Borneo contains some of the world's most wildlife-rich and oldest equatorial rainforests, incredible landscapes and rich indigenous culture. The jungles of Borneo are estimated to be around 140 million years old and this area is the centre of evolution and distribution of many endemic species of plants and animals. The rainforest is also one of the few remaining natural habitats for the endangered Bornean Orangutan and an important refuge for around 15,000 species of flowering plants, 3,000 species of trees (267 species of which belong to the family Dipterocarpaceae which have their greatest diversity here), 221 species of terrestrial mammals, 650 species of birds and 440 species of freshwater fish.

Since 2007, 220,000km² of ‘Asia’s last great rainforest’ has been protected under a World Wide Fund for Nature agreement and since that time, hundreds of new species have been recorded here.

This itinerary has been tailored to maximise our wildlife and birding opportunities and in 2025 we are extending the tour to add some exciting new wild destinations in Sabah after Tonia checked them out personally after our highly successful 2024 tour. This will offer an even greater chance to see rarely encountered wild mammals such as Clouded Leopard, other cat species, orangutans and birds such as pittas, Bornean Ground Cuckoo, owls and all 8 species of hornbill. This tour also provides a unique opportunity to experience authentic traditional culture and food and a visit here also contributes to the local economy and to the protection of key species of wildlife including Bornean Orangutan, Proboscis Monkey and Bornean Sun Bear. You will be accompanied throughout the whole tour by Tonia as Inala Tour leader and local guide Hendry who is a long term personal friend of Tonia.

This tour has specifically been designed for the best chance of seeing the near-mythical Snow Leopard, which has historically proved almost impossible to find in the vast, steep, rocky high mountains of Central Asia without the considerable effort of extended and difficult hikes in the thin, cold air of high altitudes whilst carrying all belongings. We will be travelling in relative comfort in purpose-built ger (yurt) camps with onsite cooks, drivers and support crews and most areas will be accessed by vehicle, allowing for greater accessibility for those with average fitness levels. The areas we will be visiting are also home to a fantastic selection of bird and rare or difficult to see mammal species, such as Saiga Antelope, Przewalski’s Horse, Argali (wild mountain sheep) and Mongolian Gazelle. The scenery is spectacular and vast and covered in wildflowers. We will also experience some of Mongolia’s unique and ancient culture, from nomadic Yak, Bactrian Camel, Cashmere Goat and sheep herding to performances by Tuvan throat singers and traditional dancers, whilst living in traditional gers (yurts) which are provided by the local community.

During this slow-paced 15-day adventure, we will be based in three main locations: Gun Galuut, the Altai Mountains and Hustai National Park with stays in a comfortable en suite hotel in Ulaanbaatar between locations. We shall spend 6 nights in the foothills of the Altai Mountains in remote Western Mongolia, venturing into the deep rocky valleys and higher altitudes (maximum 3,000 metres or 10,000 feet, but usually below) searching for Snow Leopard and other wildlife. We have a good chance of seeing at least one of the estimated 10-15 individuals that live in this isolated mountain range. We will also look for the world’s largest wild sheep, the Argali, and Siberian Ibex that roam the rocky slopes. A variety of rodents such as ground-squirrels, jerboas, gerbils/jirds, voles and Tarbagan Marmot are very common and easily seen, as are lagomorphs (close relatives of rabbits) such as hares and pikas. We may even be lucky enough to see Grey Wolf which are also possible, but even more difficult the find than Snow Leopard. We will also visit the nearby semi-desert area below our camp to search for other critically endangered mammals such as Saiga Antelope and the delicately built and pretty, Black-tailed (Goitered) Gazelle. Our second base will be nearer to the capital, yet in another beautiful natural area, the famous Hustai National Park, home of the world’s only wild horse species, the Przewalski’s Horse or Takhi and Mongolian Gazelle.

Sri Lanka is an island filled with an abundance of natural treasures. It is one of the most ecologically rich countries in the world and is recognized as a global biodiversity hotspot, believed to have the highest species diversity in Asia. The island is an excellent birding location with over 450 recorded species including migrants. Of these, 34 species are endemic to Sri Lanka and a further 18 species can be seen within the Indian subcontinent only. Sri Lanka is also home to a diversity of mammals too, including Leopard, Sloth Bear, Asian Elephant, Asiatic Buffalo, Sambar and Spotted Deer, as well as a range of primates, squirrels and other small species. The island is one of the best places in the world for whale watching, so we will take a day cruise into the Indian Ocean to look for Blue Whale and Spinner Dolphin, and, with good luck, Sperm Whale and Orca too. On this tour, we visit a variety of habitats from tropical rainforests, wetlands, arid scrub jungle and savanna grasslands to experience the best of wild Sri Lanka.

Nestled between China and India, Nepal is a country of extraordinary natural diversity. With an elevation ranging from 60 metres in the Gangetic Plain to greater than 8,800 metres at the summit of Sagarma tha - Mt Everest in the Himalayas, the country features a wide range of biomes and rich fauna and flora. Nepal boasts tropical savanna in the lowlands, subtropical broadleaf and coniferous forest in the hill areas, and temperate and alpine flora, rock scree and ice at the higher elevations. Over 890 species of birds have been recorded here, among them the country’s only endemic bird, the Spiny Babbler (Acanthoptila nipalensis), the glorious rainbow-feathered Himalayan Monal, the national bird of Nepal, and the enigmatic Ibisbill. In addition to the huge variety of birds, Nepal is home to 208 species of mammals, including Greater One-horned Rhino, Asian Elephant, Bengal Tiger, Sloth Bear, Red Panda, Ganges River Dolphin, many species of deer including Sambar, Chital and Indian Muntjac, and primates such as Terai Grey Langur and Assam and Rhesus Macaques. Lowland rivers and lakes are home to the hefty Mugger Crocodile and the rare long-snouted Gharial, restricted to only a few locations in Nepal, northern India and possibly Bangladesh. This tour has been designed to join a tour to Sri Lanka and there is an option of taking both at a discounted price.