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MONGOLIA WORLD CLASS -SNOW LEOPARD PHOTOGRAPHY

DEPARTURE 23.11 - 02.12 2023
- MIKSTURE WITH MICHAEL WESTERBJERG ANDERSEN
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DATE                     23.11 - 02.12 2023 (10 days)

GENRE                  Snow Leopard Photographing                  

TOUR LEADER      Michael Westerbjerg Andersen. The language we                                     speak on our tours is English, German & Danish

FEE                       From 4,400 US$ pr. person in shared DBL room 

SINGLE SUPPL.    800 US$           

DEPOSIT              Please pay a 10% deposit (US$ 440. -) per person                                  when booking;

                             Please pay Please pay the balance 3 months prior to                              tour start

VISA                    Depending on country of origin. At present no visa                                  for many nationalities! Information when booking the                              tour

VACCINATION     Yes, against COVID-19 (If no vaccination PCR-test                                   might be needed). Miksture will keep updating

GROUP SIZE       Max. 5 guests plus your expedition leader Michael                                   Westerbjerg Andersen. The tour will go ahead with 2                               or more guests

LEVEL                 Physical requirements include being willing and able                               to get up early and enduring cold conditions. Apart                                 from that moderate. Generally walking will be limited,                             and the days might long. We dohowever expect to be                               out all day most days. See below for further details.                               Should you have any physical limitations, please                                     notify us in advance of departure. Non-photographing                             partners will also love this tour!

DESCRIPTION    This exciting winter tour presents an adventure of                                 photographing elusive Snow Leopards. Delve into the                             pristine wilderness of Mongolian Altai and                                             photograph truly enigmatic Snow Leopards with help                            of local nomadic herders. 

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                         Photographing Snow Leopard would be a highlight in                              the life of any nature photographer and wildlife                                        enthusiast. The photographic opportunities are a gift                              to any wildlife photographer. Whether you are an                                    aspiring amateur or a full-on professional, the                                          spectacles you will witness will challenge and reward                              you 

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PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS AND FOCUS EVENTS

  • ​Incredibly scenic Mongolian Altai and untouched wilderness of semi-desert,

  • enigmatic Snow Leopards along with the charismatic Siberian Ibex and Argali,

  • stay in the community based ger camp with Mongolian nomadic herders.

  • maximum amount of time in the field, positioning ourselves for the photo opportunities of a lifetime!

  • breathtaking mountainous landscapes of Mongolia’s west 

  • small group - flexible, with plenty of time and respect for your photographing

  • expert tour leader with 25+ years Snow leopard expedition experience  

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Joining one of MIKSTURE photo tours, you are going to have the very best opportunities to photograph the wildlife and pristine winter landscapes. Sunrises and sunsets are extraordinarily beautiful along with Mongolia's mountains. We enjoy comfortable accommodation and cuisine, but most important: We enjoy the maximum amount of time in the field, while other tour groups are slumbering or in seminars, we will be in the field positioning ourselves for the photo opportunities of a lifetime!

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IMPORTANT NOTES This is an easy paced wildlife photography tour. We will spend some time searching for the Snow Leopards with help of local trackers. If we can find a kill by snow leopards, we will set up our photography hides and might wait for it extended hours. The chance of observation and photography possibilities are 90%. Average distance to the Snow Leopards from our hides is 100 - 150 meters; sometimes closer...

 

​We designed this trip involving the least possible strenuous walks and treks throughout the trip. Depending on the sighting, we might ask you to walk maximum 2 km on comparatively flat terrain.

 

FAUNA The Mongol Altai embraces diverse fauna. Besides elusive Snow Leopards, we have a chance to see many interesting mammals including Argali, Siberian Ibex, Black-tailed Gazelle, and Grey Wolves. All mammals will be in their winter 'coats', which means that our models will be beautiful and photogenic. In the mountains and lakes of the Mongolian Altai Mountain range, we have a good chance to see the charming Altai Snowcock, Brandt’s Mountain Finch, Saker Falcon, Lammergeier, White-winged Redstart, Brown and Siberian Accentors etc.

 

ELECTRICITY AND POWER SOURCES We use a power generator in the community-based ger camp, providing 220 KV. The common socket type is type E. The recently built buildings have the combination of Type G and Type E.

 

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EXPECTED CLIMATE Mongolia is the ‘Land of Blue Sky’, the nickname comes from the number of sunny days throughout the year in the country – two third of the year. Temperatures should be freezing cold 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 snow is possible. As there is no weather station in the mountain we visit for the tour, following is the climate data collected at Ulgii town during 2005–2015. But Ulaanbaatar weather is collected during 1985–2015. Source: timeanddate.com.

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TOUR PACE & TRANSPORT Moderate to easy. Domestic flights between Tokyo, Kyushu, and Hokkaido. Two comfortable vehicles from airports to accommodation, and every day from accommodation and into the adventure and back again. There will be ample space for everyone to have a window seat in the vehicles as well as for our luggage.

 

ACCOMMODATION Comfortable accommodation: Hotels - 2 nights, Community-based Ger Camp – 7 nights. Miksture book centrally located 3-4 star hotels for the stays in Ulaanbaatar so that our clients can stroll through the city center in their free time.

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We will stay in a community-based ger camp when we explore Altai in pursuit of the Snow Leopards. The campsites are a real heaven located in the authentic wilderness, facing the sublime scenery to all directions. Average altitude of the camp and surroundings is 2,000 m above sea level. The camp provides clean and comfortable traditional Mongolian gers with two beds or three beds inside. The gers will be heated by stove. The outside toilet will be secured in the secluded area of the campsite. There will be a place to wash hands and face but no shower due to cold temperature.

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Generally, we will book twin doubles, but single accommodation is possible against a fee (Solo Rate) (see below for details). If you are a single traveler and are ok to share, we will attempt to pair you with a same-sex co-traveler. If that is not possible, the single supplement fee (Solo Rat) will apply (se also Terms & Conditions (T&C)). At several of our locations, there will be the option of the use of an ‘Onsen’. These are the world-famous traditional Japanese public thermally heated warm baths. A string of guidelines applies (and slightly varying from one Onsen to the next). We can discuss that further at the time. Do pack bathing suits/trunks for the outdoor/shared ones.

 

MONGOLIAN CUISINE 9 breakfasts, 9 lunches, and 9 dinners is included in the price, which covers all the main meals during your stay in Mongolia.

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Our cook in the community-based camp will cater for 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 comparing to the European standards. There will always be hot drinks and snacks.

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CULTURE Mongolian culture is intricate; ancient, and modern, tradition-bound, and flexible. We will mostly be focused on wildlife and wilderness, but we will meet the people and their ways as well. Most locals speak little to no English. 

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OTHER ATTRACTIONS Spectacular scenery, culture and fantastic wildlife

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PHOTOGRAPHIC OPPORTUNITIES WORLD-CLASS!

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SCHEDULED 2023 DEPARTURE 23.11 - 02.12 2023

Tour Leader: Michael Westerbjerg Andersen

Tour price (per person): from US$ 4,400,-

THE TOUR AT A GLANCE...

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We advise participants to arrive a day earlier in Mongolia before the tour date and leave the day after the tour concludes. For hotels recommendations, we will advise participants on request. Please note that any of the below details may change. We will strive to deliver the program described here, but circumstance beyond our control may force us to change the order or events, to change accommodation, or similar. 

 

Day 1: Dinner included

Days 2-10 & 12-13: Breakfast & dinner included 

Days 11 & 14: Breakfast included (& dinner day 11 for extension participants)

 

Day 1. Ulaanbaatar. Meeting point on agreement. Place and time to be announced to participants. Our team greets you at the airport. Transfer to centrally located hotel and visit Chinggis Khaan Central Square. O/N hotel. LD

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Day 2. Domestic flight Ulaanbaatar – Ulgii – Altai Mounains.

Domestic flight to Ulgii town and transfer to Altai Mountains (3-4 hours). (Community-based Ger Camp). BLD

 

Day 3-8. Altai Mountains. 

We spend these days exploring and photographing wildlife and splendid landscapes of the imposing Mongolian Altai Mountains – rushing rivers, deep gorge, waterfalls, snowy peaks, inland lake, and desert steppes. With help of our local trackers, look for our target the elusive Snow Leopard along with Siberian Ibex and Argali. The mountain also provides high opportunity to photograph the soaring raptors including Cinereous and Bearded Vultures, wild Golden Eagle, Upland Buzzard, and Saker Falcon. (Community-based Ger Camp). BLD

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Day 9. Ulgii - Ulaanbaatar.

Fly back to Ulaanbaatar. Stay in a hotel near city center. O/N hotel. BLD

 

Day 10. Tour concludes. Flight home. 

Transfer to the airport according to your flight schedule. B

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FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS

 

Costs: â€‹We are pricing these tours according to the number of participants, based on an optimal group size of eight. This means that if we fill the tour(s), everyone will have to pay less. 

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MAIN TOUR                                                                       

@ 5 participants: US$ 4,400. -                                          

@ 4 participants: US$ 4,600. -                                         

@ 3 participants: US$ 4,700. -                                         

@ 2 participants: US$ 4,900. -                                         

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Solo Rate supplement: 800 USD, -                                  

 

Deposit: 500 US$

Group size: minimum 2 and maximum 5   

Availability: Spaces available for 2023    

Leaders: Michael Westerbjerg Andersen, owner and founder of Miksture Expeditions

 

​Single Supplement: The single supplement cost for this tour will be charged if you wish to have single accommodation. Pls contact Miksture. If we cannot provide you with a rooming partner for these nights although you choose to share, the single supplement will become applicable. We will make all reasonable efforts to ensure that a rooming partner is found if you do wish to share.

Tipping is not customary!

 

When you make your booking, we will charge you based on the price for 8 participants. Some 3+ months prior to the tour commencement date, we will inform you of the expected final tour cost and offer you the opportunity to decide freely whether you want to maintain your booking or receive a full refund.

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Payment Schedule:

 

Please pay a deposit (US$ 500. -) per person when booking.

Please pay the balance 3 months prior to tour.

 

The tour fee includes:

  • Guiding by Michael Westerbjerg Andersen;

  • Transportation according to program in Mongolia in private comfortable chartered vehicles with driver;

  • Domestic flight: Ulaanbaatar - Ulgii - Ulaanbaatar; 

  • Flight taxes;

  • Accommodation (9 nights) based on double occupancy;

  • Meals per program;

  • Services of expedition leader;

  • Administration from Miksture;

  • Field instructions and assistance;

  • Park entrance fees;

  • Driving by experienced driver;

  • Activities as per program;

  • Local entrance fees, permits, and similar;

  • Pre-departure information and post-tour report.

 

The tour fee does not include:

  • International flights to/from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia;

  • Any pre-tour or post-tour expenses (flights, hotels, transfers, etc.);

  • Airport taxes, visa fees, and similar;

  • Beverages & drinks;

  • Visa fees;

  • Personal expenses for eventual extra arrangements not mentioned in the program;

  • Mandatory travel- and health insurances (see T&C for details)​

  • Snacks, alcoholic and other drinks

  • Items of a personal nature (souvenirs, laundry, snacks, additional activities, etc.)

  • Unexpected major cost increases (see T&C for details)

  • Any costs not specifically mentioned above under ‘Tour Price Includes’.

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Snacks, alcohol, etc. are not included in the tour, so you will be spending a bit of pocket money. In bigger cities, you will be able to pay with major credit cards. But it can be useful to have some cash, particularly when we are seemingly far from everything. 

 

IMPORTANT NOTES: a) Due to constantly fluctuating exchange rates, we quote our tours in USD. The tour price is however fixed only in the currency printed in bold, and the actual cost in the other currencies listed will be adjusted according to prevailing exchange rates at the time of final invoicing (usually 4 months before the tour.) The same applies to approximate flight and single supplement rates, which are also quoted in the respective fixed currency. b) Rates are based upon group tariffs; if the tour does not have sufficient registration a small party supplement will have to be charged. c) Furthermore, these costs are subject to unforeseen increases in tour related costs and may have to be adjusted as a result. d) Lastly, we may be forced to change or alter the itinerary and / or the designated Miksture leader/s at short or no notice due to unforeseen circumstances; please be aware that we will attempt to adhere as close to the original program as possible.

 

Special Notes:  It is important for the comfort and domestic airport transfers of your fellow travellers that you do not over-pack. Kindly, if possible, stick to 20kg (44lb) for check-in luggage and 8kg (+-18lb) for hand luggage.

 

Warm clothes, including gloves, woollen hat, warm boots and thermals will come in handy.

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​​ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE DETAILS:

 

​This tour departs from Chingis Khan Airport, Ulaanbaatar in the early morning of day 1. It is thus imperative to arrive the day before the tour begins. The tour will conclude after arrival to Ulaanbaatar Airport (Day 10). The information in respect of arrival and departures is a guide only. Precise arrival and departure information will be send to you in your Tour Confirmation package once the tour has been officially confirmed. if you wish to arrive early and/or depart late and would like assistance in this regard, kindly contact the Miksture office.

 

Visa requirements differ by country, nationality of the traveller and duration and purpose of your intended stay. It may be necessary to obtain a visa or electronic travel authorisation in advance of your travel. It is therefore vitally important that you check with your travel agent/consulate/embassy for exact visa requirements.

 

This tour does not include any International airfares. The main tour will commence and conclude in Ulaanbaatar. Please DO NOT book any flights until you have consulted the Miksture office for confirmation on the status of the tour.

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