It may feel bizarre to drive to Kinnaur and Spiti valley during wintertime, but for a die-hard mountain lover — with a goal to unplug and get off-grid, spot endangered Snow leopards & other wildlife and learn how the people of Spiti valley survive in freezing sub-zero temperatures — the winter snowscapes of the Spiti valley and Kinnaur Himalaya are a true refuge and a place for the mindful pause.

Spiti Snow Leopard Trail In Himachal Pradesh

The winter trip to Spiti has its own charm and vulnerabilities. The charm lies in less to no crowd, snow-white winter wonderland landscape, no electricity, and no internet.

Spiti Snow Leopard Expedition In Kibber Best Season Dec to March Grade Moderate Max Altitude 4270m ( Kibber village) Spotting places Rong Nala gorge of Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary & Pin valley Wildlife Snow Leopards, Himalayan Ibex, Himalayan Blue Sheep, Red fox & Himalayan Snow Cock Spiti Snow Leopard Tour Highlights

Spiti valley of Himachal Pradesh which literally translates to an abode of snow is located in trans Himalayan ranges, the outermost range of the Himalayas. Spiti is a place frozen in space and time with vast valleys, glaciers, interesting geological features and towering trans-Himalayan peaks.

The extreme environmental events like avalanches, snowstorms, landslides, and rockfalls are common is this part of Himachal Pradesh state. Rare Himalayan wildlife like Snow leopard has adapted their body to survive under such extreme climatic conditions.

How To Track & Sight Snow Leopards in Spiti valley?

Patience is key, as with any wildlife expedition. You need to be at the right spotting places at the right time. It is not an easy task to pursue these enigmatic cats who live and are prey on Himalayan blue sheep at an altitude well over 3,500 meters from the sea level, at temperatures close to -30 degrees.

The right times are early morning and late evenings. And the right places are Kibber wildlife sanctuary and Kibber-Chicham village plateaux, slopes between Kee, Gete and Tashigang, Shilla Nalla area, plateau around Langza, Hikkim, Komic and slopes around Demul, Salung, Rama and Lalung.

Snow drive to Kinnaur and the Spiti valley in winter is a complete digital detox and an expedition itself.

Winter Drive To Kinnaur & Spiti valley

The winter Spiti valley itinerary covers one of the most treacherous parts of NH – 5 and Sumdo to Kaza road. In winters you get to know local life and culture more intimately and see for yourself how hard it is to survive in the Himalayas.

The vulnerability lies in limited road connectivity, driving on icy roads, no running tap water, limited warm water, subzero temperatures and no room heating. But the major concern always is the fragile road connectivity which gets snapped when there is heavy snowfall and avalanches block the road for weeks.

Snow Leopard Sighting Rising In Spiti Valley & Kinnaur

The sighting & population of the snow leopards is rising and expected to be around 100. Wildlife Wing of the Forest Department of the Government of Himachal Pradesh

Even though the process of population estimation is still underway, the staff of the wildlife wing has already recorded 49 snow leopards in upper Kinnaur(Asrang-Lippa wildlife sanctuary), Pin Valley, Tabo, Tharot-Miyar, Bhaga, Chandra, and upper Spiti valley of Himachal Pradesh.

The most frequent sighting has been in Kibber Plateau, slopes between Kee, Gete and Tashigang, Shilla Nalla area, plateau around Langza, Hikkim, Komic and slopes around Demul, Salung, Rama and Lalung.

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Infographic of Snow Leopard Habitat

The International Union for Conservation of Nature is an international organization(IUCN), the apex body working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources, has put the Snow leopards in the vulnerable category in India. In this category, the species are likely to become endangered unless the circumstances that are threatening its survival and reproduction improve. Vulnerability is mainly caused by habitat loss or destruction of the species home. The situation is opposite in the Kinnaur and the Spiti valley of India where the population of snow leopards is growing.

Reasons why Snow leopards population is declining in India. Image courtesy TheQuint

Spiti Valley: Snow Leopard Tour Itinerary

Day #1: Shimla – Sarahan Sarahan Altitude 2100m Distance covered 180 km. Drive Duration: 7 hours (Overnight at hotel)

Sarahan Altitude 2100m Distance covered 180 km. Drive Duration: 7 hours (Overnight at hotel) Day #2: Sarahan – Kalpa: Kalpa Altitude 3000m. Distance 85km. Drive Duration; 5-6 hours(Overnight at hotel).

Kalpa Altitude 3000m. Distance 85km. Drive Duration; 5-6 hours(Overnight at hotel). Day #3 Kalpa – Kibber Village : Kibber altitude 4270m. Drive duration: 7 – 8 hours(Overnight at a Homestay).

: Kibber altitude 4270m. Drive duration: 7 – 8 hours(Overnight at a Homestay). Day #4: Rest day at Kibber. Explore Kibber village and Kibber wildlife sanctuary.

Explore Kibber village and Kibber wildlife sanctuary. Day 5,6, and 7: Hiking and following the elusive snow leopard around Kibber wildlife sanctuary. Reach early at spotting places like Rong Nala in Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary. Snow leopard tracking guides and porters will accompany you to the spot. There would not be any specific routine for these 3 days reserved for spotting snow leopards as we need to move to the spotting places as soon as we hear about the sighting from our spotting guides.

Hiking and following the elusive snow leopard around Kibber wildlife sanctuary. Reach early at spotting places like Rong Nala in Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary. Snow leopard tracking guides and porters will accompany you to the spot. There would not be any specific routine for these 3 days reserved for spotting snow leopards as we need to move to the spotting places as soon as we hear about the sighting from our spotting guides. Day #8: Kibber – Reckong Peo

Kibber – Reckong Peo Day #9: Reckong Peo – Shimla

Winter Spiti Tour Itinerary

REGIONS COVERED:

Shimla, Sarahan, Kalpa, Nako lake, Tabo, Dhankar, Pin valley, Lalung, Ki, Kibber, Gete, Tashigang, Hikkim, Langza and Komic.

SEASON: December – March

CLIMATE: Bitterly Cold

MAX. ALTITUDE: 4,520 m (Komik Village)

NUMBER OF DAYS: 10 days

TRIP TYPE: Road Trip & Snow Hiking

Day #1: Shimla – Sarahan : Sarahan Altitude 2100m Distance covered 180 km. Drive Duration: 7 hours (Overnight at hotel).

: Sarahan Altitude 2100m Distance covered 180 km. Drive Duration: 7 hours (Overnight at hotel). Day #2: Sarahan – Chitkul village: Chitkul Altitude 3400m. Distance 106km. Drive Duration; 5-6 hours(Overnight at hotel).

– Chitkul village: Chitkul Altitude 3400m. Distance 106km. Drive Duration; 5-6 hours(Overnight at hotel). Day #3 Chitkul – Sangla – Kalpa Village : Kalpa altitude 3000m. Distance 75km. Drive Duration: 6-7 hours. (Overnight at a hotel)

: Kalpa altitude 3000m. Distance 75km. Drive Duration: 6-7 hours. (Overnight at a hotel) Day #4: Kalpa – Nako – Gyu – Tabo . Tabo altitude 3300m. Distance 160km. Duration: 7-8 hours (Overnight at a Homestay)

. Tabo altitude 3300m. Distance 160km. Duration: 7-8 hours (Overnight at a Homestay) Day #5: Tabo – Dhankar – Mud Village. Mud altitude 3900m. Distance 70km. Drive duration: 4 – 5 hours(Overnight stay at a homestay).

Mud altitude 3900m. Distance 70km. Drive duration: 4 – 5 hours(Overnight stay at a homestay). Day #6: Mud, Pin valley – Kibber village : Kibber altitude 4270m. Drive duration: 6 – 7 hours(Overnight at a Homestay).

: Kibber altitude 4270m. Drive duration: 6 – 7 hours(Overnight at a Homestay). Day #7: Rest & acclimatization day at Kibber. Explore Kibber village and Kibber wildlife sanctuary.

Explore Kibber village and Kibber wildlife sanctuary. Day #8: Kibber – Langza- Komic-Hikkim-Tabo

Day #9: Tabo – Reckong Peo

Day #10: Reckong Peo – Shimla

Spotting Snow Leopard & Other Wildlife in Spiti valley

Spotting of wildlife(specifically snow leopard) includes short hikes and trekking in the snow in Pin valley and around Kibber Wildlife sanctuary. One should be in no illusion about how difficult it would be to photograph a sheepish snow leopard at a decent range. Their camouflage, surreptitious movement and shy demeanor make them difficult to spot and locate.

Winter is the best time to spot the mountain cats because snow will drive them to lower elevations where it’s easier to find food, and starting in mid-February, mating season commences, so you’re more likely to get leopards crossing into each other’s territory.

How to visit Spiti during winter?

Rohtang and Kunzum pass get closed in late September or early October month, so the only way to reach Spiti is through Shimla – Rampur Bushahr – Reckong Peo – Nako – Tabo – Kaza route. Kinnaur district headquarters Reckong Peo is well connected to Shimla and Chandigarh. Direct public transport HRTC buses are available from Delhi/Chandigarh/Shimla to get to Reckong Peo. Shimla – Reckong Peo road remains open even when there is heavy snowfall.

A HRTC bus runs from the Reckong Peo bus stop in the morning ( departure 7 AM) and reaches Kaza around 6 PM. No public transport exists in the Spiti valley in winter so traveling by own vehicle or shared taxis are the only mode of transportation.

Spiti river meandering through Hangrang valley Kinnaur

Snow Leopard Trivia

Unlike the other wild cats, Snow leopards don’t “roar”

Although Snow Leopards are usually found between 3,000m-4,500m altitudes , snow leopards can range up to 6,000m!

, snow leopards can range up to 6,000m! There’s no record of a snow leopard ever killing a human

A snow leopard can jump 10m in one (big) leap!

Snow leopards are mostly solitary .….unless it’s mating time

.….unless it’s mating time Climate change is possibly the greatest long term threat to the snow leopard

is possibly the greatest long term threat to the snow leopard Snow leopards have light green or grey eyes , most big cats have yellow/orange eyes

, most big cats have yellow/orange eyes Snow leopards are most active at dawn and dusk

High in the lofty peaks of central Asia, a rare, elusive cat sits curled on a rocky ledge overlooking a deep, rugged valley. A cold wind wisps frozen snow into the thin air, creating a dazzling silver shower against a brilliant azure sky. It’s quiet up high, just the occasional crack of a distant glacier, a few rocks dancing down the shoulders of near-vertical mountains. Across the valley, a herd of blue sheep, the cat’s favorite food, grazes peacefully on a steep southern slope. Piercing feline eyes are fixed on nothing but see everything. There are no people in sight, just miles and miles of snow-clad peaks in every direction-a sign that all is well at the roof of the world. The big cat rises contentedly, rubs at the knees of the mountain gods then disappear.

Tracks, vanishing into the snowy mist, are the only evidence it was really there. This near-mythic beast is the snow leopard, the highest mammalian predator, and symbol of all that is free and truly wild in the mightiest mountains on earth-its presence, its aura, a living soul given to citadels of stone and ice. Like no other large cat, the snow leopard evokes a sense of myth and mysticism, strength and spirit. A mystery cat shrouded in a snowy veil, seldom seen but always present.

The Trinity | Snow Leopards resting in a cave | Kibber wildlife sanctuary

Red fox

Red fox — The spirit animal

Female Himlayan Blue sheep aka ‘Bharal’

Killing time for the grey ghost of Kibber

To the West, the snow leopard is a cat of strange, foreign lands, a prowler of high peaks, symbol of survival in the high mountains. To Asia, the snow leopard is embedded in ancient lore and lately has become the symbol of unity and conservation in a region Marco Polo described as “noisy with kingdoms.” For local people who share their mountain realm, there is respect and fear.

Not personal fear, for the snow leopard doesn’t harm humans, but fear of the occasional night stalker that kills precious livestock, the literal lifeblood of existence for those hardy souls who share the snow leopard’s world. The snow leopard is endangered, Imperilled by ever-growing human encroachment into its mountainous world. Even with international protection, it is still killed for its bones and luxuriant fur or in retaliation for killing livestock. Climate change adds another dimension of stress to the snow leopard’s world, warming the great mountains, pushing the snow leopard and its prey higher and higher. Like the polar bear and Arctic ice, the snow leopard’s habitat is sharply defined with no options for a retreat or alternative refuge-the balance of life is easily degraded but not easily restored. Beyond the mountaintops lies extinction. Strangely, the snow leopard ranks high among notable rare animals-alongside the bald eagle, polar bear, lion, tiger, and panda-yet it is perhaps the least studied and certainly the least written about. There is a good reason why we know so little about the snow leopard. Its support system is a delicate veneer of vegetation draped over the highest and most rugged landscapes on earth.

Buddhist prayer flag fluttering in icy winds

Hangrang valley Kinnaur

Halting for savoring the snowscape

And the great mountains are not always a friendly place. For centuries, treacherous travel, rugged terrain, ageless border disputes, and political intrigue have kept this region of the world from the in-depth study. The seven great ramparts of central Asia present one of the most formidable and foreboding environments in the world. Their names alone evoke a sense of wonderment: Altai, Pamir, Tien Shan, Kun Lun, Hindu Kush, Karakorum, and the mighty Himalaya. Here, in the land where the snow leopard finds comfort, humans can suffer frostbite and sunburn at the same time. Anyone who has traveled in this region will attest that half the enterprise (and half the adventure) is just getting around these impressive giants of the world. To study the snow leopard is as much bold adventure as a scientific expedition. The high places attract two kinds of adventurous spirits: those who drink at the moment and move on, and those who are moved deeply by an awesome connection with something beyond human description. The latter cannot leave behind only footprints. Their souls would not bear it; they must in some way tithe to the spirit mountains, the spirit cat-in time, deeds, words.

– Snow Leopard: Stories from the Roof of the World by Don Hunter.

White-crowned robin

Tabo monastery

Tabo in winters

Relishing the landscape

Thumbs up for the view

Contemplating the valley

Entrance Gate of Dhankar Monastery

Colorful Buddhist prayer flags adorning the valley

The white landscape of Spiti valley | view from Dhankar monastery

View from Dhankar monastery

View from Dhankar monastery

View from Dhankar monastery

Magical views from Dhankar Monastery

View of Spiti river from Dhankar Monastery

Winter landscape of Dhankar Monastery

Frozen Lingti waterfall

Driving on icy roads

Hibernated Pin river basin

Sagnam village, Pin valley Spiti

Snowbound Sagnam, Pin valley Spiti.

White Vistas of Pin valley

PERSPECTIVE – Key Monastery

Breathtaking View of Key Gompa

Patterns painted by snow on fields of Key village, Spiti

Asia’s Highest Bridge – Chicham during Winters

Snow leopard gazing at us, Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary

Initial fleeting glimpses.

Curious Cat

Protecting the kill

Savage look

The blue-eyed beast

Hunter’s lair

Time for a sunbath

Himalayan blue sheep or Bharal spotted in Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary

Himalayan Ibex spotted near Kibber, Spiti valley

Red fox spotted in Kibber wildlife sanctuary

Elusive cat rowling in snow

The Red fox trail

The gaze

The routine hunt

Weather conditions and essentials to carry

It gets really frigid. Winter travel requires serious protection from the bone-chilling Himalayan weather. So you’re going to need layers. Lots of them, along with thick winter clothing. If anything, you shouldn’t underestimate how cold and windy it can be. The temperature often drops to -30 °C. The air in Spiti is very thin due to high altitude and no vegetation so it is advised to see your doctor and take the required medication. If you have prior experience of trekking or hiking high altitude terrains then there shouldn’t be any problems related to high altitude sickness.

Backpack (70-90 liter) for multi-days Hikes.

Trekking Boots – High ankle support boots.

Trek Gaiter – To prevent snow/moisture seeping inside the boot.

Trekking Pole

Down Jacket – Thick, windproof material, fleece and feather based recommended.

Trek Pants – (at least 3 Trek Pants), no Jeans. Synthetic, Quick Dry fabric-based Trek Pants are ideal.

Full sleeve woolen/fleece – (at least 2)

Full sleeve T-Shirts – (at least 4)

Thermal Inner – (for Lower body recommended/ upper is optional)

Balaclava

Sunglasses – It is a must for a snow hike. UV rated ones.

Hand gloves

Socks – (3 pair of woolen and 4 pairs of cotton socks)

Waterbottle – (2 water bottle, each 1 liter). Avoid plastic drinking bottles.

Toiletries (Sunscreen – SPF 60+, moisturizer, light towel, lip balm/chapstick, small soap, toilet paper, wet tissue)

Headlamp/LED Torch

Energy bars/dry fruits. Very essential for surviving the winters in Kinnaur & Spiti

Medicine Kit

Accommodation in Kinnaur & Spiti Valley during winters

There are plenty of options to stay in Kinnaur. Options are limited to only homestays in Spiti because most of the hotels get closed due to water and heating issues.

Kalpa-Charang winter hikes

Charang is the last village on the Indo-China Border. The last ITBP post is located in this village. For the city folks, the village offers a complete escape from the busy city life. No network coverage – bosses can’t call you. For a comfort trip seeker, I will recommend Charang only during summers. Kalpa in winters, with the temperature plunging to about -15 ºC & heavy snowfall blocking all the roadways for weeks – the place is either for the brave hearts or for ignorants like us.

View of Pangi village from Kalpa, Kinnaur

View of the valley, Kalpa, Kinnaur

The roof of the Kalpa temple, Kinner Kailash peak (6050 m) in background

Chini temple, Kalpa, Kinnaur

Hiking to Kalpa football ground, Kinnaur

Snow-covered fields of locals from Chini village

Strolling in Kalpa football ground

Raldang peak (5425 m), Kinner – Kailash mountain range, Kinnaur

Moorang fort, Tidong valley, Kinnaur

Slippery road near Moorang on National Highway 05

View of last ITBP check post and Rangrik Tungma monastery, Kinnaur

Halting place, en route Rangrik Tungma monastery, Charang Kinnaur

Day hike to Rangrik Tungma Monastery, Charang

Charang village, Tidong valley, Kinnaur

Chorten, a Buddhist stupa, Charang Kinnaur

Walking with the wind, returning from Charang village

Singing stream, Tidong valley