Big Cats of India Tour

Early next morning, we will visit the Tabo monastery before making our way to Kibber. Kibber is situated at 14,500 feet. On the way to Kibber, which is a 2-hour drive, if there are any snow leopard sightings, we will drop you off and get you ready with your cameras. The porter and guide will come and assist you but it is better to go up, settle in and come back once you are acclimatized as exhaustion can lead one to mountain sickness. So depending on how difficult the sighting site is to reach, we will take a call then. Once you are settled in your rooms at the home stay in Kibber, you can go for a short walk around the village to familiarize yourself. In the afternoon, if there are any sightings, we will take you to the site as soon as receive the news. We use a Maruti Suzuki Gypsy so that it is convenient for the guests to reach the site rather than hiking. There will be some points like 100- 400 yards one may have to walk as they navigate their way to the snow leopard site, our last and most shy big cats of India. There is also Yak available in case one is comfortable to ride one. Generally, the daily routine is as follows: – Morning tea/coffee around 6:30 AM and one has to be ready by 7:15 AM for breakfast. The spotters come for a meeting by 7:15 AM and set out for the snow leopard sighting sites. Once breakfast is over, guests can step out to see Blue Sheep, Red Fox and Ibex. We encourage everyone to stay close to the home stay till they’ve received word of a good snow leopard sighting and then pursue other wildlife prevalent on the area. Lunch is generally served at the snow leopard sighting site. If there are no sightings on certain days, we will stay back at the home stay and have lunch there. Dinner is always at the home stay. In between the meals tea/coffee/snacks are served at the site and at the home stay. Mineral water is provided free of charge throughout the trip. Each room is equipped with wood fired hot stove and electric heater. Each bed has an electric blanket. Heavy quilts are provided too. Bath towels are also provided. There is generator set in case the electricity goes out. There is no running water in winters. Hot water will be provided for freshening up every day. The toilet present is a dry toilet. Wet wipes and toilet paper will be provided. Bathroom is separate and hot water will be provided in case someone wants to take a bath. A porter is available for each guest. You don’t have to lift anything during the course of your stay. Your camera is carried by the porter and he will also carry your day time camera bag/back pack. Extra scanner guides are present for maximum chances of quick and confirmed sightings. You will be provided with a walking pole and a chair/stool while sitting down for photography. A tent is also pitched in case one has to lie down. Insulated mats are kept inside the tent. Oxygen tank is also carried along with the group while going to the sighting site. Oxygen saturation measurement device is available to test for any symptoms of shortness of breath. The escort will guide you and be available for any issues you may have. There is arrangement of dropping the guest to lower altitude incase they’re suffering from mountain sickness or experiencing shortness of breath. There could be a detour up to 30 kilometers for new or different sites for Snow Leopard sighting. Any extra help needed or extra trips will be undertaken by the helpers to get equipment or other essential items from the home stay to the site. This is the routine for 6 days.