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.
See them in the wild
Community support
Kodama Tested
Key target species
Snow Leopard
Vulnerable
Lynx
Vulnerable
Pallas's cat
Least concern
Tibetan fox
Least concern
Wolf
Least concern
What you will be doing
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
All good things must come to an end – it’s time to say goodbye.
Where we'll meet
🧭 Meeting/pick-up point: Yushu, Qinghai, China
🗺️ Instructions: We will meet at the hotel in Yushu (to be communicated close to depature time)
Things to know
Accessibility:
Children must be over 10 years old
Fitness requirement
Moderate fitness level
Tour Language
English
Chinese
License requirement
None
Additional information:
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
Inclusion ✅
Accommodations
Meals
All activities
Tour guide
Tour transport
Water
Entry fees
Exclusion ❌
Pick up and drop off transport
Gratuities
About your host
BenchmarkBenchmark is an outdoor and wildlife travel agency in China. A pioneer in introducing outdoor travel to domestic audiences and in opening up China’s national park tours with selected routes for international visitors, we follow strict wildlife welfare guidelines and work closely with local guides and communities.
For every trip booked, Kodama Travel donates £1 to Just One Tree to restore our forests and the ocean.
💛 From Kodama
Our team joined Benchmark’s snow leopard safari in July 2025. It was an eye-opening experience – we learnt so much, not only about this highly elusive species but also about the wider plateau ecosystem and its wildlife. With our guide, Renqing, we gained a deeper understanding of Tibetan life and customs. It was truly an experience of a lifetime. We can also vouch that Benchmark follows strict guidline for wildlife viewing, never getting too close, and never disturb the animals.