Wild Snow Leopard Photography Expedition
This wild Snow Leopard photography tour presents big cat lovers and intrepid photographers the ultimate photography expedition to the peaks of the Altai Mountains and the domain of mythical Ghost Cat, the Snow Leopard! I’ve been trying to tame my penchant for hyperbole, but for this ridiculously jaw-droppingly awe-inspiring workshop, I just cannot be contained. IT WILL BE THE TRIP OF YOUR LIFE!
Mongolia is Genghis Khan’s homeland, has more horses than people, invented ice cream, the Gobi Desert is here, and 30% of the World’s Snow Leopards!
A trip to Mongolia would not be complete without meeting the Eagle Hunters. We will spend time with nomadic and enigmatic Eagle hunters before we start the Snow Leopard Trek
The endangered, exotic, and exciting Pallas’s Cat’s makes it’s home in the same region, we’ll have a good opportunity to see and photograph this way cool cat!
The elusive Snow Leopard is our primary goal on our expedition to Mongolia. Without a doubt, the trek for the will be the most memorable photography expedition you’ve ever enjoyed!
Quick Look Snow Leopard Trek
- 11 Nights and 12 Days
- Small Group of 5 Clients
- Local Guides/Drivers
- Includes All Meals, All Lodging
- Expert Photography Instruction
Ultimate Mongolia’s Snow Leopards and Eagle Hunters in Winter
Day 1 – January 14, 2023
Plan to arrive in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (ULN airport code) anytime this day. We’ll pick you up at the airport in a private vehicle and bring you to our hotel in Ulaanbaatar. Tonight, we’ll have a group welcome dinner and get ready for our expedition to the wilds of Mongolia in search of the “ghost cat,” the Snow Leopard!
Airport Pickup Accommodations, Dinner
Day 2 – January 15, 2023
Activities – Travel and Eagle Hunters
We have an early flight from Ulaanbaatar to Ulgii in western Mongolia. Once in Ulgii, this will be the last time we are civilization for several days. If you need to pick up clothing, coffee, snacks, or other generics items, do it here. We depart in our cozy warm vehicles for the Sagsai Region of Mongolia. This is where we will meet the Eagle Hunters in their nomadic home.
This afternoon we will have our first portrait session with our three eagle hunters. We will take some time to get to know them and discuss the photographic opportunities for the next day.
Stay overnight at a hotel in Olgii, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 3 – January 16, 2023
Activities – Eagle Hunter portraits and With Golden Eagles
This morning we head deeper into the mountains to the Eagle Hunters’ Camp for a full day of photography. We will be with 3 Eagle hunters and their eagles. After a long day of photography, we return to Olgii for dinner and well-deserved sleep at the hotel.
Stay overnight hotel in Olgii Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 4 – January 17, 2023
Activities – Travel to the Altai Mountains, Setting Up Camp
After an early breakfast, we are on the road for an all-day drive to the Altai Mountains. Upon arrival, we’ll pitch in to help set up the camp. We will then meet with our veteran guide to learn about the various wildlife we may encounter over the next 6 days. Meals will be cooked by our tour cook.
Tent camp. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Snow Leopard Photography Tour Camp
Day 5 – 12 January 18-25, 2023
Activities – Photography, Photography, and More Photography
Our plan for the next week is to search for Snow Leopards and Pallas Cats. We will fill in the gaps by photographing anything else with fur or feathers and the incredible mountain scenics!
Daily hiking will be required (but not advanced mountaineering level, duh!). There will be a local ranger guiding us to the best spots to photograph the wildlife.
Tent camp. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 13 – January 26, 2023
Activities – Return to Olga
This morning we drive back to Olgii after a spectacular and fingers crossed very productive time in the Altai Mountains – a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The group will have dinner together and get ready to begin our trip back home.
A hotel in Olgii. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 14 – January 27, 2023
Activities – Relaxation, Warming Up, Downloading
After breakfast, we transfer to the airport in Olgii for our flight back to Ulaanbaatar. We’ll head straight home to the hotel, where long hot showers are available! We plan to go out as a group for dinner at our favorite restaurant near the hotel.
Accommodations, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 15 – January 28, 2023
Activities – A Long Flight Home
Breakfast is at your leisure in the hotel, and then we’ll transfer you to the airport. Flights home anytime this day. We have arranged for a late 2PM checkout!
Airport Transfer, Breakfast
Included on the Snow Leopard Trek
- Most food and beverages are included.
- All Local Transportation
- All guides and park fees
Not Included on the Trek
- International Flights
- Gratuities
- Activities not listed as included
- Premium Liquor is not included.
- Purchases of a personal nature
What Should I Bring?
- You’ll need at least one SLR or mirrorless camera, ideally two to give you the opportunity to shoot with multiple lenses simultaneously, and also as a backup
- Lenses from wide-angle up to around 400mm (or the 35mm equivalent)
- A tripod and cable release if you want to try some night sky photography.
It’s almost impossible to list everything that you’ll need, you will be sent some recommendations and then this will be covered again before your trip on a one on one phone discussion we will have with you.
At any point feel free to reach out to either of us and I’ll talk you off of the ledge!
US Citizens Traveling To Mongolia*
Passport
Valid for a full six months after your scheduled departure.
Blank Passport Pages
1 blank page
Visa Requirements
Not required for stays of fewer than 90 days. For stays of more than 30 days, register with Mongolian Immigration within seven days of arrival
Vaccination Recommendations
None
Arrival and Departure Airport
Chinggis Khaan International Airport (ULN) Our drivers will meet us at the airport after we clear customs and immigration and re-claimed our luggage.
Early Arrival
Let us know if you need help with accommodations if you plan to arrive early.
Departures
We will drop you off at the airport after our last adventures in UB!
Lodging & Transportation
The workshop includes all lodging and local transportation as described in your itinerary. You may be liable for any changes to that itinerary.
Trip Insurance
We always use trip insurance. It’s so much easier and with so many more benefits when you compare it with your insurance. I’ve found the costs to be reasonable given the benefits. I use Travel Guard when I travel and even though; I’ve not had a claim they were helpful and easy to deal with on the phone.
*Information for US citizens travel to Mongolia was obtained from the US Department of State and was valid as of January 2019. If you are going to Mongolia from another country, please check with your embassy to check the travel requirements for your country.
Click the Green Button at the Bottom the page and that will take you to my payment processor and you can choose your favorite method of payment. You can also book your group on the same page. If you want to pay via some other method than a card or PayPal, email me.
About 30 days before departure, you will get a welcome kit with the nuts and bolts of what to expect. Of course, feel free to email me or call me and we can talk about it as much as you like!
There is a 2.5% convenience fee to pay your balance by credit cards. There are no fees with any of the listed payment methods for your deposit. Be sure to read the Terms and Conditions and or the FAQ to fully understand about deposits, cancellations and other important, but boring stuff.
I’ve been very passively advising my clients to purchase travel insurance for a while, but lately it seems like there have been multiple people having travel issues. Some have lost their deposits and sometimes even the cost of the entire trip!
Based on my client’s experience, I cannot stress more strongly how crucial it is to purchase travel insurance. Like I said before, and here it comes again, there is never a way to predict what is going to happen when you are booking trips months and years into the future.
You can read more about my thoughts about the importance of travel insurance in this blog post.
Or you can go get a free quote and book your vital travel insurance.
Registration Information
Finances
This awe-inspiring Wild Snow Leopard Photography Expedition is $10,495.
Deposit
The deposit for this Trek is $1000 per per traveller. The deposit can be paid by PayPal, Credit Card, or Wire Transfer. Use the link above to go to the payment page.
The balance of the workshop tuition will be due October 16, 2022
Ready to Go?
My obvious love of grandiose expression aside this is a rare opportunity to search for the elusive Snow Leopard. We have excellent partners that have a proven track record for Snow Leopard sightings and they will work tirelessly to put us in the best possible spots try and photograph with snow leopards. We DO NOT make any guarantees on a sighting, but we do guarantee to make every effort to do so. If you know me, you know I would not be offering this trip if I did not believe that we would be successful. Let’s got for it!
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