Day 1: Arrival & Hustai National Park
Welcome to Mongolia and transfer to the Pallas’s Cat ger camp located in the rolling hills of Hustai National Park. (Community-based Ger Camp, L-D) (drive ~2h)
Day 2-3: Hustai National Park
Hustai National Park is a successful reintroduction site for the last wild horse living in the native environment. As a result, there are now over 220 wild horses roaming in the area, where lies the panoramic rolling steppes of Mongolia. (Community-based Ger Camp, B-L-D)
Target birds: Hill Pigeon, Steppe & Golden Eagles, Little Owl, Amur & Saker Falcons, Père David's Snowfinch, Richard's & Blyth's Pipits, Meadow Bunting, Mongolian Lark, Northern, Isabelline, and Pied Wheatears.
Target mammals: Pallas’s Cat, Przewalski’s Wild Horse, Tarbagan Marmot, Brandt’s Vole, Corsac Fox, Mongolian Gazelle & Asian wapiti. Chance for Argali in May-June.
Day 4: Fly to Hovd and transfer to hotel
The late afternoon transfer to the airport and fly to Hovd for about 2 hours. (Local hotel, B-L-D) (Departs at 19:50-19:00, 1 hour difference)
Day 5-11: Mongolian Altai Mountains
Our adventure drives through uneven roads will bring us to the Mongolian Altai. Settle in the community-based ger camp which is located on the mountain meadow near the elusive cat’s habitat. We will spend these days exploring the mountain for the ‘ghost’ and other exotic animals in this pristine natural environment. Our camp assistants, local guides, and cooks are all friendly local people who grew up in the same mountain we stationed, which will be a great benefit to our guests as they know a lot about the area. During dinner time, you can spend a lot of time chatting with the team. (Community-based Ger Camp, B-L-D)
In order to prevent further disturbance and disruptions to the wildlife, we are not mentioning the exact name of our Snow Leopard spotting site.
The mountain provides all the main prey species of Snow Leopards including the Siberian Ibex, Mongolian Marmots, and the Altai Snowcock. The exotic bird species which are only found above the 3,000 m above sea level in the Mongolian Altai will be the highlights of the trip, which include White-winged Redstar and Rufous-streaked Accentor. Asian Rosy-finch is possible during May-June tours.
The mountain provides a high opportunity to photograph the flying raptors including Himalayan and Bearded Vultures, Golden Eagle, Saker Falcon, and other unexpected migrants.
Target birds: Chukar, Altai Snowcock, Bearded Vulture, Cinereous Vulture, Himalayan Griffon, Golden Eagle, Eurasian Eagle-Owl, Saker Falcon, Eurasian Crag-Martin, Sulphur-bellied Warbler, Altai Accentor, Brown Accentor, Mongolian Accentor, Rock Sparrow, White-winged Snowfinch, Common Rosefinch, Mongolian Finch, Godlewski's Bunting, and Gray-necked Bunting.
During May-June tours you have a chance as well for Asian Rosy-finch, Alpine Accentor, Siberian Accentor, Black-throated Accentor, Red-mantled Rosefinch and Great Rosefinch.
Target mammals: Alpine Pika, Pallas’s Pika, Tolai Hare, Mongolian Marmot, Long-tailed Ground Squirrel, Red Fox, Wolf, Steppe Polecat, Mongolian Saiga, Pallas’s Cat, Snow Leopard and Siberian Ibex. Argali can be added during May-June.
Also, set off to the semi-desert areas in order to find the critically endangered Mongolian Saiga (S. t. mongolica), which has been pushed to a small patch of the area in western Mongolia. At the Great Lakes, we will search for Savi’s Warbler, Arctic Loon, the attractive Pallas’s Sandgrouse and smart Henderson’s Ground Jay will be our target species.
Target birds: Bar-headed Goose, Swan Goose, White-headed Duck, Red-crested Pochard, Little Grebe, Pallas's Sandgrouse, Demoiselle Crane, Long-toed Stint, Red-necked Stint, Pallas's Gull, White-winged Tern, Long-legged Buzzard, Mongolian Ground-Jay, Paddyfield Warbler, Pallas's Grasshopper-Warbler, Desert Wheatear, and White-headed Yellow Wagtail.
Additional possible species during May and June: White-winged Scoter, Oriental Plover, Common Grasshopper-Warbler, Stejneger's Scoter, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Asian Dowitcher, Relict Gull, Hen Harrier, Pallas's Fish-Eagle,
Target mammals: Long-eared Hedgehog, Pallid Ground Squirrel, , Midday Jird, Mongolian Five-toed Jerboa, Gobi Jerboa, and Corsac Fox. Usually we can add Campbell’s Hamster and Mongolian Jird during May and June.
Day 12: Fly from Hovd and transfer to Ulaanbaatar
Late arrival in Ulaanbaatar and transfer to the hotel. (Tourist Ger Camp, B-L-D) (Departs at 20:20-23:00, 1 hour difference)
Day 13: Ulaanbaatar (Free day)
You can do birding around your hotel which is located close to the airport on the bank of the Tuul River. The guests are free to do birding in the riparian forest for some interesting species including Azure Tit, Eastern Penduline Tit, White-cheeked Starling, Azure-winged Magpie, Long-tailed Rosefinch, Red-throated Thrush, etc.
Day 14: Fly Home
Transfer to the airport according to your flight schedule. Arrive home
