Photo safari for Snow Leopard

Day 1. Osh

Meeting at the airport and transfer to hotel. After lunch visit Sulaiman Mountain. Relaxing day.

Overnight in home stay.

Meals: 1 Breakfast,1 Lunch, 1 Dinner

Day 2. Osh to Kara Kul

Departure to Kara kul. This drive will see us enjoying some of the most dramatic scenery of the trip, with the lunar-like landscapes and bright blue lakes providing plenty of opportunities to take our breath away. Our Pamir Highway starts at high pass in the Taldyk (3554m), we cross Kyzyl Art Pass (4282 meters), which essentially forms the border between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. Border formalities take place shortly after crossing the pass, with 20kms of ‘no man’s land’ to cross. Be warned, even in August we could see sub-zero temperatures through the border areas, so make sure you have some extra layers and warm clothes to hand in case we are delayed by formalities. We descend to Karakul Lake, the highest lake in Central Asia, and at 3915 meters, too high to support any aquatic life.

Overnight in home stay.  Meals: 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner

The Pamir Mountains

Spreading across Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan and China the Pamirs are situated at the junction of some of the world’s highest mountain ranges – the Himalayas, the Hindu Kush and the Tian Shan among others, and with peaks exceeding 7000m are known locally as ‘the Roof of the World’. With numerous glaciers and covered in snow throughout the year, the climate here is unforgiving with only a short summer season. Nevertheless the Pamirs are home to both people and wildlife – of the latter notable species include the Marco Polo sheep and snow leopard. Communities and villages in the Pamirs are isolated, separated from each other in valleys and with different villages often speaking different dialects, even though they may not be far from each other as the crow flies. It was in this region that the last stages of the ‘Great Game’ – the territorial rivalry between the empires of Russia and Britain – were played out in the late 19th century, with intrepid adventurers mapping the high passes and staking claims for king and country. The Pamir Highway, running from Dushanbe to Osh, is the second highest in the world (after the Khardung La Pass in the Ladakh region of India).

Day 3. Kara kul to Murghab

We will again cross a high-altitude pass Ak-Baital Pass (4655 meters) which is the highest section of road in the former Soviet Union. This is the Pamir Highway we have anticipated, with the route between Osh to Khorog completed in 1931 across a Tibetan-plateau style high altitude terrain. With a total of 135kms to cover today, we anticipate arriving in Murghab lunch time. Arrival Murghab, Murghab (3670 m) itself has few attractions, but it will serve as our base for a couple of nights as we explore the area a little. The 7546 m – high Chinese peak of Mustag Ata is visible to the northeast of town. The Eastern Pamirs have been populated by nomadic ethnic Kyrgyz since the 17th century.

Overnight in home stay. 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner

Days 4 – 8. Murghab – Pyshart. Snow Leopard observation.

To find Snow Leopard is very difficult, as they are crepuscular, being most active at dawn and dusk. They are known for being extremely secretive and well camouflaged. More over a home range up to five to 10 animals are found here per 100 km2 in the East Pamir. But we will try our best to detect this legendary endangered species. Four days Snow Leopard observations will take in Pyshart and Jangy davan valleys. To make our photo hunting easy we will use traditional local hunters practice. We will make the Snow leopard to rise to the bite. A big piece of meat will be fastening in a certain places to attract them. We can take pictures or films from hidden spot. If we are lucky, if Snow Leopard existing around comes to our “trap”.

Meals: 4 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 4 Dinners

The Snow leopard (Panthera uncia syn. Uncia uncia) is a large cat native to the mountain ranges of Central and South Asia. It is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species because as of 2003, the size of the global population was estimated at 4,080-6,590 adults, of which fewer than 2,500 individuals may reproduce in the wild.

Snow leopards are slightly smaller than the other big cats but, like them, exhibit a range of sizes, generally weighing between 27 and 55 kg (60 and 121 lb), with an occasional large male reaching 75 kg (165 lb) and small female of under 25 kg (55 lb). They have a relatively short body, measuring in length from the head to the base of the tail 75 to 130 cm (30 to 50 in). However, the tail is quite long, at 80 to 100 cm (31 to 39 in), with only the domestic-cat-sized marbled cat being relatively longer-tailed They are stocky and short-legged big cats, standing about 60 cm (24 in) at the shoulder. Snow leopards have long, thick fur, and their base color varies from smoky gray to yellowish tan, with whitish underparts. They have dark grey to black open rosettes on their bodies, with small spots of the same color on their heads and larger spots on their legs and tails. Unusually among cats, their eyes are pale green or grey in color. Snow leopards show several adaptations for living in a cold, mountainous environment. Their bodies are stocky, their fur is thick, and their ears are small and rounded, all of which help to minimize heat loss. Their paws are wide, which distributes their weight better for walking on snow, and have fur on their undersides to increase their grip on steep and unstable surfaces; it also helps to minimize heat loss. Snow leopards’ tails are long and flexible, helping them to maintain their balance, which is very important in the rocky terrain they inhabit. Their tails are also very thick due to storage of fat and are very thickly covered with fur which allows them to be used like a blanket to protect their faces when asleep. Snow leopards prefer rocky, broken terrain, and can travel without difficulty in snow up to 85 cm (33 in) deep, although they prefer to use existing trails made by other animals

Day 9. Murghab – Osh

Transfer to Osh. Arrive late evening, Overnight in Hotel Sun Rise.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 10. Osh

Transfer to airport and departure.

Included

• Accommodations in twin/double room (maybe shared in some locations in guest houses, homes, yurt stays. Often not private bathrooms, home stays’ facilities are very basic in Pamir: shared room for 2-3 people, you can take a bucket shower, toilets are not in suite and are typical Asian squat-style),
•  (2 – Hotels, 7 – Home stays.)
• Meals as indicated, (8 – Breakfasts, 8 – Lunches, 8 – Dinners.)
• English speaking driver as a guide for whole tour
• Dead goats for attraction Snow leopards
• Transfers & transportation (suitable 4WD vehicle Land Cruiser or Nissan Patrol)

EXCLUDES

• Travel insurance
• Early check in USD35/pax
• Supplement for single rooms USD 92/pax
• Alcohol drinks
• Items of personal nature, camera/video fees,
• meals unless indicated in cost sheet,
• Gratitude.

TOUR INFORMATION

• Trip starts: from Kyrgyzstan Osh ends in Osh
• Valid from: November  to March
• Category: Adventure tour in Remote and High Mountains
• Activities: Combined, jeep tour and trekking
• Best season: November – December – January – February – March
• Level of difficulty: Moderate
• Overnight stays: Hotels, Guest houses, Home stays, may be herders’hut
• Max altitude: 4830m

The Photo Safari happens in winter, it is also a good opportunity to view and make fantastic photographs of occasional Snow leopard.
During this photo safari, visitors will not only encounter a worldwide unique wildlife treasury; they will also experience exceptional travel conditions. The High Pamirs in winter means extreme conditions, frozen lakes and rivers and temperatures descending bellow -30 degree Celsius and breathtaking scenery.

Experienced guides and drivers, the warm atmosphere of yurts and home stays, as well as the requested adapted personal equipment, will ensure that visitors enjoy this unforgettable trip.
This tour allows you to visit is the least visited mountain range in the world, yet one which offers some of the most magnificent landscapes, picturesque rural scenes, exhilarating trekking and genuine hospitality to be found anywhere on the planet.

The Snow leopard (Panthera uncia syn. Uncia uncia) is a large cat native to the mountain ranges of Central and South Asia. It is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species because as of 2003, the size of the global population was estimated at 4,080-6,590 adults, of which fewer than 2,500 individuals may reproduce in the wild.

Snow leopards are slightly smaller than the other big cats but, like them, exhibit a range of sizes, generally weighing between 27 and 55 kg (60 and 121 lb), with an occasional large male reaching 75 kg (165 lb) and small female of under 25 kg (55 lb). They have a relatively short body, measuring in length from the head to the base of the tail 75 to 130 cm (30 to 50 in). However, the tail is quite long, at 80 to 100 cm (31 to 39 in), with only the domestic-cat-sized marbled cat being relatively longer-tailed They are stocky and short-legged big cats, standing about 60 cm (24 in) at the shoulder. Snow leopards have long, thick fur, and their base color varies from smoky gray to yellowish tan, with whitish underparts. They have dark grey to black open rosettes on their bodies, with small spots of the same color on their heads and larger spots on their legs and tails. Unusually among cats, their eyes are pale green or grey in color. Snow leopards show several adaptations for living in a cold, mountainous environment. Their bodies are stocky, their fur is thick, and their ears are small and rounded, all of which help to minimize heat loss. Their paws are wide, which distributes their weight better for walking on snow, and have fur on their undersides to increase their grip on steep and unstable surfaces; it also helps to minimize heat loss. Snow leopards’ tails are long and flexible, helping them to maintain their balance, which is very important in the rocky terrain they inhabit. Their tails are also very thick due to storage of fat and are very thickly covered with fur which allows them to be used like a blanket to protect their faces when asleep. Snow leopards prefer rocky, broken terrain, and can travel without difficulty in snow up to 85 cm (33 in) deep, although they prefer to use existing trails made by other animals

Top priority is the condition of the vehicles used for our transportations (4WD car/suitable Land Cruiser Toyota), to be well serviced and suitable to winter road.

If flying into Tajikistan, you can obtain visa online E-VISA (www.evisa.tj). Safety.
Tajikistan is safe place, much more than many European countries. However, because of the civil war of the 1990s, your embassy will have a website setting out their view of the latest assessment of the security situation.
Altitude sickness.

95% of Tajikistan is mountainous. It is quite normal to feel tired for the first few days in mountain areas. Drink plenty of water. Do not drink tap water. We will provide 2 liters of water per person per day. Try and gain height slowly. On the Pamir Highway between Murghab and Osh, you cross two passes over 4300 meters and some people suffer from altitude sickness. Drink plenty and take pain killers. Do not undertake strenuous physical activity. Also because of the altitude, you are exposed to high levels of ultra violet light. Wear a hat and use high factor sun cream. The commonest complaints are diarrhea and throat infections. Bring anti diarrhea tablets and broad spectrum antibiotics. Also bring a supply of rehydration salts and strong throat sweets. There are plenty of pharmacies, but quality control of pharmaceutical products is uncertain.

What to bring with you?
Bring with you trekking equipment and binocular. The local guides also have simple binoculars, which is essential for enjoying wildlife observations at long distances.

Transportation 4WD car: Toyota Land Cruiser/Nissan Patrol.

Essential kit Always take with you:

• Torch. Essential everywhere. Power cuts are frequent, holes in roads and pavements hazardous, toilets and stairwells to apartment blocks often have no lights.
• Toilets. Apart from in parts of Osh, most toilets are squat type.

Roads:

The significance of roads does not correspond to their quality. Road surfaces vary and their general state
demands 4-wheel drive vehicles in good condition. The quality of roads, the weather conditions and the quality of the vehicles are decisive in calculating the time needed between destinations.

Temperatures:

Please note that there can be large variations in temperatures. In daytime it can be cold and a warmer clothing will be comfortable also winter trekking boots protect you from the frozen ice and snow. At night it can be cold so a layered approach is best. Predicting temperatures is very hard but they could range between -10’C and – 35”C.

Suggested thing to take:

• Dust proof bags
• Camera/spare film/memory cards
• Camera with all equipments for shooting, tripods, binoculars, etc
• Warm hat
• High factor sunscreen
• Lip save
• Warm winter Jackets and Pants
• Thermal underware, waterproof clothing
• Personal medication/first aid kit
• Insect repellent
• Backpack
• Sun glasses
• Money you will need USD cash in all countries. A credit card is of very limited (only in capital cities) use and is really only useful as back up but should in no way be relied upon as source of money.

Occasionally it may be necessary to amend this itinerary for reasons beyond our control, such as bad weather and poor road conditions. Changes to flight schedules can sometimes occur, which may also lead to changes to this itinerary.

Important Information
Tajikistan is almost completely undeveloped in terms of tourism and has a basic infrastructure once outside Osh. During this journey the group will spend time in remote areas without home comforts or easy access to medical facilities. Although a high level of physical fitness is not required, travelers should be comfortable with the realities of a wilderness adventure, and prepared for very basic conditions in the countryside. The roads in the region are rough and often unsealed, with some sections traveling on single-track roads above river valleys. We use 4-WD vehicles and highly experienced drivers, however this itinerary may not be suitable for those who suffer from heights or are nervous passengers! This is truly an adventurous itinerary for the experienced traveler.
This tour is of an adventurous nature. Our style of traveling means that it is desirable to carry a backpack as your main luggage and use a daypack for items you will want to access during the day. Please bear in mind that your luggage will be loaded in a jeep and we are traveling on bumpy roads – fragile items should be well protected, and you must be prepared for your luggage to get dusty and be thrown about a bit. Please pack as light as possible since there will be times when you will need to carry your own luggage and this will also maximise space in the vehicles. Investment in protective bags for camera equipment and similar is well worthwhile.
Home stay’ facilities in the Pamirs are basic, shared room for 3-6 people (in Pamirs, often not private bathrooms, you can take a bucket shower, (toilets are not en suite and are typical Asian squat-style).

Tajikistan and specifically the Pamir is a developing region whose infrastructure, values, customs and standards differ from what you are used to at home and other countries. In terms of tourism development Tajikistan is lag behind from Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Please bear this in mind as you are traveling in this exciting savagery area and respect the fact that you should not impose your standards and expectations on the culture there. The driving habits in this part of the world are something for which you ought to prepare yourself!

This is an ‘Expedition’ trip and we hope to expose you to all aspects of the local culture and reality. Please be open-minded. The easiest way to overcome any problems is to be open-minded and bring with you “The Spirit of Adventure”!

This tour is truly for the experienced open-minded adventure traveler, who understands the reality of High Mountain environment and authentic adventure experience!