HIKING & HORSEBACK RIDING TOUR IN ALTAI MONGOLIA

Day 1: Arrival and trek preparation

Welcome to Western Mongolia

See Ancient Archaeological Artefacts

Prepare Your Camel for the Long Trek

From Ulaanbaatar, take a 3 hour flight to Ulgii City in the Bayan-Ulgii province of 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: Potanin Glacier

After breakfast, we kick off day 2 with a horse ride towards the base camp of the snow-capped Tavan Bogd Massif to see the impressive Potanin Glacier. 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. (B/L/D/Tent)

Day 3: Malchin Peak and the Five Holy Saints of Mongolia

Today we climb Malchin Peak, with an elevation of 4050 metres, it is the lowest of the Holy Five Peaks of Mongolia. It sits on the Mongolian-Russian border of Tavan Bogd and is a non-technical climb. Your English speaking guide and the local Tuvan guides, will lead us on a climb, mostly over rocks. At the top, enjoy marvellous views of all the Peaks and Potanin Glacier.

Day 4: Visiting a Nomadic Tuvan Family

Today, we trek downhill to the Tsagan Gol valley. After our long trek, we’ll be welcomed by a nomadic Tuvan family. We’ll sample their dairy products, their special milk vodka distilled from yak milk, and peruse their wonderful felt crafts.

Day 5: Shiveet Mountain and Shamanism

Today, we drive 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 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: The Khara Airakh and Bear Valleys

Today we have a full day’s drive to the Akh Su, Khara Airikh Valley over a mountain pass (elevation: 3100m). We then reach Bear Valley - an area inaccessible by motor vehicles. Located southwest of the Altai Tavan Bogd National Park, Bear Valley is a spectacular place with fantastic landscapes. It is surrounded by green snow capped mountains, several waterfalls and crystal clear lakes. During the early nomadic years, people used Bear Valley as a short cut to get to from their winter place to their summer place, migrating with packed camels and all their livestock. You will see the dramatic mountains they encountered, as well as the wild animals, beautiful lakes, and the wide rivers, white as milk, that divide the valley into two. Since that time Bear Valley has been protected, and without vehicle access we will trek by horse with packed camels.

Days 8-9: Crossing the Altai at an elevation of 3600m

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 return to the scenic Bear Valley, home to glacier-fed streams and rivers, forested hills, and wooded meadows. We will spend two nights here.

Days 10-11: Akh Su Valley

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 lakeshore of Hulindi. We set up camp by the banks of Khulinidi.

Day 12: Green Lake

We continue trekking down the valley through patches of larch forest. When we reach Green Lake, we will set up camp.

Day 13-14: The Khoton, Khurgan and Dayan Lakes

Camping by the Mongolian-Chinese border

We go on a full-day trek to see the mesmerising 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. On the way, we stop in Mogoit Valley to see the ancient stone man,balbals. We set up camp on the shores of Khoton Lake, with a back drop of the beautiful snow capped mountain range - outlining the Mongolian-Chinese Border.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 snowcapped 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 15: Baga Durgin Waterfall and Meeting an Eagle Hunter's Family

In the morning, we enjoy an easy trek to Baga Durgin waterfall - a very beautiful spot with gorges and mountains. This waterfall is formed by small glaciers up in the Altai range mountain and flows down to where the Kazakh nomads live. Meet the locals, enjoy the stunning landscape, and maybe even take a swim under the 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 16-19: 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. It will be our last night camping in the National Park. We pitch our tents facing the river and the Altai mountains (or note: you have the option to sleep in a Kazakh Ger.) 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 embroidered yurt.

Day 20: The Khovd River and Tsengel Soum

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 21: Departure

We say farewell, as you fly back to Ulaanbaatar.