Pallas’s Cat Photography Journey in Mongolia
Observe and photograph Pallas’s Cats in the wild during this 8-day photography tour. Mongolia is one of the best places in the world to spot these small wild cats, and this tour takes you deep into their natural habitat to do so ethically. Book this private tour for anytime of year and experience Mongolia’s quiet wild spaces alongside the animals who inhabit them.
Solo Traveler: $5,500 USD
2 – 3 People: $3,500 USD/person
4 – 5 People: $2,500 USD/person
6 – 8 People: $2,000 USD/person
- Tour Type: Photography
- Book Now (Private Itinerary)
- No Reviews
Dates: January – December (8 Days, 7 Nights)
Book For: 1 – 8 People
Languages Available: English
Stay: Wildlife Photography Camp and Hotels
Tour Type: Photography, Nature, Wildlife
Included: Local Mongolian Guide with an Expertise in Pallas’s Cats and Wildlife Photography, Private Driver, Meals, Accommodation (including two nights in Ulaanbaatar), Airport Transfers
Price to Book:
Solo Traveler: $5,500 USD
2 – 3 People: $3,500 USD/person
4 – 5 People: $2,500 USD/person
6 – 8 People: $2,000 USD/person
Our Pallas’s Cat Photography Journey is designed for travelers drawn to Mongolia’s quiet wild spaces and the patience required to observe them. Centered around the search for the elusive Pallas’s Cat (Otocolobus manul), this private tour combines wildlife photography with long days on the steppe, simple routines, and deep immersion into Mongolia’s natural rhythms.
For this experience, you will be based at a dedicated wildlife photography camp outside of Ulaanbaatar. Days are structured around early mornings and late afternoons, the most active times for Pallas’s Cats and wildlife.
Guided by an experienced wildlife photographer, learn how to read the landscape, track subtle movement, and approach photography with respect for animals and their environment.
The journey expands beyond the camp with time spent in Khustai National Park and the surrounding steppe, offering a broader view of Mongolia’s wildlife and birdlife before returning to the city.
This is not a fast-paced safari or guaranteed-sighting tour. This tour offers a thoughtful, field-based experience built around observation, patience, and presence. Our local team practices the highest form of ethics when it comes to environmental, wildlife, and endangered-species standards.
Highlights of this 8-day Pallas’s Cat Photography Journey in Mongolia include:
- Dedicated ethical Pallas’s Cat wildlife photography experience near Ulaanbaatar guided by an award-winning Mongolian photographer with local field knowledge.
- Early morning and late afternoon field sessions, aligned with wildlife activity.
- Time spent in open steppe landscapes with minimal human disturbance.
- Opportunities to observe a wide range of steppe wildlife and birds of prey, including ibex, argali sheep, red deer, marmot, Przewalski’s horse, Mongolian gazelle, eagles, falcons, owls, vultures, and bearded vultures.
- Visit to Khustai National Park, home to Przewalski’s wild horses.
- A well-paced journey that prioritizes immersion over rushing or guarantees.
- Small-scale, low-impact travel focused on respect for animals and habitat.
Table of Contents
Want to extend your trip? Add-on these Experiences
🐴 Day Trip to Terelj National Park and the Chinggis Khaan Equestrian Statue (Book for any day, it’s the perfect day trip to get into the spirit of Mongolia)
🤝 Check out the Black Market with a Local (Book for any day except Tuesdays (closed), great for gear shopping, souvenir browsing, and feeling like a local)
🚙 Visit Khustai National Park + Mongol Nomadic Camp (search for wile Przewalksi’s horses before learning about ancient Mongolian traditions, available for booking 365 days a year)
What is a Pallas’s Cat?
Pallas’s Cats are one of the most intriguing animals that live in Mongolia. These small wild cats have long and dense light grey fur, small rounded ears that sit low on the side of their head, and long bushy tails. They’re also known for their grumpy-looking faces, which makes them a favorite of photographers and wildlife enthusiasts to spot in the wild.
In the winter months, Pallas’s Cats wrap their tails around themselves using it as a place to set their paws, so they don’t get cold on the ground. On average, they are the size of stocky domestic cats.
Another name for Pallas’s Cat is manul, and it’s incredibly rare to spot them in the wild. They are known for their secretive ways, and they blend in so well with their environment it’s almost impossible to spot them unless you’re with someone with an expert eye.
They mostly live in rock crevices and burrows and prey on small mammals, including small rodents, rabbits, and marmots. Pallas’s Cats typically give birth in the spring, to between two and six kittens at a time.
What’s interesting about Pallas’s Cats is that they don’t chase their prey, but they use ambush tactics. That means they wait outside burrows or keep watch in rocky terrain to strike their prey quickly, oftentimes reaching into holes to make their kill.
This 8-day Pallas’s Cat Photography Tour takes you into the natural environment of these small wild cats where you’ll photograph them in the wild. Our local team prides themselves on using proper tracking techniques and hosting ethical experiences observing and photographing these incredible wild animals.
There are only a few places in the world where spotting a Pallas’s Cat is possible. Mongolia is one of the best places in the world to observe and photograph Pallas’s Cats in the wild!
8-day Itinerary: Pallas’s Cat Photography Journey in Mongolia
The private tour is led by an award-winning Mongolian photographer with extensive local field knowledge and experience tracking Pallas’s Cats.
Book this private photography tour for anytime of year. Winter and spring are the most ideal time to book this tour, when it’s easier to spot and track wildlife thanks to the snow.
Day 1: Arrival & Welcome Dinner
Welcome to Mongolia! When you arrive, a private airport transfer will be arranged for you, just look for your name on a sign in the arrival terminal. From the airport, your driver will transfer you directly to your centrally located hotel within the city. Check in and have the afternoon at leisure to prepare for the adventure ahead.
In the evening, meet your expert wildlife photography guide for a welcome dinner and an overview of the journey ahead.
- Stay: Hotel in Ulaanbaatar City Center
- Meals: Welcome Dinner
Day 2: Drive to the Wildlife Photography Camp
After breakfast, leave the sights, sounds, and chaos of the city behind and drive to the wildlife photography camp that will be your base camp for the next few days. The camp is located on the open steppe, not far from Ulaanbaatar.
Arrive, settle in, and prepare for the coming days. If conditions allow, head out for a short afternoon field session.
- Stay: Wildlife Photography Camp
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 – 5: Pallas’s Cat Photography Days
These days follow a steady field routine focused on observation and patience.
- 05:30: Wake-up
- 06:00 Breakfast
- Morning: Field Session
- 13:00: Lunch
- 15:00: Afternoon Field Session
- 18:00: Dinner
- Evening: Rest & Review and Edit Your Photos
Time is spent moving carefully through suitable habitat, observing wildlife, and photographing when opportunities arise. Evenings are quiet, returning to camp for dinner and rest.
When out in the field, remember that wildlife sightings are never guaranteed and depend on weather, season, and the animals’ natural behavior.
- Stay: Wildlife Photography Camp
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Visit Khustai National Park
After breakfast, depart the photography camp and drive toward Khustai National Park. A packed lunch will be provided so you can spend the day in the field.
Arrive in the afternoon and spend time exploring the park, with opportunities to observe and photograph wildlife in a different steppe environment.
Animals that inhabit Khustai National Park include: red deer, Przewalski’s horse, marmot, Grey wolves, Eurasian lynx, Argali sheep, and Pallas’s Cat.
- Stay: Ger Camp at Khustai National Park
- Meals: Breakfast, Packed Lunch, Dinner
Day 7: Final Wildlife Encounters & Return to the City
After breakfast, drive toward an area closer to Ulaanbaatar for a final opportunity to observe wildlife. Take in your last few moments of silence and serenity and be sure to remember this moment, you’ll dream of returning to days like this!
Continue on to the city in the afternoon and check into your hotel. The evening is at leisure.
- Stay: Hotel in Ulaanbaatar City Center
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 8: Departure
Book your international departure for anytime today. We will arrange an airport transfer for you from the hotel.
This isn’t goodbye, this is see you again soon!
- Meals: Breakfast
What's Included
- English-speaking Award-winning Mongolian Photography Guide.
- All airport transfers.
- Transportation during the trip dates.
- All accommodation during the trip dates, including a hotel in Ulaanbaatar (Best Western Premier Tuushin or similar).
- All activities listed on the itinerary.
- Meals* (breakfast, lunch, dinner) as outlined on the trip itinerary.
*Please let us know of any dietary restrictions before booking.
What's Not Included
- International flights.
- Visa costs and fees.
- Travel Insurance that covers medical evacuation and cost of participation (required).
- Personal expenses such as laundry, alcoholic beverages, telephone calls, optional activities, and meals which are not included in the trip itinerary.
- Tips and additional gratuities.
Visit our tour cancellation policy page if you have any additional questions.
Book Now
The price to book this 8-day Pallas’s Cat Photography Journey in Mongolia is:
Price:
Solo Traveler: $5,500 USD
2 – 3 People: $3,500 USD/person
4 – 5 People: $2,500 USD/person
6 – 8 People: $2,000 USD/person
About Your Expert Guide: Molomjamts Naranzul
Your journey is led by Molomjamts Naranzul, an experienced guide with over eight years of experience guiding across Mongolia’s landscapes. His expertise includes birdwatching, wildlife, and landscape photography, with a strong focus on Mongolia’s migratory birds and rare species.
Molomoo was recognized as one of the Top 10 photographers in the Mongolian Landscape Photography of the Year Award 2025, reflecting his deep understanding of Mongolia’s natural environments. He also leads horse-riding, luxury, and adventure journeys in remote regions of the country, guiding with a strong emphasis on responsible tourism, environmental care, and authentic experiences in nature.
About the Wildlife: Species You May Spot
Learn more about the bird species you may spot on this private tour below.
Wildlife (possible):
Pallas’s cat, ibex, argali sheep, red deer, marmot, Przewalski’s horse, Mongolian gazelle
Birds (possible):
Eagles, falcons, owls, vultures, bearded vulture (yol)
Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed and depend on weather, season, and the animals’ natural behavior.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Pallas’s Cat Tour
Here are a few common questions we’ve received about this tour.
I’m Not a Photographer but I Still Want to Book this Pallas’s Cat Tour.
That’s not a problem at all! While this tour is designed for wildlife photographers, anyone is welcome to join.
There is no greater thrill than seeing these cats in the wild, whether it’s with your naked eye, through binoculars, or using a camera lens.
What happens if we don’t see a Pallas’s Cat?
While wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, we are confident that you’ll see these animals, along with plenty of other wildlife.
What happens if it’s raining the entire time?
Time in the field will be adjusted according to the weather patterns of the day. Be sure to bring a rain jacket, pants that will dry quickly, and waterproof shoes. You are always welcome to sit out of any field sessions, if you don’t feel up to it. This is your trip and we want you to enjoy it!
What should I wear for this experience?
Mongolia’s weather changes quickly and temperatures are known to be all over the place. Be sure to pack warm layers (even in the summer), and long pants and long sleeves are recommended. Hats that cover your head and protect you from the sun are also recommended. Please wear clothing that is dark or neutral in color so that you blend in with the environment.
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