Snow Leopard Photo Tour in Spiti Valley (Kibber WLS)
It might strike you as both bizarre (and equally fascinating) to drive to Spiti valley and Kinnaur during wintertime. Though for solitude seekers and wildlife photographers — with a goal to unplug and get off-grid, or spot endangered (now vulnerable) snow leopards and assorted mammal and bird species in Kibber wildlife sanctuary — the snowscapes of the Spiti valley and Kinnaur Himalayas are a true refuge and a place for the mindful pause.
Likewise, winter months are great to learn how the people of Spiti valley survive in freezing, sub-zero temperatures for months.
Snow Leopard Photo Expedition in Spiti
Spiti Snow Leopard Safari Rundown
| Best Time | Late December to March |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Max. Altitude | 4270m (Kibber village) |
| Spotting Locations | Rong Nala gorge of Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary, Plateaux surrounding Kibber Chicham Bridge and Chicham village |
| Key wildlife species | Snow Leopards, Himalayan Ibex, Himalayan Blue Sheep, Red fox, Himalayan Snow Cock, White breasted stone / beech marten (aka Himalayan Weasel), Eurasian Lynx, Tibetan Sandgrouse, and Woolly Hare |
| Trip span | 9 Days and 8 Nights |
| Scheduled Events in 2026 | January 5, January 24, February 8, and 20 |
| Activity | Hiking, wildlife spotting, homestay experiences, monastery visits, and wildlife photography (focusing on snow leopard) |
Snow Leopard Photo Tour Highlights
The winter trip to Spiti has its own charm and vulnerabilities. The charm lies in the tranquillity — so peaceful that you would hear yourself breathing — of the Spiti valley, less to no crowd, snowy winter landscape, frequent sightings of rare Himalayan wildlife like snow leopards, no electricity, and no internet.
Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary
The 2220.16 square kilometers area around Kibber village of Spiti was declared as wildlife sanctuary by Indian government on 25 April 1992. Kibber and 12 other villages located along the perimeter of the sanctuary forms its southern boundary.
Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) is also a part of 16th Cold Desert biosphere reserve (declared a biosphere reserve in 2009).
Wildlife found in Himalayan cold deserts (notably in Kibber WLS) are:
- Snow leopard
- Himalayan ibex
- Blue sheep (bharal)
- Tibetan wolf
- Red fox
- Number of bird species (like Kestrel, Finches, Chough, Larks, Red starts)
- Eurasian Lynx
- Tibetan Sandgrouse
- Himalayan wolf (Canis lupus)
- Long tailed marmot (Marmota caudata)
- Wooly Hare (Lepus oiostolus)
- Pika (Ochotona roylei)
Along with Pin Valley National Park, Kibber wildlife sanctuary has been identified as “Important Bird Area” by Birdlife International.
The cold deserts (Lahaul and Spiti district and upper Kinnaur region) in Himachal Pradesh cover about 20% of its total (55673 square km) geographical area. The Himalayan cold deserts have distinct cultural and geographical features. They are characterized with regions of:
- Low precipitation (due to rain shadow effect)
- Large difference in day and night temperatures
- Low humidity
- Short summers
- Freezing cold and windy winters
- Diverse flora and rare fauna
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.
Based on about a decade long snow leopard photography experience and working with local spotters, we schedule snow leopard expedition trips in Mid-January to late February month.
