Altai Mountains, Mini Gobi Desert, Eagle Hunting

5-day trip

Overview:

See the spectacular natural beauty of Altai country and Tolbo Lake. Stay with an Eagle Hunter family and learn about our nomadic culture. Travel through the Mongolian steppe, seeing mountains and hills filled with beautiful wildlife.  Meet the Kazakh nomads of Mongolia, and learn from their unique culture and way of living. Travel to Elsen Tasarkhai (Mini Gobi), which is a combination of mountain, forest, and desert.  Ride a two-humped camel!  

Duration: 5 days, 4 nights

Trip type: Cultural and Soft-Adventure

Level: Moderate

Best season: Summer and Autumn

Activities: Overland tour, Visiting local kazak family, Hiking, Camel riding on the sand dunes

Transportation: 4WD, domestic flight

Meals: Local and basic

Accommodation: 1- night Kazak nomadic home-stay, 1-night local hotel, 2-night tourist ger camp

Duration: 5 days, 4 nights

Cost: from $2,320 per passenger

Day 1: Drive to Elsen Tasarkhai (Mini Gobi)

Our driver will pick you up from your hotel, we will drive to Elsen Tasarkhai (Mini Gobi). This is a long strip of sand dunes covering an area of 47000 hectares. We will visit a nomadic family to experience this tribe’s nomadic way of life. North of the dunes, there is a rocky and wooded mountain named Khugnu Khan. The view from the top of the mountain is spectacular, and well worth the optional hike. 

• One-hour camel riding in the sand dunes

• Hiking up Khugnu Khan mountain (optional) 

• Make your very first Mongolian traditional dish with the family 

Meals: B, L, D
Accommodation: Tourist ger camp

Day 2: Drive to Khustai National Park

After breakfast, we will drive to Khustai National Park. Khustai National Park is a unique and special place. Mongolian wild horses (Takhi, or Pzewalski 's horse) have been reintroduced here after their near extinction. The park was set aside as a protected area by the Mongolian government in 1993. We will stop in at the information center to learn more about how and why the wild horses were reintroduced to Mongolia.

• Watch a short video about Khustai National Park 

• Tour the area by vehicle, hoping to spot the rare horses. We will cover approximately 30 km. 

Accommodations: Tourist ger camp
Meals: B, L, D

Day 3: Fly to Ulgii – Drive to Altai country and visit Eagle Hunter family

We will drive to Chinggis Khan international airport, where you will fly to Ulgii city, Bayan-Ulgii Province. When you arrive in Ulgii, you will be met by our local guide and driver. We will drive to Altai country about 140 km and stay with a Kazakh Eagle Hunter's family—a delightful highlight of the trip. It will be a rare opportunity to learn some Kazakh Eagle hunting skills, see their regular daily life, and experience their amazing hospitality. We will stay with the family guest ger.  On the way to meet the Kazak Eagle Hunter family, we will stop by Tolbo Lake. It’s about 50 km south of Ulgii. This freshwater lake sits at a high elevation of 2080 m. The shoreline has no trees, and the water is sparkling clean. It’s a great place for a scenic photo.

Meals: B, L, D
Accommodations: Guest ger

Day 4: Around and about Altai country and Hiking to Nutsgent Lake

We explore the scenic beauty of this area, and drive to Nutsgent Lake which is one of the highest lakes in western Mongolia. We will spend about a half-day hiking around the lake and ride a horse. We will then return to Ulgii and visit local museum and souvenir shops.  We will stay overnight at the local hotel.

Meals: B, L, D
Accommodations: Local hotel

Day 5: Fly back to Ulaanbaatar

After breakfast, we will fly back to Ulaanbaatar. Our driver will drop you off to your hotel.

Meals: B, L