In January of 2026, I ran an all-new Snow Leopard workshop in far northwestern Mongolia. This workshop ran from the 13th of January until the 23rd of January and took us into an all-new region in the Hungai mountains. This location is lower in altitude than the previous location we had been using and has significantly less hiking (although the climbing is still considerable and not for the faint of heart). Like my Pallas Cat of Eastern Mongolia Report, this trip report will be a little different to the norm and includes a number of daily video updates from the field. Due to my heavy travel schedule, I will come back later in the year and update this post with still photographs from the trip as time permits.
Our journey to the snow leopard began in the capital city of Ulanbataar, with a two-hour flight to Khovd in Mongolia’s northwestern region. From here, we then drove seven hours to our remote camp nestled amongst the Margaz mountains (a smaller area of the Hungai mountains) – our cozy home away from home for the duration of the workshop. Each Gyr, or Yurt, is equipped with a coal-fired stove for warmth, a bed, a wash basin, lighting and even wifi. Our base served as the perfect location to search the vast mountainous landscape for the snow leopard.
As fortune would have it, we never even made it to camp before our first encounter with a snow leopard. With our spotters and trackers already in the field, we took a short detour not far from camp to see a mother with two cubs our trackers had found high on a rocky mountain just prior to sunset. Although sunset was upon us and it was too late in the day to begin an arduous climb to attempt to photograph them, we still relished the experience. To find and see a wild Snow Leopard with her two cubs so early in our trip was an absolute blessing. The cherry on the cake was several Ibex that posed, silhouetted for us high on the precipitous mountain tops.
Finding and photographing the snow leopard is one of wildlife photography’s greatest challenges, demanding extraordinary patience, endurance, and respect for the harsh environments these elusive cats call home. Often referred to as the “ghost of the mountains,” snow leopards blend seamlessly into vast alpine landscapes, making even a single sighting feel like an extraordinary gift. Days can pass scanning ridgelines and valleys in biting cold and thin air, with no guarantee of success, which only deepens the emotional impact when a snow leopard finally reveals itself. Each encounter is a true privilege—a fleeting moment of connection with one of the planet’s most secretive predators that serves as a powerful reminder of both the fragility and the wonder of the wild. Every encounter is an absolute gift and is never to be taken for granted.
Over the course of the next eight days, we made daily sunrise and afternoon sojourns into the field in search of leopards. From our camp location, we were ringed by mountains, all of which had potential for leopard sightings (as well as Corsak fox and Ibex). Using our team of expert local trackers, we had multiple encounters with snow leopards during our trip. As luck would have it, the very best of these encounters was with a mother and three first-year cubs. We were able to spend most of the day photographing the cubs high on the mountainside with superb results. An encounter such as this is an absolute gift and very much a once-in-a-lifetime experience. In addition to snow leopards, we also photographed Golden Eagle and Little Owl.
Temperatures throughout our workshop were extremely cold, with lows consistently around -40ºC and highs in the afternoon often only rising to -25ºC. It was below -35º Celsius many mornings when we departed in search of the ghost of the mountains. This necessitated proper equipment and dressing to ensure protection against the cold. As we traversed the landscape in 4-wheel-drive vehicles, we stayed warm while searching for wildlife.
At the conclusion of our workshop, we packed up and drove roughly four hours to the nearest town for return flights to Ulanbataar and concluded our workshop in the evening of the 23rd of February.
Photographing Snow Leopard with us offers a rare opportunity to encounter one of the world’s most enigmatic wild cats in an ethical, immersive, and deeply rewarding way. Success with snow leopards is never guaranteed, and it is well worth remembering that even a fleeting sighting can be hard-won, making every potential encounter a very special gift. This is a carefully curated workshop built around our local guides’ intimate knowledge of the landscape, respectful fieldcraft, and small-group experiences that maximise both photographic opportunities and meaningful wildlife encounters. In the vast mountain environments where Snow Leopards live, we prioritise patience, conservation awareness, and time in the field—allowing photographers to move beyond fleeting sightings to genuine observation. The result is not just exceptional imagery of a seldom-seen species, but a richer understanding of its behaviour, habitat, and fragility, making the experience as emotionally powerful as it is creatively inspiring.
Who is this Workshop For? This workshop is designed for photographers who have a deep love of wildlife and a genuine passion for capturing it thoughtfully and artisically in the field. It is ideally suited to those who value time, patience, and observation over crowds and hurried encounters, and who thrive in a small-group environment where individual attention and shared experience matter. Whether you are refining your craft or seeking a more meaningful connection with the natural world, this workshop appeals to photographers who are inspired by rare species, remote landscapes, and the emotional power of storytelling through images, and who appreciate learning in an intimate setting alongside like-minded people who share the same respect for wildlife.
If you would like to photograph this incredible wildcat, please get in touch via email. We limit the workshop to a maximum of five photographers to ensure each has their own private room and to ensure we offer the best possible photographic experience. Groups larger than five are far from ideal for this experience if high-quality results are your goal. Our next planned workshop for the Snow Leopard is in 2028.
www.WILDNATUREPHOTOTRAVEL.com 