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08 Feb,25

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17 Feb,25

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Location

Rampur

Duration

10D/9N

₹ 100,000₹ 130,001

Book Now

₹100,000₹ 130,001

Book Now

Overview

9 nights 10 days of Masterclass Wildlife Photography Expedition to Kibber, in search of the Grey Ghost of the Himalayas.

DCP Experts

Images Review

Meals

Post Event

Rent Lens

Stay

Transport

About The Tour

Himalayas, the abode of snow, with most of the world’s highest peaks, is the greatest mountain range in the world, one of the most extreme places on earth for life to exist. A place frozen in time with mile long glaciers, icy summits, sheer rock faces, harsh winters, dry summers, it is savage in every way. Anyone who lives in these high mountains has to bear some of extreme weather conditions on this planet – snow blizzards which last for a week, avalanches, high altitudes along with landslides, rockfalls which alter the landscape almost every day. Yet a few animals exist over these high mountains; they have had to adapt their body and behavior to survive. Among those who live here, one animal rules these high mountain ridges – the majestic of them all ‘The Snow Leopard’.

Snow Leopards are one of the rarest species that exist on our planet. They exist only in 12 countries in the world. Even in these places they are seldom seen. Such is the majesty of this animal that a very few people have been lucky to see this spotted cat in the wild. India is one of those countries where Snow Leopards exist; they rule the cliffs of Trans-Himalayan landscape in Spiti and Ladakh and are highly revered by the people who live here. Due to this respect from people to wildlife, Snow Leopards in these mountains are highly protected from poachers. With a stable population of Snow Leopards, it is also one of the best places to see this rare cat. It is so rare to see a Snow Leopard that people here call it the ‘The Grey Ghost’

Other Biodiversity

Winters in Spiti are the best time to spot rare Himalayan wildlife like – Snow Leopard, Siberian Ibex, Blue Sheep, Tibetan Wolf, Red fox, Lammergeyer, Golden Eagle, Tibetan Snowcock, etc. As the temperatures plummet these animals descend down from altitude above 5000m to around 4000m in search of food and is the best time to spot them.

Quick Information

Route:

Chandigarh - Rampur - Tabo - Kibber - Rampur - Chandigarh

Start Point:

Chandigarh

Duration:

9 Nights 10 Days

End Point:

Chandigarh

Inclusions

  • Masterclass Wildlife Photography Expedition to Kibber
  • Time tested photography opportunities of the Grey Ghost of the Himalayas.
  • Hotel accommodation (1 night) with heaters with all meals
  • Homestay accommodation (8 nights) with traditional / electric heaters with all meals
  • Guide / Spotters and Individual porters for each guests (to carry camera equipment)
  • Wildlife Permits, Camera Fees and Kibber Community Council fees
  • Mineral water.
  • Tea/coffee/snacks.
  • Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner.
  • Water and hot tea at the site & snacks.
  • Veg/Non veg preference.
  • Electric blanket in bed for each guest.
  • Electric heater or hot stove in each room.
  • Fresh clean linen and quilt. Fresh towels.
  • Hot water.
  • Toilet paper/ Wet wipes.
  • Walking pole.
  • Foldable stool in the field.
  • Collapsible tent to rest while in the field.
  • Oxygen in the home stay and on the field.
  • Insulated mat to rest on on the field.
  • BSNL connection to call home.
  • Taxi with escort to and fro pick up and drop off points.

Experts

How To Reach

Take a flight to Chandigarh and reach before 10 AM. Meet at the common point either at the airport or the train station. Leave for Rampur.

Not applicable 

Not applicable 

Getting Ready

Things to carry:

  • Telephoto lenses – preferably above 500 mm.
  • Carry fully charged batteries for your camera / flash.
  • Carry backup memory cards / HDD storage drives, Laptop.
  • It is advisable to carry basic first aid along with you.
  • Carry extra pack of camera batteries.
  • Carry a pair of good binoculars.
  • Down jacket or winter jacket preferably waterproof/water resistant.
  • Ski pants or thick pants to withstand walking in snow or sitting in strong chilly winds.
  • Thermal inners, top and bottom
  • Middle layer normal fleece or regular jacket.
  • Arctic grade gloves 6. Normal winter gloves
  • Thermal Balaclava or thick fleece version
  • Thermal grade woolen cap or beanie
  • Normal cap
  • Thick artic grade socks
  • Normal woolen socks
  • Anti-skid snow boots
  • UV protection sunglasses
  • Sunscreen SPF 50 plus
  • Chap stick
  • Vaseline
  • Winter night suit
  • Snow Gaiters – over pants in case the shoes/bottom of pants opening get wet.

Do not worry if you don’t own a super-telephoto lens as we now have an equipment support division. Equipment is available on rental - please mail us at rentals@dcpexpeditions.com.

Note :

Temperature:

The temperatures in Spiti Valley dip up to -20°C in winters. We advise the clients to buy suitable clothing and gear for winters. People of Spiti live in this place throughout the year without expensive warm wear so there is nothing to be afraid of. The homestays are well insulated with a traditional heater in the rooms. The home stays will have dry compost toilets in winter.

Health precautions:

  • One has to take Diamox 250 mg twice a day 3 days before the commencement of the trip and three days in to the trip so that there is no acute mountain sickness. In case of any guests having any medical problems, please consult your doctor regarding taking this medicine. One is rapidly going to a higher elevation in 48 hours so one needs to take this precaution.
  • Natural disaster and cancellations
  • Natural disasters or unforeseen climate change are commonly faced when travelling to Spiti Valley especially Kibber. In case the tour has to be cancelled midway due to natural disaster like landslide, heavy snowfall or events out of control of a normal road trip, we won't be able to issue any refund.
  • In case of such cancellation of tour midway due to natural disaster, if participants are stuck, we will try our best to find stay options. If there are enough remaining days and home stay is available in Kibber, we will try to arrange the stay but if there is no availability of home stay, we won't be able to issue any refund.
  • One needs to be medically fit for this trip. We insist that you declare your correct health condition in the indemnity form provided. If someone goes through bad health condition during the tour and needs to return to lower ground, we won't be able to issue any refund. The cost of transportation will be borne by us till the closest hospital and further expense will have to be borne by the individual. If the person needs to head back to the closest town or city or return to the home town, then the expenses will be borne by the individual.

Snow Leopard sighting:

Please take a note that sighting of a Snow Leopard and / or a good photography opportunity to capture it in an ideal frame is a matter of luck. Though we will try our best for good sighting but it can never be guaranteed in the wild. Due to the nature of this trip and the uncertainty of the path a Snow Leopard may take on any particular day, the day to day itinerary must remain flexible. The group should move according to the information of the staff and the local community informants gather on the sign of movements of the snow leopard. The itinerary remains subject to alteration in the field as information and opportunities become available. The number of trekking wildlife days will remain the same, barring weather or other unusual circumstances that require a change.

Itinerary

Reach Chandigarh before 10 AM. Meet at the common point either at the airport or the train station. Leave for Rampur. Lunch at Parwanoo Timber Trail hotel. Stay at Nau Nabh Heritage hotel in Rampur. The drive from Chandigarh with a lunch and tea break is 8 hours. Rampur height is 4000 feet. Guests stay on double occupancy.

We leave Rampur at 7 AM with packed breakfast and drive to Tabo which is at 10,500 feet. This stop is to acclimatise the guests. We will halt midway for lunch. The stay will be in a clean and functional home stay. Guests stay on double occupancy. It is 10 to 12-hour drive depending on the weather and road conditions.

Early next morning, we will visit the Tabo monastery before moving to Kibber. Kibber is at 14,500 feet. On the way to Kibber which is a 2-hour drive, if there is any sighting, we will drop you off and get you ready for photography. The porter and guide will come and help you but it is better to go up, settle in and come back once acclimatised as any exertion can lead one to mountain sickness. So depending on how difficult the sighting site is to reach, we will decide. Once settled in your rooms at the home stay in Kibber, you can go for a short walk around the village to familiarise oneself. In the afternoon, if there is any sighting, we will take you to the site. Mostly, we use Maruti Suzuki Gypsy so that it is convenient for the guests instead of hiking. There will be some points like 100 - 400 yards one may have to walk while reaching the snow leopard site. 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 the breakfast is done, the guest can step out to see Blue Sheep, Red Fox and Ibex. Generally, we encourage everyone to stay close to the home stay till they have one good sighting of snow leopard and then pursue other wildlife. Lunch is generally served at the snow leopard sighting site. If there are no sightings, on some 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 in the home stay. Mineral water is provided free of charge throughout the trip. Each room has a wood fired hot stove and electric heater for heating. Each bed has an electric blanket. Heavy quilts are provided. Bath towels are also provided. There is generator set if the electricity goes out. There is no running water in winters. Hot water will be provided for freshening up every day. For use of toilet, it is a dry toilet. Wet wipes and toilet paper is provided. Bathroom is separate and hot water will be provided in case someone wants to take a bath. A porter is provided for each guest. You don’t have to lift anything. Your camera is carried by the porter and he will also carry your daytime camera bag / back pack. Extra scanner guides for maximum chances of quick and confirmed sighting.

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 for any symptoms of shortness of breath. The escort will watch over you and available for any issues. There is arrangement of dropping the guest to lower altitude if suffering from mountain sickness or shortness of breath. Any detour up to 30 kilometres for new or different sites for Snow Leopard sighting. Any extra help needed or extra trips by the helpers to get equipment or other essential items from the home stay to the sighting site.

This is the routine for 6 days.

Early morning departure from Kibber to Rampur. Stay at Nau Nabh Heritage hotel.

Early morning departure from Rampur to Chandigarh to catch the flight to go home.

We will be staying at Nau Nabh Heritage hotel in Rampur and in homestays while at Kibber.

 

Field Learnings

On field learning from the experts is said to be one of the best methods of improving your skillsets. Our Wildlife Photography Expert will hand hold you at every possible step for a better understanding of perspectives, camera controls and how to make use of the best opportunities to get better images. The training will focus on the following

  1. How to approach Wildlife in the field
  2. Different modes of shooting (Av / A, Tv / S, M and P)
  3. Exposure control in field under difficult light conditions
  4. Mastering metering techniques (Spot, partial, center weighted, evaluative)
  5. Mastering auto focus, focusing points, AF locking and focus tracking for moving subjects
  6. How to get sharp images of moving subjects
  7. Framing and composition in the field
  8. Ethics in Wildlife Photography

Image processing workshop

To maximize and complete your photographic learning, join our evening session of informal discussions on digital image processing. Our Expert will work on few of his own images or a few of yours (which you have clicked during the day) and demonstrate various techniques of image processing to give a final shape to your artwork. The following will be discussed

  1. RAW files processing
  2. Histogram and exposure control
  3. Colour correction methods
  4. Cropping and image resizing
  5. Sharpening, cloning, dodging and burning
  6. Noise reduction
  7. Composition

Package Cost

Package Cost: Rs 1,00,000 per head inclusive of all taxes
(Twin sharing accommodation, all meals, dedicated porter for each guest).

Cost includes

  • Transport - 10 Days as per itinerary - Driver charges, Fuel charges, Toll charges.
  • Hotel accommodation  with heaters with all meals
  • Homestay accommodation with traditional / electric heaters with all meals
  • Guide / Spotters and Individual porters for each guests (to carry camera equipment)
  • Wildlife Permits, Camera Fees and Kibber Community Council fees
  • Mineral water.
  • Tea/coffee/snacks.
  • Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner.
  • Water and hot tea at the site & snacks.
  • Veg/Non veg preference.
  • Electric blanket in bed for each guest.
  • Electric heater or hot stove in each room.
  • Fresh clean linen and quilt. Fresh towels.
  • Hot water.
  • Toilet paper/ Wet wipes.
  • Walking pole.
  • Foldable stool in the field.
  • Collapsible tent to rest while in the field.
  • Oxygen in the home stay and on the field.
  • Insulated mat to rest on on the field.
  • BSNL connection to call home.
  • Taxi with escort to and fro pick up and drop off points.

Cost does not include:

  • Accommodation at Chandigarh
  • Personal expenses of any kind
  • Cost incurred due to change in itinerary because of bad weather, road blocks, heavy snowfall or factors beyond control
  • Any medical, travel, evacuation insurance
  • Anything not mentioned in the inclusions list above
  • Tips & Gratuity.
  • Other than first aid, any medical emergency has to be borne by the guest.
  • Emergency travel due to any issue.
  • Alcohol or related items

Map

Kibber

Policies

Cancellation policy

  1. All cancellations before 30 days of the event date - 100% credit
  2. All cancellations between 20 - 30 days of the event date - 50% credit
  3. All cancellations within 20 days of the event date - No credit possible

FAQ's

Yes. Please write to info@dcpexpeditions.com as it is subject to availability.

No you don't need a DSLR. You can even join with your point and shoot camera or your mobile phone.

Kibber - Snow Leopard Photography Masterclass Expedition, Feb 2025

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+91 9167979062

10.30 AM - 6.00 PM(Mon to Sat)