Mountain
Inspiring you to tour the Mountain biome and embark on a journey of discovery through its breathtaking areas of natural beauty and diverse wildlife
Rising hundreds of metres above the areas that surround them, mountains can loom over cities and countryside like ever-watchful guardians. With a quarter of the Earth’s surface covered by mountainous terrain, these habitats are an essential part of our planet’s ecosystem - providing water to more than half of all people alive today.
High in mountain ranges from the Rockies to the Himalayas, life abounds. From mountain goats and sheep to multiple species of bear and a wide variety of birds, these habitats might be tough, but the animals that live here have adapted to ensure their continued survival.
The sweeping valleys and high peaks of mountain ranges across the world serve as a stunning visual reminder of how these dramatic environments came into being: often formed over millennia from the clashing of tectonic plates, mountains provide habitats that are completely unique when compared to the landscapes that surround them.
Mountain characteristics
- Steep inclines
- Small summit areas
- High altitude
- Sharp ridges
- Lower oxygen levels
- Cool air temperature
- Intense microclimates
- Rivers and streams
Mountain climate
10
°C
-12
°C
300
mm
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Climate Change
Climate change can cause snow to melt, leading to increased instances of avalanches, glacial melting, and changes to rivers and streams. These changes can present clear danger to people and animals living on or near the mountains, as well as disrupting the ecosystem of the mountain itself.
Illegal hunting and unsustainable clearing of land can lead to the destruction of natural habitats in the mountains, pushing animals further towards extinction. Over-tourism can also erode natural habitats, and increase pollution in the area’s soil and water.
Top Mountain tours
Whether it’s winter or summer, mountains across the world offer up opportunities for adventure in abundance. From paragliding, hiking, white-water rafting, biking and paddle-boarding in mountain lakes in summer to skiing, snowboarding, ice-climbing and dog-sledding in the winter, adrenalin junkies can guarantee multiple activities to get their pulses racing. You could even start your day by hot air ballooning through the mountains - bringing to life a view that you’re unlikely to ever forget.
Lodges and cabins are available in many mountain ranges, but camping offers the chance to get even closer to nature. The sense of calm that comes with being at a high altitude, maybe without internet access or phone signal, can really remind us what’s important: reconnection with nature, and the chance to experience a morning sunrise without any distractions.
Patagonia,
Tours in the Mountain biome
Aconcagua
25 days from
£5,525 / person
Denali
26 days from
TBC / person
Everest Base Camp
16 days from
£2,440 / person
Everest Base Camp
19 days from
£2,545 / person
Expedition Skills Course
7 days from
£1,030 / person
K2 BaseCamp
22 days days from
£3,745 / person
Kang Yatse 2
14 days from
£2,230 / person
Kilimanjaro Trek
11 days from
£2,695 / person
Manaslu Circuit
15 days from
£2,495 / person
Raft & Trek Morocco
8 days from
£1,735 / person
Tour du Mont Blanc
8 days from
TBC / person
Brazil Uncharted
19 days from
£5,985 / person
Bristol Hiker Girls
5 days from
£790 / person
Gasherbrum 2
46 days from
TBC / person
Great Trango Tower
21 days from
TBC / person
Khumbu Classics
24 days from
£3,995 / person
Manaslu Summit
47 days from
TBC / person
Mera, Island & Lobuche
27 days from
£5,240 / person
Ordesa & Gavarnie Trek
7 days from
£975 / person
Rwenzori Trek
14 days from
£4,495 / person
Swiss Alps
8 days from
£2,990 / person
The Matterhorn
8 days from
£2,950 / person
UK 3 Peaks 3 Days
5 days from
£1,819 / person
Canadian Rockies
15 days from
£2,420 / person
Vancouver Island & Northern Rockies
11 days from
£2,999 / person
Canada & The Rocky Mountaineer
12 days from
£6,499 / person
Hiking in the Canadian Rockies
8 days from
£1,750 / person
High Arctic Explorer - Canada to Greenland (Ocean Endeavour)
13 days from
£11,135 / person
High Arctic Explorer - Greenland to Canada (Ocean Endeavour)
13 days from
£10,320 / person
Banff & Jasper & YOHO & Kootenay & Waterton Lakes National Park 7-Day Tour from Calgary
7 days from
£1,026 / person
Active West Coast Canada Discovery
8 days from
£1,599 / person
Active West Coast & Canadian Rockies
16 days from
£3,499 / person
Western Journey – Western Canada Holiday
8 days from
£1,510 / person
Western Canada Discovery
9 days from
£1,138 / person
Southern Europe: Montenegro, Corfu & Medieval Fortresses
8 days from
£829 / person
New Zealand Journey
12 days from
£3,999 / person
Southern Spotlight
9 days from
£2,745 / person
New Zealand Magic
17 days from
£4,895 / person
New Zealand Marvel
14 days from
£4,155 / person
Iconic Australia and New Zealand
23 days from
£8,599 / person
Exploring America's National Parks
15 days from
£2,689 / person
Spectacular Canyons and National Parks End Rapid City
13 days from
£2,850 / person
American Parks Trail with Rocky Mountaineer Option, Classic Group
12 days from
£6,185 / person
America's Magnificent National Parks - end Denver, Classic Group
15 days from
£6,309 / person
Western Frontiers End Denver
10 days from
£3,387 / person
Hiking and Backpacking in Yellowstone
4 days from
£1,310 / person
Hiking the Best of Yellowstone and Grand Tetons
5 days from
£3,370 / person
Iconic National Parks of America
15 days from
£3,699 / person
Iconic Wildlife of Yellowstone & Grand Teton
7 days from
£3,049 / person
Yellowstone Wildlife Trails - Camping
12 days from
£3,699 / person
Yellowstone Camping Explorer
6 days from
£1,479 / person
Hiking in Yosemite National Park
5 days from
£1,960 / person
California National Park Discovery
7 days from
£1,829 / person
Peaks of Yosemite 8D/7N
8 days from
£2,750 / person
Hiking Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and Yosemite
8 days from
£1,429 / person
USA Road Trip — Yosemite, Canyons & Camping
13 days from
£2,649 / person
California Dreaming: Yosemite, Death Valley & Coastal Camping
7 days from
£869 / person
Hiking in Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada
5 days from
£1,625 / person
San Francisco & Yosemite Express 3D/2N (From Los Angeles)
3 days from
£634 / person
4 Day Death Valley, Yosemite, San Francisco from Las Vegas
4 days from
£1,117 / person
Highlights of the West Adventure 7D/6N
7 days from
£1,521 / person
California's Great National Parks
8 days from
£3,321 / person
Alaska Hike, Bike & Kayak
6 days from
£2,599 / person
Ultimate Active Alaska
14 days from
£3,699 / person
Natural Wonders of Alaska
13 days from
£4,495 / person
Majestic Alaska
10 days from
£3,720 / person
Alaska Wildlife & Wilderness
10 days from
£3,799 / person
Outdoor Alaska
14 days from
£4,460 / person
Grand Alaskan Adventure with Alaska Cruise
13 days from
£3,534 / person
Jewels of Alaska - Small Group
7 days from
£5,438 / person
Discovering the Wilderness: Alaska's National Parks
8 days from
£2,553 / person
The Ultimate Alaska Grand Adventure
8 days from
£2,319 / person
Hiking in Denali National Park
6 days from
£2,505 / person
Kenai Fjords & Denali Adventure
8 days from
£4,799 / person
Alaska Kenai & Denali Adventure
8 days from
£2,149 / person
Amazon, Incas & Titicaca - 13 days
13 days from
£2,945 / person
Inca Trail & the Amazon Rainforest
15 days from
£3,999 / person
Ecuador: Amazon, Hot Springs & Volcanoes
9 days from
£1,659 / person
Ecuador: Cotopaxi & the Amazon Jungle
8 days from
£2,349 / person
Inca Trail & Amazon Adventure
12 days from
£2,396 / person
Amazon to the Andes
12 days from
£1,799 / person
Inca & Amazon Adventure
12 days from
£4,020 / person
Andes to Amazon
14 days from
£2,549 / person
Inland & Amazon
14 days from
£1,519 / person
Cartagena To Manaus - Trans South America
189 days from
£8,355 / person
Ultimate South America with Brazil's Amazon & Galapagos Cruise
30 days from
£10,384 / person
Gorillas In Africa’s Midst
10 days from
£6,995 / person
Family Costa Rica Rainforest and Wildlife Adventure
14 days from
£2,899 / person
Legendary Wildlife of Rwanda & Kenya
14 days from
£8,819 / person
Wild Encounters in Rwanda
8 days from
£5,729 / person
Gorillas & Game Parks
16 days from
£3,236 / person
Beaches, Game Parks & Gorillas
27 days from
£5,464 / person
Mountains of the Moon
13 days from
£3,290 / person
Remarkable Rwanda & Gorillas of Uganda
9 days from
£3,890 / person
Nairobi To Kigali (13 Days) Gorillas & Gameparks
13 days from
£975 / person
Gorillas & Hiking Uganda's Rwenzori Mountains
12 days from
£3,780 / person
Rwenzori mountain Uganda
8 days from
£1,681 / person
Mountain areas of natural beauty
You only have to look at a picture of Mount Fuji, often framed in cherry blossom or ringed with early morning mist, to get a sense of how naturally beautiful a mountain can be. From the Dolomites in Italy to the Valley of Flowers National Park in the Indian Himalayas, UNESCO has noted numerous mountainous areas for their natural beauty.
Wildlife
Mountain animals
Numerous different types of animal have made mountainous regions their home. The animals you’ll find at these altitudes vary depending on where you are in the world. In the Rocky Mountains you’ll find moose, elk, deer, black and grizzly bears, cougars, lynx and bobcats. In the Himalayas you might spot clouded leopards, antelopes and monkeys. In South America, the Andes are home to alpacas, llamas, tapir, and the majestic Andrean condor.
Mountain plants
In countries in the northern hemisphere the trees most often found in mountains are coniferous, built to withstand cold temperatures and harsh conditions. Coniferous forests found along mountain ranges are home to fir, spruce and pine trees. Aspens, willows and shrub plants are also likely to be found here. In mountains in Australia and New Zealand broad-leaf trees are more likely, whilst in Japan area of health and grassland can be found at higher altitude than the trees.
Mountain countries
Mountains can be found across the world, from Chile to Japan. Some of the planet’s most famous mountain ranges include the Andes (which covers a large swathe of South America), the Himalayas (home to Everest and spreading through India, Nepal, China and Bhutan), the Rockies (Canada and the United States.) Household names including Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya are found on the African continent, in Tanzania and Kenya respectively. Bhutan and Nepal are the most mountainous countries in the world.
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