Destinations
Mongolia
Group Size
Group / Max 9
12 days
Mongolia
Group / Max 9
12 days
Group Tour
Ulaanbaatar to Ulaanbaatar – 12 Days
This 12-day Mongolia Snow Leopard Expedition is a specialist wildlife journey into the Altai Mountains of western Mongolia, designed for patient travellers, naturalists and photographers. Begin in Ulaanbaatar with a field briefing and equipment check, then fly west to Khovd and continue into remote mountain country, where cliffs, ridgelines, scree slopes and high valleys form prime snow leopard habitat.
Several full days are dedicated to tracking and observation with local wildlife trackers, scanning for snow leopard, Siberian ibex, argali, foxes, raptors and other winter-adapted species. Sightings can never be guaranteed, but the expedition is structured to maximise time in the field while keeping the pace realistic. Return to Ulaanbaatar with time for cultural visits, a final dinner and reflection on Mongolia’s wildest mountain landscapes and conservation challenges.
SNOW LEOPARD COUNTRY: Travel into the Altai Mountains of western Mongolia, one of Asia’s most dramatic and important snow leopard landscapes. The terrain is wild and austere: broken ridgelines, cliffs, scree slopes, frozen valleys and high viewpoints where patience and optics matter more than speed. With local trackers and expert guidance, search for signs such as tracks, scrapes, scent marks and prey movement. Sightings are never guaranteed, but the expedition is designed to maximise meaningful time in genuine snow leopard habitat.
ALTAI WILDLIFE TRACKING: Spend several full days in the field, scanning mountain slopes for snow leopard and other Altai wildlife. Siberian ibex are a key prey species and often provide clues to predator activity, while argali, foxes, raptors and winter-adapted birds may also be seen depending on location and conditions. The experience is slow, focused and absorbing: early starts, long observation sessions, short moves between viewpoints and daily interpretation of signs. It is a serious natural-history expedition rather than a conventional wildlife safari.
LOCAL TRACKERS & CONSERVATION: Work alongside local trackers whose knowledge of the mountains, wildlife movement and recent field signs is central to the expedition. Where possible, meet herders or community members to understand how people, livestock and predators share this remote landscape. Discussions may include livestock protection, snow leopard conservation, human–wildlife conflict and the role of low-impact tourism in creating value around living wildlife. This gives the journey deeper purpose, connecting the search for snow leopard with Mongolia’s wider conservation realities.
WESTERN MONGOLIA EXPEDITION: This is Mongolia at its most remote and elemental. Fly west from Ulaanbaatar to Khovd, then continue by vehicle into mountain country where winter conditions, vast distances and limited infrastructure shape the rhythm of travel. Days are built around weather, access and wildlife signs, with flexibility essential. Even away from wildlife watching, the landscapes are powerful: open steppe, semi-desert valleys, snow-covered peaks and quiet settlements. The result is a genuine expedition through one of Mongolia’s least-travelled regions.
The difference with the Asian Geographical is, that each of our holidays is designed with extreme precision of a mountaineering expedition.
Track snow leopards in Mongolia’s remote Altai Mountains on a 12-day specialist wildlife expedition with local trackers, expert guidance, winter landscapes, Siberian ibex habitat and conservation insight, designed for patient travellers, naturalists and photographers seeking a serious field-based journey beyond conventional Mongolia tours.
Arrive at Chinggis Khaan International Airport and meet your local team for the transfer into Ulaanbaatar. After check-in, the rest of the day is deliberately light, allowing time to rest after the flight and prepare for the expedition ahead. In the evening, meet your guide for a detailed briefing covering winter conditions, field etiquette, wildlife expectations, optics, clothing and safety in remote mountain terrain. This is also the time to check equipment, batteries, binoculars and camera gear before travelling west. Overnight in a comfortable city hotel, with dinner included.
Transfer to the airport for the flight west to Khovd, gateway to the Mongolian Altai. On arrival, meet the local drivers, wildlife trackers and support team, then continue by vehicle towards the mountain region. The landscape changes quickly: dry steppe, distant ridges, semi-desert valleys and the first views of snow-covered peaks. Depending on flight schedules and road conditions, there may be time for a short stop in Khovd for supplies or local orientation. Continue to a ger camp or simple lodge near the expedition area and settle in for your first night in western Mongolia.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Drive deeper into snow leopard country, entering a landscape of cliffs, broken ridgelines, scree slopes and high valleys. This is the kind of terrain favoured by snow leopards and their prey, especially Siberian ibex. After arriving at the mountain camp, meet the local trackers who monitor recent signs, herder reports and movement patterns. In the afternoon, take your first short scanning session from a nearby viewpoint, learning how to search ridgelines and shadowed slopes through binoculars and spotting scopes. Return to camp for dinner and a briefing on the following day’s field plan.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Begin before sunrise, when wildlife movement and visibility can be most productive. Travel or walk to a selected viewpoint and spend the morning scanning cliffs, gullies and ridgelines for snow leopard, ibex and other mountain wildlife. Tracks, scrapes, scent marks and prey behaviour all help the team decide where to focus. The day is slow, patient and field-based rather than physically extreme: long periods of observation, short moves between vantage points and careful interpretation of signs. Return to camp in the late afternoon for hot drinks, dinner and discussion of sightings, tracks and tomorrow’s plan.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Continue the search in a different valley or viewing area, guided by overnight reports and tracker knowledge. The focus remains snow leopard, but the wider wildlife can be equally rewarding: Siberian ibex on steep slopes, argali where present, foxes, raptors and winter-adapted birds. Conditions may be cold and windy, so the guide will balance time outside with sensible warming breaks. Photography requires patience, long lenses and a flexible mindset. Even without a sighting, the process itself is absorbing: reading the mountain, following clues and understanding how predators, prey and herders share this harsh environment.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Spend another full day in snow leopard habitat, combining tracking with local ecological context. Where appropriate, meet herders or community members whose knowledge of the mountains is central to responsible wildlife observation. Discussions may cover livestock protection, predator conflict, conservation challenges and how low-impact tourism can create value around living snow leopards. The day’s fieldwork continues from selected viewpoints, with the team adjusting position according to light, wind and recent signs. Return to camp for dinner and a review of field notes. Sightings are never guaranteed, but each day improves understanding of the landscape.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today is kept fully dedicated to field observation. Depending on conditions, the team may move higher into a valley system or return to a promising viewpoint from earlier in the expedition. The aim is to maximise patient scanning time while avoiding disturbance to wildlife. Search for movement along cliff bands, ibex alarm behaviour, fresh tracks in snow and resting sites on ledges or broken rock. This is a serious wildlife day rather than a sightseeing day, and success depends on stillness, optics, local expertise and weather. Return to camp for a warm meal and evening briefing.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Keep this day flexible as a weather, access and wildlife buffer. In remote Mongolia, wind, snow, visibility and road conditions can alter plans, so the additional field day is valuable. If snow leopard signs are promising, continue tracking in the main mountain area. If conditions suggest otherwise, explore adjoining valleys for broader Altai wildlife, landscape photography and birdlife. This buffer also protects the expedition from becoming too rushed and gives clients a better chance of meaningful field time. In the evening, gather with the local team for a final mountain-camp dinner and review of the expedition.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, leave the mountain camp and drive back towards Khovd. The journey retraces remote valleys, steppe and semi-desert landscapes, with stops for photography and comfort breaks along the way. Depending on road conditions and arrival time, visit a local market, museum or viewpoint to place western Mongolia’s human geography in context. This day also gives clients a chance to decompress after the intensity of field tracking. Overnight in a simple hotel or comfortable local guesthouse in Khovd, with time to recharge equipment, repack and prepare for the flight back to the capital.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transfer to Khovd airport for the return flight to Ulaanbaatar. On arrival, transfer to your hotel and enjoy a slower afternoon in the capital. The schedule is intentionally light to allow for possible flight changes and winter operating conditions. If timings allow, visit Sukhbaatar Square, a museum or a cashmere store, or simply rest after several days in remote mountain country. In the evening, enjoy dinner with your guide and reflect on the expedition: the search process, local tracker knowledge, Altai landscapes and the realities of conserving one of Asia’s most elusive big cats.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Keep this day as a soft landing in the capital and a useful operational buffer. If the return flight from Khovd operated smoothly, use the day for a guided city programme: the Chinggis Khaan Museum, Gandan Monastery or Bogd Khan’s Winter Palace, depending on interest and opening schedules. A cultural performance can be included in the evening, followed by a farewell dinner. If winter weather has delayed the previous day’s flight, this day protects the international departure connection. The structure is deliberately practical, giving the expedition resilience while still offering a meaningful cultural close.
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast, transfer to Chinggis Khaan International Airport for your onward flight. Depart Mongolia with memories of the Altai Mountains, winter steppe, remote camps, local trackers and the intense patience required to search for snow leopard in the wild. This expedition should be presented honestly: it is designed to maximise the chance of observing snow leopard and other Altai wildlife, but sightings depend on weather, animal movement and field conditions. The value lies in the seriousness of the search, the conservation context and the rare access to one of Mongolia’s most dramatic mountain regions.
Meals Included: Breakfast
GROUP, GUIDE SUPPORT & TRIP STYLE: This is a 12-day specialist wildlife expedition into the Altai Mountains of western Mongolia, designed for patient travellers, naturalists and photographers. The focus is snow leopard habitat, field tracking and extended observation rather than conventional sightseeing. You will travel with an experienced English-speaking guide, professional drivers and local wildlife trackers. Weather, animal movement and road conditions shape the daily plan, so flexibility is essential.
ACCOMMODATION: Accommodation combines a comfortable hotel in Ulaanbaatar with simple hotels, lodges, ger camps or expedition-style stays in western Mongolia, depending on final routing and season. Facilities outside the capital are basic but practical, chosen for access to wildlife habitat rather than luxury. Heating, hot water, electricity and Wi-Fi may be limited or generator-based in remote areas. Single rooms are available where possible, subject to availability.
MEALS, FOOD & WATER: Meals are included as specified in the itinerary. In Ulaanbaatar, meals are taken at hotels or local restaurants; in the field, food is simple, warming and practical for cold-weather travel. Mongolian cuisine is traditionally meat- and dairy-based, though vegetarian meals can usually be arranged with advance notice. Hot drinks are important during field days, and the team will arrange safe drinking water. Carry personal snacks for long observation sessions.
WEATHER & WHAT TO PACK: This expedition usually operates in colder months, when snow and winter conditions improve tracking possibilities. Expect freezing temperatures, wind, snow, ice and long periods standing or sitting outdoors. Pack thermal base layers, insulated mid-layers, down jacket, windproof outer shell, warm hat, neck gaiter, gloves, insulated boots, sunglasses, lip balm and moisturiser. Bring spare batteries and a power bank, as cold drains equipment quickly.
WILDLIFE VIEWING & EXPECTATIONS: Snow leopard sightings are never guaranteed. This expedition is designed to maximise time in suitable habitat with local trackers, but success depends on weather, wildlife movement, visibility and field conditions. Days may involve long periods scanning ridgelines through binoculars and scopes, looking for tracks, prey behaviour, scent marks and movement on distant slopes. The experience rewards patience, quiet observation and realistic expectations.
ACTIVITY LEVEL & FIELD CONDITIONS: The activity level is moderate, but conditions can feel demanding because of cold, altitude, wind and uneven terrain. Most wildlife watching is done from viewpoints, with short walks or drives between scanning locations. There is no technical trekking, but travellers should be comfortable with cold-weather field days, basic facilities, early starts, bumpy roads and limited access to services in remote mountain regions.
PHOTOGRAPHY & EQUIPMENT: This is an excellent expedition for wildlife, landscape and documentary photography, but subjects may be distant and conditions challenging. A long lens, binoculars, spare batteries, memory cards, lens cloths and weather protection are strongly recommended. A spotting scope may be provided by the guide or tracking team, but serious wildlife watchers may prefer to bring their own optics. Drones should not be used around wildlife or local communities without clear permission.
LOCAL COMMUNITIES & CONSERVATION: The expedition depends on local knowledge and responsible relationships with herders, trackers and mountain communities. Where possible, the journey includes insight into livestock protection, predator conflict, prey species and the realities of snow leopard conservation in Mongolia. Travellers are expected to follow guide instructions, avoid disturbing wildlife, respect local homes and customs, and support a low-impact approach to wildlife tourism.
MONGOLIAN VISA & ENTRY: Many UK, EU, USA and Canadian passport holders do not usually require a visa for short tourist visits to Mongolia, but rules can change. Travellers should ensure passports meet current validity requirements and confirm entry rules for Mongolia and any transit countries before travel. We will advise on current requirements at the time of booking.
– Ulaanbaatar: Arrival briefing, equipment check and cultural visits where stated
– Khovd / Western Mongolia: Local orientation and supply stops as required by the field programme
– Altai Mountain Region: Overland access to snow leopard habitat, field camp stay and mountain wildlife tracking
– Snow Leopard Tracking: Multiple days scanning ridgelines, cliffs, high valleys and prey areas with local trackers
– Altai Wildlife: Search for Siberian ibex, argali where present, foxes, raptors and other winter-adapted wildlife
– Conservation & Community Context: Local herder or conservation-related encounters where feasible and included in the programme
– Ulaanbaatar Return: Final cultural visit, performance or farewell dinner where stated
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Discover Mongolia’s remote eastern regions on a 13-day journey combining the Naadam Festival, East Gobi wildlife, sacred river valleys, and the Khan Khentii mountains. Stay in traditional ger camps, explore vast steppe landscapes, and connect with nomadic culture on this expertly guided adventure through Mongolia’s wild and spiritual heart.
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14 days
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Without Flights
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A 13-day small-group Mongolia expedition from Ulaanbaatar to the Altai and the Gobi. Hike in Terelj, fly to Olgii for Kazakh culture and an Altai family stay, then attend the Golden Eagle Festival. Continue to Baga Gazryn Chuluu, Yol Valley, Khongor Sand Dunes and Flaming Cliffs, finishing with a folk concert in the capital.
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13 days
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Hiking/Trekking, Festivals
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13 days
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Hiking/Trekking, Nature & Wildlife
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GROUP
15 days
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Without Flights
15 days
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The difference with the Asian Geographical is, that each of our holidays is designed with extreme precision of a mountaineering expedition.
The difference with the Asian Geographical is, that each of our holidays is designed with extreme precision of a mountaineering expedition.
Your entire holiday is designed around your personal preferences
Travel at your own pace with full itinerary flexibility
Choose from handpicked, luxury hotels & resorts across Asia
Enjoy seamless logistics, private transfers, and 24/7 assistance
Our package holiday team has decades of experience in luxury Asia travel
Receive first-hand advice from specialists who know each destination intimately
Gain access to hidden gems and authentic local experiences
Our aim is to stay committed to responsible travel in Asia
We partner with eco-conscious providers
Itineraries include experiences that preserve Asia’s cultural and natural heritage
Travel with complete confidence under full ATOL protection
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Established in 2014
