An Australian skier's close encounter with a rare snow leopard.

Australian skier Owain Lansbury has captured a moment that would leave most people dripping in a cold sweat. Lansbury was on a backcountry ski trip in Gulmarg, India, when his ski guide, Dave Marchi “almost ran over the leopard”.

“I stopped just as it huddled in the snow, where it stayed for about a minute checking us out,” Lansbury wrote on his Facebook page.

“It then let out a solid roar and bounded away down the slope towards Dave, but scooted off into the forest, where we think it probably had a kill stashed. Pretty amazing experience!”

Watch the incredible footage below.