Issue 196: Pallas Cat

Plus: Hampta Pass Trek, Reunion Island Wild Flight, and more.

Author

Amanda Zeisset
May 23, 2025

 

Hey Explorer,

Before we dive into this week’s issue, here’s a quick note for the travel advisors on our list: we are building something for you.

It’s called Emerging Destination Intel Report — a short, weekly email featuring under-the-radar places, vetted suppliers, and actionable insights to help you design standout trips for your clients. If you are interested, learn more here.

Now, let’s get into the issue. Here’s what we've got for you today:

  • Hiking: Hampta Pass Trek

  • Wildlife Encounters: Pallas Cat

  • Wild Flights: Reunion Island Helicopter Flight

 

 

HIKING

Hampta Pass Trek

If you're looking for a trek that packs a serious punch without being too extreme, the Hampta Pass trek is a solid choice.

It’s in Himachal Pradesh, India, and the whole experience feels like you're walking through two completely different worlds—lush green valleys on one side and a stark, almost moon-like desert on the other.

You start near Manali, hiking through forests, rivers, and wildflower-covered meadows. It’s all super scenic and peaceful. But once you cross the Hampta Pass, at around 14,100 feet (4,300 meters), bam, the landscape flips. Suddenly, you’re in Spiti Valley, where it’s all barren mountains and dramatic views.

Most people do the trek over 4 to 6 days, and it covers about 26 miles (42 km). It's not too tough, so even if you’re new to trekking, you’ll probably be fine if you're reasonably fit.

The trickiest part is the day you actually cross the pass—it’s long and steep, but 100% worth it for the views.

The campsites are a highlight. You’ll sleep next to rivers, under open skies, and probably take a million photos. There’s one called Balu ka Ghera that’s especially cool—it literally means "bed of sand," and it's surrounded by mountains.

Overall, Hampta Pass feels like the perfect little Himalayan adventure—exciting, scenic, and just the right amount of challenge. It’s one of those treks where you’ll constantly find yourself saying, “Wow, this doesn’t even look real.”

Explore more:

 

 

TOGETHER WITH ADVENTURE FIX PRO

Destination Intel for Adventure Travel Advisors

We’re building something new for travel pros: the Emerging Destination Intel Report — a short, weekly email featuring under-the-radar places, vetted suppliers, and actionable insights to help you design standout trips for your clients.

Join the waitlist to express interest, get early access when we open the beta, and unlock lifetime perks — including a 50% launch discount if you decide to join.

 

 

WILDLIFE ENCOUNTERS

Pallas Cat Photo Expedition

There are wildlife encounters you can plan for—gorilla trekking, whale watching, safari drives where your chances are high if you’re in the right place at the right time. And then there’s the Pallas’s cat.

This fluffball of a feline is so good at hiding that even seasoned biologists go years without spotting one in the wild.

The best place in the world to spot these elusive felines is in Mongolia. The quest often begins with a long, bumpy drive across the arid steppes and rocky outcrops of places like Ikh Nart Nature Reserve or the Altai Mountains.

Days start before sunrise, layering up against sub-zero cold and loading gear while stars still hang in the sky. The light in Mongolia is a dream, crisp and golden in the early hours, but finding your subject is the real challenge.

Pallas’s cats are camouflaged to perfection. Their dense, frost-tipped fur blends seamlessly into the rocks. Spotting one often depends on fresh tracks in the snow, careful scanning with scopes, and sometimes luck with camera traps set in advance.

When a cat is finally found, it may be hunkered in a crevice, staring out with wide, wary eyes. Photographers need a long lens, a silent shutter, and the patience to crawl slowly across frozen ground.

The moment might last only minutes before the cat disappears, but it’s enough to capture one of the planet’s most elusive wild felines. It’s more than a photo—it’s a hard-earned story from one of the world’s most hauntingly beautiful landscapes.

Explore more:

 

 

ADVENTURE FIX GO

New 2026 Dates: Palau Paddling & Camping Expedition

Ever dreamed of kayaking through a hidden island paradise? Palau might just be the most spectacular place you’ve never been—and we’ve just opened new dates for 2026.

Tucked deep in the western Pacific, this 8-day expedition takes you through the otherworldly Rock Islands Southern Lagoon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site made up of 300+ limestone islands, secret marine lakes, and pristine coral reefs.

You’ll paddle by day and camp by night—on empty beaches with turquoise lagoons just steps from your tent. Snorkel in some of the richest marine ecosystems on Earth, explore jungle trails to ancient villages and WWII relics, and keep your eyes peeled for dolphins, sea turtles, and maybe even a dugong.

Think:

  • Kayaking through the Rock Islands’ maze of mushroom-shaped islets

  • Snorkeling with over 1,500 species of reef fish and vibrant corals

  • Trekking through tropical jungle to hidden caves and ruins

  • Falling asleep to the sound of the ocean, under a sky full of stars

This is off-the-grid adventure in its purest form—and with just 12 travelers per departure, it’s intimate, raw, and unforgettable.

Dates:

As always, there are no credit card fees when you book with us—and yes, you’ll earn points or miles with your Amex for the next great adventure.

Curious?

 

 

WILD FLIGHTS

Reunion Island Helicopter Flight

A few years back, when we were exploring Réunion Island, I surprised my husband with a helicopter flight for his birthday. He had no idea—it was one of those “I have a little something planned” kind of mornings.

I think he thought we were going for breakfast somewhere… but nope, straight to the helipad!

The takeoff was incredible. Within seconds, we were gliding over these ridiculously lush green cliffs, with waterfalls spilling down every which way. The island is wild from the ground, but from the air? It’s next level. You really get a feel for how raw and rugged it is.

Flying over the Cirque de Mafate was like looking into a secret world, completely cut off from roads, with small villages scattered across steep, rugged terrain. Then came Cirque de Salazie and Cirque de Cilaos, each with its own mix of ridges, peaks, and waterfalls.

The highlight for many, including us, was the approach to Piton de la Fournaise, one of the most active volcanoes in the world.

Even when it’s quiet, the landscape is dramatic—dark lava flows, steaming vents, and that unmistakable sense that you’re witnessing something powerful.

The flight was just under an hour, but it packed in so much—coastline, mountains, rainforest, and a volcano. It’s hands down one of the best ways to see Réunion’s raw, beautiful terrain. If you’re going, it’s well worth making time for.

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QUICK FIX

 

 

THE COMPASS

Where in the World

Wanna flex your adventure geography skills? Guess where this pic was snapped!

Stumped? No worries. The answer is at the end of this email.

 

 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Once you see the boundaries of your environment, they are no longer the boundaries of your environment.”

Marshall McLuhan

 

I’d love to hear what you think of this issue, scroll down to the poll to let us know.

Until next time…

Keep exploring,

-Amanda

Whenever you’re ready, here’s how we can help you plan truly unique adventure trips:

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