Snow Leopard Tour in Mongolia — Your Chance to See the "Ghost of the Mountains" in the Flesh
Taking place in late spring and early fall, our spectacular Mongolia snow leopard tracking tour gives you the chance to see one of the world’s most beautiful endangered species — up close and personal.
Book Your Tour- AltaiWestern Mongolia
- 3,000 mMountain range
- WWF rangersOn the ground with you
- By emailItinerary and price
About the Snow Leopard Tour in Mongolia
Our Snow Leopard Tour in Mongolia offers a unique opportunity to watch one of the world’s most elusive mammals in its natural habitat. You’ll explore the Altai Mountains in late spring or late autumn to catch a glimpse of this beautiful endangered animal. With the likes of Har Us Lake as the backdrop, you’ll enjoy a natural experience that lives in your memory long after you leave us.
While this is an outdoor adventure, we want you to be relaxed and comfortable throughout. That’s why we lay on a range of creature comforts. You may be exploring the 3,000-meter-high Altai Mountain range, but you definitely won’t want for food, lodgings, and transportation.
This is your opportunity to learn about both the snow leopard and this beautiful part of Mongolia. To answer your questions and add context to your activities, local WWF rangers will be available during your trip. You’ll also get the opportunity to talk to local nomads about the area and its incredible biodiversity. We want you to have fun, but we also want to make you aware of the dangers these animals face every day — and how you can play a part in protecting them for future generations to enjoy.
What to Expect During This Mongolia Wildlife Tour
While there is plenty to do and see during your snow leopard tracking vacation, the star of the show is obviously the animal itself. Everything you enjoy along the way will focus on either the beautiful snow leopard or the beautiful part of Asia it calls home.
Your days begin early, because snow leopards are most active at dawn and dusk. You’ll spend long hours looking at ridgelines and rocky gullies with local rangers. Where appropriate, they’ll point out the paw prints and scratch marks that show where a cat has passed. Their spotted grey coats blend into the rock so well that even the experts need patience.
Between searches, you’ll meet the herders who share these mountains with the cats and hear the folk music and throat singing of the Altai. You’ll also learn from local researchers about Mongolia’s national survey, which found around 953 snow leopards and showed the population holding steady. This is a unique chance to see how conservation works on the ground, from the rangers who watch over the slopes to the herders who live beside the cats.
Terrain
The mountains of the western Altai are set against vast, open plains, so you get wide views as you scan for wildlife. Near Khovd, snow leopards are seen at lower altitudes than across most of their range. Jargalant Khairkhan, which rises 3,796 metres, sits beside the huge freshwater Khar Us Lake, 1,157 metres above sea level. Rocky outcrops and steep gullies give the cats plenty of cover, and the rangers know exactly where to look.
Climate
Cool and largely dry best describe the climate in the late spring and late fall. That said, torrential downpours and freezing nights are not uncommon at these times of the year. In Khovd, daytime highs average around 18 degrees Celsius in May and 17 in September, while September nights can fall to about 3 degrees. Rainfall is light, at around 7 millimetres in May and 11 in September.
Wildlife
Mongolia is home to the world’s second-largest population of snow leopards. But there are many more species to keep your eyes peeled for in this part of the world. On the steep slopes, you can look out for Siberian ibex and argali, the largest wild sheep in the world, which are the snow leopard’s main prey. The stony plains below are home to the rare Mongolian saiga, an endangered antelope found only in western Mongolia. Birdwatchers will enjoy the lakes, where more than 200 bird species have been identified around Khar Us, including the Dalmatian pelican.
Culture
Ask a local, and they’ll refer to this beautiful cat as the Spirit of the Mountain or the Spotted Brother. But that’s not the only unique cultural detail you’ll learn as you tour the mountains. Throat singing, known as khöömei, began in the Altai Mountains of western Mongolia, and the singer produces a steady drone with a melody of harmonics above it. UNESCO recognises khöömei as part of humanity’s intangible cultural heritage.
Travel in Style
From the moment you arrive, we take care of the details, so you can focus on the search for snow leopards. Experienced local guides and rangers lead each day’s tracking, and we arrange your meals and your transport. That leaves you free to scan the ridgelines with your camera at the ready.
Your Accommodations
After a day scanning the ridgelines, you’ll return to a comfortable ger camp in the Altai Mountains. Gers are the traditional round homes of Mongolian herders, and their thick felt walls keep the heat in.
In colder months, herders add extra layers of felt, so a ger stays warm when the evening air turns chilly. You won’t be short of delicious and nutritious food or creature comforts after a long day in the mountains.
Snow Leopard Tour of Mongolia Pricing
Your Itinerary. The snow leopard is highly elusive and unpredictable. To give you the best possible chance of spotting these beautiful creatures, we take a flexible approach to the itinerary. This also ensures minimal disruption to both the environment and the daily lives of these stunning creatures. For the latest detailed itinerary, get in touch and we’ll come back to you as soon as possible.
Pricing depends on various factors, including the time of year, the itinerary, and environmental issues. Please reach out for our latest prices for snow leopard watching holidays.
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Book a Very Special Mongolia Wildlife Holiday Today
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that a tiny fraction of the world’s population will experience. Book your Altai snow leopard expedition today to avoid missing out!
Book a Mongolia Wildlife Tour