Snow Leopards of Altai

February 27 – March 9, 2025 • 12 days

In the high snows of Central Asia lives one of the world’s most elusive and spectacular of the big cats. The rare and endangered Snow Leopard, in the genus of Panthera, lives in high-altitude mountainous terrain of the Altai mountains amongst steep broken cliffs, rocky outcrops and ravines. In a remote and inhospitable world of ravens, wild antelope and clattering stones, this most majestic and secretive of wild creatures, this mythical ghost of the mountains, commands its kingdom on the edge of survival.

“With fur the colour of smoke, and camouflage so perfectly tuned they appear ethereal, as though made from storm clouds.”
The Snow Leopard, Peter Matthiessen 1976

We arrive in Mongolian capital Ulaan Baartar and enjoy our first full day visiting historical sites of Ghengis Khan and the Buddhist monastery of Gandantegchinlen. Next day our adventure begins. We fly west into the Kazakh Altai mountains and drive into our remote luxury yurt camp hidden beneath the canyons and ravines of leopard country.

Our professional trackers and research guides will be out in the mountains at all times monitoring the snow leopards location. Our base is operated by a local wildlife protection organization that has been protecting this extremely rich wildlife area. When we arrive our local trackers will already be looking for the snow leopard in the mountains and if they spot one we will join them in the afternoon. Each day we will drive and walk deep into the mountains in search of this rare and spectacular species, returning before dark to our warm yurts, hot showers and specially prepared local cuisines.

Our time and main focus will be spent searching for the snow leopard, but it is also possible to watch their prey species Argali sheep, Siberian ibex and Saiga antelope, red fox and even wolves. We may see birds such as Altai snowcock, lammergeyer, golden eagle, saker falcon, black vulture and more.

Here, beyond the semi-desert steppes of the Gobi, the northern Altai mountains are one of the best places in the world for viewing and photographing snow leopards from a relatively close distance, with a proven success and consistency of quality observations.

NB. A good steady level of fitness is useful to enjoy this expedition. Temperatures will be well below zero and our highest altitude will be between 2500m-3500m.