Mongolia - Birds & Snow Leopards

The vast and sparsely inhabited land of Mongolia has captivated the minds of explorers for centuries. The landscapes, wildlife and culture have had a draw for those looking for something different; something beyond the “beaten path”, where the sky stretches as far as the eye can see, the wildlife abounds, and the people practice a culture molded by centuries of tradition. Long recognised for its scenic beauty, wonderful birdlife and plentiful mammalian fauna, Mongolia is now set to become the premier place to encounter the enigmatic Snow Leopard and a variety of central Asian specialty birds – without the crowds of some other hotspots!

We begin near the capital of Ulaanbaatar, tallying mouthwatering species such as Azure Tit, Amur Falcon, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Azure-winged Magpie and Mandarin Duck. We continue with a visit to Gorkji Terelj National Park to search for the elusive and rare Black-billed Capercaillie, and some excellent breeding birds such as Spotted Redshank, White-winged Terns, even White-naped Crane, Siberian Tit, Bearded Vulture, Two-barred Warbler, and perhaps Daurian Pika or Argali, an impressive wild sheep. From here, we’ll make our way to the far west of the country. Based in relatively comfortable ger camps, we’ll spend time visiting the stunning Margaz and Altai Mountains, as well as Khomyn Tal National Park and several lakes. With time to properly explore this remote area, we stand a very good chance of encountering the once near-mythical Snow Leopard. Compared with the other places in the Himalayas where one might seek out the ‘Grey Ghost’, this site is at low elevation, and you only need to walk small distances to access the very best areas for seeing this big cat! While dedicating time to the Snow Leopard, there are also many special birds to look at including White-winged Snowfinch, Altai Snowcock, Pallas’s Sandgrouse, Hill Pigeon and perhaps the star bird of the tour, Mongolian Ground-Jay! Other mammals abound in this region, including Siberian Ibex, Pallas’s Cat (Manul), Przewalski’s Horse, the fast-declining prehistoric Saiga and Goitered Gazelles, Asian Wapiti (Elk), Corsac Fox, Grey Wolf and even Steppe Polecat - not to mention a wide variety of funky jerboas and pikas!

A combination of spectacular scenery, fascinating culture, a good chance at one of the world’s most beautiful and elusive big cats, and exciting Mongolian specialty birds you won’t see anywhere else makes this classic itinerary a “must-do” for any birder and mammal-watcher!