Snow Leopard Quest Photo Expedition

High in the Himalayas, one of the world’s rarest cats moves like a shadow. Join Photo Expedition Leader Phalgun Patel for an inside look at our Snow Leopard Quest Photo Expedition. Find out what it takes to photograph this legendary predator in Ladakh’s stark mountain landscapes and learn how this trip is designed around patience, positioning and light, with days spent scanning ridgelines for snow leopards and other Himalayan wildlife such as ibex, bharal and wolves.

High in the Himalayas, the elusive snow leopard survives against incredible odds. But its future hinges on more than its own resilience. Sheren Shrestha, World Wildlife Fund’s Snow Leopard Program lead, shares the challenges and successes of WWF’s conservation project in Nepal’s Shey Phoksundo National Park, home to one of the world’s largest snow leopard populations. Learn how governments, scientists and communities are working together to reduce conflict, protect habitats and ensure the long-term survival of these iconic cats.

Capturing an image of a snow leopard was once a pipe dream for wildlife photographers. Now, thanks to efforts by researchers, conservationists, and local communities, we're able to photograph these elegant felines in high-alpine realms like Ladakh, India, where we track them on our Land of the Snow Leopard adventure. Expedition Leader and pro photographer Surya Ramachandran shares his advice for photographing the “ghost of the mountains,” including must-bring camera gear and tips for shooting through a scope and in cold climes.