Pallas Cat in Mongolia in Winter
- January 10th, 2027 - January 17th, 2027
- Spaces Left: Not Yet Open for Bookings (Maximum 5 People)
WORKSHOP AT A GLANCE
This bespoke, custom-tailored workshop to eastern Mongolia is for keen and passionate wildlife photographers who want to capture dramatic and powerful photographs of Pallas Cat. Eastern Mongolia is the best place in the world to photograph the stunningly beautiful Pallas Cat. We have a small group size and personal, one-on-one tuition for the duration of the workshop. There will also be landscape opportunities during this workshop, although our primary focus is Pallas Cats.
- Dates: 10th January 2027 until 17th January 2027 (Duration 7 Nights / 8 Days)
- Investment: $10,750 USD p/person ($1,450 USD Single Supplement). Wild Nature Photo Travel Team members pay no single supplement.
- Deposit: Deposit to secure your place $3,500 USD with balance due 120 days before commencement of the workshop.
- Participants: Maximum 5 Photographers plus leader
- Start and Finish: Ulaanbaatar Ghengis Khan International Airport, Mongolia
- Trip Leaders: Joshua Holko Master Photog II
- Fitness Level: Easy
- Temperature: Cold to Freezing
- Experience Level: Beginner to Professional
ABOUT THIS WORKSHOP
In early January, I will lead a new expedition for five photographers to find and photograph the rare and enigmatic Pallas Cat in Eastern Mongolia in Winter. Pallas Cats are endangered wild cats that inhabit and roam the Eastern Steppe region of Mongolia. Hiding in rocky outcrops and burrows dug by Corsak Fox, the cats hunt small rodents such as Vols and are frequently found in the open early in the morning and late in the afternoon when they are most active. We will have up to 10 hours of good light during the day to photograph the Pallas Cat. We may also see and photograph the elusive Corsak Fox and Mongolian Gazelle. The number of Pallas Cats we expect to see and photograph in the area where we will be operating will likely range between ten and twenty.
In addition to the Pallas Cats, there is also the opportunity to see and photograph Corsak Fox and Mongolian Gazelle. The region has extensive bird life, including Steppe Eagles, golden eagles, Saker Falcons, Upland Buzzards, Bearded Vultures, Little Owls, and more.
Accommodation: We will be based in Eastern Mongolia for this expedition and staying in Gyrs (Yurts). Temperatures at this time of year will hover between -20º and -30º Celsius + wind chill. The Gyrs are heated by small coal-fired stoves and are usually kept around +20º Celsius. Each Gyr is equipped with a bed and basic wash facilities. During our stay in the Gyrs, we will have dedicated staff members to clean and prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner for us (all included). There is a private rudimentary hot shower available during the workshop. There is no running water, and bathroom facilities (although clean) are limited to Western-style pit toilets. Fresh bottled drinking water is provided, along with all meals, for the duration of the expedition. There is essential 4G WiFi provided at the campsite.
Dietary Requirements: If you have special dietary requirements, we will do our best to accommodate you. Please just be sure to let us know when you make your booking.
Travel: We will use comfortable 4WD vehicles to commute from our base camp as we search the terrain for the Pallas Cat. The winter landscape in this part of Mongolia is stunning in its unbridled wild beauty. There will be many opportunities to make landscape photographs during this expedition, and you should plan to bring both wide-angle lenses and telephoto lenses.
Equipment: Telephoto lenses from 400mm-600mm are recommended. A wide-angle lens and tripod are also recommended if you wish to take advantage of the lack of light pollution and the clear night sky for Astro photography.
Application: Places on this expedition are minimal and are by application only. Applicants should have cold weather photographic experience in temperatures well below 0º Celsius and be willing to spend long hours in the field in frigid weather. Applicants should be able to walk at least 250 meters over steep rocky snow and ice-covered ground while carrying their camera equipment. Pallas Cats are among Earth's rarest and hardest-to-find wild cats. All participants understand that there are no guarantees. However, every effort will be made to see and photograph Pallas Cats using local guides and trackers skilled at locating the cats. Local guides will pre-scout for signs of Pallas Cat before arrival to maximize our time and opportunities. Please use the register button at the bottom of this page to register your interest.
WORKSHOP ITINERARY
We officially begin our expedition in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia early in the morning of the 10th of January with a transit drive in rugged 4-wheel drive vehicles to our base camp in far Eastern Mongolia (a drive of approximately eight hours).
We will be based in our Gyrs (Yurts) for the next seven nights. Once we are situated at our base camp, we will have the next eight days to photograph Pallas Cats in the spectacular winter landscape of Mongolia’s Steppe Region.
A typical day will see us rise for breakfast around 8:00 am before we head out into the field to look for and photograph Pallas Cat. We will utilise our 4-wheel drive vehicles to navigate the vast Steppe region. This allows us to cover a lot of ground and stay warm. We will return to camp for lunch before heading out again in the late afternoon until sunset. We conclude each day with dinner at camp.
We will transfer back to the capital city of Ulaanbataar on the 17th of January and conclude our expedition on the evening of the 17th of January in the capital city.
Weather in Mongolia: The weather in the Eastern Steppe region of Mongolia can be fickle and particularly harsh in winter. We reserve the right to make last-minute changes to the itinerary to both avoid bad weather and to take advantage of good weather and light as the conditions permit. Departure delays due to weather and closed roads are a fact of life in Mongolia and are to be expected. We can take no responsibility for weather-induced delays and ask for your patience if we are delayed by weather for any reason. We strongly recommend you allow a minimum of two days after our expedition in case we are delayed on our return.
Flights to Mongolia: Flights to Mongolia can be booked online with Aero Mongolia, Turkish Airlines, Air China, or Korean Air. There are daily direct flights from Bangkok, Beijing, Istanbul, and South Korea. We recommend arriving in Ulaanbataar on the 2nd of January or before in case of bad weather delays or lost luggage.
INCLUSIONS AND EXCLUSIONS
Inclusions
- Transportation: All in-tour land transportation and guide services (including private airport transfers) in Mongolia for the workshop duration.
- Accommodation: Accommodation for six nights in shared Gyrs at our private wildlife camp. Private Gyr is available.
- Food and Beverages: Includes breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner (excluding alcohol) from the 10th of January until the workshop is completed on the 17th of January.
- Tuition: Expert one-on-one Photographic tuition and guiding services
Exclusions
- Transportation: Any travel required to arrive at the expedition starting location in Mongolia
- Duties and Taxes: Any taxes, levies, insurances, Immigration, duty, and visa fees where applicable.
- Personal Items: Any personal items, including alcoholic beverages, souvenirs and travel insurance. Local tips (recommendation is $300 USD for local guides)
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
A deposit of $3,500 USD must be paid at the time of booking to secure your place, with the balance due 120 DAYS before the workshop commencement date. Deposit Methods Accepted: Credit card Visa/Master (+3%) or Direct Deposit / Wire Transfer.
Refunds and Cancellations: Our standard workshop policy requires an initial non-refundable deposit for the reservation of your space and your payment balance in full 120 days before the commencement of the workshop date unless otherwise noted. If we do not receive the balance on or before the due date, and we are unable to get in contact with you via the contact details you have provided, we will try to fill your spot off the waiting list. At our discretion, we may apply your deposit to be used for another workshop within one year. Please note that price increases may apply in this instance.
If the workshop is cancelled for any reason, your deposit will be refunded in full. Wild Nature Photo Travel Pty Ltd., trading as Joshua Holko Photography and Joshua Holko, is not responsible for any financial commitments that registered attendees have with third parties such as airlines or other travel services.
READ FULL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Travel Insurance: You must purchase travel and evacuation insurance in the event of illness or any other emergency that delays or otherwise prevents you from travelling on the trip. Wild Nature Photo Travel partners with and recommends Global Rescue for Evacuation and Medical insurance.
REGISTER FOR THIS WORKSHOP
If you are excited about photographing one of the world's rarest and grumpiest wildcats - the Pallas Cat - in a stunning Winter landscape with a small group of like-minded, passionate photographers, now is the time to register your interest. Places are extremely limited, and once spoken for, that's it.