CULTURAL AND NATURE PRESERVATION
Villages of the Snow Leopard
A journey exploring the interconnection of mountain wildlife and indigenous people and into the world of the snow leopard living among the high Himalayan communities of Tibetan culture in Dolpo, remote NW Nepal.
Journey Essentials
- 18 days/17 nights from Kathmandu
- Internationally and locally led by experts in conservation and development
- 4 nights in a high quality, boutique hotel in Kathmandu
- 1 night in a hotel on transit to Dolpo
- 12 nights supported camp trekking in Dolpo (luggage porterage by mule provided)
- Up to 8 days moderate trekking to 3800M altitude
- Day treks with local guides and snow leopard spotters
- Price: from £3050 (an optional contribution of £150 for community snow leopard and cultural conservation is also recommended)
Journey Dates:
2022:
Inaugural journey: 19th October to 5th November
2023:
23rd April to 10th May
15th October to 1st November
Journey Highlights
A fascinating exploration of culture, community and the natural world of the snow leopard
• Historical and cultural sites of the Kathmandu valley • Stunning Himalayan mountain flight to the start of our trekking journey. • Exploring the habitat and habits of the iconic snow leopard with local experts and community leopard spotters and find the tracks and evidence of leopards. • Set up and check wildlife camera traps and see footage caught on similar traps by community conservationists. • Explore the beautiful traditional Tibetan style villages of Rike, Ringmo and Pungmo spending being hosted by the communities as we explore their experiences and relations with snow leopards. • Spend time at the stunning Trasung Choeling Monastery and explore the spiritual significance of snow leopards with the lamas and spiritual leaders of Dolpo. • Our relationship with local communities and the monasteries means that we are often offered to viewing the intimate and visually stunning ceremonies of mountain Bon religion that few travellers see. • Explore the Bon/Buddhist beliefs around the natural environment and wildlife with traditional Tibetan herbalists and healers (Amchi) and be led by them to discover the medicinal plants and belief systems of the high Himalaya. • Travel through some of the most stunning high Himalayan landscapes, among the majesty of the glaciated peaks, hills and valleys of the hidden high Himalaya, along the fabled Demon’s path on a stunning viewpoint above the aqua waters of lake Phoksundo. • Spending evenings by the firesides of family homes to discover the stories, culture, music and lives of the remote Himalaya.
explore the relationship between traditional communities and nature
Background of the journey
The Villages of The Snow Leopard Journey has been developed to respond to the expertise and aspirations of sisters Tshiring Lhamu Lama and Sonam Choekyi Lama in community snow leopard conservation. Tshiring and Sonam are from the village of Ringmo and Tshiring has a masters in environmental science and conservation and focused her studies on snow leopard conservation. With her own initiative, Tshiring has established community snow leopard spotters in various communities and has also set up numerous wildlife camara traps to monitor snow leopard activity. Tshiring and Sonam’s vision is to create a form of snow leopard-oriented tourism in remote Dolpo that has economic and social benefits to the local communities and therefore reinforces incentives to conserve and protect wildlife, snow leopards and the environment. Our journeys will directly contribute to a fund that will support Tshiring and Sonam’s work and also offer compensation to herders who lose livestock to snow leopard predation.
Map of our journey
Discover the villages of the snow leopard
Snow Leopard Calling
01
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2023: Inaugural journey 23rd July to 7th August
02
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13 days
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2022:
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2023
- 20th May to 1st June
- 9th to 21st September
03
Tour
Footsteps of Mathiessen's Snow Leopard
23 days
A unique journey retracing the footsteps of the 1973 expedition of author Peter Matthiessen to the sacred Crystal Mountain of Upper Dolpo that resulted in the cult travel book 'The Snow Leopard'. The journey is being undertaken with biographer Lance Richardson as research for a major official biography of Matthiessen.
2022: New dates 12th May to 3rd June 2022
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