake View to start our actual search expedition of Snow Leopard.

Snow Leopard Trek

So the search begins with great anticipation, that continue for four day, leaving the lodge early without breakfast or tea and exploring the all possible sites, that Tashi also showed us. And it was only on day 5 when we were returning from Yak Kharka, saw the Himalayan Vultures soaring  high on the ridge side and hoping, we all rushed and found Tashi who was protecting the Snow Leopard kill and just when we ere leaving the Snow Leopard appeared on the ridge with its two cubs, that was wow moment! We saw it, we did it! And next morning, we went back this same site and watched this awesome Himalayan Cat, though keeping in a good distance so that we were not taken as the threats. We enjoyed every moment and returned back to lodge for celebration, the night before we left Manang to be back in Kathmandu on 12the evening.

Was great trip even though we had to skip our meals, the below zero temperature even in sunny days, the strenuous mountain terrain but was worth every moment. Many Himalayan birds,Blue Sheep, Himalayan Weasel, Pica were other gift we got on that trip, one of the most memorable trip of mountain nature and mountain wildlife adventure. Hoping to be back there for more such trips!

Snow Leopard Trek

Join me, join us for this most stunning Himalayan wildlife trip!