5 days in the Altai Mountains

Overview:

Bayan-Ulgii is the Mongolian western province, where Altai Mountains and home to unique Kazakh nomadic culture, diverse wildlife along with rich wild animals such as bear, wolf, fox, big horn wild sheep, ibex, and snow leopard. Hunting with Eagles in the stunning scenery of highest snow-capped mountains over 4000 meters of height and largest glaciers of Mongolia. Explore this land by foot, horse, camel, SUV or bike. Traveling to Altai is the real adventure of a lifetime.

Duration: 5 days, 4 nights

Trip type: Adventure

Level: Challenging (Camping and horse trekking)

Vehicle: Domestic flight and Ground transportation by 4WD

Accommodation: Ger camp or Guest House Ger

Meals: 13 meals- 4 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners

Cost: from $2,210 per passenger

Day 1: Fly to Bayan-Ulgii Province from Ulaanbaatar City

Our driver will pick you up from your hotel and drop you off at the airport where you will fly to Ulgii city, Bayan-Ulgii Province. When you arrive in Ulgii, you’ll meet with our local guide, and together drive about 200km (124miles) to the Altai Tavan Bogd National Park. It covers 630,000 hectare land and it has three large freshwater lakes, 34 glaciers and several waterfalls. Ancient tribes have left many artifacts including numerous Turkic Stone Men and stone burial mounds. On the way, we will have lunch. (The drive will take about 6-7 hours) By late evening, we will be at Tsagaan Gol valley and camp near the Tuvan family's home.

Accommodation: Tuvan nomadic family ger

Meals: L, D

Day 2: Horse Trekking to Altai Tavan Bogd - Potanin glacier

After the breakfast, we will meet our horse guide and our horses, we’ll pack the camels with the luggage and kitchen materials, then we will ride to the Altai Tavan Bogd base camp for about 2-3 hours, then we will Camp there. Tavan Bogd Mountains are considered sacred to local Kazakhs, Tuvans, and Mongolians and using the region for religious ceremonies. We will walk to Potanin glacier. Potanin glacier is Ice River starts from Altai Tavan Bogd Snow Peaks, and it's the longest glacier in Mongolia which is about 14 km. In this day, we will go on horse trekking for 5-6 hours. So, if you get tired of riding a horse, you can hike some of time.

Accommodation: Tent

Meals: BF, L, D

Day 3: Malchin Peak hiking

Today we will hike to the Malchin Peak and back to Tsagaan Gol Valley in the evening. Following a glacier exploration, we will climb to the Malchin Peak (4050m) on the Mongolian and Russian border. The Malchin Peak is the lowest of the Holy Five Peaks and takes to 6-7 hours to climb. So, it will take a whole day, and in the evening we will stay at Tuvan nomadic family's home. Malchin is one of seven peaks that can be climbed without special equipment. After that we will go down to get back to Tsagaan Gol Valley.

Accommodation: Tuvan nomadic family ger

Meals: BF, L, D

Day 4: Eagle hunter Kazakh nomadic family in Shiveet Mountain

After breakfast, we will drive to ride across mountain landscapes and see many lakes. On the way, we stop often to enjoy the exceptional view on the Shiveet Khairkhan range and its snow-covered peaks. We reach Shiveet Khairkhan, sacred mountain for the Tuvas living in the area. Because the mountain is sacred, it's forbidden to hunt and you may have the good chance to see an ibex or wild goats early in the morning. Also, there are 150 stone men (balbals), 1500 statues (stone burial markers), 50 deer stones, 6300 ancient graves and tombs, and thousands of petroglyphs. At the end of the day, we will visit to Kazakh Nomadic Family to learn about their regular daily life and feel great hospitality. Household of this Kazakh Family is eagle hunter, so you will be able to experience how eagle hunter trains his Eagle. Other thing is you will be able to learn how to hold the bird on your arm. We will stay overnight in Kazakh family's ger.

Accommodation: Kazakh nomadic family ger

Meals: BF, L, D

Day 5: Ulgii- Ulaanbaatar

We will have a breakfast and have a sightseeing tour around the Ulgii city if the time allows before our domestic flight. Then we’ll fly back to Ulaanbaatar and transfer you to your hotel.

Meals: B, L, D