A Himalayan Adventure in Pursuit of One of Earth’s Rarest and Most Beautiful Cats

The snow leopard is a creature of legend in the alpine heights of the Indian Himalaya. Known locally as the “gray ghost,” they are rarely seen, since they are masters of camouflage and live on steep, rocky slopes. For wildlife photographers, this gorgeous cat is a coveted prize—and we travel with some of the best snow leopard trackers in the world in pursuit of images that few will ever have a chance to attain. Based out of a deluxe, family-owned ecolodge with thick walls, insulated windows, radiant floor heating and abundant hot running water in a remote valley in Ladakh, we spend a full week in the snow leopard’s terrain, heading out each day in search of them. Other wildlife thrives in this austere landscape, too: keep your camera poised for shots of bharal, urial, argali and ibex—the wild mountain sheep and antelope that are the snow leopard’s prey—as well as Himalayan wolf, fox, and raptors soaring overhead, including the Himalayan golden eagle and lammergeyer, with its 10-foot wingspan.