Mongolia's Snow Leopards in Winter

Summary

 Following on from the success of our summer Snow Leopard holiday, this expedition ventures into the winter wilderness of western Mongolia on a quest to see the enigmatic Snow Leopard, and the diminutive Pallas’s Cat! Grey Wolf, Corsac Fox and Siberian Ibex may also be found along with some of the region’s most iconic birdlife such as Pallas’s Sandgrouse, Azure Tit and Mongolian Ground-jay. There is an outside chance of seeing Eurasian Lynx.

Our tour begins with a flight, via either Istanbul or Frankfurt, to the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar. Here we spend our first night in a comfortable hotel on the banks of the Tuul River where Azure-winged Magpie, Red-throated Thrush, Azure Tit and Long-tailed Rosefinch are likely avian highlights.

The following day we will take the short flight to Khovd, in the western corner of the country, and then drive to our comfortable ‘ger' camp for a 5-night stay in the foothills of the Altai Mountains. Here we will begin our search for the 'Ghost of the mountains' — the Snow Leopard. With the help of a team of dedicated trackers, as well as our expert guides, we will spend our days driving and walking to the best vantage points and patiently scanning across this vast landscape for wildlife. At this time of year, Snow Leopards — and other wildlife — often descend down from the high mountains, and chances of a closer sighting are greater at this time of year than in the summer. 

After a special time in the peaks of the Altai, we will transfer to Khomyn Tal National Park, where we should find the Przewalski’s Horse — the last true wild horse species. Our next stop is another 'ger' camp, with a 3-night stay in the wonderful Margaz Mountains. Here we will again be focused on searching for Snow Leopard, and also the unique Pallas's Cat. Similarly to our stay in the Altai Mountains, we will spend our time scanning the granite rock tors, dramatic peaks, endless snowy steppe and towering dunes for our feline subjects. 

Across the duration of this tour, we will also take time to explore the wider natural history of the region. We will visit nearby steppes in search of Saiga Antelope and Goitered Gazelle, as well as Pallas’s Sandgrouse, Eurasian Eagle-owl, Lammergeier, Golden Eagle, Saker Falcon, Mongolian Ground-jay and White-winged Snowfinch. 

After a wonderful time in the mountains, we will retrace our steps back to Ulaanbaatar for our last night before our return flights home.

• A 5-night stay in the Altai Mountains with a 100% success rate for Snow Leopard to date
• 1-night stay in the Khomyn Tal National Park, a stronghold of the Przewalski’s Horse
• 3-night stay in the Margaz Mountains, searching for Pallas’s Cat and Grey Wolf
• Frozen steppe habitat hold Saiga Antelope, Pallas’s Sandgrouse and Mongolian Ground Jay
• Possible big cat tracking in the snow
• Led by expert naturalist guides