Embark on an unforgettable 15-day Mongolia wildlife tour designed for the best chance of seeing the elusive Snow Leopard. Unlike traditional high-altitude treks, this accessible tour features comfortable ger accommodation and vehicle access to prime viewing sites in the remote Altai Mountains, making Snow Leopard spotting achievable for travellers with average fitness levels.
Wildlife Encounters
Spend six days in the Altai foothills where local scouts and partners of the World Wide Fund for Nature Land of Snow project track 10-15 resident Snow Leopards. Most groups successfully sight these magnificent predators during their stay. Beyond Snow Leopards, discover Mongolia's incredible biodiversity including critically endangered Saiga Antelope, the world's only truly wild horse (Przewalski's Horse) at Hustai National Park, massive Argali sheep, Siberian Ibex, and Tarbagan Marmots.
Birding Opportunities
Birders will thrill at Altai Snowcock, endemic Mongolian Ground-jay, rare Pallas's Gull, Dalmatian Pelican, White-naped Crane, and spectacular raptors including Golden Eagle and Bearded Vulture. Gun Galuut Nature Reserve offers exceptional wetland birding with abundant warblers, shorebirds, and waterbirds.
Cultural Immersion
Experience authentic Mongolian culture through traditional throat singing performances, visits to 11,000-year-old petroglyphs, and stays in traditional gers hosted by nomadic communities. Your journey directly supports local Snow Leopard conservation through WWF partnerships.
This moderate-activity Mongolia wildlife tour includes all meals, domestic flights, expert guiding with English interpreters, and comfortable accommodation ranging from en-suite hotels in Ulaanbaatar to remote wilderness ger camps. Witness Mongolia's spectacular landscapes where endless steppes meet snow-capped peaks under vast blue skies.
Who is this tour for?
Designed for nature lovers seeking an accessible yet authentic Snow Leopard expedition. This tour suits those with moderate fitness who want exceptional wildlife encounters, stunning landscapes, birding opportunities, and exposure to rich nomadic culture.
Altai Mountains (Western Mongolia)
July is the warmest month in the Altai region, with daytime highs averaging 20°C (68°F) and nighttime lows around 8°C (46°F). The region receives its highest rainfall in July, with approximately 44mm of precipitation over 12 rainy days. Daylight hours are generous at 15 hours and 23 minutes, with 10 hours of sunshine daily. The UV index is high, requiring adequate sun protection.
What to expect: Warm, pleasant days ideal for wildlife watching, but pack layers for cool mornings and evenings. Rain gear essential as afternoon showers are common.
Ulaanbaatar & Central Mongolia (Gun Galuut, Hustai)
Ulaanbaatar in July experiences maximum daytime temperatures around 24°C with minimum nighttime temperatures around 11°C and moderate monthly rainfall. July is both the warmest and wettest month, with temperatures ranging from 22°C to 32°C, though temperatures can drop sharply when it rains.
What to expect: Warm days, cool nights, and the greenest landscapes of the year. Brief afternoon thunderstorms are common but usually pass quickly.
South Gobi extension 14-21 July 2027 - details and itinerary are found in the main Mongolia itinerary.
South Gobi extension 14-21 July 2027 - details and itinerary are found in the main Mongolia itinerary.
Mammals: Snow Leopard, Przewalski's Horse, Saiga Antelope, Argali, Mongolian Gazelle, Siberian Ibex, Tarbagan Marmot, Pallas's Pika, Pallas's Cat
Birds: Altai Snowcock, Mongolian Ground-jay, Pallas's Gull, Dalmatian Pelican, White-naped Crane, Bearded Vulture, Demoiselle Crane, Guldenstadt's Redstart, White-winged Snowfinch, Pallas's Sandgrouse, Golden Eagle
Arrive at Ulaanbaatar and check into our hotel. We will have our welcome dinner in a traditional Mongolian restaurant offering delicious local and regional cuisine.
Accommodation: Ulaanbaatar hotel (en suite rooms) Meals included: D.
This morning we travel to Gun Galuut (130 kms south-east of Ulaanbaatar), spending two nights at this remote ger camp in a scenic river valley. This diverse ecosystem hosts 63 mammal and 61 bird species, including several globally threatened species. We'll search for the elusive Pallas's Cat with expert local guides, plus Grey Wolf, Corsac Fox, Tarbagan Marmot, and the threatened Argali sheep.
Riverside birding may reveal Pallas's Grasshopper, Greenish, and Thick-billed Warblers, Taiga Flycatcher, and rare vagrants like Schrenck's Bittern. The steppe lakes attract White-naped, Common, and Demoiselle Cranes, along with Bar-headed and Swan Geese, Baikal Teal, Falcated Duck, and specialty shorebirds including Asian Dowitcher and Grey-tailed Tattler. Waterbirds include five tern species (Whiskered, Black, White-winged, Caspian, Common), Whooper Swan, and Stejneger's Scoter. Steppe species include Asian Short-toed, Horned, and Mongolian Larks, Pere David's Snowfinch, and Pallas's Sandgrouse. Raptors such as Steppe Eagle, Cinereous Vulture, and Saker Falcon patrol overhead.
Accommodation: Ger camp at Gun-Galuut (shared facilities) each night. Meals included: B, L, D each day
We leave Gun Galuut early today to allow time to visit Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, which is the third largest protected area in Mongolia. Here the high granite mountains have been carved into spectacular shapes by the wind and are forested on their northern slopes, with wildflower meadows in between. The scenery and wildflowers here are amazing, with blue bellflowers (Campanula and Adenophora), Larkspurs (Delphinium) and gentians (Gentiana) vying with pink carnations (Dianthus) and vetch for attention. White Edelweiss (Leontopodium sp), yellow Cinquefoil (Potentilla) and verdant long green grass, with an understorey of Wolfsbane (Aconitum), wild Strawberries (Fragaria) and fungi in the forest complete the picture. A stark contrast to the steppe of the Altai Mountains we will visit next.
Bird species found here include Cinereous Vulture (which nests here), Spotted Nutcracker, Coal, Willow, Great and Long-tailed Tits, Yellow-browed Warbler, Eurasian Nuthatch and Red-throated Thrush. Boar, Red, Roe and Musk Deer, European Elk, Red Fox, and even Wolf, Wolverine, Brown Bear and Eurasian Lynx have been recorded here. We will also visit the 40-metre-tall stainless steel statue of Genghis Khan on horseback, before returning to Ulaanbaatar to repack for our next adventure in the Altai Mountains.
Accommodation: Ulaanbaatar hotel (en suite rooms) Meals included: B, L, D.
We take a domestic flight to Khovd and drive to our Ger camp, where we will stay for the next 6 nights. Our camp is located in the foothills of Jargalant Khairkhan Mountain (an isolated extension of the Altai Mountains) overlooking semi-desert steppes. The facilities here are shared and basic, but considering the remoteness, are very comfortable and clean. The camp is operated by members of the local community and our hosts are volunteer rangers recognised by the local authority and partners of the WWF Snow Leopard project. Our local support team are keen to provide everything we need to maximise our comfort here. During this time, we probably won’t meet any other human being apart from our teammates, our local crew and perhaps a few herders.
Accommodation: Ger camp in the foothills of the Altai Mountains, western Mongolia (shared facilities). Meals included: B, L, D.
Over five days we'll search for the elusive Snow Leopard, timed to coincide with peak viewing periods. While sightings aren't guaranteed, local scouts successfully locate Snow Leopards on most tours. Our experienced drivers provide 4x4 access to observation sites, suitable for average fitness levels, with optional walks in valleys and steppes. This slow-paced approach allows time to appreciate the spectacular scenery and alpine wildlife including White-winged Snowfinch, Red-billed Chough, Guldenstadt's Redstart, Argali sheep, and cliff-climbing Siberian Ibex. Raptors include Golden and Steppe Eagles, Saker Falcon, and Bearded, Cinereous, and Himalayan Griffon Vultures.
Nearby semi-desert steppes host critically endangered Saiga Antelope. Around camp, abundant Pallas's Pika, Midday Jird, Mongolian Gerbil, and nocturnal Jerboas entertain observers. A nearby lake attracts Dalmatian Pelican, Pallas's Gull, Whooper Swan, White-headed Duck, and Common Pochard, while grasslands host Asian Short-toed Lark, Citrine Wagtail, Pallas's Sandgrouse, and Mongolian Ground-jay.
Cultural highlights include Tuvan throat singing performances and visits to 11,000-year-old Pleistocene petroglyphs—the region's most complete visual record of human prehistory.
Accommodation: Ger camp in the foothills of the Altai Mountains as for day 2 (shared facilities) each night. Meals included: B, L, D each day.
We fly back to Ulaanbaatar to stay overnight, before spending 2 nights in Hustai (also known as Kustain Nuruu) National Park, home to the successfully reintroduced Mongolian wild horse, the Takhi or Przewalski’s Horse. Over the next two days, we will take short walks in the rolling hills searching for Long-tailed Ground-squirrel (Souslik) and Tarbagan Marmot, but the main focus will be to admire the beauty of the world’s only true wild horse species. We may also see Mongolian Gazelle, Argali and Red Deer today. Amur Falcon may be found in the trees in the valleys, while Lesser Kestrels hunt on the hillsides and Golden Eagles patrol the skies. Some places are productive for Daurian Partridge, and the wildflowers we may see here include Edelweiss (Leontopodium ochroleucum) and Gentians (Gentiana triflora). There will also be an opportunity to visit some ancient (1,800-yearold) Ongot carved rock monuments and Balbal stones, and even older (1,2000 year old) rectangular tombs in the park.
Accommodation: Ulaanbaatar (night 11) and Ger camp in Hustai National Park (shared facilities) nights 12 & 13. Meals included: B, L, D each day.
Today, if time allows, we may visit a wetland where White-naped Crane is possible along with Swan Goose, Black Stork, Eastern Marsh Harrier, Citrine and Eastern Yellow Wagtail, before making our way back to Ulaanbaatar, where we spend the last night of our tour. We will have a final dinner together this evening.
Accommodation: Hotel in Ulaanbaatar (en suite rooms). Meals included: B, L, D.
This morning, we will provide a group transfer to Ulaanbaatar airport for our departure to onward destinations.
Accommodation: none. Meals included: B.
Accommodation in gers/hotel rooms for each night of the tour as described above, specialist guiding and transport in private vehicles with specialist licensed local guides and English-speaking interpreters, one group airport transfer on the first and last day of the tour, and meals and activities outlined in the itinerary including National Park entry fees. Also includes domestic return Ulaanbaatar-Khovd flights.
International and domestic airfares (except the return Ulaanbaatar-Khovd flights mentioned above), airport transfers in addition to group transfer, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and expenses of a personal nature (snacks, travel and medical insurance, internet, laundry, etc.) and tips for local guides and support crew. Also excludes extra charges due to factors beyond the control of the tour company such as natural disasters and governmental policy changes.
Depending on individual trip circumstances, weather, and local information, the exact itinerary may not be strictly adhered to. The guides reserve the right to make changes to the itinerary as they see fit and there may be some flexibility in the daily programme’s timing, but this will be kept to a minimum and will not significantly alter the itinerary.
Flight changes on the domestic Ulaanbaatar-Khovd flight sometimes necessitate a change from ger accommodation near Hustai to en suite hotel at Ulaanbaatar. The itinerary and meals will be adjusted to best suit these and to maximise wildlife viewing time.
Please bear in mind this primarily is not a dedicated photography tour and many of the larger mammals may not be seen at close range. However, during the tour, we will have several occasions to photograph the wildlife, scenery and wildflowers from the vehicles and on foot throughout the tour. Small mammal viewing at close range and birdwatching opportunities are excellent.
There are terms and conditions relating to payments, cancellations, refunds, insurance and responsibility for our tours.
Inala Nature
320 Cloudy Bay Road, Lunawanna
South Bruny Island 7150
Tasmania, Australia
Phone:Â +61 3 6293 1217
Inala Nature acknowledge and pay respects to the palawa people as the traditional and original owners, and continuing custodians of this land, lutruwita, and acknowledges Elders - past and present. Inala Nature Tours and the Inala Foundation Inc are located on lunawanna- alonnah, also known as Bruny Island, the traditional land of the Nuenonne people.
