Kyrgyzstan Tours

With over 80% of the country straddling the fabled Tian Shan Mountains, Kyrgyzstan understandably acquired the title of “Switzerland of Asia”. This remote ex-Soviet state wedged between Kazakhstan and Western China attracts few tourists and much of the country is little affected by the 21st century. However Kyrgyzstan supports one of the last strongholds for the mythical Snow Leopard. Few humans have been fortunate enough to witness this magnificent mammal in the wild - the ultimate triumph for those wishing to complete their big cat checklists!

These felines with their luxuriously thick gray coats, are one of the more stunning members of the Panthera genus, but certainly the most difficult to observe in the wild. The preferred habitat of these endangered cats comprises rough high altitude terrain of cliffs, ravines and rocky outcrops against which they are perfectly camouflaged, making the chance of unexpectedly happening upon this elusive beast almost impossible. On this expedition we travel deep into the heart of the Snow Leopard’s kingdom and with the expertise of local trackers our chances for an encounter are raised from virtually impossible to reasonable. Our trackers have spent most of their lives in these mountains tending to their flocks of sheep and their local knowledge will prove invaluable in this game of hide and seek. To the untrained eye this landscape may at first appear to be free of Snow Leopard, but our “spoor conscious” tracking team will, by interpreting their tracks and signs, reconstruct the movements of these cats and with luck and perseverance lead us to the sighting of a lifetime.

In these mountains, Snow Leopard almost exclusively predate upon the magnificent Asian Ibex. In fact the local semi-nomadic herders refer to the leopards as the “shepherd of the Ibex”; where Ibex are numerous, Snow Leopard will be nearby! During the summer months the Ibex, along with their “shepherds” migrate up the sheer slopes to humanly inaccessible heights. In the winter months even the lower altitudes are hazardously cold and snowed in. Our visit to the Snow Leopard’s kingdom is therefore carefully planned for the early Spring when trekking through these remote snowcapped peaks and alpine meadows offers us our best chances for both clear weather, Snow Leopard sightings and great birding. Our Snow Leopard quest will involve camping and trekking and will be a real adventure as we explore one of the world’s most pristine and beautiful mountain landscapes.

Though the main target is the Snow Leopard, the springtime in these Kyrgyz Mountains is a world-class experience with numerous mighty peaks, glaciers, high-altitude lakes and meadows, all forming a stunning backdrop. Other prized mammals include Argali Sheep, Gray Wolf, Eurasian Lynx and Altai Deer — all magnificent in their own right. We stand chances for Pallas’ Cat, Long-eared Hedgehog, Tian Shan Ground Squirrel, three species of marmots, two species of pika and other small mammals. Given the opportunity we will take time out to enjoy the antics of these fascinating creatures.

The Tian Shan Mountains are also host to a variety of seldom encountered resident and migrant birds and specials we will seek out include Lammergeier, Saker and Barbary Falcon, Himalayan Snowcock, Wallcreeper, several accentors, the beautiful White-tailed Rubythroat, Güldenstädt’s Redstart and the elusive White-browed Tit-Warbler.

Join us on this “ultimate mammal voyage” to this little visited land of the Great Silk Road, a land of astonishing beauty and fascinating cultures (over 80 different nationalities and ethnic groups), on a quest in search of the rarest and most beautiful of the great cats.

tour name and dates	private customised tour dates on request
tour cost	private customised tour prices on request
maximum group size	12 participants and 2 Indri guide
habitats covered	high mountains, alpine meadows, grasslands, temperate forest
climate	sunny but cool with subzero temperatures at higher elevations
tour pace & walking	tracking will involve some long hikes over steep terrain — excellent level of fitness required
accommodation	basic but comfortable
ease of mammal viewing	challenging
top mammals	Snow Leopard, Argali Sheep, Asian Ibex, Pallas's Cat, Gray Wolf & Altai Deer
top birds	Lammergeier, Saker and Barbary Falcon, Himalayan Snowcook, Wallcreeper, White-browed Tit-Warbler, Red-mantled Rosefinch, Guldenstadt's Redstart
other attractions	magnificent alpine scenery, little visited and primitive ex-Soviet Republic
photographic opportunities	good

Contact us for a detailed itinerary or other details.