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The Trek
This winter let us take you on a crazy Ghost Cat expedition!
Spotting the elusive Snow Leopard in its wilderness has been on the bucket list for almost all adventure/wildlife enthusiasts, Wandering Boots brings you to the opportunity to tick this one off this year!
We will be driving to Spiti to experience the cold winter in Spiti, along with tracking and trying to spot the elusive cat! On this trip, you may also get an opportunity to spot some more Himalayan wildlife lie Tibetan wolf, Himalayan ibex, Blue sheep and many others!
The group will be accompanied by trained naturalists and professional guides, with Wilderness First responder certification, who have years of experience and expertise in this sport.
The Area
Spiti is a high-altitude region of the Himalayas, located in the north-eastern part of the state of Himachal Pradesh. The name “Spiti” means “The middle land”, i.e. the land between Tibet and India.
Spiti is bordered on the east by Tibet, on the north by Ladakh, on the west and southwest by Lahaul, on the south by Kullu, and on the southeast by Kinnaur. Spiti has a cold desert environment.
Spiti has gained popularity in recent times for its magical winters and also for spotting the elusive ghost cat of the Himalayas – Snow Leopard! The best season to spot these magnificent creatures is in the winters from January to March. The trail is covered in snow during this period, making tracking and spotting animals relatively easier.
Expected Weather
- Chances of Snow – Very high
- Snow on trail – High possibility
- Minimum Temperatures – The temperature in winters are extreme. Afternoon -5 degrees, Nights -30 degrees
- Day 1: Drive from Chandigarh / Shimla to Reckong Peo.
Start from Chandigarh at 05:00am. Pick up more participants from Shimla.
Reach Reckong Peo by 06:00pm
Distance: 308kms; Time: 11-12hours
Overnight in Reckong Peo - Day 2: Drive from Reckong Peo to Kaza
Distance: 212kms; Time: 6-7hours
Overnight in Kaza - Day 3: Acclimatisation Day in Kaza
Leisure day in Kaza to acclimatise. Walk around Kaza, last minute shopping (purchase gear if necessary), visit monasteries, soak in the winter sun! - Day 4: Drive from Kaza to Mud (Mudh)
Distance: 50kms; Time: 2hours
Overnight in Mud
OR - Day 4: Drive from Kaza to Kibber
Distance: 19kms; Time: 40mins
Overnight in Kibber - Days 4 - 7: Snow Leopard Spotting!
We start tracking the elusive cat. Based on the current sightings, we plan our route to track and spot the ghost cat! Overnight in Mud / Kibber - Day 7: Drive back from Mud / Kibber to Kaza
Overnight in Kaza - Day 8: Drive back from Kaza to Reckong Peo
Distance: 212kms; Time: 6-7hours
Overnight in Reckong Peo - Day 9: Drive back from Reckong Peo to Chandigarh / Shimla
Distance: 308kms; Time: 11-12hours
Trip ends on reaching Chandigarh
- Travel from Chandigarh / Shimla and back.
- Complete accommodation (Twin/Triple sharing basis) for the entire duration of the trip
- All meals (except meals had enroute)
- Road travel within Spiti
- Rentals for all common gear provided to you like tent, sleeping bags, crampons etc.
- Technical gear provided to you like Ropes, harness, carabiners and crampons
- Forest entry permission and camping charges
- Guide and expertise charges
- 5% GST
- Meals or drinks purchased by participants during the travel or trek (example biscuits, fruits etc)
- Rentals for personal gear (Refer things to get section)
- Trek Insurance (Optional)
- Any extra government charges.
- Flight/Train/Bus ticket till Leh.
- Backpack offloading charges. You are expected to carry your own backpack. Trekkers unable to do so can opt for a porterage service at 600/day
- Staff Tips
It is mandatory for the trekkers on this program to carry their own trekking bags along with their tents, sleeping bags, cooking materials, and ration. The trekkers are expected to have good endurance and fitness levels to be a part of this program. If we find a trekker unfit, we reserve the right to deny the trekker’s participation for this program.
A certified trek leader and a guide will accompany you during the trek.
You can prepare for the trek with a combination of Cardio & Strength activities
4-5 kms slow jog OR 6-7 kms Brisk walking OR 25 kms cycling. Pace is not important, consistency is important (non-stop jogging/running/cycling)
Squats 20 x 3, Lunges 20 x 3, Calf raises 20 x 3
All of the above at least 4 times a week
Climbing stairs 40 floors with backpack (At least once a week)
- Good Sturdy Backpack: Prefer a trekking pack over a backpacking one. A 60- 70 litre pack should suffice.
- Trekking Shoes: Any Waterproof trek (not hike) shoes would be ideal.
- Socks: 2 pair cottons and 2 pairs of woolens.
- Trek pants (Ideally Water Resistant): They are very important and help you a great deal on your trek. You can get two quick dry summer trek pants if you don’t have a trek pants, you can replace it with Gym Track pants. Don’t trek in Jeans/Pants.
- T shirt/ Base layer: One can get 2 T shirts/trekking base layer on the trek, one of which can be full sleeves. Avoid cotton and prefer dry fit.
- Down/ Padded Jacket: Not required. 1 fleece jacket & 1 rain jacket should be enough.
- Thermals: 1 pair. We wear thermals only upon reaching the campsite not while trekking.
- Rainwear:
Option A - Rain set - One Waterproof jacket (3000 mm waterproofing), Rain proof pants and Bag cover
Option B – Poncho - Covers your body and bag completely. We recommend Option A as poncho makes trekking difficult.
- Windproof Jacket: Not needed
- Woolen Cap/ Balaclava (1): To cover your ears, head and neck. Get one woolen cap and one neck warmer or balaclava.
- Neck Warmer/ Scarf : Not required.
- Gloves : 1 thin pair is enough
- Suncap & Sunglasses: 1 each
- Toiletries: Also include sunscreen, moisturizer and lip-cream
- Headlamp/Torch: 1. Preferably head lamp.
- 1 water bottle (1 litre): Capable of holding hot water
- One hydration pack: 1 litre
- Camp shoes/Flip flops for camp
- Plastic covers for inside the backpack to keep your clothes dry
- Daypack: 20L
- Documents: 2 passport sized photograph, Address and Photo proof (Driving License or Aadhaar card)
- Doctor’s Medical certificate saying that you are fit for the trek. We reserve the right to not take you on the trek if you fail to produce this.
You will be sleeping in twos or threes in your tents in sleeping bags. The sleeping bags are snug and comfortable. We will be providing inflatable pillows.
The common perception is that alcohol makes you feel warmer, however it also dehydrates you & dehydration can be fatal while trekking. Hence consumption of alcohol is prohibited. Smoking in camps is not allowed.
We’ve been organizing treks for over five years and have had many female trekkers trek with us. In fact, a lot of them come solo for treks. There has never been a complaint about the atmosphere of a trek, about other trekkers or our professionalism. They have all been kind enough to leave a review.
No. Guests are expected to carry their own power banks.
In all the camps where the accommodation is in tea houses/ home stays, there will be proper toilets. The toilets are mostly western, in case if they‘re Indian, then we try to provide a toilet seat most of the times.
On the day of camping, we will have toilet tents (with a dry pit toilet), the most hygienic way of answering nature’s call.
A dry pit toilet is an eco-friendly sanitation solution featuring a pit dug into the ground, topped with a toilet seat and a wrought iron stand. Near the toilet, a pile of mud, sand, or coco peat is provided for covering waste after use, facilitating rapid breakdown of fecal matter due to increased microbial activity. This method eliminates the need for water, thereby preventing contamination of nearby water sources, as water toilets are prohibited at campsites.
While toilet paper is available, please use it sparingly to avoid overloading the pit, which can take years to decompose. Please refrain from using wet wipes as they are not biodegradable or use biodegradable wipes.
Through the trek, there are no bathing facilities at campsites. Trekkers often take advantage of running streams to freshen themselves up.
Most wild animals are naturally wary of human activity and prefer to stay in more remote, quieter parts of their habitat. Here’s why wild animals typically do not approach camps.
If you cancel –
– 60 days before the trip: we can process a complete refund minus minimum processing charges.
– Between 30-45 days before the trip: you will be refunded 50% of the trek fee.
– Within 30 days before the trek starts: No refund.
– If your spot is replaced in a full batch: we will process a complete refund after canceling minute operational charges. (For fixed departures only)
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