PIONEER EXPEDITIONS – ON THE TRAIL OF THE SNOW LEOPARD…

This snow leopard journey has been designed to deliver a lovely combination of wildlife, culture, and history. This is a journey into the heart of the Himalayas, where you’ll seek one of the planet’s most elusive creatures.  

As a company whose origins were based around offering unique, exploratory trips to remote parts of the world, the prospect of heading to the remote reaches of Ladakh-India, close to the Kashmiri border with Pakistan, was an interesting journey. The purpose of the trip turned an adventure into an exploratory conservation mission. It was fitting that the people to lead the trip should not only have a passion for the subject but should have spent time devoted to the conservation and study of snow leopards. Behzad J. Larry is one of the world’s most experienced snow leopard expedition leaders, and Dan O’Neill is an expert biologist and Snow Leopard Trust explorer in residence. Although nature can never be guaranteed, they have a 100% record with sightings on previous trips. 

Using the premium and best-located accommodation in Ladkah – LUNGMAR, we will have access to both wilderness and Ladakhi cultural treasures.

Dan O'Neill is an award-winning BBC wildlife filmmaker, field biologist, and explorer, specialising in remote and challenging environments. He has organised numerous expeditions in search of rare animals from the pristine jungles of the northern Amazon and the Mayan temple ruins of the Yucatan to the frozen peaks of Central Asia.

He is regularly involved in scientific expeditions, primarily working as an expedition leader, field technician and location lecturer. He has camera-trapped for jaguars and other large mammals across the Neotropics from Guyana to Mexico and assisted the Snow Leopard Trust in Central Asia. In June 2023, 

Conservation efforts persist and have helped in the protection of these magnificent creatures. However, the snow leopard is classified as vulnerable by the IUCN because their global population is estimated to be above 2,500 but below 10,000 mature individuals. It is also thought that their population has decreased by 10% over the past three generations. For this reason, trips such as these that increase awareness and bring income and support to local communities are becoming increasingly important.