13 day safari

Prices from

£2790

Excluding international flights

Tour Highlights

  • Genuine chance to see snow leopards in the wild
  • Spiti Valley is famous for snow leopards hunting Ibex
  • Excellent photography for Himalayan Fox
  • Stay in a beautiful traditonal Himalayan village

Snow Leopard Safari in the Spiti Valley

In the last few years, the mountainous Spiti Valley in the state of Himachel Pradesh has become a hotspot for sighting Snow Leopards. Although a winter trip to this valley, presents serious logistical challenges and is not for the faint-hearted; the rewards are considerable – when it comes to photography of this beautiful feline. I have seen many amazing photos of Snow Leopard taken by our Indian guide in Spiti and am very confident that this trip will produce some exceptional sightings. However, it is not uncommon for there to be delays reaching the valley due to weather conditions and road closures due to landslides, so people joining this Snow Leopard safari, need to have a flexible, open mind and a real sense of adventure. Once we reach the valley, we will have a very comfortable, heated local homestay; which we will use as our base to explore the mountains. Expect a lot of long walks and the need for patience, as we try to track down the grey ghost of the mountains.

When to Go:
  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • Jun
  • Jul
  • Aug
  • Sep
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec

Best time to visit -

FEB

Safari Style -

Bespoke Wildlife

DAY 1

CONNECT WITH A FLIGHT FROM DELHI TO CHANDIGARH

On arrival at Delhi international airport you will be met and helped with your transfer to the domestic terminal, where you will connect with a flight to the capital of the Punjab and Haryana. On arrival you will be met and transferred to a comfortable mid-range hotel.

Accommodation : TOY Hotel

DAY 2

SPECTACULAR DRIVE FROM CHANDIGARH TO RAMPUR

Early start for a long but beautiful drive from Chandigarh to Rampur town, with the chance to stop off in Shimla if the traffic is not too bad. Basically a climb over a ridge above Shimla and then down to picturesque Rampur with its multi-coloured houses overlooking the Sutluj river. You will overnight at the charming and incredibly unique Hotel Nau Nabh Heritage.

Accommodation : Nau Nabh Heritage

DAY 3

LONG DRIVE FROM RAMPUR TO KIBBER

Another long day in the car along spectacular mountain roads as we climb from 1900M to above 4000m in the direction of the Spiti Valley and our charming homestay accommodation in the village of Kibber. Our driver will be from the area himself and understand both the road conditions and weather in the valley to ensure our clients safety and well being.

Accommodation : Kibber Homestay

DAYS 4-9

SIX FULL DAYS SEARCHING FOR THE GREY GHOST

Six full days to explore the mountains around our charming homestay for the elusive Snow Leopard. We will have our own trackers, guides and porters to help the group, but the ability to walk in the snow at altitude is important. As well as Snow Leopards, we have the chance to see Ibex, Blue Sheep, Himalayan Fox, Lammergeier and Wolf.

Accommodation : Kibber Homestay

DAY 10

RETURN DOWNHILL TO RAMPUR

Today we will drive back down the mountains to Rampur, where we will overnight at the Nau Nabh Heritage Hotel

Accommodation : Nau Nabh Heritage

DAY 11

ANOTHER CHANCE TO EXPLORE SHIMLA

Drive back via the winding Shimla hills to Chandigarh, with plenty of panoramic viewpoints to break the journey, you will overnight again at the ‘Toy Hotel’

Accommodation : Toy Hotel

DAY 12

FLY BACK TO DELHI

Morning free to relax; before connecting with an afternoon flight to Delhi. You will be met and transferred to the ‘Novotel Aerocity, this hotel is very close to the airport, so we have no need to ‘battle’ the traffic in Delhi or get up too early the next day. You will enjoy the change in temperature and warm afternoon sunshine by the pool!

Accommodation : Novotel Aerocity

DAY 13

SADLY THIS IS DEPARTURE DAY

At an appropriate time – at least 3 hours before your international flight departure – you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to check-in at Indira Ghandi international airport.

Pricing Info & Dates

Costs £2790 based on two people sharing and not including flights. Valid for multiple departures in 2024

Includes:

  • £100 donation to the Tiger Trails Foundation
  • Breakfast at town hotels
  • All your meals in Kibber
  • All transfers and accommodation as described
  • Exclusive services of top naturalist

Excludes:

  • Cost of international flights
  • Cost of visas to visit India
  • Gratuaties for your porters
  • Main tip for your naturalist/photography guide

What

Our Clients Say About Us

★★★★★
Outstanding from planning, throughout the whole trip and home again

We had a 13 day tour to India, mostly wildlife as this was what we wanted and a little element of city & culture. Day in Delhi staying at the Imperial, apart from noisy traffic getting to the el it was an iconic place to be, so much hitory and staff who had been there 30yrs and proud of what they did. then onto 5 days at Ranthambor - 2 incredible Tiger sightings with so many other species, onto Agra and the Taj Mahal and then the Saptura National Park. Great time was taken in the planning, we were given lots of options as to how to make the trip up including time of year and how to maximize wildlife sighting.

BySarah
★★★★★
A truly stunning holiday, wildlife and photography experience

Three weeks in India with the fantastic wildlife photographer and teacher, Trai Anfield, concentrating on finding and photographing tiger and leopard, as well as experiencing all the cultural ders of this extraordinary country. The trip exceeded all expectations. We stayed in a wonderful selection of safari lodges, tented camps, forts and palaces, experienced the food and customs of the regions, visited and spent time with the local people and were in Udaipur to celebrate the paint festival, Holi. Out of all the game drives we did over the three weeks, on only two did we return without having seen either tiger or leopard. A truly outstanding experience in every respect, made even more special by the dedication of Trai Anfield to make sure that her clients had the best possible tuition and opportunities to take the photograph of a lifetime. Excellent in every respect. Everything worked perfectly. The booking arrangements, information and assistance before the trip, local guides and local arrangements all worked extremely well and the trip content, compiled in collaboration with Trai Anfield, was outstandingly brilliant.

ByAndrew and Nichola
★★★★★
Fantastic Trip to India with Wildlife Trails

We have recently returned from a 16-night trip to India, organised by Wildlife Trails. It was a tailored trip, encompassing safari in Kaziranga and Corbett with city breaks in Mumbai, Kolkata and hi to catch some IPL cricket. Essentially we were on a 16-night, 5 centre itinerary, no more than 3 nights in any one location, involving many and varied transfers by road, rail and air. The chaos which characterises India, and is certainly part of its charm, can cause frustration for travellers – unless they are travelling with Wildlife Trails, who have partnered with ground agents in India who have the knack of short-circuiting the chaos and arriving everywhere with comfortable punctuality, every time. A thoroughly professional service, enabling our party of 4 to fully enjoy the wonderful experiences India has to offer. We had dedicated wildlife drivers/guides during our stays at both Kaziranga and Corbett – in both cases they were very friendly, we were very well looked after by them, and they greatly enriched our experience of the wildlife. We were blessed with tiger sightings at both Kaziranga (2 different tigers on 2 different days!) and Corbett – where we close enough to the tiger to consider it an encounter rather than a sighting. And Rhino galore (including being amongst a sizeable herd on elephant safari), and wild elephant galore, and deer, and monkeys, and fabulous birds. Accommodation at both National Parks was very good, as were the meals. During our city breaks we had guided tours of each city. Our guides were all punctual, very knowledgeable and friendly – our experience of all 3 cities was certainly enriched by our guides. The agents and drivers who assisted with our transfers to and from airports and railways stations were unfailingly polite and helpful – we were delivered to our seats on the train in Kolkata and met at the carriage door when we arrived 19 hours later in Delhi. Kirsty from Wildlife Trails worked with us over several iterations of our itinerary – always offering positive suggestions and responding promptly and fully to our questions. Putting the trip together with Wildlife Trail was a pleasure in itself – and I’m very happy and impressed to be able to say that everything went according to plan. We would all four have no hesitation in recommending Wildlife Trails to anyone considering a wildlife adventure in India.

ByDave and Alison
★★★★★
Our 1st time to Kipling Camp, amazing holiday

WE had 2 nights in Delhi at Claridges, perfect as always, 3 nights at Kipling Camp,excellent staff, guide, rooms and best of all picnic by the river to bath the beautiful 'Tara' the phant. Went on to Bandhavgargh 'Bandhav Villas' where we have stayed 5 times, treated like Royalty, the rooms have been upgraded, 6* service and most of all 22 Tiger sightings including mother and 3 cubs, wild dogs and other wild life. What else can one ask for? We have used 'Wildlife Trails' now for at least 7 times. They are very knowledgeable, flexible, good listeners as to what you want to do/see, have really become our 'travel friends'. They arranged tours to India, Sri Lanka and Tanzania for us. They have give an excellent service and have good 'local partners' to be there for you.

BySarah and Klaus
★★★★★
An excellent way to see iconic & endangered Indian wildlife.

It was a great itinerary that allowed us to see all the iconic and unique wildlife of India in the company of excellent guides, thoughtful drivers and accommodation hosts. In Gujarat we saw wild , birdlife including migrating bar headed geese, asiatic lions - which are not as easy to see as you might think and need persistence, Black buck, Indian wolf & jungle cat with leopard, tiger and a very fast moving sloth bear in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. The accomodation was excellent particularly Blackbuck Lodge @ Velavadar and Reni Pani @ Saptura and everywhere had top notch hospitality. Travel was by car, train and plane - travelling in India takes some acclimatisation but the drivers and meet & greet guides were very professional and made it as easy as they could! overall it was a well put together holiday which flowed and allowed us to experience India and Indian wildlife at its best. Very efficient and put together; a well thought through itinerary.

ByJulie