Snow Leopard Conservation in the Himalayas

SNOW LEOPARD EXPEDITION: FIELD CONSERVATION AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD

HIMALAYAS, INDIA

Ladakh, India

March 15 - 25th, 2026

$6,200 USD

Overview

High in the Himalayas, conservation and culture meet in one of the most extreme and extraordinary landscapes on Earth. Fewer than 7,000 snow leopards remain in the wild, and their survival depends on one critical thing: coexistence with the communities who share their mountains.

That's where you come in.

This mission takes you into the heart of snow leopard country — not as a tourist, but as an active part of a science-backed effort to protect one of the world’s most elusive big cats. Built from the ground up with biologists and community experts at Snow Leopard Conservancy–India Trust, this experience is designed for people who want to create measurable, lasting impact while exploring wild places in their rawest, most authentic form.

You’ll learn how conservation actually works: how population data guides policy, how thoughtfully designed infrastructure prevents conflict, and how global change begins in small, high-altitude villages.

This isn’t about watching conservation happen — it’s about doing it.

You’ll leave with hard-earned insight, real field skills, and the confidence that you played a role in protecting snow leopards and the people who live alongside them.

Because when you help protect an apex predator, you protect an entire ecosystem — and the communities leading its future.

Your participation directly powers conservation outcomes with proven success:

✅ Population Data to Policy: Contribute to monitoring that informs India’s national snow leopard strategies.

✅ One Health Protection: Support a pilot dog vaccination program reducing rabies threat for people + livestock + wildlife.

✅ Coexistence That Works: Build predator-proof corrals that reduce livestock losses by up to ~90% — preventing retaliatory predator killings.

✅ Local Leadership for the Future: Strengthen youth and guide training programs that build a homegrown conservation workforce across Ladakh.

join the mission

$6,200 uSD

Payment Variants

20% Non-Refundable Deposit
Full Payment

Places to book

* By booking a trip with The Global Protagonists, you confirm your acceptance of the terms and conditions outlined in this document .

HIGHLIGHTS

Work with Snow Leopard Conservancy Biologists

Join field researchers for camera-trap deployment, population monitoring, and rosette-ID analysis to help track individual cats and detect trends critical to long-term protection.

Advance One Health Protection for People & Wildlife

Assist with a pilot Mission Rabies program — vaccinating domestic dogs to stop transmission pathways that threaten humans, livestock, and snow leopards alike.

Work with Snow Leopard Conservancy Biologists

Join field researchers for camera-trap deployment, population monitoring, and rosette-ID analysis to help track individual cats and detect trends critical to long-term protection.

Build Coexistence Infrastructure

Reinforce or rebuild predator-proof corrals with local families — a science-proven solution that has reduced livestock losses by up to 90% in key communities, preventing retaliatory killings.

Support the Next Generation of Conservation Leaders

Participate in environmental workshops with Ladakhi youth and trainee guides to grow local capacity in wildlife monitoring, nature-based livelihoods, and conservation leadership.

Learn Traditional Knowledge & Human-Wildlife Systems

Meet Amchi healers and local medical teams working at the wildlife-health interface — integrating cultural knowledge with modern science for resilient communities.

Track the Ghost of the Mountains

Spend time in the field with expert local spotters and herders who read the landscape like a language — learning spoor interpretation, territorial behaviour, and habitat dynamics.

Live in the High Himalayas, Inside Conservation Itself

Stay in a remote mountain village at 13,000 ft — immersed in breathtaking terrain where coexistence isn’t theory… it’s everyday life.

INCLUSIONS & EXCLUSIONS

Includes:

All accommodation (Leh + Snow Leopard Lodge, Ulley)
All meals, drinking water, tea/coffee during field days
Airport transfers & all ground transport throughout the mission
Dedicated acclimatisation support at altitude
All conservation activities (camera traps, tracking, coexistence builds, workshops, etc.)
Full field day with Snow Leopard Conservancy–India Trust team
Contribution to community-led conservation initiatives
Support of local trackers, guides & project staff
Daily field briefings, conservation learning, and safety support
TGP expedition host

Excludes:

International flights to/from New Delhi, domestic flight to/fro Leh
Personal travel insurance

WHO IS THIS FOR?

Veterinary professionals & students

Impact-driven travelers who want conservation that’s hands-on and measurable.

Students & professionals in ecology, public health, or policy seeking real field exposure.

People comfortable with cold, altitude, and purposeful challenge.

Community-minded leaders who value listening, learning, and uplifting local expertise

Photographers & storytellers who want to document ethical, community-led conservation

SNOW LEOPARD SEARCH DAYS

AM field brief (weather, routes, spotting zones) → ridge-line glassing with scopes; slow, methodical scanning for movement, sign, and prey behavior.
On-the-move learning: how teams log GPS points, elevation, wind, and sign quality; why some valleys hold cats in late winter.
Ethics & safety: distance protocols, zero-disturbance approach, altitude pacing, cold-weather decision points, and emergency routes back to Leh.
Camera-trap hits, and prey/herding dynamics.
Contingency days: flexible plans for weather windows to maximize research and tracking opportunities.

YOUR IMPACT

Every Protagonist directly supports:

Up to 90% reduction in livestock–predator conflict in targeted villages
Disease-prevention for humans, livestock & snow leopards
Camera-trap data that informs national strategy & global research
Youth leadership development in conservation skills
Employment + fair wages for local spotters, cooks, staff and Ladakhi households

Your contribution supports the systems that keep snow leopards — and the communities who protect them — thriving.

ACCOMODATION & MEALS

Where You'll Stay

Leh, India: Our first stop for High-Altitude Acclimatisation. A ruggard but connected base for acclimatisation as you adjust to 3,500 m elevation. Here we will prepare for remote field days ahead in the tiny mountain community of Ulley.
Snow Leopard Lodge, Ulley: A pioneering community-run conservation lodge that channels tourism revenue directly into conservation and local livelihoods. From here, you’ll be minutes from active snow leopard habitat and community coexistence projects.

Meals

All meals are provided, and will feature a mix of local Indian-Tibetan cuisines and international cuisines. All dietary needs can be accommodated.

TRAVEL AND LOGISTICS

Start & Finish

Trip begins & ends: Leh, Ladakh (India)
You’ll book your own flights into Leh (a connection from New Delhi) — we’ll provide guidance on recommended timings and options.

Altitude & Pace

Leh sits at 3,500 m / 11,500 ft, Ulley at ~4,000 m / 13,000 ft
We build in gentle acclimatisation days before any remote field time
Activities are easy-paced with plenty of rest, warmth, and optional participation

Most participants are new to altitude — and our schedule is designed around that.

Transport

All airport transfers, lodge transfers, and field transport are included
Modern 4x4 vehicles with experienced drivers
Only 2.5–3 hrs between Leh and Ulley — no long transit days

Field Comfort

Short walks, scenic lookout spots, time sitting with scopes and traps
Regular warm-up breaks and flexible field plans
You choose your level of activity each day

This is hands-on conservation — not a physical endurance challenge.

Team & Support

You’ll be traveling with a tight-knit group of up to 15 Protagonists, supported by:
A dedicated TGP host guiding the mission every step of the way
Local field experts and community trackers who know these mountains better than anyone
A warm and welcoming ground team in Leh and Ulley
Clear communication and thoughtful logistics so you can relax and enjoy the adventure

You’re never alone out here — you’ll have a whole team to learn with, laugh with, and share this extraordinary experience with.

MEET YOUR LEADERS

Dr. Ciara Peace

An emergency veterinarian with a heart for wildlife and a passport full of global conservation efforts. From the savannas of South Africa to the jungles of Central America, Dr. Ciara Peace has worked with a range of species in some of the world’s most critical ecosystems. When she’s not in the clinic, she’s in the field, combining her expertise with a deep commitment to creating sustainable solutions that protect wildlife and uplift the communities who share their habitat.

Dr. Kristi Crow

A vet with a vision—Dr. Kristi Crow is dedicated to bridging the gap between clinical care and the wild. She’s traveled across Africa and Asia, from collaring elephants to rhino conservation, and now leads expeditions that let people experience real-world conservation impact firsthand. Through her fieldwork and storytelling, Dr. Crow inspires others to get involved and take action, whether it's for the animals, the people, or the planet.

Dr. Meera Mokashki

An Indian conservation master with a global reach, Dr. Meera Mokashki is redefining what it means to protect wildlife in a rapidly changing world. With a strong foundation in local environmental knowledge and a master’s degree in conservation from Edinburgh, Dr. Mokashki brings both academic rigor and deep cultural understanding to every project she’s involved in. Whether working in India’s diverse landscapes or collaborating on international conservation strategies, her work is focused on creating lasting, sustainable impacts for both wildlife and local communities.

JOIN THE MISSION

This is one of the most authentic, science-based, community-driven snow leopard expeditions ever offered.

It’s not about seeing wildlife — it’s about safeguarding it.

Step into the field. Contribute to real data. Build coexistence from the ground up.

And leave knowing that your time, energy, and funding directly supported measurable conservation outcomes.

👉 Step into the story. Rewrite the ending.

Radical Transparency, Real Impact

Every booking directly fuels frontline snow leopard conservation in Ladakh — supporting coexistence programs that protect wildlife and the communities who live alongside them.

Your participation helps to:

Assess camera-trap coverage in priority snow leopard habita
Reinforce predator-proof corrals that prevent livestock loss and protect big cats
Deliver a pilot One-Health rabies vaccination initiative for community safety and wildlife health
Employ and train local trackers and youth guides — strengthening conservation leadership on the ground

You’ll receive updates throughout the expedition — so you always know what’s being built, where data is going, and who your support is empowering.

By the end of the mission, you’ll see exactly what your involvement achieved:

coexistence infrastructure delivered, communities supported, and snow leopard monitoring data strengthened — all because you showed up.

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