7-day China Snow Leopard Expedition

Suggested Length

7 days

€2199 euros per person

Price From

LIMITED TO 10 GUESTS

Group Size

October - April

Season

  In the remote highlands of the Tibetan Plateau, near the border of Tibet, lies the Sanjiangyuan region, this sacred land is one of the world’s most snow leopard–dense regions, a true wildlife wonderland. Guided by our local specialists featured in National Geographic and Frozen Planet, you will find snow leopards, Pallas’s cats, blue sheep, white-lipped deer, wild yaks, Tibetan foxes, Tibetan antelopes, wolves, and bearded vultures.

  Beyond the wildlife, the region is also rich in Tibetan culture, stroll through peaceful Tibetan towns, visit surreal Monastery, and share a cup of butter tea in a local herder’s home.

Highlights of the Journey

Daily wildlife tracking powered by our three observation zones and herder monitoring network

Home to the world’s largest snow leopard population

Experience the purest Buddhist faith and authentic Tibetan lifestyle in this hidden gem

Your Guide:

Your Wildlife Guide Renqing

Renqing is a Kham Tibetan wildlife expert with over 10 years of experience tracking animals across the Sanjiangyuan region. He has encountered snow leopards more than 100 times and knows their every footprint and behaviour. His deep connection with these elusive creatures holds stories waiting to be uncovered. He was mentored by Xi Zhinong, one of China’s most renowned wildlife conservationists.

Renqing has served as the local producer and chief consultant for major documentaries by National Geographic, Disney, and others. With him, you'll step into the wild habitats featured in Frozen Planet and The Snow Leopard Queen.

Fluent in Chinese, English, French, and Tibetan, Renqing’s rich life experiences shape his calm, reliable, and professional guiding style—ensuring not only safety but also a truly unforgettable journey.

Your Wildlife Guide Dongzhou

Fluent in Tibetan, Chinese, and English, Dongzhou has more than 20 years of experience in translation and guiding. After working as a trilingual translator for NGOs, he joined Gesaer Travel in 2015 as a cultural and wildlife guide.

He has since collaborated on internationally acclaimed documentaries such as Born in China, Frozen Planet II, The Third Pole, and Animal Kingdom, where he specialized in wildlife tracking, field assistance, and cross-cultural communication. With a deep knowledge of the Tibetan Plateau’s wildlife and culture, Dongzhou is dedicated to leading travelers and film crews into some of the region’s most remote and remarkable landscapes.

  • Begin in Yushu, the cultural heart of the Tibetan Plateau and gateway to Sanjiangyuan National Park. Meet your trip leader in the hotel lobby for a visit to the Yushu Prefecture Museum, where you’ll be introduced to the region’s wildlife and Khampa heritage, followed by a detailed introduction to the upcoming expedition before gathering for a welcome dinner with fellow travelers.

    Dinner included
    Elevation: 3689m

  • Set out before dawn and follow the first glow of sunrise into Geku’s wild mountain valleys — one of the plateau’s most active snow leopard corridors. As the light spreads across sheer cliffs, blue sheep may emerge, raptors may begin riding the morning thermals, and our local scouts relay real-time sightings to position you at the very heart of the action.
    As afternoon shadows lengthen, we return to the prime viewing ridge for golden-hour wildlife watching — the moment when predators stir and the plateau comes alive. After dusk, head back to your hotel under a sky full of stars.

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
    Elevation: 3800m

  • Begin before sunrise, heading deep into the mountains to search for snow leopards. In afternoon, return to the wildlife viewing site and continue observing white-lipped deer, argali, musk deer, Chinese serow, and the many bird species that frequent these valleys, from ruddy shelducks to bar-headed geese. As the sun sets behind the ridgelines, follow the Tongtian River—source of the Yangtze—back toward Yushu City, reflecting on a day immersed in the rhythms of plateau wildlife.

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
    Elevation: 4500m

  • Begin before sunrise, heading deep into the mountains to search for snow leopards. By afternoon, arrive at Longbao Wetland, one of the most important bird sanctuaries on the plateau. Known as the “hometown of the black-necked crane,” it teems with life—bar-headed geese, ruddy shelducks, and countless migratory species thriving in its glittering wetlands. Continue onward to Haxiu, a renowned snow leopard observation site, where you’ll settle into Local herders' home for the night and begin your multi-day watch for the elusive “spirit of the mountains.”

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
    Elevation: 4500m

  • Our wildlife specialists will already be out scanning for wildlife from the deck of the lodge and will call you if and when anything of note appears on the mountainside surrounding the lodge. Depending on updates from our local herder observation network, we may spend the day quietly waiting near camp to watch for snow leopards until dusk, or drive to nearby valleys where vultures have been reported circling. Several snow leopard families live in this area, offering excellent chances for sightings. In the evening, enjoy dinner at a herder’s home and stay overnight with the family.

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
    Elevation: 4500m

  • After breakfast, following the guide’s information, we will seize the last opportunity to go out in search of the wild snow leopard until nightfall then we will drive back to Yushu city and stay in the hotel.

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
    Elevation: 3689m

  • The guide will bid you farewell at the hotel and see you off to your vehicle for the transfer to the airport, marking the end of our unforgettable wildlife journey.

@Banma

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Featured Stays

Accommodation options in this area are limited, but we’ve selected the best local hotel for your comfort.

Most hotels are equipped with oxygen machines to help you acclimate and reduce symptoms of altitude sickness.

Please note that during the snow leopard observation at the herder’s home, the accommodation is quite basic. Private rooms cannot be guaranteed, and the toilet facilities are simple pit toilets.

Day 1-3, Day 6: Vienna International Hotel in Yushu. The best hotel in Yushu city, with in-room oxygen supply and laundry facilities.
Day 4-5: Herder's Home. Stay with warm and hospitable Tibetan nomads and experience authentic local traditions. However, accommodation is basic, private rooms cannot be guaranteed, and toilet facilities are simple pit toilets.

Vienna International Hotel

Herder's Home

Vienna International Hotel

Species you might spot

  • Snow Leopard

  • Palla's Cat

  • Male Blue Sheep

  • White-lipped Deer

  • Wild Yak

  • Tibetan Foxes

  • Tibetan Gazelle

  • Female Blue Sheep

  • Himalayan Marmot

  • Red Fox

  • Wolly Hare

  • Himalayan Vulture

  • Bearded Vulture

  • Wolf

  • Bar-headed Goose

  • Upland Buzzard

  • Plateau Pika

  • Saker Falcon

  • Black-necked Crane

What’s Included:

  • Accommodation: The trip includes 6 nights of accommodation as described in the itinerary.

  • Meals: Meals as specified in the itinerary.

  • Service Team: All services provided by the professional team mentioned in the itinerary.

  • Outdoor Highlights: Includes all the outdoor activities and wildlife observation experiences described in the itinerary.

  • Airport drop-off service

  • Guiding Arrangement:

    • For 2–3 participants: a driver-guide will be arranged

    • For groups of 4 or more: a full-time outdoor expedition leader will accompany the group throughout the trip

What’s Excluded:

  • Airport pick-up service

  • Transportation to Yushu

  • Entrance fees to attractions or sites not explicitly mentioned in the itinerary (including any minor or optional entrance tickets).

  • All alcoholic beverages and drinks, except those specifically included by certain restaurants, guesthouses, or provided during picnics.

  • All personal expenses incurred during free activity periods.

  • Any items not specifically listed as included, such as 2 lunches, 1 dinner, and other miscellaneous personal expenses.

Trip Costs: €2199 euros / $2540 USD per person
Group tour with fewer than 10 people. Private tour available upon request.

Send us an inquiry

Begin Your Unique Journey Through China.

FAQ

  • There’s never a 100% guarantee when observing wildlife. Snow leopards are wild animals, and are used to traversing freely in the highland environment. However, we’ve selected multiple high-probability locations, scheduled multiple attempts, and coordinated with local villagers who scout in advance to maximise your chances of seeing a snow leopard.

  • Typically, the viewing distance ranges from 50 to 200 meters. In very lucky situations, a snow leopard may appear just 10 meters away by the roadside. In other cases, they may be seen on a distant ridge, about 500 meters away. We will prepare binoculars for every person, adapting to the diverse observation ranges. If observing over a longer duration, you may consider purchasing your own pair of binoculars. Recommended dimensions are 10×42, 8×3.

  • Use a camera model you are comfortable with. Bring extra batteries. Common lenses are 500mm or 600mm:

    • 500mm is heavier and suited for photographers.

    • If you’re an experienced photographer and want to capture high-quality wildlife photos, we recommend bringing a 600mm or 800mm lens.

  • Snow leopards are highly sensitive to heat. During colder months, they descend to lower elevations, making sightings more likely. In warmer seasons, they retreat to higher altitudes, which makes observation much more difficult. The highest probability of sightings occurs in late January and February, during their mating season. However, this also coincides with the harshest conditions—temperatures can drop below -30°C, and oxygen levels are significantly lower, which increases the risk of altitude sickness. As an alternative, we recommend November or as early as April, when the probability of sightings still ranges from 60–80%. For most travelers and wildlife photographers, we suggest October and November as the ideal months. The climate is more stable, snow leopards are active at more accessible altitudes, and conditions are generally more comfortable for travel and observation.

  • Hiking Made Easy Don’t worry if you’re new to hiking — our journey is designed to be comfortable and beginner-friendly. Each day’s walk is no more than 4 hours, along a mix of roads, trails, and gentle mountain paths. With just basic outdoor gear, you’ll be ready to go. And rest assured, our experienced guides are by your side the whole way, ensuring a safe and enjoyable adventure at high altitude.

  • The journey ranges from 3,700 to 4,500 meters above sea level. We will arrange two days in Yushu (3,700m) for acclimatization. If time allows, you may adapt at 2,500m (e.g. Xining) for 1–2 days before arriving. Our team is experienced in handling altitude sickness. Please inform your guide of any discomfort during the journey—safety is our top priority. In case of serious symptoms, we may adjust the route or cut short the trip.

    • Snow leopard – Best observed in January–February during mating season.

    • Marmot & Tibetan blue bear – Hibernate in winter, visible again in warmer months about May-September.

    • Bearded & Himalayan vultures – Widely distributed, easy to spot year-round.

    • Wolf – Harder to see in summer (often hidden in valleys), more visible in spring, autumn, and winter on grasslands or roadsides.

    • Blue sheep, White-lipped deer & Tibetan gazelle – High probability of sightings in every season.

  • In the Yushu area, it is strictly forbidden to use drones to film animals. However, using drones to capture the natural landscapes of the Sanjiangyuan region from the roadside is allowed.

  • Please bring shoes that are comfortable for walking outdoors and also waterproof. While staying at the camp, the catering will provide bedsheet and blankets. We recommend you to bring personal sleeping bags as well. We’re always happy to provide further advice and recommendations.

  • For safety and comfort considerations at high altitude, the recommended age range is 10 to 70 years old. Participants outside this range may still join, but a doctor’s certificate of good health and prior approval from the organizer are required.

  • Please check your country's visa requirements for travelling to China. If you are from a visa-exempt country, you will have a 15/30-day visa-free stay. Our trip lasts no more than 13 days, leaving plenty of time for departure. If you wish to stay longer than 15 days, please apply for a visa in advance.