Mongolia

Eagle hunters - Snow leopards - Pallas cats

      Cost: 6 People - $11,950

                 8 People - $11,350

Single Supplement:  $3000

What country on this planet has the ability to conjure up more mystery than Mongolia? In what other country do horses and camels outnumber people? Mongolian horses and camels were and are the very center of all nomadic existence and have been instrumental in the history of the Mongols. It is thanks to these strong, yet undemanding horses, that the armies of Chinggis Khaan conquered half of the known world in the 13^th century, and, thanks to them, mongols are still able to roam vast steppes of Inner Asia practically the same way their ancestors lived for a millennium.

On this exciting expedition, will ride horses along with descendants of Chinggis and Khubilai Khaan on their home turf. You will sleep in traditional Mongolian tents known as gers, made of a circular latticed wood structure covered with layers of thick felt.  They are heated by a burning wood stove and furnished with traditional painted furniture. You will also experience a Golden Eagle festival in the far-western province of Bayan Olgii. Golden Eagle Festivals are one of the most anticipated cultural events of local Kazakhs. All year long, both the eagle and the hunter prepare for not only the hunting season but to compete in this festival. Winning these games is a prestigious and milestone event in the life of an eagle hunter.

Wild Focus Expeditions is offering its first trip to track snow leopards in Mongolia. Snow leopards of central Asia, known locally as the “gray ghosts”, are rarely seen. They are masters of camouflage and they live in steep and rocky mountain slopes. Many people have asked us why we haven’t offered trips in Ladakh and Spiti in the Himalayas of India. The reasons are several, but one important reason is that in Ladakh and Spiti, your best chances of spotting the leopards occur at above 14,00 feet (4300 meters) whereby in Mongolia (and Russia), one can find them at 3300 feet (1000 meters).

Their habitat range covers approximately 1.2 million square miles (2 million km2) which is approximately the size of Greenland or Mexico and there are only between 4000 and 6400 snow leopards left in the wild. China contains as much as 60% of all snow leopard habitat and it is one of the most influential countries for its conservation efforts.

Because of their fur coloration, snow leopards can hide in plain sight – right in front of you in the rocks which is one reason they are so difficult to spot.  But we will have the best spotters who were used recently on a snow leopard expedition in Mongolia by a BBC film crew working on a snow leopard documentary.

Overall, this will be an exciting and adventurous trip in Mongolia where we will not only hope to see snow leopards, but will have a unique opportunity to ride horses alongside Kazakh eagle hunters – an experience that you will never forget. We will also try our luck trying to find the beautiful Pallas cat, also known as manul (manuul). Like the snow leopard ,it too is a secretive little cat. It is said that they have a “grumpy” look on their faces, but in truth, they are just plain adorable. They have the densest fur coat of any cat and that fur is nearly twice as long on their belly and tail as on their top and sides. This keeps them warm as they hunt on snow and frozen ground. This fluffy coat makes them appear much larger than they actually are. They have unusually round pupils that contract into small circles rather than vertical slits like all other small cats. But like the snow leopards, seeing these cats is NOT guaranteed. Please be patient and come with a spirit of adventure. Nature is unpredictable at best and we will experience some of the most beautiful and remote locations on earth. Please set your expectations appropriately in order to make this trip a trip of a lifetime. Please read the physical requirements (see below) for this trip and let us know if you have any questions.