Oriental Plover on the Mongolian Steppe by Chris Townend
Tour Dates: Thursday 6th – Friday 21st May 2027 (Ulanbaatar to Ulaanbaatar)
Tour Price: £5,299pp plus flight
Estimated Flight Price: London to Ulaanbaatar (via Frankfurt) approx. £900 return
Deposit: £600 per person
Conservation Donation from Wise Birding: £300 – £400
Minimum Number: 6 people
Maximum Group Size: 6 people
Target Species Birds:
Altai Snowcock, Black-billed Capercaillie, Demoiselle Crane, White-naped Crane, Stejneger’s Scoter, Swan Goose, Bar-headed Goose, Pallas’s Sandgrouse, Pallas’s Fish Eagle, Oriental Plover, Asian Dowitcher, Greater Sandplover, Relict Gull, Mongolian Lark, Mongolian Finch, Mongolian Accentor, Altai Accentor, Guldenstadt’s Redstart, Daurian Redstart, Hodgson’s Bushchat, Mongolian Ground Jay, Long-tailed Rosefinch, Azure Tit, Chinese Bush Warbler, Saxaul Sparrow, Godlewski’s Bunting, Yellow-breasted Bunting, Pallas’s Bunting, Siberian Rubythroat and many more exciting migrants!
Mammals: Przewalski’s Horse, Black-tailed Gazelle, Mongolian Gazelle, Siberian Ibex, Corsac Fox, Tarbagan Marmot, Long-eared Hedgehog and a number of Jerboa species
Tour Summary
This exciting tour is very much an adventure as we visit the vast open wilderness of Mongolia in search of its fabulous birdlife. Our itinerary takes in a number of habitats in order to find as many of the key species as possible.
We will visit impressive and picturesque high mountains in the west, the forested hills of Terelj NP, the rocky hills of Khustai NP, the impressive Khongor Sand Dunes and of course the endless Steppe with magical skies and herds of Gazelles. This will be a great birding adventure with much of our route travelling on dirt roads through an ever changing landscape. Our time will be focused on trying to see as many of the key specialities of Mongolia as well as a good selection of mammals that we are likely to simply come across whilst travelling. Highly sought after species we will be looking for include Pallas’s Sandgrouse, Mongolian Lark, Mongolian Ground Jay, Oriental Plover, Hodgson’s Bush Chat, Asian Dowitcher, Guldenstadt’s Redstart, Mongolian (Kozlov’s) Accentor, White-naped Crane and more! Although we are not specifically looking for mammals on this tour we are likely to see as good selection just whilst travelling and whilst camping. Species such as Przewalski’s Horse, Siberian Ibex, Goitered Gazelle and even a chance of Saiga are just some of the mammals we could see during the tour.
ACCOMMODATION: 15 nights in Mongolia A mix of remote camping in small tents, good quality tourist Ger camps and hotels.
A total of 8 nights in hotels or good quality tourist Ger Camps with showers and 7 nights camping in smaller tents with limited facilities but it will be a great adventure!
We will have a great team of drivers, and cooks throughout to make our stay as comfortable as possible.
Vehicles: Toyota Land Cruisers so everyone will have a window seat.
Inclusive Meals: Full board
DAY 1: Arrive in Ulaanbaatar (UB)
We arrive into UB early morning and today is mostly a rest day to recover from traveling, but our hotel is well placed for some great birding, so for those that cannot sleep, there will be plenty to see! Key species that we will be looking for include Azure Tit, Long-tailed Rosefinch, White-crowned Penduline Tit, Azure-winged Magpie and Daurian Jackdaw as well as newly arriving migrants like Brown Shrike and Amur Falcon. We have a number of birding options close to our hotel. Birds we could find include Bar-headed Goose, Amur Falcon, Citrine Wagtail, White-winged Tern, Dusky Warbler, Siberian Rubythroat, White-cheeked Starling, Thick-billed Warbler, Daurian Redstart, Yellow-breasted Bunting and much more! Overnight UB Hotel by Tuul River
DAY 2: Ulaanbaatar – Gun Galuut – Terelj
Today we will travel to the east of UB and set up camp near Terelj, an area of forest in the mountains where our key target will be Black-billed Capercaillie. However, en route we will stop at a number of lakes in the Gun Galuut region where the scenery is stunning and the birds are too! We should find our first Mongolian Larks and Demoiselle Cranes around the edge of the lakes and Stejneger’s Scoters on the water. We may find breeding Yellow-breasted Bunting as well as the small number of breeding White-naped Cranes and migrants such as Siberian Rubythroat. Overnight camping in tents
DAY 3: Terelj – Gun Galuut – Ulaanbaatar
We will be up before dawn in the hope of finding our target bird at the lek, the fine Black-billed Capercaillie! Other species we will be searching for here include Ural Owl, Three-toed Woodpecker, Daurian Partridge, Daurian Redstart, Pine Bunting, Chinese Bush Warbler, Two-barred Warbler, Dusky Warbler, Siberian Rubythroat, Red-throated Thrush and Taiga Flycatcher. Commoner species that we should see include Upland Buzzard, Black-eared Kite, Red-billed Chough, Willow Tit and Daurian Jackdaw. Migrants can be numerous at this time of year if conditions are right and may include Taiga Flycatcher, Red-flanked Bluetail, Siberian Rubythroat and Olive-backed Pipit. During the afternoon we will have time to search the lakes that often hold numerous waders and sometimes rarities. Common waders likely to be encountered include Long-toed Stint, Broad-billed Sandpiper and Eastern Black-tailed Godwit. During the late afternoon we will head south of UB where we will spend the night. Overnight camping in tents
DAY 4: Baga Gazar – Luus Lake – Yol Valley
Today is mostly a travel day as we venture on the long journey south to Dalanzadgad. We will of course make some birding stops en route where we will undoubtedly see species such as Demoiselle Crane, Pallas’s Sandgrouse, Steppe Eagle and any waders that may be feeding in roadside lakes / pools. Overnight at comfortable Tourist Ger Camp
DAY 5: Bulagtai Steppe – Yol Valley / Mukhar Shivert
Early this morning we will look for one of the key birds of teh trip, the fabulous Oriental Plover and with luck we might see the bird giving its impressive display flight over the vast Mongolian Steppe. During the afternoon we will visit an area of the Yol Valley, popular with tourists but also very good for a number of key species. White-winged Snowfinches are very common and we have a good chance of finding Wallcreeper as well as Sulphur-bellied Warbler, Beautiful Rosefinch, Lammergeier, Mongolian Accentor and Godlewski’s Bunting. Overnight at comfortable Tourist Ger Camp
DAY 6: Yol Valley – Bayan Bag – Khavtsgait Valley – Khongor Sand Dunes
This morning we will focus on any key species that we are still missing in the Yol Valley before heading into very different habitat as we venture towards the impressive Khongor Sand Dunes. En route we will do some birding in an impressive gorge where we should find breeding Lammergeiers, Mongolian Finch, Pied Wheatear and hopefully some exciting migrants. We may also find Asian Wild Ass and Goitered Gazelle during our journey. By the afternoon we should arrive at the sand dunes where we will spend the night at a Ger Camp just a short distance from a breeding colony of the very attractive Saxaul Sparrow. A walk around the camp at night should also produce some interesting mammals with chances for Long-eared Hedgehog, Hairy-footed Jerboa and maybe even Desert Hamster. Overnight comfortable Tourist Ger Camp
DAY 7: Khongor Sand Dunes – Orog Lake
We will have the morning to explore the habitat around the Saxaul trees and the associated Steppe. We will be looking for Asian Desert Warbler, Saxaul Sparrow and Mongolian Ground Jay in particular. A visit to the Khongor River may produce some migrants as well as the expected species such as Pallas’s Sandgrouse, Asian Short-toed Lark and Desert Wheatear. We then continue our journey north to the edge of the Bogd Mountain National Park and Orog Lake where we will be looking for the very localised Relict Gull and other birds. Overnight camping in tents
DAY 8: Orog Lake – Boon Tsagaan Lake
Today we will travel 200Km by dirt road between Orog Lake and Boon Tsagaan Lake where our key target will be Relict Gull. There will of course be plenty of other species to keep us occupied. At this time of year waders and passerines are still moving through and there are always surprises! Overnight camping in tents
DAYS 9 & 10: Boon Tsagaan Lake – Kokh Lake
On the morning of day 9 we head into the impressive mountains where we will set up camp near Huh Nuur Lake, a freshwater mountain lake at around 2,600M. During the next two days we will enjoy some fabulous scenery and quality birds checking various lakes for many special birds. Key species that we will be looking for include Altai Accentor, Brown Accentor, Asian Rosy Finch, Guldenstadt’s Redstart, a Mongolian Gull nesting colony, Altai Snowcock and the very localised Hodgson’s Bush Chat. Overnight camping in tents near Kokh Lake
DAY 11: Kokh Lake – Bayan Khongor – Arvaikeer
Today will be a long day of travel but the ever changing scenery will be impressive and we will of course make a number of birding stops en route where we may still find some of the key species such as Hodgson’s Bush Chat, Guldenstadt’s Redstart and Altai Snowcock. Overnight Hotel
DAY 12: Arvaikeer – Sangiin Dalai Lake – Bayan Lake
We will continue or journey North-East to Sangiin Dalai Lake where we will have lunch. Here we will enjoy opportunities to see Asian Dowitcher and other waders as well as any Locustella warblers that may be present. Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler or Lanceolated Warbler are both possible and there is a chance for Brown-cheeked Rail. We will also be looking for numerous waders and Baillon’s Crake. During the late afternoon we will arrive at Bayan Lake. Here we will set up our camp and hope to find species such as Swan Goose, Bar-headed Goose, White-naped Crane, Pallas’s Bunting and Asian Dowitcher. Overnight camping in tents
DAY 13: Bayan Lake – Khustai National Park
First light at Bayan Lake will be a great experience as we sift through waders with the backdrop of singing Pallas’s Buntings and Oriental Reed Warblers. White-Naped Cranes, Swan Geese and Bar-headed Geese should be present and we will be checking the waders for Asian Dowitcher and Terek Sandpiper and any rarities that may be present. During the afternoon we continue our journey east towards Khustai National Park famous for its re-introduced Przewalski’s Horses. Overnight in comfortable Tourist Ger Camp at Khustai NP
DAY 14: Khustai NP – UB
This morning we will have most of the day to explore Khustai National Park. Here we will be looking for Blyth’s Pipit, Meadow Bunting, Daurian Partridge, Amur Falcon, Saker Falcon as well as any migrant birds that may be present. There will also be many great mammals to see which will include the Przewalski’s Horse and there are often sightings of Corsac Fox. Wolves are also present in the park and are sometimes seen with luck! Overnight UB Hotel by Tuul River
DAY 15: Tuul River
This is our final day, but we have left this day flexible if we need it for any final birding in and around the UB area. Overnight UB Hotel by Tuul River
DAY 16: Transfer to airport in morning We will take the 60 minute transfer to the airport where the tour concludes.
Please note this is a flexible itinerary which may need to be adjusted slightly dependent on arrival / departure times, weather conditions and the most recent information from our local guides
Leaders: Wise Birding leader & local guides
Included in cost: Accommodation in a mix of hotels, tourist Ger Camps and smaller tents, all meals, bottled water, ground transport and services of leaders.
Not included in cost: International airfare, travel insurance, alcoholic drinks and any airport/visa fees
Single Supplement: Only applicable for 4 nights in hotels and 4 nights in Tourist Gers.
Transport: Toyota Landcruisers throughout the tour.
Difficulty: Moderate – Difficult
A reasonable level of fitness is required as there will be some walking in mountainous terrain on small tracks though these will be done at a slow pace. Most walking will generally involve short walks in close vicinity to our vehicles.
Climate: Very mixed! Snow is still possible in some areas, but generally typical daytime temperatures typically around 15 – 20 degrees Celsius with temperatures down to around 8 – 10 degrees Celsius at night. Of course as with so many places in the world the weather is very unpredictable at this time of year and these should be taken as a general guide only!
Tour Start Point: Ulaanbaatar airport, Mongolia
Tour End Point: Ulaanbaatar airport, Mongolia
Suggested Airlines: MIAT Airlines direct from Frankfurt
