Pallas Cat Photo Tour

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About the Tour

In Search of the Elusive Pallas’s Cat.

The focus of this expedition is to observe and photograph the remarkable Pallas’s cat (Otocolobus manul), one of the most elusive and captivating wild felines on Earth, within the vast Mongolian steppes where it thrives. Along the way, we also hope to encounter other fascinating wildlife, including the corsac fox, steppe polecat, and a rich diversity of birds that inhabit this unique ecosystem.

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Date

Jun 23th - Jul 1st, 2027

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Activity level

Easy

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Available spaces

1

Itinerary

Day 1 | June 23: Arrival in Ulaanbaatar

Arrival in Ulaanbaatar. Overnight at hotel in the city.

Arrival Airport:
Ulaanbaatar International Airport (UBN) – Chinggis Khaan International Airport

Hotel: Kempinski

Day 1 | June 24: To the steppes

Drive to Manul Camp (600 km paved + 70 km dirt road), we will drive 7 hours, aprox. Overnight in traditional ger.

Hotel: Manul camp

Day 3-7 | June 25-29: Pallas cat

Morning: search for steppe polecat and corsac fox—both diurnal and crepuscular.

Afternoon: Pallas’s cat observation from previously identified locations.

Hotel: Manul camp

Day 8 | June 30: Drive back to Ulaanbaatar

Drive back to Ulaanbaatar. Overnight at hotel.

 

Hotel: Kempinski

Day 9 | July 1: Departure day

International flight home.

Departure Airport:
Ulaanbaatar International Airport (UBN) – Chinggis Khaan International Airport

Featured sightings

USD 4,920 P.P.

Included

  • Acommodations (shared hotel rooms in Ulaanbaatar and gers in camp)

  • Meals (All meals at the camp)
  • Expert photographer guide.
  • Pallas cat trackers.
  • Apply supplement for single room (+ USD 500)

Not included

  • National and International air tickets and airport taxes.
  • Lunch and dinner in Ulanbator.
  • Additional nights.
  • Alcoholic beverages, snacks and beverages that are not part of the meals.
  • Laundry service.
  • Personal expenses.
  • Travel insurance (we recommend having one).
  • Tips.
  • Any other service not specified in the document.

General tips

Location and elevation

Our base will be in Sukhbaatar Province, approximately 570 km east of Ulaanbaatar, in the heart of Mongolia’s vast eastern steppes. This remote and wildlife-rich region provides exceptional opportunities to observe and photograph the elusive Pallas’s cat in its natural habitat.

 

The average elevation at Manul Camp ranges between 900 and 1,100 meters (2,950–3,600 feet) above sea level, offering comfortable conditions for wildlife photography while immersing participants in one of Mongolia’s most spectacular steppe ecosystems.

Photographic equipment

As photographers, we know how difficult it is to decide how much equipment to take on trips, as we always want to take all of our equipment with us so that we can take advantage of our experiences. Here is a list of equipment we recommend bringing:

  • Wide angle lens
  • Zoom lens, range 100-600
  • Equipment protector for the rain
  • Tripod
  • Batteries
  • Battery chargers
  • Cleaning equipment
  • Plug adaptor (very important)

Clothing

Clothing Recommendations
I recommend wearing dark or neutral-colored clothing (black, dark green, brown, dark gray, etc.) to help you blend into the surroundings.
Please avoid bright or highly contrasting colors.
If you bring a rain jacket, windbreaker, or waterproof shell, try to choose one made from quiet fabric that does not produce excessive noise when moving, as silence is very important while photographing wildlife.

Weather

We will be traveling during the summer, so conditions are generally dry and pleasant.

Early mornings and evenings can be quite chilly, with temperatures around 8°C (46°F).
During the day, especially under the sun, temperatures can rise to approximately 24°C (75°F).
I recommend bringing a warm jacket or fleece, as it can become windy and feel much colder, particularly during our early morning and evening sessions in the field.

Dressing in layers is the best option, allowing you to stay comfortable as temperatures change throughout the day.

Expert Photo Guide

tour leader

At Photo Wildlife Tours, we ensure that we work with the best local guides—experts in species identification, photography, and customer service. Our guides are carefully selected for their extensive knowledge and experience, guaranteeing a unique, educational, and memorable experience.

We also promote an ethic of respect and kindness toward animals, ensuring that all our tours are conducted responsibly and with environmental awareness.

With us, you can trust that you will be accompanied by professionals committed to quality, conservation, and the full enjoyment of nature.

Do you need more information?

Stories from Our Travelers

Ana Loáiciga Costa Rica
"One amazing experience, Jaime and Daniel are exceptional teachers, they take care of all details and make the time so enjoyable. 
I was travel from another country and even when was my responsibility before the workshop all the logistic, Daniel took care of recommendations and all information worthy for the staying. 
They create this immediate atmosphere of friendship that I appreciate a lot. 
The places they choose where to show us, are awesome, the people they work with stick to their mission of conservation, teaching and sustainable development. 
I can’t wait to take another adventure with them."
Blake Freeman Canada
"I first met Jaime when he guided my group in the Amazon in 2015. The experience and the amount we learned was phenomenal. Jaime’s knowledge and enthusiasm when it comes to conservation shows in every part of the experience. He is able to display the perfect balance between education and adventure. I would recommend his services and I hope to be able to experience his unique way of showing you South America again."
Phil Bowles England
"While co-leading a personalized trip to Yasuni, Jaime was extremely friendly and enthusiastic, enhancing the trip with his attitude almost as much as by all the snakes (and occasional caimans) he found for me, despite less than ideal weather. We’ve remained friends for the three years, and I’m keen to join Jaime on future adventures and take even more advantage of his knowledge of Ecuador’s species and his skills as a photography teacher, as the Yasuni trip allowed me to take some of the best reptile and amphibian photos I’d obtained in over a decade as both a herpetologist and a photographer."
Gioby Suero USA
"Jaime you were the best field guide we could ever have asked for and you made the experience very memorable, comedic and insightful. We learned many things about the reptiles and amphibians of the jungle. You were great!!
"
David Baydush USA
"Photo wildlife tours transformed my trip to Ecuador from a cool trip to an unforgettable photography experience. I spent my first few days in Ecuador with various other tour guides and companies, and while I got good pictures with them, it was not until meant Daniel for my photo wildlife tour that I realized how incredible his tours were. I was able to get up close and personal with birds and other animals in ways that I could have only dreamed of previously. I was no longer shooting through tree canopy’s for washed out pictures of birds, instead I was taking the most gorgeous pictures I have taken in my entire life! The accommodations were well above my expectations, and the food was fantastic! I do not think I will ever book a photography trip with any other company if possible. Daniel not only helped me improve my wildlife photography technique, but he spotted for me so I never missed a shot, and helped me gain a better understanding of how to capture the best pictures possible. I cannot recommend his tours enough. He was able to tailor my experience to exactly what I wanted out of my time in Ecuador."
Lior Berman Costa Rica
"Daniel from Photo Wildlife Tours plans the perfect trips, with incredible attention to detail offering the best services available. Searching for the top local guides for maximizing the opportunities of great photos, as well as offering the best lodging and meal options. The trip couldn’t have been better, if you’re an avid photographer searching for intense days packed with activity this is your best choice (bring plenty of storage 😂)"
Sebastian Valverde Ecuador
"Amazing with amazing people. I love this trip, everything was wonderful."
Philip Marazzi UK
"Very enjoyable trip photographing stunning birds in Colombia. Our guide Daniel was superb. He made great efforts to get me in the right place to get the pictures I wanted. He 'focussed' on me, not his own photography.He was also very helpful with my wife who is not a photographer. I am sure that I will travel with him again. 5star!"
Matthew Kirby USA
"This trip was amazing. So much wildlife and a extremely knowledgeable and fun loving guide! Can't wait to book our next tour with Jaime!"
Ona G USA
"I had a good time. The lodging was great as well as all of the food provided. Javier was knowledgeable and very helpful. He was able to provide us with plenty of locations to photograph a great number of birds. I would recommend this trip for anyone interested in bird photography."
Teng Ma China
"We were very happy to work with Carlos as our guide. He is a highly competent guide and adapted to our needs, helping us get the best possible photos. We truly appreciate his willingness to adjust the plan to suit us, and I would certainly be happy to work with him again. The driver, Louis, is excellent — he prioritizes safety and drives very carefully on difficult roads. We never had any incidents. Carlos and Louis make a great team, and we had a lot of fun at the end of the day."
Junan Chen USA
"Overall it was a great trip and we all got some great photos at the end and also learnt a lot from the trip, that will make our next trip better."
Xu Liqing USA
"Very knowledgeable tour guide and great driver too. We saw everything we wanted including watching the condors from above which was awesome."
Carl Waxman USA
"Overall, the tour met the stated goals of finding and photographing birds, reptiles, and mammals in Ecuador. Our guide, Daniel, is an expert on Ecuadorian wildlife and knew the answers to any questions we asked. He is also very knowledgeable about the photographic aspect of the tour, including equipment, setup, and preparing guests for animal behavior, angles, and settings to achieve the best shots. My main desire was to create beautiful images, not just documentary photos, and Daniel proved to be an excellent teacher with great personal talent. He is also a very nice person with a great personality, sense of humor, and deep knowledge of his subjects. Safety was always paramount throughout the tour, whether photographing a viper or standing on a cliff to photograph the condor. Daniel did an excellent job tying together all the elements of a great photographic wildlife tour, and I would highly recommend him to anyone looking for a wildlife photography adventure in Ecuador."
Yuying Zhu China
"If it is a very memorable trip to shoot birds in Ecuador, I hope the next arrangement will be better! The bird guide Carlos is very professional and patient, thank you very much!"
Wang Jun China
"Very knowledgeable tour guide and great driver too. We saw everything we wanted including watching the condors from above which was awesome."
Bert Austin UK
"Sebas really taught me a lot about photographing animals. It was very obvious from the beginning that he knew he wanted me to get better at shooting in full manual mode and he was very good at explaining the different aspects of photography. As a teacher myself I was very impressed with how he didn’t just tell me what to do to improve my photos, he guided me to figure it out for myself how to get more impressive photos."
Daniel Doll Germany
"I was on a 12 nights herping tour with herpetologist Jaime Culebras. I enjoyed every single part of the trip. Ecuador is an amazing biodiverse country. Jaime was a very respectful guide for both me and all the reptiles and amphibians we found. The food was so tasty. I visited Yasuni NP, Mindo and Canandé Reserve - all of this places were beyond my expectations. After that tour I can highly recommend Photo Wildlife Tours. I booked a new tour already. Can‘t wait to go…"
Lenny Ferguson USA
"I traveled to Ecuador and saw more birds than I expected with photowildlifetours and Diche Mideros. Highly recommended."
Kriti Waila Dubái
"I had a wonderful photography tour to Chile and Brazil organized by Photo Wildlife Tours, led by Daniel Mideros. Every aspect of the trip was very thoughtfully planned and executed to optimize my time there. Daniel worked extra hard to ensure that I got the best sighting and great photographic opportunities. He also gives immense support on the field on both technical side of photography as well as post processing and presentation. I got a lot out of this tour, which will help me in my own journey of photography."