Snow Leopard
Expedition - Chicham
Join our 11-day snow leopard safari in Chicham, Spiti. Experience high-altitude tracking, rare sightings, and breathtaking mountain scenery.
10/11
Nights / Days
Chicham
Village
05 Days
of Snow Leopad Tracking
05
Fixed Departures
+Customizable
Tour Dates
Snow Leopard Expedition - Chicham
Five fixed winter and early-spring departures, timed to the months when snow leopards move lowest into the gorge country and are easiest to spot against open rock - or we design a private itinerary around your calendar.
26 Jan - 05 Feb 2027
Peak Winter
03 Feb - 13 Feb 2027
Late Winter
11 Feb - 21 Feb 2027
Season Finale
19 Feb - 02 Mar 2027
Early Spring
01 Mar - 11 Mar 2027
Late Spring
Prefer your own dates?
We'll build a private departure around your schedule, group size, and reserves of choice.
Tour Overview
The Snow Leopard Expedition in Chicham takes you deep into the high-altitude landscapes of Spiti Valley, where the “ghost of the mountains” roams. Based entirely in the village of Chicham, this tour focuses on maximizing your chances of spotting snow leopards with the help of expert trackers and naturalists. Days are spent scanning ridgelines, valleys, and cliffs for wildlife, while evenings bring warm hospitality in a traditional Spitian setting. Along the way, you’ll also experience cultural highlights like Key Monastery and the dramatic Chicham Bridge. More than a safari, this is an immersion into one of the harshest yet most beautiful habitats on earth, where every sighting is the reward of patience and persistence.
- Track the elusive snow leopard in Chicham with expert local guides who understand the terrain and behavior of these rare cats.
- Spend several days in the high-altitude landscapes of Spiti, giving you the best possible chance of wildlife encounters.
- Witness the stunning Himalayan views surrounding Chicham, with dramatic snow-covered peaks and deep valleys.
- Visit Key Monastery on the way to Chicham, one of the most iconic cultural landmarks in Spiti Valley.
- Cross the famous Chicham Bridge, the highest suspension bridge in Asia, offering spectacular views of the gorge below.
One village, watched closely
No jeep tracks here either - a high-altitude base in Chicham, with expert scanners working the surrounding ridgelines every day the weather allows.
01
Chicham
Himachal Pradesh
Cliffs and gorge country above the tree line, crossed by Asia's highest suspension bridge - one of Spiti's most reliable stretches for snow leopard tracking, worked from a village base rather than a vehicle. Key Monastery sits on the road in.
5 Days of Active Tracking · 1 Village
The route, stop by stop.
A single overland journey from Chandigarh through Thanedar, Kalpa, and Kaza to Chicham, closing back at Chandigarh via Rampur.
01
Thanedar
Days 1
02
Kalpa
Days 2
03
Kaza
Days 3 - 4
04
Chicham
Days 5 - 9
05
Rampur
Days 10
06
Chandigarh
Days 11
Arrival & Acclimatization
Days 01 - 04
Day 1
Travel from Chandigarh to Thanedar, passing Shimla, and reach the Himalayan foothills.
Day 2
Drive from Thanedar to Kalpa along the Sutlej River with views of the Kinner Kailash Massif.
Day 3
Journey from Kalpa to Kaza via Khab and Malling Nallah, entering Spiti at Sumdo.
Day 4
Drive from Kaza to Chicham, passing Key Monastery and crossing the iconic Chicham Bridge.
Chicham
Days 05 - 09
Day 5
Begin snow leopard tracking around Chicham, scanning the cliffs and valleys for wildlife.
Day 6
Explore nearby high altitude habitats in search of snow leopards, blue sheep, and Himalayan birds.
Day 7
Continue wildlife tracking around Chicham with time for photography and observation.
Day 8
Explore different valleys and slopes while searching for snow leopards and other mountain wildlife.
Day 9
Spend your final day in Chicham tracking snow leopards and observing the region’s unique wildlife.
Departure
Days 10 - 11
Day 10
Return journey starts from Chicham towards Rampur, descending from the mountains.
Day 11
Travel from Rampur to Chandigarh.
Itinerary Map
Inclusions and Exclusions
Included
- Stay with tandoor heaters in all rooms to keep warmth during the nights.
- Attached western toilets with hot water provided by the homestay everyday.
- One personal porter for each participant who will accompany everyday.
- Expert snow leopard scanners who will be in the feild morning to evening.
- Homestay located just by the road side so participants don't have to walk much everyday.
- Power backup at the homestay.
- Hot food provided to participants while they are on feild.
- Backup Vehicle during the entire tour.
Not Included
- Personal expenses like laundry, phone calls, liquor, à la carte food, etc.
- International or domestic airfares and rail tickets.
- Travel insurance.
- Tips and Gratuities.
- Anything that is not mentioned in the inclusion section.
Booking & Terms.
Booking Procedure
To confirm your seat, a 10% booking amount along with a valid Government ID must be submitted.
The remaining payments follow this schedule:
- 40% to be paid 120 days before the departure
- 50% to be paid 30 days before the departure
Accepted identity cards include: Aadhar, PAN Card, Driver’s License, OCI, Passport, Voter ID, or School/College ID. For non-Indian nationals, only a Passport is accepted.
Please scan your ID and email it to: sa****@**********ia.com
Cancellation Policy
| Notice Given | Refund |
|---|---|
| 120 days or more before departure | Full refund |
| 60 days or more before departure | 80% refunded |
| 30–59 days before departure | 60% refunded |
| 21–30 days before departure | 40% refunded |
| 11–20 days before departure | 20% refunded |
| 10 days or less, or no-show | No refund |
Extend Your Wildlife Journey
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Guest Testimonials
We thank all of our guests for trusting Big Cats India and for trusting us with planning their wildlife holiday with us. Read all our guest's reviews
Mr. Maxim Vetsuypens
Netherlands
We were a bit late with planning the safari trip and many good spots were fully booked, but Krunal was very helpful and creative in planning a trip that met our needs. The resorts where very comfortable and the food was tasty. Krunal was very responsive to our messages Read More
Marisa Romeo
Switzerland
magnificent safari tour/wonderful tour & safari I discovered Big Cats India via the internet, looking through various operators and having asked for some offers to go to national parks and possibly see and photograph tigers (mission accomplished, but it is never obvious to be Read More
Lewis Johnson
Australia
Had such an amazing tiger safari tour with Big cats at Pench tiger safari. Had 6 tiger sightings, 1 leopard sighting and 100s more wildlife over our 4 day tour. Big cats couldn’t have been more helpful with the whole booking and right the way through they were always asking how it Read More
Guest Gallery
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the Snow Leopard Expedition - Chicham?
10 nights / 11 days, based mainly out of Chicham village in Spiti Valley.
Where does the tour take place?
Chicham village in Himachal Pradesh, travelling from Chandigarh through Thanedar, Kalpa, and Kaza before crossing the Chicham Bridge into the village.
Is this trip physically demanding?
It involves high-altitude homestays and time spent outdoors in cold conditions rather than jeep safaris, so travellers should be reasonably fit and prepared for the altitude. Acclimatization stops at Thanedar, Kalpa, and Kaza are built into the route before reaching Chicham.
Is a snow leopard sighting guaranteed?
No - snow leopards are elusive by nature, and sightings depend on the animal's own movement. Expert scanners work the surrounding slopes daily to give the best realistic chance.
How is this different from the Kibber-based Snow Leopard Expedition?
Both track snow leopards in Spiti Valley, but this tour is based in Chicham and reaches it via Thanedar and Kalpa along the Sutlej River, crossing the Chicham Bridge - Asia's highest suspension bridge - on the way in. The Kibber-based tour follows a more direct route via Reckong Peo.
What other wildlife might I see?
Bharal (blue sheep) and ibex are commonly seen, along with high-altitude bird species across the ridgelines and valleys.