Himalayas: Snow Leopards on the Roof of the World

15 Days Trip
SAVE YOUR SPOT
8 /  Spots Left
1,500+

Trust Airguides

Guided trip

The Story

Snow leopards are among the hardest animals on earth to find, let alone photograph. Martin Gregus has been running expeditions into Ladakh for nearly two decades. This one is limited to eight guests.

The expedition is based out of Lungmār Camp, positioned for direct access to prime snow leopard terrain in the Himalayas. Each day is structured around live updates from expert trackers on the ground, giving you the best possible chance of a real encounter, not a distant sighting. Pallas's cats, one of the world's most elusive small predators, are also present in this landscape.

The trip opens in Leh with a day to acclimatise before transferring to camp. Ladakh is more than its wildlife: Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and traditional Ladakhi homesteads sit alongside the tracking days, giving the expedition a cultural depth that pure wildlife trips rarely have.

Throughout, Martin leads photography masterclasses and works with guests in the field. Nearly two decades of snow leopard expeditions means he knows this terrain, these animals, and what it takes to come away with images worth making the journey for.

Eight guests. One of the rarest cats on the planet. The roof of the world.

The Highlights

  • Direct access to prime snow leopard terrain in the Himalayas
  • All accommodation, including 7 nights at Lungmār Remote Camp
  • All guiding, tracking, and expedition services
  • Guided by wildlife photographer Martin Gregus
  • Positive Impact Contribution (included): US$350 per person
This is more than a trip.

Martin has spent nearly two decades tracking snow leopards in Ladakh. He knows this terrain, these animals, and what it takes to be in the right place when it matters. With Martin, you're not just a witness to this world. You're learning to read it.

Reserve Your Trip

15 Days, 14 Nights

Snow Leopards On The Roof Of The World

Price
Regular price $15,750 USD
Regular price Sale price $15,750 USD
Sale Sold out
Quantity
Have questions? Text or call us.
We're Online. Contact Us.

“I have had the almost unparalleled privilege to experience iconic wildlife in a way few people have ever had."

- Martin Gregus

Meet Your Guide

Why Travel With Martin?

Martin Gregus grew up in Bratislava, Slovakia, in a household full of artists. He learned photography from his father and was exploring local wildlife with a camera before most kids had decided what they wanted to do with their lives. The hundreds of National Geographic magazines stacked around his home did the rest.

Nineteen years later, his work has taken him across all seven continents and some of the most remote ecosystems on the planet. He has earned two wins and two nominations at Wildlife Photographer of the Year, and his 2022 polar bear project, 33 Days Among the Bears, became an international story after National Geographic coverage. His cinematography has since contributed to productions for Disney, BBC, and Netflix.

Now based in Canada, Martin is recognised internationally for his work in polar regions and remote wilderness, and for his ability to create extraordinary images in some of the most extreme environments on earth.

What Sets Martin Apart
  • Nearly two decades of expedition work across the planet's most extreme environments: Arctic, Antarctic, Patagonia, and the Himalayas
  • A network of expert local guides and trackers in each destination, built over years of repeat fieldwork, giving guests access that cannot be replicated
  • Technical mastery developed in the harshest conditions on earth: polar ice, high altitude, dense wilderness, and open ocean
  • A teaching approach grounded in patience and preparation, with a belief that the best wildlife images are earned, not stumbled upon

20+

Years Experiences

200+

Global Expeditions

730k+

Followers

What Fuels Martin

"When you're standing on polar ice at sunrise, you don't need convincing that this planet is worth protecting."

It started in a living room in Slovakia, surrounded by his father's photographs and stacks of National Geographic. That childhood wonder never faded. It grew into a drive to reach the most remote corners of the planet and bring back images that make people care. For Martin, every expedition carries a purpose: show people what's out there, so they want to protect it.

Day By Day

Your Itinerary

Day

1

Where India Begins

Land in New Delhi. You'll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel - tonight is for settling in, getting your bearings, and letting the anticipation build.

Overnight: The Roseate House, New Delhi

Day

2-3

Tibetan Monasteries of Lehrand Dragon Hotel

After breakfast, fly with the group to Leh, gateway to the Himalayas. They don't call it the roof of the world for nothing - your first day is kept free to rest and acclimatise before the adventure begins.

By day two, the body adjusts and Leh opens up. Ancient Tibetan monasteries cling to the ridgelines above the city, each one a window into a culture that has survived at the roof of the world for centuries. Walk the lanes, take in the scale of the landscape, and start to understand where you are.

Overnight: Grand Dragon Hotel, Leh

Day

4-10

Lungmār Remote Camp, Hemis National Park

This is what the trip is built around.

Each morning, expert spotters leave camp before first light in 4x4s, spreading out across the valleys to scan ridgelines and slopes for movement. You wake around 7am to French press coffee, pots of tea, and a made-to-order breakfast - then the radio crackles and the day begins.

Snow leopards move through this landscape on their own terms. Some days you find them. Some days you find their tracks, their kills, the ghost of their presence on a distant slope. Every day in Hemis is a lesson in patience and attention - the two things Martin Gregus has built a career on.

Days combine driving and walking. Meals are at camp or packed for the field. During quieter moments, visits to local villages offer a different kind of perspective - on the landscape, on conservation, and on what it means to live alongside these animals.

Each evening, the group gathers to review images, share what they saw, and work through techniques with Martin. The learning is woven into the expedition, not bolted on.

Overnight: Lungmār Remote Camp, Ladakh

Day

11-13

The Tibetan Plateau

The expedition shifts east into the Changthang region - part of the vast Tibetan Plateau and one of the most remote corners of Ladakh.

The target here is different. Pallas's cats, Tibetan wolves, Tibetan sand foxes, Tibetan gazelles - species that most wildlife photographers never get close to. The terrain is open and extreme, the skies enormous. Hanle village is dominated by a medieval fortress monastery that has watched over this plateau for centuries.

Accommodation is a local guesthouse - simple, authentic, and part of the experience. The team adds what comfort they can, but this section of the trip is genuinely adventurous. That's the point.

Overnight: Local guesthouse, Hanle

Day

14

Grand Dragon Hotel, Leh

A six-hour drive back through the mountains to Leh. Time to decompress, download memories, and sleep somewhere soft.

Overnight: Grand Dragon Hotel, Leh

Day

15

Goodbye India

Fly back to New Delhi and transfer to The Roseate House in Aerocity. International departures tonight or tomorrow morning.

Overnight: The Roseate House, New Delhi

Guest Review

Himalayas

"To be in the presence of a unique visionary like Martin Gregus and be welcomed into his home away from home in the middle of nowhere is truly a once in a lifetime event right up there with getting married or having a child."

- Anne Prather, United States

Himalayas
Relive your

Travel Memories

Travel Memories
Travel Memories
Travel Memories
Travel Memories
Travel Memories
Travel Memories
Travel Memories
FAQ

Have Questions?

What's included
  • 7 nights at LUNGMĀR Remote Camp
  • 3 nights at a local guesthouse in Hanle
  • 2 nights at Grand Dragon Hotel in Leh
  • 1 night pre-trip at The Roseate House, New Delhi
  • 1 night post-trip at The Roseate House, New Delhi
  • Private transfers with driver guides throughout
  • All breakfast, lunch and dinner
  • Photography masterclasses with Martin Gregus
  • All guiding, tracking and expedition services
  • Airguides expedition leader
  • Positive Impact Contribution of US$350 per person

Optional extras: private room (single supplement US$3,000 per person), personal porter (US$595)

What's not included
  • Camera hire
  • Travel insurance
  • International flights

Wildlife encounters are never guaranteed, and weather conditions can vary. Some activities may be affected by factors outside our control.

What is the positive impact contribution?

This trip is run in partnership with the High Asia Habitat Fund, an organisation that delivers direct benefits to local communities and wildlife across the Himalayan region. This expedition with Martin Gregus will generate US$2,800 in direct conservation and community funding. It's built into how the camps and tracking operations work - not an optional add-on.

What will we eat?

Local chefs prepare all meals on-site at each camp and guesthouse throughout the trip. Ingredients are sourced as locally as possible from surrounding communities. Let the team know your dietary requirements before you arrive and they'll accommodate you.

What is LUNGMĀR Remote Camp like?

LUNGMĀR is a remote high-altitude camp positioned specifically for snow leopard tracking in one of the most productive areas of Ladakh. The standard option is the comfortable Kurkhang tent accommodation. For guests wanting more space or comfort, suite upgrades are available at US$5,880 per room (for one or two guests). Given the altitude and remoteness, this is a genuine expedition camp - well-run and comfortable, but not a city hotel.

Do I need a porter?

A personal porter isn't essential, but many guests find one invaluable - especially if you're travelling with heavy camera gear like a 600mm or 800mm lens. When a snow leopard is located, the group often leaves the vehicles and hikes across rough terrain at altitude to get closer. A porter handles your equipment on those sections, leaving you free to move and react quickly. Personal porter costs US$595 for the trip. Worth it if you're serious about your photography kit.

Who leads the trip?

Every Airguides expedition has two leaders: an Airguides trip leader who handles logistics and keeps everything running smoothly, and a storyteller guide - in this case Martin Gregus - who brings world-class wildlife photography expertise and deep knowledge of snow leopard behaviour and habitat to every day in the field. Our storytellers are photographers, filmmakers, scientists and explorers - people who have dedicated their careers to understanding these places, and who share that perspective with guests throughout the trip.

Is there a solo traveller supplement?

Yes. Solo travellers can request a private room for an additional fee of US$3,000. We also offer a roommate pairing option on a limited, first-come-first-served basis. Contact us for details and availability.

What fitness level is required?

High. This trip operates at significant altitude in remote mountain terrain. When tracking on foot, the group can cover rough ground quickly. You need to be physically fit, comfortable hiking at altitude, and prepared for cold conditions. If you have any concerns, speak with our team before booking.

Can I speak to someone about this trip or get help with flights?

Yes. Our team can help with flight options and travel routing. Call, text or WhatsApp us at +61 402 552 918. You'll speak directly with an Airguides team member who knows this trip inside out. We're here to help with any questions, big or small, from planning your adventure to arriving back home.

Reviews

What They Say About Us?

Airguides were exceptional hosts for our Raja Ampat liveaboard dive trip. Seamless, professional and incredibly well organised from start to finish. A special mention to Brooke and Prashanti Pyke for their warmth, expertise and attention to detail. They truly made the experience unforgettable.

Highly recommend Airguides.

Adam McKnight, Raja 2025

A truly unique experience that you will cherish for the rest of your life.

This experience is not for the faint of heart or someone who is looking for Instagram moments for clout. You are being given a unique opportunity to go to a place that will only be accessible to a handful of mere mortals.

To be in the presence of a unique visionary like Martin Gregus is truly a once in a lifetime.

Anne Prather, Fireweeds 2025

The Airguides trip to Tonga to swim with humpback whales was the experience of a lifetime. I have traveled all over the world, and nothing compares to being in the wild, rustic, deep blue waters of the South Pacific while interacting with whales and their calves. A wonderful and caring team made our adventures stress free.

Mb Myers, Tonga 2024