Snow leopard safari at the Qinghai-Tibet plateau | China

📍 Qinghai, China

See them in the wild

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Snow leopard safari at the Qinghai-Tibet plateau | China

From

Duration7 days

FitnessModerate

CancellationFree cancellation 45 days before start time

🚗On-demand departure

⏰<4h response

Overview

Sanjiangyuan National Park is the first national park in China, spanning 363,000 square kilometres. At an average altitude of 4,500 meters, it is the source of three mighty rivers: the Yangtze, the Yellow, and the Mekong. It is a land of staggering contrasts—alpine peaks, sweeping grasslands, dense forests, and rugged deserts create a mosaic of ecosystems that support endangered and endemic species. China is home to c.60% of the world’s snow leopard population, most of which live around the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, where they are strictly protected. They roam rugged mountains, between the tree line and the snow line. Their elusive nature and impeccable camouflage make them one of the hardest animals to spot in the wild. On this safari, you may also encounter other predators, including Pallas’s cats, lynx, Tibetan foxes (known for their distinctive square faces), wild yaks and Tibetan brown bears. Sightings are never guaranteed, as these are truly wild animals with unpredictable behaviour. We follow strict animal observation guideline - never getting too close and never disturb them. Our 7-Day Snow Leopard Expedition works with local herders to give us the best chance of observing these magnificent cats. We will journey through this vast landscape and track wildlife with expert local Tibetan guides. Along the way, you will learn about the plateau’s unique species and ecosystems, as well as Tibetan culture and customs. The memory of seeing a snow leopard is one that will stay with you forever.

wildlife highlights

Your guide

Renqing

Tibetan, and a Yushu local. Renqing speaks fluent Tibetan, Mandarin, English, and French. Renqing has worked in many wildlife documentary projects, including ones for National Geographic and Disney, such as Frozen Planet and the Velvet Queen. He also worked as a local wildlife guide for French photographer Vincent Munier.

Caiwang

Tibetan, fluent in Tibetan, Mandarin, and English. Caiwang has been working in NGOs since graduation, and became a tour guide in 2015. Since then, he’s worked as a translator in many wildlife documentary projects, such as Frozen Planet 2. Since 2024, he joined us as a wildlife guide.

Why you'll love it

🔹 Home of snow leopard

You may be surprised to find that the plateau is a highly biodiverse habitat, and is home to some of the most charismatic species on earth. China is home to 60% of the world's snow leopard population, and most of them live on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau.

🔹 Expert Guide from Frozen Planet production

Our guide, Renqing, is a Yushu local and has worked on several wildlife documentary productions, including the Velvet Queen and Frozen Planet. This is truly an experience of a lifetime. We follow strict guidelines for wildlife viewing - never getting too close and never disturbing the animals.

🔹 Supporting Communities Through Conservation

In many rural areas, young people are moving to cities in search of jobs. Wildlife conservation and tourism offer a great alternative for many as a way to earn an income whilst staying connected to their land and home. Your tourism income supports both conservation and the local economy.

What you will be doing

Day 1: Arrive in Yushu City

We will meet at the hotel in Yushu (to be confirmed closer to departure). For those arriving before 3 p.m., we will meet in the hotel lobby at 3:30 p.m. to visit the Yushu Museum. Here, you’ll learn about the establishment of the Sanjiangyuan National Park and its wildlife. A welcome dinner will be held at 7 p.m.

Day 2: Yushu – Nangqian - Juela

We will depart before dawn to arrive at the observation point at sunrise. This area is characterised by mid to high-altitude mountain valleys, where we will search for lynx, alpine musk deer, Plateau pika, Himalayan vultures, bearded vulture, and more. Overnight in Juela.

Day 3: Juela – Longbaotan - Haxiu

We will be looking for lynx and other animals before dawn. The habitat here consists of mid to high-altitude mountain valleys. We will then head to Longbao wetland in the afternoon for bird watching. Overnight in Yunta.

Day 4: Haxiu

We will travel to Haxiu before dawn. The habitat here includes high-altitude mountain valleys and lowland forest. We will be searching for snow leopards, bharal, golden eagles, Himalayan vultures, bearded vulture, and more. After the morning observation, there will be some free time to relax. At 3 p.m., we will return to Haxiu to track wildlife at dusk. Overnight in Haxiu.

Day 5: Haxiu

As before, we will head to the observation point before dawn, continuing our search for snow leopards, Tibetan fox, goa, wolves, alpine musk deer, ruddy shelduck, and more. After the morning session, there will be free time to relax and enjoy lunch. At 2 p.m., we will return to Haxiu for further tracking at dusk, before travelling on to Zaduo. Overnight in Zaduo.

Day 6: Haxiu – Yushu

We will head to Snow Leopard Valley before dawn. This habitat is a mix of high-altitude mountain valleys and desert. We will be searching for snow leopards and other wildlife en route. We will then return to Geku to collect the camera traps and track more wildlife. In the evening, we will return to Yushu for a farewell dinner. Overnight in Yushu.

Day 7: Yushu

All good things must come to an end – it’s time to say goodbye.

Things to know

AccessibilityChildren must be over 10 years old

Fitness levelModerate

Tour languageEnglish | Chinese

Licence requiredNone

Price varies by number of participants. Quoted price is for a group of three
The minimum age is 10
This is a high-altitude tour. As flights to Yushu normally come from Xining, the capital of Qinghai Province, we recommend travellers from non-high altitude places to spend 2 days to climatise in Qinghai (2000m). We can help you arrange your Xining itinerary.
Plateau’s daily temperature difference can reach 20-30C, so bring layers. Warm clothes for evenings and breathable clothes and windproof for the day.
UVs are high on the plateau, please bring sun protection.
You must bring all your personal medication. It is illegal for us to give you any medication.
We have oxygen at accommodations and in the car. All staff are trained in first-aid.
The sequence of observation points may change based on real-time intel to maximise our chance of seeing the snow leopard

Inclusions and Exclusions

✅ Included

Accommodations
Meals
All activities
Tour guide
Tour transport
Water
Entry fees
Insurance

❌ Not included

Flights
Pick up and drop off transport
Gratuities

Where we'll meet

Meet up/Pick up location: Yushu, Qinghai, China

Instruction: We will meet at the hotel in Yushu (to be communicated close to depature time)

ReturnThis trip returns to meeting point.

Tell us your travel plan, and we'll send you a personalised itinerary and quote. There is no obligation to book.