Comprising an 11,300km network of shepherding paths, alpine passages, and old byways, the Snow Leopard Track makes a nearly continuous traversal of Asia's greater ranges. First rising from the massifs of the southeastern Himalayan arc, the trail threads monestary-studded canyons and barrens of the Transhimalaya, passes through the shadows of Karakorum giants, plunges into the desolation of the Inner Pamir, then finally resolves in the vast floral steppes and tundras of the Tian Shan.
To conserve the rich ecological wealth of Asia's Greater Ranges on behalf of the shepherds and leopards who call them home.
The Snow Leopard Track is an ambitious conceptual route that traces a high traverse between Eastern Nepal and Northern Kyrgyzstan. The trail seeks the wildest passages through the terrain therein, ranging along its course through desolate high-altitude deserts, dense subtropical rainforests, vast icefields, serpentine waterways, and verdant alpine pastures. Trekkers who set out upon the SLT are swiftly ushered into the sublime realm of Asia's greater mountain ranges.
The trail's nature is circumambulatory and reverential, favoring routes unspoiled over those direct. In it is a will to foster conscious stewardship of the delicate ecosystems through which it passes. By encouraging a passion for these places enjoyed mutually by those who visit as well as those who dwell, it is my hope to ignite broader conservation efforts across these landscapes.
Like the eponymous snow leopards from whom this route derives its inspiration, the trail is committed, perhaps relegated, to the highest attainable ground. Without such places both the leopard and the trail cease to be.
Traverse Kyrgyzstan's most iconic mountain range in the Northeast. Cross high-altitude passes, marvel at turquoise glacial lakes, and wander through the pristine forested valleys of the Terskey Ala-Too.
Journey to Kyrgyzstan's far-east, deep within the Central Tien-Shan, for an incredible expedition to the foot of the country's highest giants: Peak Pobeda (7439m) and Khan Tengri (7010m).
Tackling a full country on your own? The bureaucracy and resupply intervals on the SLT can be difficult to manage alone. We provide consultation and complex logistical scaffolding for unguided trekkers who seek a more independent and raw experience.
No. There are too many factors to and the breadth of the trail is too great to bother waymarking it. Conditions shift constantly in this part of the world. While it links existing shepherd trails and old trade routes, vast sections (especially in Tajikistan and Pakistan) are cross-country and require advanced navigation skills. At the time of writing (Jan 2026) more than 70% of it has been personally confirmed to be traversable by the founder, Ian Roth, and co. A healthy sense of direction and reliable trail beta are of more value here than waymarkers.
Absolutely. You will typically need standard visas for all 7 countries. The time, effort, and cost investment for this will vary greatly from one country to the next, and depending on your citizenship. Furthermore, specific border zone permits (GBAO in Tajikistan, Border Zone Permits in Kyrgyzstan, Restricted Area Permits in Nepal, PAP and Forest Permits in India, NOC in Pakistan etc.) are required for legal passage through many regions. Pakistan and India are particularly congested with bureaucratic bloat, and while it is tentatively possible to transgress some of these regulations, and many of them on the ground tend to be 'interpretive,' it is not recommended to do so. Begin preparation for this well in advance (especially Pakistan).
The window varies wildly from south to north and between regions, but generally favors a northbound orientation. In Nepal, the prime season usually runs from March through May and from October through November, with shoulder seasons experiencing severe cold or heavy monsoonal rain. The Indian Himalaya reflects this, but the season is shifted somewhat closer to a conventional northern hemisphere summer, as the monsoon effect is slightly tamer than in Nepal, while the winters are earlier and more severe. The Trans-Himalaya around Ladakh and Kashmir experience a markedly more continental climate, with the prime season running from June to September. Across Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan the season improves as summer progresses. The window for the high Karakorum is especially short, and the icefields are typically only navigable between June and August or September, with increasing risk of snowfall into the shoulder seasons. Tajikistan, on the other hand, enjoys a dry, cold September and October, and many of the wild rivers there are only passable in these two months. Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan exist just outside the scope of this trend, and the season in the Tian Shan and Alay is as long as the region is diverse. Conveniently, the south begins melting out as early as late May, while the north peaks around August. The high passes are generally snow-free until mid to late September.
Reliable paper maps are scarcely available for much of the route outside Nepal. A GPX-compatible device with pre-loaded tracks is mandatory. Reach out via the Google Forms link at the top for more info on this matter. You must be proficient in reading terrain and off-trail navigation, as physical paths frequently disappear in landslide zones, meadows, brambles, and glacial moraines. (While the map resource provided here offers detailed descriptions of each route segment, significantly more detailed GPX models exist, available upon request.)
Yes, variable. Because it seeks to remain as remote and high as possible, the core route involves crossing numerous glacial passes. A minimalist alpine rack, and the knowledge on how to employ this, are crucial to safely completing the core trail. While care was taken to balance reasonable difficulty with the most spectacular routes, nothing about this trail is light. For those without partners or technical foreknowledge, an alternative low route exists, though this often exchanges technical difficulty with routefinding difficulty, or an increase in overall vertical. Alternatively, for those who want to get high but lack the knowledge, almost all of the technical sections can be tackled with the aid of skilled mountain guides. As a sidenote, many stretches of river in Central Asia are prime for packrafting. This opens up exciting and efficient possibilities.
Resupply points are generally far apart. Expect to carry on average 4-10 days of food regularly. More often, the most reliable resupply is in the nearest large city. It is often possible to pay a guide or driver to deliver food to key points along the trail. In India, food is widely available in minor cities along the route. Afghanistan can be completed in a single push. For Tajikistan, I recommend buying everything one needs in Dushanbe, then staging out of Khorog for each section. Between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan the key resupply cities, in order from south to north, are: Batken, Osh, Bishkek, Almaty, and Karakol.
It is almost assured that you will break bread with shepherds regularly throughout the trail. Hospitality is a commonality across nearly all of the mountainous regions of South and Central Asia. Unsurprisingly, many hosts will balk at any gestures of payment, but mutual exchanges of goodwill are usually eagerly met.
While always possible, it is unlikely. They are the "Ghosts of the Mountains" for a reason, and this elusivity is what lends them such a legendary status amongst mammals. That said, you will be walking directly through their prime habitat for months, hence the name of the trail, and you will almost certainly see some signs - scat, scrapes, and prints. Beyond this, other wildlife such as argali, ibex, Himalayan brown bears, Asiatic black bears, pallas cat, steppe wolves, Eurasian lynx, and many more abound.
The full traverse, in practice, consists of numerous consecutive standalone treks, many of which are "expedition-grade". Any of these could be considered a strong effort on its own, but when strung together they become what is undoubtedly one of the hardest trails on earth. The average gradient is close to triple that of the PCT, the resupply intervals far greater, and the absolute elevation is very high. Slow public transport, borders, bureaucracy, and heavy backpacks hinder a swift, fluid thru. Theoretically, with bombproof logistics and an iron will, a trekker could complete the entire traverse, south to north, in approximately 2 1/2 seasons.
Dedicate a minimum of 3 months to Nepal, from late February through May, then quickly migrate to Uttarakhand and work north through India from June through September. The next season would commence in Pakistan by June, working northward into the Wakhan then into Tajikistan by the late summer. Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan would take an entire season on their own to complete. Realistically, it is more practical to segment hike portions of the trail, rather than attempt the whole route, as this ensures one experiences each region during its optimal season.
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