Along with the natural beauty, lush green valleys, and picturesque views of the snow-capped mountains, Bhutan’s landscape is also popular for its diverse ecosystem and biodiversity. While exploring the dense forest areas of this tiny Himalayan kingdom, you can spot various exquisite and endangered wildlife species. One such endangered animal that you can see here is the captivating snow leopard. If you’re also a wildlife enthusiast and want to capture a sight of these elusive cats then book one of the best Bhutan tour packages from India today.
Sighting of these endangered nocturnal cats is quite rare as they prefer staying above the trees in higher altitude areas. However, the constant effort and preservation strategies adopted by Bhutan have helped in harbouring the population of snow leopards in their natural habitat. You will be amazed to know that the initiative taken by the country has led to an almost 40% increase in this leopard population in just 6 years. This is surely happy news for those tourists who want to look at this dangerous yet stunning species at least once in their lifetime.
Top Places In Bhutan Where You Can Spot Snow Leopards
1. Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary
Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the best-protected areas situated in the Samtse and Haa western districts. This place is also known as the home to snow leopards which also has recently witnessed an increase in the popularity of this endangered species. There are various eco-trek trails in this sanctuary which are often guided by experienced guides to help you spot the leopards. Along with snow leopards, you can also spot other endangered species on this site such as red pandas and clouded leopards.
Remember that this place is also popular for its rarest orchid species so this can be a haven for all the anthophile tourists visiting Bhutan. Some of the adventurous activities that you can arrange to make your Bumdeling expedition fun are photography, trekking, camping, and birdwatching.
2. Jomolhari Trekking Trail
One of the most popular trekking trails that has been famous among tourists for snow leopard spotting is Jomolhari or snowman trek. This trekking passes through the habitat of blue sheep and snow leopards which makes it an exhilarating and unforgettable experience at the same time. You must know that snow leopards mostly stay in the high mountains of Asia where the Jomolhari mountain region witnesses high snow leopard activity.
This increases your probability of spotting one during the trek. Before starting the trek, you should know that this 8-day trail passes through the high passes of Yale Pass and Nyile Pass which makes it quite challenging. You can consider visiting the base camp of Jomolhari during the annual Jomolhari Festival for an amazing experience. Remember that this is a fully supported trek where you can explore breathtaking viewpoints and ancient Dzongs along with spotting snow leopards.
3. Jigme Dorji National Park
Jigme Dorji National Park is another hidden gem in Bhutan which is known for its snow leopard population. This wildlife area is spread across the Gasa, Thimphu, Punakha, Wangdue Phodrang, and Paro districts. You have to pay 150 INR to enter this national park and spot the wildlife species. Remember that this park remains closed on Sundays and Saturdays so it is advised to plan the visit during the weekdays.
Herein, it is recommended that to increase the chances of leopard spotting, you can consider hiking in the alpine and glacier regions of the park. You can also explore Mt Jitchu Drake and Mount Jomolhari for a complete trip. For the best guidance and to know the routes of the snow leopards, you can communicate with the local semi-nomadic communities staying inside the park.
4. Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary
Another newly added wildlife protected area in Bhutan is Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary. This place is perfect for wandering around the wilderness while looking for snow leopards. Starting from Himalayan red foxes and snow leopards to red pandas, nomadic tribes, and mythical yeti, this place is covered with various unique species that will make your trip amazing. You will be amazed to know this place has been declared as a reserved area because it is believed to be the home for yeti.
To explore this place, you can book the best Bhutan tour package and add Trashigang to your tour itinerary. The opening hours of this park from 7 am and the early morning hours are considered best to spot the snow leopards roaming through the park areas. You can go on long treks through the dramatic landscapes here to make the wildlife adventure successful.
5. Wangchuck National Park
During the snow leopard spotting expedition, you must consider visiting Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park. This national park is popular for its overlapping population of snow leopards and tigers together. You can consider exploring the Black Mountain Range in this place to witness the presence of the big cat. You must know that the high-mountain ecosystem of this national park is quite healthy which is indicated by the habitat overlap of tigers and snow leopards.
The central location of Wangchuck National Park makes it a great place for the snow leopard population as it is also suspected that leopards move here from the other northern protected areas such as Jigme Dorji and Wangchuck Centennial Park. Herein, you can hire a local guide and discover the leopard trails inside the park for an amazing experience.
6. Merak-Sakteng Trekking Trail
As said earlier, Sakteng National Park is well-known for its increasing population of snow leopards. This makes the Merak-Sakteng trekking trail perfect for snow leopard spotting. You should note that this is one of the most remote trekking trails in eastern Bhutan which needs 7 days to cover. From Trashigang and Merak to Sakteng and Joenkhar Teng, you get to explore various high-altitude regions of the country which is home to exotic species.
Apart from spotting snow leopards, you can also spot red pandas, Himalayan red foxes, and Himalayan bears during your trek. Don’t forget to mingle with the local nomadic groups to learn about their unique culture, traditions, and way of living. Remember to pack properly and always take an experienced guide before embarking on this trek.
7. Phobjikha Valley
Another ideal location in Bhutan where you can spot snow leopards is Phobjikha Valley. This valley surrounded by snow-laden mountains is not only famous for endangered black-necked cranes but also snow leopards. The local people here often complain about snow leopard attacks on the calves. This is why it is quite common to capture the sight of these big cats without trekking to the dense forest areas.
However, you must remember that it is not quite common to spot these rare species and you may have to wait for a few days to spot one. This is why it is a better idea to arrange a guided tour to the high-altitude areas if you’re desperate to capture the snow leopards in their natural habitat.
After you have booked one of the best Bhutan tour packages from India for snow leopard tracking, you must attain experienced knowledge to increase your spotting chances. Maintaining pin drop silence, location importance, and using high-quality binoculars are some of the tips you can follow to successfully track the big cats.
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