DATE                     07.08 - 18.08.2023 (12 days)

GENRE                  Birds, mammals and landscapes                  

TOUR LEADER      Michael Westerbjerg Andersen. The language we                                     speak on our tours is either/and English, German                                     and one of the Scandinavian languages.

FEE                       From 4,698 USD pr. person in shared DBL room                                       from Ulaanbaatar. From 4 to 14 participants: 4 pax:                                   6,998 USD pr. person in shared DBL room, 5-6 pax:                                 5,998 USD pr. person in shared DBL room, 7 pax:                                     5,598 USD pr. person in shared DBL room, 8-9 pax:                                 5,350 USD pr. person in shared DBL room, 10 pax:                                   5,150 USD pr. person in shared DBL room, 11-12 pax:                                 4,975 USD pr. person in shared DBL room,10 pax:                                     5,150 USD pr. person in shared DBL room and 12-14                                 pax: 4,698 USD pr. person in shared DBL room,

SINGLE SUPPL.    850 USD for a single room           

DEPOSIT              1,000 USD pr. person

VISA                     Yes - Information when booking the tour

VACCINATION       (pr.03.03.2024; can change): Yes, against COVID-19                                 (If no vaccination PCR-test might be needed).                                           Miksture will keep updating

GROUP SIZE         Min. 4, max. 14 participants ​

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DESCRIPTION

This expedition is a round-trip from central to western Mongolia. We focus on mammals and birdlife, visiting the Altai Mnts for Snow leopard, and include Hustai NP for birds and Pallas Cat. 

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Miksture possess one of the world’s highest success rates when it comes to finding a wild Snow Leopard. We have searched and found Snow leopards in Kyrgyzstan since 2001, and now include Mongolia.

 

Mongolia is a 'must for serious wildlife enthusiasts and photographers

We have made Snow leopard expeditions since 2001 and with increasingly success; however never guaranteed. Mongolia (and Ladakh) is at present the best place (in the World to watch this mythical creature. Miksture made a very successful expedition to the area in November 2022, and observed both Snow leopard and Pallas Cat. All details are fixed and ready. We have negotiated with the people that are able to give Miksture access to one of the unique areas in Mongolia. On this expedition, we travel deep into the heart of the Snow Leopards Kingdom, and with the expertise of our team, our chances for an encounter are raised from virtually impossible to reasonable. This tour offers you unique opportunities to photograph and watch Mongolian wildlife. 

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After arrival in the capital Ulaanbaatar, we fly to Mongolia’s remote west in a quest of the elusive Snow Leopards in the pristine wilderness of the majestic Altai Mountains, which is home to roughly 20% of the world’s estimated population. There is other iconic wildlife, including Pallas Cat, Mongolian Saiga, Siberian Ibex, Long-eared Hedgehog, Pallid Ground Squirrel, Midday Jird, Mongolian Five-toed Jerboa, Gobi Jerboa, Corsac Fox, Argali and more. The area boasts some of the interesting Central Asian bird specialties like Altai Snowcock, Henderson’s Ground-Jay, Pallas’s Sandgrouse, Saker Falcon, Lammergeier, Cinereous, and more. In addition, birding above 3,000 meters above sea level will be one of the best experiences this trip has to offer. Many unexpected Siberian migrants might appear on the way.  

This is expedition-style to a rough world. There are no dangerous aspects or unsafe things awaiting the traveller. We just must emphasize that this tour truly is a wildlife photographic expedition where the environments such as changing climate and harsh roads really demands patience and understanding of the concept by you - the traveller! We simply cannot predict the weather, circumstances, and we cannot tell exactly when we arrive or how long we will be on the road. However, what we can predict, and promise is a visit to a truly magnificent experience and area, and an adventure in the western Mongolia only few people have experienced. In addition, we promise an experienced staff, enough and tasty food, and fantastic nature and wildlife! Accommodation in a community-based ger camp run by Mongolian nomads. 

 

​Joining one of our expeditions, you are going to have the very best opportunities to watch and photograph the wildlife and pristine landscapes. ​In Miksture, we enjoy comfortable accommodation and cuisine, but most important: We enjoys the maximum amount of time in the field and ee will be in the field positioning ourselves for the opportunities of a lifetime!

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TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

• Breathtaking mountainous landscapes of Mongolian Altai with snow-capped peaks, alpine lakes, meadows, and rivers

• Enigmatic Snow Leopards along with cryptic Pallas’s Cat as well as charismatic Mongolian Saiga, Argali, Siberian Ibex, Przewalski’s Wild Horse, Corsac Fox, Black-tailed and Mongolian Gazelles, and more

• Mongolian Altai Bird Specialties: Altai Snowcock, Lammergeier, Himalayan Vulture, Golden and Steppe Eagles, Saker Falcon, White-winged Redstart, White-winged Snowfinch, Brown Accentor, Water Pipit & Grey-necked Bunting

• Lakes and Rivers: Swan Goose, Bar-headed Goose, Red-crested Pochard, Arctic Loon, Demoiselle Crane, Mongolian Gull, White-headed Duck, Pallas’s Gull, Azure Tit, White-crowned Penduline-tit, Rosy Starling, White-headed Yellow Wagtail, Long-tailed Rosefinch;

• Steppes of Hustai and Altanbulag: Amur Falcon, Saker Falcon, Cinereous Vulture, Upland Buzzard, Steppe Eagle, Hill Pigeon, Mongolian Lark, Small Snowfinch;

• Stay in the community-based ger camp run by Mongolian noma

• Maximum amount of time in the field, positioning ourselves for the wildlife watching and photo opportunities of a lifetime!

• Breathtaking landscapes and Shinto architectural, cultural photo opportunities

• Hundreds of spectacular images of landscapes and wildlife

• Flexible, with plenty of time and respect for your photographing and mammal- and birdwatching

• Expert tour leader with 25+ years expedition experience  

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KEY MAMMALS Snow Leopard, Pallas’s Cat, Wolf, Przewalski’s Wild Horse, Mongolian Saiga, Siberian Ibex, Daurian Pika, Long-tailed Ground Squirrel, Alpine Pika, Pallas’s Pika, Tolai Hare, Mongolian Marmot, Corsac Fox, Red Fox, Steppe Polecat, Argali, Long-eared Hedgehog, Pallid Ground Squirrel, Midday Jird, Mongolian Five-toed Jerboa, Gobi Jerboa, Tarbagan Marmot, Brandt’s Vole, Mongolian Gazelle and Asian Wapit, etc.

 

KEY BIRDS Altai Snowcock, Henderson’s Ground-Jay, Pallas’s Sandgrouse, Saker Falcon, Pallas’s Gull, Lammergeier, Himalayan Griffon, Golden and Steppe Eagles, Upland Buzzard, Saker Falcon, White-winged Redstart, White-winged Snowfinch, Mandarin & Falcated Ducks, Amur Falcon, Demoiselle Crane, Pacific Swift, Azure-winged Magpie, White-crowned Penduline-tit, White-cheeked Starling, Red-throated Thrush, Yellow-breasted Bunting (rare), Chukar, Hill Pigeon, Little owl, Pére David's Snowfinch, Richards Pipit, Blyth's Pipit, Meadow Bunting, Mongolian Lark, Isabelle Wheatear, Eurasian Eagle-Owl, Saker Falcon, Eurasian Crag-Martin, Sulphur-bellied Warbler, Altai, Brown & Mongolian Accentors, Rock Sparrow, White-winged Snowfinch, Mongolian Finch, Godlewski's and Gray-necked Buntings, Water Pipit, Swan Goose, Bar-headed Goose, Red-crested Pochard, Arctic Loon, Mongolian Gull, White-headed Duck, Pallas’s Gull, Azure Tit, Rosy Starling, White-headed Yellow Wagtail, Long-tailed Rosefinch, Pallas's Grasshopper-Warbler, White-headed Duck, Long-toed Stint, Red-necked Stint, White-winged Tern, Long-legged Buzzard, Paddy-field Warbler, Pallas's Grasshopper-Warbler, Desert Wheatear, and Pied Wheatear, etc. 

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HABITATS COVERED Mountains, desert, steppe and semi-desert plains

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EXPECTED CLIMATE Continental climate zone. Mongolia is the ‘Land of Blue Sky’, the nickname comes from the number of sunny days throughout the year in the country – two-thirds of the year. Temperatures should be relatively moderate and skies are usually brilliantly clear. The days will usually be sunny and cool, and pleasant. Nights will be considerably cooler after the sunset. The temperature should be lower in the mountains and rain is possible. In Altai, the summers are comfortable and partly cloudy and it is dry year round. Windy.  July temperatures are warm and even hot—daytime highs often reach 75 °F (24 °C), sometimes up to 104 °F (40 °C) on the lower slopes—but summers are short and cool in most higher elevations

 

MAX GROUP SIZE 14  

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TOUR PACE & WALKING Moderate. We designed this trip to involve the least possible strenuous walks and treks throughout the trip. Depending on the sighting, we might ask you to walk a maximum of 2 km on comparatively flat terrain. The average altitude is between 1,500 – 3,200 meters above sealevel

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ACCOMMODATION We will stay in the 3-4**** hotels in Ulaanbaatar. These hotels might be just below the international standard, but clean and comfortable. We will stay in a community-based ger camp when we explore Altai in pursuit of the Snow Leopards. The campsite is heavenly located on the mountain slope, facing the sublime scenery in all directions. The average altitude of the camp and its surroundings is 2,000 m above sea level. The camp provides clean and comfortable traditional Mongolian gers with two beds. The gers will be heated by a stove. The toilet with European style will be secured in the secluded area of the campsite. There will be a place to wash hands and face and a shower room

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ELECTRICITY AND POWER SOURCES We have limited electric power in the community-based ger camp, which provides electrical power (220 Kv) between 18:00 – 21:00 with the help of a generator. The common socket type is type E. The recently built buildings have the combination of Type G and Type E.

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FOOD breakfasts, 11 lunches, and 11 dinners are include during your stay in Mongolia. Our cook in the community-based camp will cater to your special food requirements. Please let us know your dietary requirements in advance so that we can prepare the supplies accordingly. We will provide our guests with fresh fruits every day. However, the meals in the camp might lack a variety compared to the European standards. There will always be hot drinks and snacks

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OTHER ATTRACTIONS spectacular scenery and Mongolian culture

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PHOTOGRAPHIC OPPORTUNITIES Excellent