Altai Tavan Bogd Trekking

Day 1. Arrival to Ulaanbaatar, guided city tour
Arrival in Ulaanbaatar (UB), the capital of Mongolia and transfer to a centrally located 4-star hotel. Afternoon guided city tour will introduce you to the highlights of the city: the Gandan Temple – city’s main Buddhist center, the central city square with a grand statue of Genghis Khan and the Zaisan Memorial, an elevated hill on the city’s edge providing a panoramic view of UB. Then choose to visit one or two museums from the following: National Museum introducing Mongolia’s history from early humans to the modern era, Dinosaur Museum with a unique collection of dinosaur fossils, Choijin Lama or State Oracle Residence-museum displaying best samples of Buddhist artwork and religious masks. Winter palace of Bogd Khan showcasing rare statues of Buddhist deities and items of personal use of this last theocratic ruler of Mongolia is also worth considering. An evening folk show of music, throat singing and contortion will be followed by a welcome dinner. (dinner, hotel)

Day 2. Flight to Altai region and drive to Baga Oigor petroglyph gallery
Transfer to UB airport for a flight to Ulgy town in Western Mongolia. Upon arrival meet with your support team and drive to Tavan Bogd NP. We travel across the mountainous desert for 5 hours to arrive at Baga Oigor valley, the site of an extensive petroglyph gallery included in the UNESCO “World Cultural Heritage List. Stone and Bronze age rock carvings here are scattered across an area 15km long and 500m wide. Images depict wild and domestic animals and scenes of human life such as hunting, handling domestic animals, worship, etc. Here we set up our tented camp and spend the rest of the day leisurely exploring the rock art gallery. We then return to our camp for dinner and overnight. (breakfast, lunch, dinner, tent)

Day 3. Travel to Tavan Bogd National Park
We travel along enormous V-shaped mountain valleys with small rivers streaming from glaciers that cover the mountain tops. Mountain slopes covered in lush grass alternate with steep mountainsides completely covered in scree. Large mushroom-like yurts of Kazakh herders and their massive flocks of yaks and goats often come across our way as well as a multitude of marmots. Shortly after lunch, we arrive at Tavan Bogd NP gate, a few yurts – home of local rangers at the foothill of even bigger mountains. This is the starting point of the trek. Until dinner, you may walk and explore the surrounding foothills. This evening local herders will arrive with their pack camels that will carry our camp, luggage, and food in the next days. (breakfast, lunch, dinner, tent)

Day 4. Trek to Tavan Bogd base camp
After a hearty breakfast, we trek to Tavan Bogd base camp (BC), the launch-pad for climbing the highest peaks of Tavan Bogd. Watch Bactrian camels being loaded and set off for the BC. Most of the route is a gradual ascent on high mountain terrain with occasional bogs and a few shallow streams to cross and just two steep but short sections. Halfway through the route magnificent views of snow-capped peaks and vast glaciers will come into your sight. Around lunch-time, the camel caravan overtakes trekkers who normally reach BC in the late afternoon. Our campsite at just over 3000meters allows impressive views of Mongolia’s highest peaks and largest glaciers. (breakfast, lunch, dinner, tent)

Day 5. Climb Malchin peak (4051m) or to a the Russia-Mongolia borderline
Our today’s goal is to climb one of the lower and easier peaks of the area. Although non-technical a return trip requires 7-9 hours depending on trekkers’ fitness and weather conditions. We hike along the Potanin glacier moraine for an hour before stepping on the mountain. Although entirely on scree the trail is well established and marked requiring just trekking poles. Once at the top enjoy spectacular bird-eye views of glaciers, snow-capped peaks, and the Russian territory. There is also a less demanding option of climbing to a lower ridge that marks the borderline between the two countries. Off the mountainside stroll to the camp. (breakfast, lunch, dinner, tent)

Day 6. Trek out to lower gate of Tavan Bogd NP
Going to the lower gate of the NP is an easy downhill stroll although some marshy sections and streams need to be negotiated. At two-thirds of the way, we reach the edge of a deep V-shaped valley at the bottom of which rumbles a torrential river full of glacial silt. This is the Tsagaan Gol river. Its lush valley is the summer pastureland of Tuvan camel herders accompanying us. A steep descent to the riverside and arrive at our campsite beside the rumbling river. Enjoy a well-earned rest and socialize with other travelers who might be camping at the designated campground. (breakfast, lunch, dinner, tent)

Day 7. Trek to Holy Shiveet mountain, spot wild goats or see rock carvings
Easy morning hike to visit a Tuvan family most likely that of one of the camel herders that had accompanied us during the previous days of trekking. Tuvans also is known as Uriankhai is an ethnic group of Turkic origin that has historically been moving around southern Siberia. Traditionally these cattle-herding nomads practiced shamanism – worship of ancestral and natural spirits but today their belief is a strong blend with Tibetan Buddhism. We use the invitation to learn about their way of life and to taste food and drinks offered by the unwritten local rules. After the visit, we hike to Mt.Shiveet and climb to its wide top to spot wild mountain goats (Capra Sibirica). Seeing them is almost guaranteed but requires a bit of tracking and hiding. A less demanding hike around the base of the Holy Mountain will allow you to see more ancient rock art displaying fascinating scenes of hunting by distant residents of the Altai region. We return to our camp beside the mountain. (breakfast, lunch, dinner, tent)

Day 8. Travel to explore Kazakh culture
We depart from the Tsagaan Gol valley drive to summer pasturelands of Kazakh herders. Among millions of Kazakhs living in different parts of the world Mongolian Kazakhs are seen as the bearers of authentic Kazakh culture and traditions which are different from that of Mongolians in many ways. We randomly “knock on the door” and visit local herding families to find out about these very differences, their stories, and customs. We might be lucky to see their daily chores: tending animals, preparing food, etc. Eventually, we find a suitable place to camp and enjoy the last camping out in the wild. (breakfast, lunch, dinner, tent)

Day 9. Drive to Ulgy town
Getting back to Ulgy takes about 3 hours. However, along the way, we stop at a Kazakh family that practices an ancient craft of hunting with Golden Eagles. The once nearly forgotten tradition had been preserved by Mongolia’s Kazakh minority and today it’s being actively revived with even women trying their luck in training eagles. Actual hunting is done in winter but still, you may learn about the craft and feel the weight of the massive birds by holding them on your arm. We aim to return to Ulgy by lunchtime and settle in a cozy hotel. Time permitting you can walk the streets of the town that has distinct Central Asian characters, visit the town market and museum. A traditional Kazakh dinner accompanied by music and songs will be fitting final to your travels. (breakfast, dinner, hotel)

Day 10.  Return flight to Ulaanbaatar, farewell dinner
After breakfast transfer to Ulgy airport for flight to Ulaanbaatar. On arrival transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your disposal. Nevertheless, you may consider doing more city visits or souvenir shopping as your guide will still be available on standby. In the evening gather for a farewell dinner. (breakfast, dinner, hotel)

Day 11. Departure
Transfer to the airport for your return flight home. (breakfast)