Wildlife first, always
The snow leopard's welfare comes before any photograph. These are the rules we keep, and ask our guests to keep.
Snow leopard on scree as a magpie passes, Ladakh. Photograph: Karanjit Singh.
Tourism can protect the cat, or harm it
Snow leopard tourism can protect the cat, or harm it. Where operators bait, crowd or chase, cats become habituated and conflict grows. Ladakh's snow leopards are here because communities chose to leave them in peace. We intend to keep it that way.
Our founder spent three decades protecting these animals. This Code is how that work continues on every expedition.
Twelve rules, on every expedition
No baiting, ever.
No bait, lures, calls or playback to attract a cat.
Distance.
We watch from at least 300 metres on foot. Spotting scopes, not proximity, bring the cat close.
Kills.
We stay at least 500 metres from a cat on a kill, and never approach a carcass.
Mothers and cubs.
We do not approach mothers with cubs or den sites, and we never share their locations.
No pursuit.
We never follow a cat or block its route along a ridge.
Vehicles.
Existing tracks only. Engines off at sightings. No driving off-road.
No crowding.
One Odzer group at a sighting. If about three groups gather, we leave.
Signs of stress.
If a cat stares repeatedly, flattens its ears, lashes its tail or moves away, we leave at once.
No flash or spotlights.
No flash photography or artificial light at a sighting.
No live locations.
We never post sighting locations in real time.
No dogs, no litter.
We never feed dogs, and we carry out all our waste.
Wildlife first.
When a guest's wish and the cat's welfare conflict, the cat wins.
Our Promise does not change the Code
The Snow Leopard Promise gives guests a second chance if the mountains keep their secret. It never gives us a reason to move closer, stay longer or follow a cat. Our spotters are paid the same whether or not a snow leopard is seen.
How we record sightings
We log every sighting: the date, valley, behaviour and number of animals. The full record is shared with Ladakh's Department of Wildlife Protection for long-term research on the species. On this website we publish only season summaries, never precise locations.
Sightings recordWhat we ask of our guests
Every guest agrees to the Code when booking. In the field, the expedition leader's decision on distance and timing is final.