Mongolia

On our previous trips to Mongolia we visited the dramatic scenery to the east of the country, where we have had several successful sightings of Snow Leopard. This trip also takes us to the Steppe areas of the central north of Mongolia to give us the opportunity to visit some wonderful mixed habitat, with soaring and rugged mountains and huge lakes amongst the steppe grassland, which create some great birding areas where, amongst many others, we hope to find White-naped Crane and may even stand a chance of the rare and endangered Siberian White Crane. Its in the rocky outcrops in the National Parks of Northern Mongolia that we have the opportuntity to track down Pallas's Cat, as well as other mammals native to these wild and unspoilt wilderness.

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Trip Report

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Leaders	Sally Nowell and Ecotours guide
Flights	Korean Airlines, scheduled Outbound: Overnight, Heathrow-Ulaanbaatar Inbound: Overnight, Ulaanbaatar-Heathrow (outbound and inbound via Seoul) Internal: Ulaanbaatar-Khovd-Ulaanbaatar

Days 1-3	Overnight flight to Seoul, for a hotel stay, then fly to Ulaanbaatar and drive to Terelj National Park. 1 night BW Incheon Airport, Seoul 1 night Terelj Lodge Ger Camp
Days 4-5	Drive to Ulaanbaatar, visit Hustai NP - 2 nights Mongolica Hotel.
Days 6-11	Fly to Khovd and transfer to remote ger camp for Snow Leopard, Saiga, Ibex and birds. Fly back to Ulaanbaatar, from Khovd, for an overnight stay. 5 nights Snow Leopard camp 1 night Mongolica Hotel
Days 12-13	Drive to our ger camp at Gun Galuut, where we stay in chalets - 2 nights Steppe Nomads Camp.
Days 14-15	Drive to Khurkh Valley, to our ger camp, where we visit the wetlands - 2 nights Chinggis Toonot Camp.
Day 16	Drive back to Ulaanbaatar - 1 night Mongolica Hotel.
Days 17-18	Fly to Seoul for a hotel stay, then fly home, arriving in UK on day 18 - 1 night BW Incheon Airport, Seoul.

Weather	Generally warm or hot during the day, but it can be chilly at night and in the early mornings. Cold weather can be expected at higher altitudes and rain is possible any time. Day temperatures 15-25˚C, while night-time temperatures in the mountains can drop significantly.
Walking	From short easy walks to more moderate in the mountains. While looking for Snow Leopard there may be long periods of waiting and scanning. We shall try to limit the walking by using 4x4s to get as close as possible, depending on the terrain (often rough) however, medium distance walking on uneven, rocky terrain may be encountered.
Meals	All included from dinner on Day 2 to lunch on Day 18.
Insects	Mosquitoes can be a nuisance, so bring repellent.
Accom	Twin and single rooms/yurts/chalets, ensuite at hotels and Steppe Nomads Camp chalets, shared facilites at Snow Leopard, Chinggis Toonot and Terelj Lodge camps.
Group	12

An array of sumptuous wildlife in a spectacular country full of surprises and experiences you will never forget, but the sight of a Snow Leopard is surely one of those ‘stand out’ moments.

	* Chance to see Snow Leopard without lengthy high-altitude trekking
	* A holiday that takes you in search of the elusive and endangered Pallas’s Cat
	* Experience some of Mongolia’s unique culture
	* Overnight in traditional comfortable furnished gers
	* Visit some of Mongolia’s most spectacular National Parks
	* Track down mammals you are unlikely to see anywhere else in the world
	* A fabulous list of some stunning birds, including three crane species

Days 1-3	We have an overnight flight to Seoul, where we stay for one night. On Day 3 we fly to Ulaanbaatar and then drive to Terelj NP with its forest covered slopes, rivers and streams and spectacular granite rock formations. It is home to Lammergeier, Eastern Buzzard and a good selection of woodland birds including Siberian Rubythroat, Spotted Nutcracker, Red-throated Thrush, Black Woodpecker, Willow Tit and Dusky, Hume’s and Two-barred Warbler.
Days 4-5	We continue birding in the Terelj area, then travel back to our hotel in Ulaanbaatar always birding as we go. The following day we shall take a drive to Hustai NP. This is the location where we have a chance to see the beautiful Przewalski’s horses. The Park has an impressive mammal list including Mongolian Gazelle, Tarbagan Marmots, Siberian Roe Deer, Long-tailed Ground Squirrel and Mongolian Gerbil.
Days 6-11	We fly to Khovd and then drive to our remote camp in the foothills of the Jargalant Mountains overlooking semi-desert to a huge lake. Facilities are shared and basic, but our local team will provide everything we need with separate facilities for men and women and a generator providing hot water. For the next four days our target is the elusive Snow Leopard. Walking is variable and may be on rocky, uneven or steep terrain, so basic fitness is required, however, many observation points can be reached by 4X4 vehicle, or a short walk on almost flat terrain. We’ll scan key areas where animals regularly hunt. We may need patience, but there are always things to enjoy - soaring raptors, playful Siberian Marmots, Siberian Ibex, Altai Snowcocks and the stunning Guldenstadt’s Redstart. At night we’ll take torches to search for several species of delightful Jerboas. In the adjacent wetlands we look for Pallas’s Sandgrouse, Dalmatian Pelican, Gull-billed and Whiskered Terns and Citrine Wagtail. Henderson’s Ground Jay will be one of our main targets around the camp. We leave our camp and if time allows stopping along the shores of Khar-Us Lake for ducks, gulls and waders in the shallow bays and marshy areas. We shall fly back to Ulaanbaatar and our comfortable hotel. If time allows we’ll go birding beside the Tuul River in search of Azure-winged Magpie, Long-tailed Rosefinch, Azure Tit and White-capped Penduline Tit. We also hope for Black-eared Kites and Amur Falcons.
Days 12-13	Today we drive east to Gun Galuut Nature Reserve, home to a population of Argali Sheep, Corsac Fox and also Pallas’s Cat. We’ll scan the rocky outcrops in the mornings and late afternoons for the cats hunting for Brandt’s Voles, their favourite prey. White-naped Cranes nest in the marshes and we should find them in family groups, along with other crane species including Common and Demoiselle. Eastern Marsh Harriers patrol the marshes and the first migrating waders should already be present including Marsh and Wood Sandpipers. With luck we may find Pacific Golden Plover, Asian Dowitcher, Terek Sandpiper, Red-necked and Long-toed Stint. The lakes attract five species of tern, Bar-headed and Swan Goose, Ruddy Shelduck, Garganey and the first migrating Baikal Teal or Falcated Duck. As we drive across the steppe we shall be on the lookout for the striking Pere David’s Snowfinch that inhabits the steppes.
Days 14-15	In the morning we drive to our next ger camp, stopping at small lakes enroute searching for Mongolian Lark, Horned Lark, Steppe Eagle, Golden Eagle, Mongolian Gull, White-naped Crane, terns and shorebirds. We visit the Khurkh Valley which is famous for its internationally important wetlands. This is also a great place for raptors including Upland Buzzard, Cinereous Vulture and Saker Falcon. Asian and Mongolian Short-toed Lark, Richard’s and Blyth’s Pipits are also found in the steppe grasslands. In the Khurkh Valley we shall look for Siberian and Hooded Cranes. Eastern Marsh Harrier, Amur Falcon, Great Bustard and other water birds are also found near the lakes. Kurkh Valley is a wide river valley with wheat fields and small lakes, but there are low mountains on the sides of the valley with small patches of pine forest in some areas. Yellow-breasted Bunting and Chinese Bush Warbler are nesting in the area among more common birds such as Olive-backed Pipit and Pine Bunting.
Days 16-18	We travel back to Ulaanbaatar for an overnight stay. We then fly to Seoul, where we have another overnight stay, before our flight back to London.

Just some of what we hope to see..

Snow Leopard	Steppe Eagle	Cinerous Vulture
Pallas’s Cat	Lammergeier	Black-eared Kite
Mongolian Gazelle	Long-eared Owl	Saker Falcon
Saiga Antelope	Eurasian eagle Owl	Azure-winged Magpie
Steppe Polecat	Long-tailed Rosefinch	White-winged Snowfinch
Corsac Fox	Azure Tit	Ruddy Shelduck
Pallas’s Sandgrouse	White-naped Crane	Siberian Ibex
Altai Snowcock	Demoiselle Crane	Goitered Gazelle
Guldenstadt's Redstart	Swan Goose	Argali Sheep
Amur Falcon	Bar-headed Goose	Siberian Jerboa

"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

"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

"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

"It might seem strange to say that its emptiness is what makes Mongolia so beautiful but its lack of manmade structures and its mountains and deserts that stand before you in layers stretching for what must be hundreds of miles, to me, make this such a special country. On our first day at the Snow Leopard Camp we drove through the mountains in search of our first leopards and, every time we drove over a ridge, there would be yet more breathtaking views. We had to pinch ourselves to remind ourselves where we were! This morning was well and truly capped off by the viewing of no less than 3 Snow Leopards that we watched for about 10 hours in total. A very emotional holiday highlight!"
Di & Nige Hardcastle

"Seeing Snow Leopards. Roy running down the hill waving his arms like a windmill to tell us he had found a Snow Leopard in the scope. The night sky at Snow Leopard Camp. A fly pass by about 25 Spoonbills in formation just over our heads. The mountain ranges on the horizon that never seemed to get closer."
Linda Fitch

"Seeing Snow Leopards. Overall the whole holiday was a highlight as it was so different to any previous places we have been to."
Caroline & Paul Hastilow

The hotels are of good quality, all accommodations are clean and comfortable and local staff are very helpful and kind. Water pressure and water temperature might be an issue anywhere throughout (easily helped by warming water with our own equipment). Whilst at the Snow Leopard, Chinggis Toonot and Terelj Lodge camps we shall stay in gers with shared facilities. At the Steppe Nomads Camp, we stay in ensuite chalets. All ger camps have western style toilets.

Hotels/Camps are:
Mongolica Hotel, Ulaanbaatar
Terelj Lodge Ger Camp, Terelj National Park
Snow Leopard Ger Camp, foothills of the Jargalant Mountains
Steppe Nomads Tourist Ger Camp, Guun Galut
Chinggis Toonot Camp, Khurkh Valley

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