Exclusive One-Time Expedition
INDIAN HIMALAYA
Help protect endangered snow leopards with renowned conservation biologist Anthony Giordano
March 15th-26th 2026 · $11,500
Journey into the high ridges of India’s Spiti Valley with the scientists and communities working to save one of the world's most elusive predators.
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What our guests say
"This is a rare opportunity to travel with a world-renowned biologist in a remote landscape few travelers get such exclusive access to."
— quote source
The Experience
Among the most beautiful valleys in the entire world, Spiti is also among the most treacherous.
Here, where altitudes exceed 14,000 feet and temperatures plunge far below freezing, snow leopards move like phantoms across barren ridges.
You'll spend ten days tracking these ghosts alongside world-renowned conservation scientist Anthony Giordano and his research team, using camera traps, analyzing tracks, and learning the intricate science of predator-prey dynamics. You'll meet locals who've shifted from conflict to coexistence, hear their stories over hearty traditional dal bhat, and witness how community-led conservation is rewriting the future for both people and leopards.
This is not a comfortable journey—Spiti winters are brutally cold, remote, and unpredictable. But you'll have access to one of the only lodges in the region with heated rooms and hot water, a rarity in these highlands. Our team is equipped with contingency plans, emergency protocols, and decades of experience navigating Himalayan logistics.
What you'll gain is far more valuable than comfort: the privilege of standing in one of conservation's most important frontiers, guided by the people who know it best.
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Details
Duration: 12 days, 11 nights
Dates: March 15th to 26th, 2026
Spots available: 7
Activity level: Moderate to challenging
Investment: $11,500 per person
Conservation Impact
Every guest on this expedition directly supports:
Long-term snow leopard research and monitoring
Community programs that reduce human-wildlife conflict
Scholarships for local students pursuing conservation careers
Sustainable livelihood initiatives in herding communities
You'll meet scholarship recipients, visit community projects, and see firsthand how your participation creates lasting change.
Our Team
Meet our Expedition Leaders
This tour is led by world-renowned conservation expert Anthony Giordano, a rare opportunity to travel with the founder of SPECIES himself.
Colorado, USA
Anthony Giordano, PhD
Founder & CEO of SPECIES, Explorers Club 50 Honoree
Multi-award winning PhD in Wildlife Biology, 20+ years studying endangered carnivores in the wild, published researcher, and co-founder of community-led conservation initiatives across the world.
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Location
Name
Credentials
Local Tibetan guide and community leader, fluent in [language], expert tracker, and bridge between scientific research and traditional ecological knowledge.
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Location
Name
Credentials
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Accomodations
You'll spend six nights at a family-run guesthouse in ____ village, built in traditional stone with heated private rooms—an extraordinary comfort in winter Spiti. Meals are shared in the warm communal kitchen, where views of the snow-blanketed spine of the Himalayas rise just on the other side of the glass. This is authentic Ladakhi hospitality, where you'll experience daily life alongside your hosts.
What's included
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What's not included
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Featured species
Here are a few species you can hope to encounter.*
Snow Leopard
Species
Species
*While our guests have a higher chance encountering elusive species with our expert guides than when traveling with any other company, we prioritize entering delicate habitats with respect for the wellbeing of the wild animals who live there; we can't guarantee sightings, but rest assured our guides are among the best trackers in the world.
Trip Highlights
One
Two
Three
Itinerary
Day One: Arrive in Delhi
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Day Two: Delhi to Rampur
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Day Three: Rampur to Kaza
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Day Four: Altitude rest day at the Amida Hotel
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Days Five to Nine: Tracking Snow Leopards
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Day Ten
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Day Eleven: Return to Chandigarah
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Day Twelve: Departure
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A taste of the adventure
The morning will start with hot tea at your bedside. By the time you have your tea, our team of local tracking professionals will have already been in the field (first light), scanning and looking for sign of snow leopards, wolves, and other wildlife. We will already have this information before we leave “camp” at Amida in Kaza and finish our hot breakfast. Based on the information relayed to us, we will head out into the field to find those snow leopards. We will travel by vehicle whenever possible, but cats may be far from the road. Trekking of up to 3-4 km up and down steep inclines at 15,000 – 18,000 feet is possible, particularly when cats are far from the road. However, everyone will walk at their own pace and have help. Tour leaders will guide you on what to carry and what not to during a trekking. Sightings and views might last from minutes or an hour, to most or all of the day until around sunset.
Extend the adventure
Want us to take you even further? We can offer additional tour packages and/or additions to connect within India, including visits to tiger reserves in search of tigers and leopards, sloth bears, striped hyenas, and the lions of the Gir.
Explore add-on packages →
About the Spiti Valley
The Spiti Valley is a cold, desert mountain valley located high in the Himalaya mountains in the northeastern part of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. “Spiti” means “The Middle Land”, i.e. the land between Tibet and India. Local human communities follow Vajrayana Buddhism similar to that found in the nearby Tibet Autonomous Region and the Ladakh region of India. The “World Within a World” as Rudyard Kipling described it is one of the least populated regions in India, the gateway to the northern most reaches of the nation. Spiti’s border starts at Samdo, approximately 74km from Kaza, the region’s capital along the Spiti River, which is quite near India’s border with China.
Despite the extreme environment, the Spiti is home to over 450 species of plants, including approximately 40 species of birds (including raptors like golden eagles, lammer geyers, and Himalayan griffon vultures), and around a dozen medium-to-large mammals, including Himalayan marmot, wooly hares, Ladak Pikas, mountain weasels, Himalayan ibex, brown bears, dholes, bharal, red box, Tibetan wolf, and the snow leopard. We might encounter any of these species at different times, depending on the time of day, current weather and temperature, and the luck of our highly-skilled team.
What to expect
Physical requirements
This expedition requires moderate to high fitness. Activities include daily hikes at high altitude (12,000-15,000 feet), uneven terrain, and cold-weather endurance. You should be comfortable walking 3-5 miles per day in challenging conditions.
Weather & conditions
Winter temperatures range from -10°F to 25°F. Expect wind, snow, and rapidly changing mountain weather. Remote conditions mean limited communication and potential itinerary adjustments for safety.
Packing Essentials
We'll provide a comprehensive packing list upon booking, including cold-weather gear, layers, and technical equipment recommendations.
Ready to join us?
Our journeys change you.
Your journey will change the planet.
Upcoming Departure: March 15th to 26th, 2026
Investment: $11,500 per person.
Next Steps:
Schedule a Call – Speak with an Expedition Designer to discuss your interests, fitness level, and questions
Secure Your Spot – 35% non-refundable deposit needed to secure each spot. Payment in full (non-refundable) required by Dec. 15, 2025.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many guests are on each expedition?
We keep our groups intentionally small — usually 8 to 12 guests — to ensure intimacy, sustainable impact, comfort, and a truly personal connection with our guides and local partners.
What kind of accommodations can I expect?
We have access to one of the only hotels in this part of the Himalayas that offers heaters in every room and bathroom, hot water for showers, and flushable toilets. This is extremely rare in the winter in for the Kaza and the greater Spiti Valley region and indeed, much of the Himalayas. We will go to great lengths to make everyone’s stay enjoyable and furnish comfort, but remote Himalayan winters can be very challenging, and equipment, supplies, and services can be interrupted by weather/temperatures, road conditions/closures, snow, landslides, etc. However, we have the most capable and experienced team equipped to tackle these logistical and other challenges, through the development of contingency plans and advanced planning.
Who leads the expeditions?
Every journey is guided by internationally recognized conservation scientists, PhD researchers, and Indigenous or local leaders who live and work in the ecosystems you’ll explore. These are the very people driving change on the ground — not seasonal contractors. You’ll spend quality time with world-class experts and guides, and many of our guests walk away with lifelong friends in the leaders who will guide you in this exclusive journey.
Do I need previous trekking experience?
No, but you should be in good physical condition and comfortable with challenging terrain and altitude. We recommend consultation with your physician before booking.
What are my chances of seeing a snow leopard?
Snow leopards are among the world's most elusive animals. While sightings can never be guaranteed, our team's expertise, local knowledge, and seasonal timing maximize your chances. You'll likely see fresh tracks, territories, and evidence of their presence—and the journey itself is transformative regardless.
What do I need to do to prepare for the elevation?
The Spiti is a very remote region in the Northern part of India, so we expect guests visiting for these expeditions to acclimatize en route and take necessary medications/precautions to help them do so. Winter temperatures in the Spiti Valley can be as low as -30 degrees C. We will provide a checklist of items that you must and/or should bring with you to be safe and comfortable on the expedition. Please be advised that failure to bring them will likely result in serious discomfort or inability to participate fully.
How safe are these destinations?
Your safety and well-being are our highest priorities. Expeditions are planned in partnership with trusted local teams, medical and emergency protocols are always in place, we provide top-tier insurance, and our guides are extensively trained. You’ll be supported every step of the way.
Do I need to be physically fit?
Moderate to somewhat strenuous treks at/above 14,000 feet are possible, necessitating good physical and mental condition; heart and breathing conditions/ailments and similar disorders, as well as those affecting mobility, will likely prohibit participation. Participants above the age of 60 must provide a fitness certificate from their respective medical practitioner stating that they are fit to travel to areas at/above 14,000 ft ASL for a week or more, and sustain themselves in winter temperatures which at times can be 30 Degrees BELOW ZERO.
How does my journey make an impact?
A share of every expedition supports SPECIES’ conservation programs, provides scholarships for future conservation leaders, creates local sustainable economic pathways that help preserve endangered species and their habitat, and directly funds the livelihoods of our Indigenous and local partners. When you travel with Ethos, you’re part of a legacy that outlives the journey.
What do I need to bring?
Winter temperatures in the Spiti Valley can be as low as -30 degrees C. We will provide a checklist of items that you MUST and/or SHOULD bring with you on the expedition; failure to bring them will likely result in serious discomfort or inability to participate fully.
What if weather forces itinerary changes?
Safety always comes first. Our team is expert at adapting to Himalayan conditions, and we build flexibility into every itinerary. If changes occur, we'll maximize your experience within safe parameters. Due to unpredictable and rapidly changing winter weather conditions that sometimes occurs in the Himalayas, it may be necessary to evacuate the area earlier than planned. We constantly monitor the weather for emerging storms and changing conditions to could affect our experience and/or preclude our easy exit from the area. If that happens, there may be need to leave a few days early before the trip would have otherwise concluded.
What is the weather like?
Temperatures as low as -30°C are not unusual at night, with daytime temperatures of -10°C and -15°C not un common even in the afternoon on sunny, still days. Winds can be blustery and biting cold, and threats of winter storms can emerge or develop quickly, which have been known to cut Spiti off from the rest ofthe world for 3-4 weeks. Altitude sickness, headaches, and light headed are possible if proper precautions, preparations, and medications are not adhered to.
Can I bring my family or team?
Yes. Many guests bring their families or colleagues. We also offer private, custom itineraries for groups seeking a fully personalized experience.
Ethos Expeditions
By Species Conservation International
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