Mongolia Snow Leopards Scouting Mission
Snow Leopards and Pallas Cat Photography Expedition
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Experience Highlights
• Ghost of the Himalaya – track and attempt to photograph snow leopards in their spectacular natural habitat
• Angry Kitty - attempt to photograph the elusive & grumpy-faced Pallas cat.
• True Adventure - experience the breathtaking beauty of the remote Altai Mountains of Mongolia
• Other species – we may encounter include Siberian Ibex, Saiga Antelope, Black-tailed Gazelle, Mongolia Gazelle and Corsac Fox
At A Glance
October 31 - November 16, 2024
Starts/Ends:
Ulaanbaatar (UBN), Mongolia
$9500 per person Shared Lodging
+$1000 Single Lodging Supplement
Deposit: $1,500
What’s Included: Lodging, Meals per Itinerary , Airport Transfers, Transportation (including internal flight), Guides & Photography Instruction
What’s Not Included: Airfare to/from Ulaanbaatar, Personal Expenses and Gratuities. Anything else not specifically listed as included.
The Essence of Adventure
Leighton Lum leads our latest Scouting Mission, an expedition to Mongolia in search of rare snow leopards and elusive Pallas cats. Considered the Holy Grail of wildlife photography by many, Mongolia’s population of snow leopards, estimated at roughly 1000 individuals, second only to China’s. The elevations they inhabit here are a bit lower than other places like Ladakh, India.
We’ve done our research and partnered with an experienced local outfitter who specializes in guiding photographers but this is a scouting mission and there are never any guarantees with wildlife, doubly so with species like these wild cats. Our team includes professional trackers, local guides and a wildlife biologist.
How Physically Strenuous is this trip?
We don’t know, exactly. It’s our first time too. That’s what Scouting Missions are all about - discovery, adventure, exploring the unknown – but these trips are not for everyone. Read more about Scouting Missions below.
What we can tell you is there will be hiking involved. Our guides claim the average distance we’ll cover daily is only 1-3km (.6-2 mi), but we’re taking that with a large grain of salt. They also tell us that they regularly host clients in the 60’s and 70’s without issues. It’s also possible to hire porters to lighten your load.
Elevations are also less than what you might expect for snow leopards – we don’t expect to exceed 10,000 ft.
What’s a Pallas Cat?
More elusive than rare, this small but voracious predator native to Central Asia always appears to have a sour demeanor.
What’s a Scouting Mission?
Do you enjoy heaping sides of adventure and discovery on top of a main course of photography when you travel? Is not knowing exactly what tomorrow holds more appealing than the predictability of the beaten path? If your answer is yes (or, hell yes), then a Scouting Mission just might satisfy your cravings. In a nutshell, a Scouting Mission is a trip where we take a very small group of photographers to a place we’ve never been before to lay the groundwork for future photography workshops. I used to do these trips alone, but I’ve found that the company of a few like-minded souls makes things even more interesting and fun.
If you’re not sure if this type of trip is for you – and it absolutely isn’t for everyone – click here for more details about what to expect from a Scouting Mission. You can also read my blog post and see photos from previous Scouting Missions to Ladakh (Indian Himalaya), Vietnam and Peru/Bolivia.
Ready to Join the Adventure?
Alumni Discounts
If you’ve traveled with us before, we want to thank you with discounts of future trips View details of our Alumni Rewards program
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Hawaii native Leighton Lum’s jaw-dropping images simply speak for themselves. Led by his creative eye and passion for adventure, Leighton has traveled the globe to destinations like Africa, South America, Iceland, Indonesia, and Antarctica, leading photography workshops and making his own award-winning photographs. Leighton hopes his photography inspires others and raises awareness about conservation to ensure future generations can enjoy the natural world he cherishes. In addition to his on-land photography skills, Leighton is also an avid scuba diver and drone pilot. Check out a selection of Leighton’s images here.
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We understand life happens and plans may change. If you need to cancel your reservation, the following policies apply to this workshop:
Deposits are NOT refundable but may be transferrable to another Art of Seeing workshop for up to 24 months from date of cancellation in accordance with the following schedule:
Regardless of when you cancel, if we fill your spot*, you will receive a refund of all fees paid less your deposit and $150 processing fee. If we cannot fill your spot, the amount of your refund is based upon the cancellation date:
Cancellation 120 days or more from workshop start date: 100% refund of fees paid less deposit and $150 processing fee. Deposit transferrable up to 24 mos.
Cancellation 90 – 120 days from workshop start date: 50% refund of fees paid less deposit and $150 processing fee. Deposit forfeit.
Cancellation less than 90 days from workshop start date: No refunds.
*canceled spots are filled after the workshop reaches full capacity
Click here to read our complete Terms & Conditions
We highly encourage participants to purchase travel insurance to recover expenses not covered by our Cancellations & Refunds policy in case you need to cancel your reservation.
| Day | Date | Itinerary | Overnight | Included Meals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oct 31 | UB Arrival – we’ll meet you upon arrival at Genghis Khan International Airport (UBN) and transfer you to our hotel where we’ll gather for introductions, trip overview and group dinner. | Ulaanbataar Hotel | - |
| 2 | Nov 1 | UB–Snow Leopard camp - Fly to Altai mountains then travel overland to our mountain ger (yurt) camp. Gers are spacious and shared by 3 participants. A generator provides electricity and Wi-Fi is available by cellular 4G connection. The ger includes a sink but toilet and showers are located outside. Meals are served in separate ger. Typical breakfasts options include oatmeal, fried eggs, cheese, sausage & bread. Lunch and dinner consist of a variety of meat (chicken, mutton, bacon,), rice, noodles, soup and vegetable dishes. Beverages include coffee/tea, Coke & bottled fruit juice. Purified bottled water is available throughout the trip. |
Ger Camp | L-D |
| 3-10 | Nov 2-9 | Snow Leopard camp - 8 full days of searching for snow leopards in 4X4 vehicles and on foot, assisted by professional trackers and local guides. When a leopard is spotted, we will approach as closely as possible on foot and begin photographing. | Ger Camp | B-L-D |
| 11 | Nov 10 | Ger Camp–UB – fly back to UB and overnight in town. | Ulaanbataar Hotel | B |
| 12 | Nov 11 | Ulaanbaatar –Manul Camp – drive 500km on paved road and 70km on dirt road to reach our ger camp for the Pallas cat portion of our trip. Accommodations & meals similar to snow leopard camp | Ger Camp | - |
| 13-15 | Nov 12-14 | Manul Camp – 3 full days of searching for Pallas cats, assisted by professional trackers and local guides. | Ger Camp | B-L-D |
| 16 | Nov 15 | Manul Camp–UB – drive back to the city after breakfast. Relax and review images until farewell dinner | Ulaanbataar Hotel | B-L-D |
| 17 | Nov 16 | UB–Home – transfer to airport in time for your homeward flight. | - | - |