ALTAI TREKKING TOUR IN MONGOLIA

Day 1: Welcome to the Heart of Altai Mountains

3 hour flight from Ulaanbatar to Ulgii

From Ulaanbatar, take a 3-hour flight to Ulgii City in the Bayan-Ulgii province in Western Mongolia. Your English-speaking guide and driver will welcome you upon arrival and introduce you to Ulgii, with its unique Kazakh culture and language (you'll be surprised to know that little Mongolian is spoken in Ulgii). You'll visit the local museum and the open-air market. After a delicious meal to prepare us for the road, the journey begins! We head to Tavan Bogd National Park, through its stunning wilderness where expansive rocky plains give way to a green valley, and the rugged peaks of the Altai. We will stop at Ulaan-khus to explore numerous petroglyphs and Turkic stone along the Sogoog River basin. It is surrounded by archaeological monuments constructed during the Bronze Age and the Hun and Turkic invasions. In the evening, we will arrive at the campsite on the edge of the National Park boundary. We shall meet the Tuvan people who will prepare pack camels to support our trek. Enjoy a rusting fare around a campfire on the banks of the glacier Tsagaan River, Tsagaan Gol. (L/D/Tent)

Day 2: Trek to Base Camp

After breakfast, we trek towards the base camp of the snow-capped Tavan Bogd Massif and to the impressive Potanin glacier - seeing both the Potanin and Alexander Glaciers. The 20km long Potanin Glacier runs down from the highest mountains of Mongolia and is an excellent base for trekking and climbing the surrounding peaks. This is where we’ll pitch our tents and camp for the night.

Accommodation: Stay overnight in a tent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Total trekking: 5-6 hours

Day 3: Climb to Malchin Peak (4051m/13290f above sea level )

Malchin Peak is located right on the borderline between Russia and Mongolia. It is the only mountain where it is possible to climb up without any special climbing equipment, except hiking boots.

But it is not easy, some parts of the trail are very steep with big stones, which makes it difficult to climb up. Also, the weather plays a big role. Our main priority is to be safe. So, our tour guide will lead the group as highly as possible depending on how the weather changes.

Enjoy the breathtaking view of the surrounding nature. As an alternative option, in case of bad weather, we can offer you to explore Potanin Glacier. It is a 16 km long and 4 km wide glacier with a number of deep crevasses.

Enjoy your trekking. Then you will go back to the base camp. As usual delicious meal from our chef cook will be waiting for you

Accommodation: Stay overnight in a tent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Total trekking: 7 hours more-less

DAY 5: White-River valley

Today we will trek down to the south entrance. We will take a different trail than we came and it is one of the most beautiful valleys in the National Park. Enjoy snow-capped mountains and a stunning white river. The color of the water is really white because it takes starts right from the glacier and the mineral dust turns the water white. But you can try fly fishing there, if you are interested in it.

Sadly, it is not drinkable. Arrive at the South entrance of the National park. Set our tents at the camping place and prepare your sleeping bag. In the evening, if you feel like more hiking, we can recommend you to visit Green Lake. It takes another couple of hours but you will not regret it. Then we can make it for the evening activity.

Accommodation: Stay overnight in a tent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Total trekking: 5-6 hours

Day 5: Shiveet Mountains

Today, we trek to the Shiveet Mountain with its stunningly beautiful blue lakes, 4000 m high snow-capped mountains, glaciers, and an area rich of archaeological sites. The best petroglyphs can be found here, and it is home to a large number of ibex and wild goats. We will also see a large Ovoo, a shaman shrine the local Tuvans and their shamanistic faith.

Day 6: Khar Sala Valley

We head down hill and visit a local Tuvan family who follow Shamanism. We continue on to ascend up into the Khar Sala Valley - a stunningly beautiful region of snow-capped peaks.

Day 7: Khara Airikh Valley

We trek to the Khara Airikh Valley, and over the 3100m mountain pass. (This part of the tour is carried out only for post-June bookings. During the colder seasons, the pass is snow-covered and an alternative route will be planned.) After the pass, we will see waterfalls as we ride downhill to the bottom of Akhsu Valley.

Day 8-9: Tsaagan Khairhan Uul – the “Sacred White Mountain” and Bear Valley

We cross the Altais at an elevation of 3600m. Here, we’ll enjoy broad views across the mountain range, including the Tsaagan Hairhan Uul – the “Sacred White Mountain” (elevation: 3662m). We arrive at the scenic Bear Valley, home to glacier-fed streams and rivers, forested hills, and wooded meadows. We will spend two nights here.

Day 10: Akh Su Valley and Khulinidi

We can either trek by horse, or take a short break from the horses and go hiking, through the forest to Akh Su Valley – a beautiful spot at the junction of Arshaani and Akh Su River. Continuing through the river valley, on horseback we cross rivers to follow the lake shore of Hulindi. We set up camp by the banks of Hulinidi.

Day 11: The Khoton, Khurgan and Dayan lake

We go on a full-day trek to see the mesmerizing Khoton, Khurgan and Dayan lakes. Untouched and pure, the mountain rivers gushing into the lakes, make for an impressive landscape and a fabulous place to catch a wide variety of fish. We continue down the dramatic, steep valley along the river that drains from the Altai Tavanbogd Massif, and set up camp on the shores of Khoton Lake, under the snow-capped Ikh Turgen Uul. Our camp site will be a mere 3km away from China and will have a back drop of the beautiful snow-capped mountain range - outlining the Mongolian-Chinese border. In the summer, the area is the pasture of Kazakh nomads, and In the evening, we will visit a local Kazakh family, observing their nomadic way of living.

Day 12: Baga Turgin Waterfall and Meeting an Eagle Hunter

Enjoy a free morning on the shores and summer pastures of Khoton Lake. Learn more about the Kazakh culture, find great fishing spots, and/or trek to the Baga Durgin waterfall. In the afternoon, we visit an Eagle Hunting family, where you'll learn about the practice and skill of eagle hunting. Get the opportunity to take photos with an eagle perched on your arm. We camp near the Eagle Hunter's family home.

Day 13: The Sumd-Airakh River

Today, we saddle up and horse ride for 18km along the Sumd-Airakh River. Cross small and large rivers on horse back, and ride through forests, before arriving at a camp set up by the team. Enjoy our last night camping in the National Park, facing the river and the Altai mountains. Enjoy the time spent with nomads who herd their cattle or milk their mares. Enjoy a traditional Kazakh meal, including: “Kaz” (horse sausage), the national dish of “Besbarmak” (a meat plate served with root vegetables and steamed flour), and “Koumiss” (fermented mare’s milk). OPTIONAL: Sleep in a Kazakh yurt.

Day 14: Drive back to Ulgii

We return to Ulgii following the Khovd River. We take a pit stop at Tsengel Soum, a small village center. After a full day of driving, we arrive in Ulgii. Rest overnight at a guest house. OPTIONAL: Stay in a Ger.

day 15 Fly back to Ulaanbaator capital city

We say farewell as you fly back to Ulaanbaatar.

WE ARE FLEXIBLE

ALL OUR TOURS ARE FLEXIBLE ACCORDING TO YOUR WISHES!

What do I expect to see?
Authentic nomadic lifestyle
Hiking & Trekking
Beautiful nature & Mountains
Visit Eagle Hunter/Huntress
Kazakh Traditional music
Visit traditional Yurt (Ger)
Walk on Potaniin glacier

What services do I need?
Driver & Van
Translator guide
Chef or Cooking
Camels for transportation
Camel experts
Camping equipment
Domestic flight booking