Shadowing Mongolia’s Snow Leopards
Group Travel | 11 Days
- Seek the elusive snow leopard in Western Mongolia
- Day hikes in the stunningly rugged Altai Mountains
- Spot rare and endemic mammals and migrating birds
- Spontaneous encounters with the pastoral nomads of Mongolia
- Travel with consummate storyteller and Mongolia expert, Ishee Battulga
This 11-day Mongolian adventure first takes you to Ulaanbaatar, providing historical and spiritual context, before you travel by four-by-four into the high-mountain tundra of the deep Altai Mountains. Based from a private ger camp, keep watch for mighty raptors, saiga antelope, and takhi horses. Throughout the journey, you meet Mongolians of diverse ethnic tribes living both modern-day lifestyles and those living nomadic existences. The latter will likely spoil you with their love for throat singing as well as tips on the most recent snow leopard sightings so that you might chance upon the elusive beasts as well on hikes up Jargalant Mountain.
Trip Overview
It's great that your staff knows the region and can respond to questions that go outside the usual guidebook knowledge.
– Connie D.
1 – 2
Arrive in Ulaanbaatar, a mix of old and new: office workers spend the day in Stalinist-modern buildings and go home to yurt-like tents called gers Monuments and museums display the country’s fascinating spiritual history.
3 – 6
Fly to Jargalant Mountain in Western Mongolia, and move into your ger camp Take daily hikes through stunning rugged landscapes to seek the elusive snow leopard, meet Zakhchin nomadic families, and watch for raptors, ibex, and argali sheep.
7
Visit Khar Urs Lake, an important stop for migrating birds Khovd is Mongolia’s oldest city and has been an active trade center since the Qing Dynasty Visit this hub’s natural history museum.
8
Admire the rock art in cave dwellings unlike any other in Mongolia in Khoit Tsenkher Cave and hear an amazing local throat-singing performance.
9 – 11
Wing your way back to the capital to admire the stately sculptures and thangka of the Winter Palace Spend the day exploring Khustain Nuruu National Park before departing home.
Where to See Snow Leopards
Mongolia vs. Ladakh
After careful research, we believe Mongolia is the best place to see snow leopards in the wild. Mongolia has the second largest population of snow leopards in the world, after China. They are easier to access in Mongolia, living at around 3,200 feet, while in Ladakh they are seldom spotted below 10,000 feet in elevation.
Dates & Prices
Dates
09/11/21 – 09/21/21
09/18/22 – 09/28/22
Pricing
2021 Group Trip: From $7,970 per person
Please check back for 2022 pricing.
Inclusions
- Expertise of GeoEx’s travel specialists
- Services of GeoEx’s in-house air reservations team
- All accommodations
- All ground transportation and airport transfers
- Sightseeing, events, visits, and entrance fees
- Most meals
- Bottled or filtered water at included meals and while sightseeing
- Services of a GeoEx trip leader, local guides, drivers, and other staff
- Some gratuities
- Emergency evacuation services and secondary medical expense insurance
A Journey Built Just For You
Take customization to the next level on a journey fully tailored to you. GeoEx's destination specialists will gladly tailor this existing itinerary—or build one completely from scratch—to suit your style, interests, and time frame. Contact us to see what's possible.
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