Birding holidays


Activity level:
easy/moderate walks
some longer drives expected















Asia/Mongolian Big 5
Snow leopard and the amazing birds of Mongolia
Altai Mountains, Hustai NP, Terelj NP, Gun Galuut, 14 days
In the last 8 years we attempted to see Snow Leopard on 27 occasions of which we were successful on 24 trips, seeing at least one, but usually more animals. The observations usually last for several hours, or half a day, and often involved watching the cat while hunting, feeding, resting, playing, etc.
After running many successful bird and wildlife holidays over the years we have discovered the possibility to design this very special tour that provides a wonderful opportunity for participants to see the mythical Snow Leopard without strenuous hikes, sleeping in tents, or being exposed to the cold in the thin air at high altitudes.
We undertake our tour in relative comfort staying in spacious gers (yurts) erected exclusively for us in the middle of wilderness. The yurts are supplied with electricity, there are hot showers, flush toilets, beds in the yurts. We have our own cooks and have breakfast and dinner in the dinner yurt.
Further to this, the holiday will provide possibilities to see some of the rare or difficult to see mammals of the region, as well as a fantastic selection of Asian bird species whilst visiting some spectacular landscapes of Mongolia, one of the very few true wilderness areas of the World.
An awe-inspiring, 14-day tour to Mongolia, at the heart of the Asian continent – with a dream list of sought-after Asian specialities, Snow Leopard, Saiga Antelope, resident birds and migrants to be seen amidst a majestic landscape of seemingly endless desert, steppe, and mountains. It’s a journey that will carry you from the wilds of the Altai Mountains, via Gun Galuut and the bird-rich steppe lakes, to the taiga forests of Terelj National Park. We stay in good hotels and comfortable, permanent ger camps with good facilities – a tour highlight, not
to be confused with traditional camping! – making this far-flung, incredible destination accessible to everyone.
Snow Leopard, Saiga Antelope, Przewalski’s Horse, Argali sheep, Mongolian Gazelle, Swan Goose, White-naped Crane, Pallas’s Sandgrouse, Mongolian Ground Jay, Altai Snowcock, Siberian Rubythroat, Pine Bunting…
Because Snow Leopard is an endangered species, Ecotours Wildlife Holidays also aims to generate funds with these tours. We support the work of the local grassroots organisation run by very dedicated volunteer rangers who are keen to preserve the natural heritage of the land where they were born. Therefore totally optional donations will be welcome at the end of the holiday, besides which EWH will donate 2% of its profit after every booking. The funds will enable the rangers to purchase equipment necessary to further understand the behaviour of the Snow Leopard as well as to fight illegal hunting of other wildlife in the habitat of Snow Leopard.
Because of the specific location of the Snow, there is a certain flexibility in timing the daily programmes, but this will be kept to a minimum and will not alter the itinerary.
In the West of the country, not far from the Chinese border, in a small range of the Altai Mountains, we shall spend 6 nights in the foothills of the Altai Mountains, venturing into the deep rocky valleys or higher regions (maximum 3000 m, but usually below) searching for the “mountain cat” that has a healthy population in a limited range.
Latest Reviews of the Snow Leopard tour
“This was the most wonderful holiday – the best highlight was that we saw 3 Snow Leopards and were able to spend most of the day watching them sleeping and playing. We had no idea how beautiful Mongolia was and we were incredibly well looked after. We had a lot o f fun with the guides and other guests – we haven’t laughed so much in years! We saw an amazing number of beautiful birds and mammals and it was an amazing experience”
Fiona and Richard Lindop, UK
“Seeing the 3 Snow Leopards, Saiga Antelope and Long-tailed Rose Finch. Lunches on the mountain. The whole experience of being in Mongolia, staying in Ger camps and seeing the vast scenery”
Chris Hutchinson, UK
“We want to thank Ecotours Wildlife Holidays for running such a marvellous trip to see the snow leopard. We know we were very lucky to see it so well and on the first day, so that we could spend more time exploring for other wildlife. We are attaching our report for the four day extensions. We are so glad we stayed on for these because we had such a good time with Usukh and Esther. We think we can say that the whole experience was truly life enhancing.”
Richard and Margaret Bentley, UK
“Naturally the experience of seeing snow leopards on both days we went to look for them were the highlights. The snow leopard ger camp was at a fantastic location and was very comfortable, much more so than anticipated. The art of locating jerboas at night was very entertaining and very rewarding to be able to see and photograph them. Overall the opportunity to see so much of the stunning vistas of this magnificent country was amazing.”
Martin Warren, UK
Basics
-
- 14 days in Mongolia
- start and finish in Ulaanbaatar
- Visiting the Altai Mountains, Gun Galuut Reserve and Hustai National Park
- Staying in comfortable ger camps and a superb hotel
- Transport with comfortable 4×4 vehicles providing a window seat for each client
Based on our experience we suggest to use the following airlines for your flight (ex United Kingdom, and US) to Ulan Bator: Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, Air China, Korean Air
Highlights besides the Snow Leopard
- Staying in the true wilderness with hardly any other people around
- Fascinating landscapes
- Snow Leopard, Saiga Antelope, Mongolian and Goitered Gazelle, Przewalski’s Horse, Argali, Siberian Ibex, Siberian Marmot, Corsac Fox, Tolai Hare, Long-tailed and Pallid Ground Squirrel, Siberian Jerboa, Pallas’s and Daurian Pika
- Altai Snowcock, Mongolian Ground-jay, Pallas’s Sandgrouse, White-winged Redstart, Brown Accentor, Grey-necked Bunting, Asian Desert Warbler, Pallas’s Gull, White-headed Duck, Dalmatian Pelican
- Lammergeier, Steppe and Golden Eagle, Upland Buzzard, Cinereous and Himalayan Griffon Vulture, Saker and Amur Falcon, Eastern Marsh Harrier
- Azure Tit, Long-tailed Rosefinch, White-crowned Penduline-tit, White-cheeked Starling, Meadow Bunting, Daurian Partridge, Demoiselle Crane, Amur Falcon
- White-naped and Demoiselle Crane, Mongolian Lark, Siberian Rubythroat, Azure Tit, Long-tailed Rosefinch, White-crowned Penduline-tit, White-cheeked Starling, Meadow Bunting, Daurian Partridge
Departure Dates
26 August – 8 September 2025
Price
from 8,510 USD + 695 USD (single room supplement) depending on the group size
Ask for the actual price
Itinerary
Arriving at Ulaanbaatar we check into our comfortable hotel. Depending on the
time of arrival we will do an introductory birding walk in the east of the city. Amur Falcon, Azure Tit, Azure-winged Magpie, Long-tailed Rosefinch, White-crowned Penduline Tit, White-cheeked Starling are all possible along the Tuul River. Dinner in a traditional Mongolian restaurant offering delicious local and regional cuisine.
After breakfast we start driving towards Gun Galuut Nature Reserve. On the way we may stop at the huge statue of Genghis Khan. Shortly before arriving to camp there will be some very productive shallow lakes and marshes where we should encounter suites of common shorebirds including Pacific Golden-Plover, Spotted Redshank, Wood and Marsh Sandpiper. The lakes have yielded many surprises in the past including Baikal Teal, Falcated Duck, and with luck we might find some late migrant too. Our ger camp is situated in a beautiful river valley surrounded by steppes and rocky hills.
Gun Galuut protects a range of mountain and steppe habitats along with some varied and exciting wetlands. The rocky hills are home to a strong population of Argali Sheep and Pallas’s Cat in good rodent years. We will scan the rocky outcrops during late afternoon for the cats hunting Brandt’s Voles, their favourite prey. Argalis are usually seen in small groups grazing on the mountainside in the early morning so after some 30 minutes driving and scanning we should be able to find them. Other mammals of the area include Corsac Fox, Daurian Pika, Mongolian Jird and the nocturnal Siberian Jerboa.
The birdlife of Gun Galuut is very rich. We will explore the vegetation along the river near our campsite for migratory songbirds. In the past, these have been quite rewarding, rendering a variety of warblers including Pallas’s Grasshopper, Greenish, Two-barred, Dusky and Thick-billed, as well as Olive-backed Pipit, Taiga Flycatcher, and Black-faced and Pallas’s buntings. White-naped Cranes nest in the marshes and we should find this magnificent bird in family groups along with other crane species including Common and the daintier Demoiselles. The lakes also attract numerous water birds including grebes, swans, ducks, gulls and as many as five species of terns. We may see Bar-headed and Swan geese, Whooper Swan, Common and Ruddy shelducks, Eurasian Wigeon, Garganey, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck and Stejneger’s Scoter. As we drive across the shortgrass steppe we may find several species of larks including Asian Short-toed, Horned and Mongolian larks, Isabelline and Northern wheatears, and Richard’s and Blyth’s pipits. We will particularly be on the lookout for the sandy coloured Pere David’s Snowfinch that inhabits the steppes. Raptors will be represented by Upland Buzzard, Steppe Eagle, Cinereous Vulture, Black-eared Kite, Eastern Marsh Harrier, and Saker and Amur falcons. The rocky slopes are home to Rock Sparrow and Twite, while Pallas’s Sandgrouse could be present anywhere in the area.
We leave Gun Galuut and visit Terelj National Park on the way to Ulaanbaatar.
Terelj has fantastic rock formations, coniferous and riparian forests and is home to many birds. Eastern Buzzard is usually seen patrolling the mountains and Lammergeier is also often seen. Rocky outcrops are home to Rock Thrush and Godlewski’s Bunting.
There are many woodland birds found in the coniferous forests including chances for Siberian Rubythroat, Red-flanked Bluetail, Daurian Redstart, Taiga and Dark-sided Flycatcher, Red-throated Thrush, Dusky, Hume’s and Two-barred Warbler, Nutcracker and Black Woodpecker.
We have lunch in Terelj and in the afternoon drive back to the capital.
We take a domestic flight to Khovd and we drive to our ger camp where we will stay for the next 6 nights. It is operated by a local wildlife protection community, which is a local organization with the single purpose of protecting the extremely rich nature and wildlife reserve. The camp is located by the foothills of Jargalant Mountain facing at the mountain chain on the one side and the semi desert and a huge lake on the other.
The facilities here are shared, but comfortable and clean. Our local team is keen to provide everything we need for the maximum comfort in the area where we will be literally on our own apart from a few nomadic herders and their animals.
The next 5 days will find us searching primarily for the elusive Snow Leopard as one of our main priorities. We timed our trip to match the period when the cats are most likely to be seen hunting or guarding their prey. It is difficult to say how good the chances are. There is no guarantee of sightings, but by working with the local conservationists to find the best location we hope to see this majestic animal as we did in most of our tours so far. The terrain here is considerably easier to negotiate than in their other habitats where the conditions are generally much harsher (high altitude, low temperature, difficult terrain, need of acclimatization, hikes, sleeping in tents, etc.).
Our experienced drivers will take us as close as possible to the observation sites. At times walking will be limited to a few meters. At other times we will have to take a short or medium length walk that will demand basic fitness and ability to walk on rocky, uneven or steep terrain. However, many of the typical observation points can be reached by a 4X4 vehicle or a short walk. As we have plenty of time, we will be able to proceed at a speed that is comfortable for everyone. This holiday is planned to be a very slow-paced one with plenty of time for everything. Our local scouts will be on the mountain most of the time looking for a Snow Leopard. They successfully locate one or more Snow Leopards during almost each tour, and we hope one will be in an easily accessible area. We are also in contact with local shepherds and if one of their animals was killed by the leopards, they will immediately report it to our local team. It is very important for conservation reasons and for us it is a great help. While our local helpers are scouting, we might opt to locate ourselves in a key area to scan the mountainsides where animals occur regularly during hunting or patrolling their territories.
To find a Snow Leopard needs patience, but it is in fact a special aspect of the holiday: it is a very slow-paced activity that allows us to admire the breath-taking scenery, incredible alpine flora and the highlights of the avifauna without haste. There will always be things to look at; the soaring raptors above us, the playful Siberian Marmots that keep whistling to each other signalling danger or grazing Siberian Ibex with their amazing ability to climb almost vertical cliffs. There will be White-winged Snowfinches, Mongolian Finches flying around us, as well as Brown Accentor and the local race of Horned Lark. Those with sharp eyes will be able to spot the beautiful Guldenstadt’s Redstart that inhabits the highest peaks, and we will surely have time to track down some of the flocks of Altai Snowcocks by scanning the cliffs.
Lammergeier, Steppe Eagle, Black-eared Kite, Saker Falcon, Cinereous and Himalayan Vulture are often seen as they scan the pastures for prey or carcasses, the latter most probably left by the Snow Leopards. The Saiga Antelope is probably one of the oddest-looking animals of its kind, and now it’s critically endangered due to various factors. Mongolia has two populations; one of them is actually a few kilometres from our base, in a flat semi-desert area. The local subspecies is called “tatarica” which is sometimes considered to be a separate species. They can run at a very high speed and are easily identifiable as they always keep their head down, even while running.
Another possible highlight here is strictly an after-dinner activity just in and around our campsite. We will walk in the flat rocky desert area scanning with our torchlights for small “jumping, glowing eyes.” The tiny kangaroo-like rodents are most likely Siberian and Mongolian Three-toed Jerboas, which with luck and with some skill can be approached and observed as they feed on insects just a few meters away, sometimes even jumping between our shoes. Their long ears and tails that end in a fluffy ball of fur make them very special, unique animals to watch.
We shall also visit nearby lakes and the adjacent wetlands, which offer a lot to see. Pallas’s Sandgrouse might come to drink on the shore, Whooper Swan and Dalmatian Pelican breed amongst the vast expanse of reedbeds, Pallas’s Gulls, Whiskered and Gull-billed terns are also here. Sometimes large concentrations of White-headed Ducks are seen and Red-crested Pochards are also found on the lake. The nearby grasslands seem to be perfect for many passerines including Asian Short-toed Lark, Richard’s Pipit, Western Yellow and Citrine Wagtail and Pallas’s Bunting. Another avian highlight of Mongolia, the Henderson’s Ground-jay is living near to our campsite, and a short walk or drive should produce sightings of these wonderful birds.
Leaving this magical place behind, we drive to the airport and fly to Ulaanbaatar. In two hours we will find ourselves in Hustain Nuruu National Park, home to the successfully reintroduced wild horse, the Thaki or Przewalski’s Horse. Short walks along the rolling hills will bring us Long-tailed Souslik and Tarbagan Marmot, but most probably we will spend quite some time admiring the beauty of the world’s only true wild horse species. The rocky areas are home to Pied Wheatear, Meadow Bunting and Lesser Whitethroat. The elm trees along the valleys hold a small population of the elegant Amur Falcon, while Lesser Kestrels hunt on the hillsides and Golden Eagles patrol the skies. Some spots are productive for Daurian Partridge. This is our chance to add Mongolian Gazelle to our list of mammals. We shall drive a few kilometres away from the central part of the national park to find — hopefully large hordes of — them in the lowlands.
We drive back to Ulaanbaatar after a morning birding around Hustai NP.
We can also visit the capital in the afternoon if guests are interested in a short city sightseeing or in an optional fascinating cultural program.
We drive to the airport for the flight home.