With its recently announced expedition tracking snow leopards in northern India, Journeys With Purpose is modelling a new kind of luxury wildlife experience, upgrading a traveller’s role from mere sightseeing to actively taking part in the conservation of a vulnerable keystone species.
When it comes to wildlife travel experiences, the focus is often on witnessing from the comfort of a vehicle rather than impacting the lives of animals. Don’t get us wrong – for the most part, this is clearly for the better, and experiences like a classic safari enable travellers to make memories that last a lifetime (and in most cases, you wouldn’t want to get too close to the animal in question anyway…). But there’s potential to make wildlife encounters even more meaningful.
The elusive snow leopard, nicknamed the ‘grey ghost’, is a vulnerable species, threatened by climate change, habitat loss, poaching, and other issues. On an upcoming December 2025 expedition by Journeys With Purpose, however, travellers will get directly involved in conserving the species during an 11-night snow leopard tracking adventure in Ladakh, India.
That means not only having the opportunity to spot and photograph these magnificent animals but also learning about local conservation efforts alongside experienced professionals. In addition to this, 10% of the cost of the trip will go to the High Asia Habitat Fund, an organization that protects the Tibetan Plateau and surrounding mountains’ vulnerable ecosystems. There are luxury adventures that have a positive impact, of course, but when having a positive impact is what makes an experience luxurious, it’s the kind of journey we can get behind!
Another exclusive opportunity wrapped up in the upcoming expedition will be time spent with seasoned environmentalists. Guests will be led by the founder of the High Asia Habitat Fund, Behzad J. Larry (a Fellow of both the UK’s Royal Geographical Society and the Royal Asiatic Society) and accompanied by National Geographic explorer, filmmaker, and photographer Mattias Klum, who will provide photography masterclasses to help guests capture high-quality wildlife photos.
While in the high plains of Ladakh, the group will be glamping at the solar-powered LUNGMĀR Remote Camp at an elevation of 3,600 metres. The camp promises to provide as much comfort as possible while offering easy access to prime snow leopard territory, with amenities like running hot water, heat, and electricity round-the-clock, as well as freshly prepared meals. State-of-the-art Swarovski’s BTX-95 scopes will also be available throughout the stay for spotting wildlife, and guests will be accompanied by experienced guides and trackers involved in habitat conservation in this part of the world.
During the trip, expeditionists will have the chance to meet with local communities to learn about ways they try to protect snow leopards, such as using predator-proof corrals for livestock to decrease the chance of human-leopard conflict. They’ll also get to see firsthand how Ladhaki shepherds work and how conservation strategies have made an impact on local villages and their residents.
The greatest educational element to the journey, though, might just be the chance to soak up the influence of experts like Behzad J. Larry and Mattias Klum, who both bring extensive experience as conservationists and photographers to this journey. Getting to attend presentations put on by Klum and discussions led by Larry is arguably an opportunity special enough to warrant travelling to the Tibetan Plateau, reflecting a greater trend in luxury travel, with an ever-increasing number of high-end excursions featuring workshops, interactive tours or presentations led by experts from diverse industries. In this case, such educational experiences bolster the expedition’s conservation focus by spreading awareness about a fragile ecosystem and the animals that rely on it.
And there’s another, perhaps unspoken element of conservation to this journey. The thrill of looking for and photographing the snow leopards goes hand-in-hand with conservation, as guests get to make a connection with the species. When you have seen snow leopards (or any other such rare animal) up close, it’s a lot easier to feel invested in protecting them, even beyond the confines of the expedition.
By spreading awareness of the snow leopard’s vulnerability, its role in the ecosystem, and local efforts to protect the species, trips like Journeys With Purpose’s latest have the potential to make an impact that outlasts their duration, paving the way for a whole new subset of luxury wildlife tours with a focus on leaving important habitats better than they found them.
Photography by Behzad J. Larry and courtesy of Journeys With Purpose and LUNGMĀR Remote Camp
