Western Mongolia Tour: Altai Tavan Bogd Highlights

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Join a Mongolia Trekking Tour in Altai Tavan Bogd National Park. Explore nomadic traditions, stunning landscapes, and customize your adventure. Book your private trip today.

Duration: 10 days

Cancellation: 24 hours

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Highlights

Arrival in Bayan-Olgii Province, Journey to the Altai Mountains

Altai Tavan Bogd National Park - Welcome to Olgii, the land of the magnificent Altai Mountains and the last home of nomadic eagle hunters! Upon arrival at the airport, the local support team will greet you. This includes an English-speaking tour guide, a local driver with an off-road vehicle, and a personal expedition cook. Today, the journey will take you to Altai Tavan Bogd National Park, a drive of approximately six hours. Relish the breathtaking views of the Altai Mountains. Upon arrival, the camp will be set up in preparation for the next day’s trek.

Trekking to the Base Camp

Altai Tavan Bogd National Park - After breakfast, please pack your belongings and prepare for the trek. During the journey, camels will transport all baggage and camping equipment. You only need to carry essentials such as a lunchbox, water, a waterproof jacket, and other necessities for trekking. Today’s trek leads to the Base Camp, where you can enjoy panoramic views of the Altai Mountains, including the highest peak, Mt. Khuiten, and the Potanin Glacier. Have a wonderful day!

Climb to Malchin Peak 4050m / 13287ft

Altai Tavan Bogd National Park - Today, the climb to Malchin Peak awaits, a favorite among travelers, offering stunning views of the surrounding landscape. The mountain is notable for its location on the border between Russia and Mongolia. Climbing does not require special gear, but good waterproof hiking boots are essential. Near the summit, there is snow, while the rest of the terrain is primarily rocky. The climb takes approximately six to seven hours. Return to camp afterward.

Return to the Ranger Station

Altai Tavan Bogd National Park - Today, the trek back to the National Park entrance follows a different, more scenic and enjoyable trail along the White River. The river’s white color is due to mineral dust, making it undrinkable. Enjoy the stunning views of the white river with snow-capped mountains in the background. Stay at the campsite.

Trekking to Khar-Salaa

Altai Tavan Bogd National Park - After breakfast, the trek continues to Khar-Salaa, meaning “Black Valley.” The White River Valley and Black Valley are neighboring valleys inhabited by nomadic Tuvan people, who have their own language and culture. They are renowned for their Shamanistic beliefs and rituals. Today, a visit to a Tuvan family offers an opportunity to learn more about these fascinating people.

Trek into Bear Valley and Takhilt Pass

Altai Tavan Bogd National Park - Bear Valley is one of the most beautiful valleys in the national park, accessible only a few months each year. First, the trek crosses the highest Takhilt Pass, offering steep, high trails, before descending into Bear Valley. Several rivers must be crossed, and without bridges, crossing requires either wading barefoot or long jumps. The guide will ensure the safest route. Enjoy the wild nature!

Camp by Khoton Lake

Altai Tavan Bogd National Park - Today’s hike lasts about three to four hours, meeting the driver at the valley’s end. Bid farewell to the camel herders and continue by car for about two hours to a beautiful spot perfect for swimming. Nearby, Biluu Hill offers a chance to enjoy the surrounding nature from its summit. Khoton Lake is a pristine mountain lake with a stunning view.

Waterfall Valley Trek

Altai Tavan Bogd National Park - Enjoy a leisurely morning before migrating after lunch. A short half-hour drive leads to the next destination. Here, the nomadic Kazakh eagle hunter’s family welcomes you. Meet the local herders and be their guest. In the afternoon, a three-hour hike in Waterfall Valley reveals a stunning landscape with waterfalls. Return to the family and stay in a traditional yurt, with an opportunity to explore their traditions further.

Return to Olgii City

Bayan-Olgii Province - The journey back to the province center is another long drive through the endless Altai Mountains. A lunch break will be taken in Hovd Valley. Tonight, accommodations are in a hotel in the town center, with a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Fly Back to Ulaanbaatar

Bayan-Olgii Province - The service concludes. Thank you for visiting!

What's Included

Local guide
National Park fees
All taxes, fees and handling charges
Driver/guide
Lunch
Dinner
Accommodation as per itinerary
Breakfast
Transport by private vehicle

What's Not Included

Gratuities
Transportation to/from attractions
Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
Domestic flight tickets

Additional Information

This is one of the best-planned tours in western Mongolia. The tour has included the main highlights of Altai Tavan Bogd National Park. Also, during the tour, you have an opportunity to visit nomadic families such as Tuvan and Kazakh. Experience their ancient traditions. We are very flexible and can arrange your customized trip. Also, please feel free…

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings

4.8

(4 Ratings)

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Phanx2014

Dec 5, 2023

Reliable service from Sayat Travel - Our group had a wonderful trip with Yerlan Sh at Sayat Travel to south and north west of Mongolia. A great tour!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Phanx2014

Aug 3, 2023

Lifetime experience - A group of 15 was accompanied by 7 locals and one tour lead to travel from Gobi desert to Altai National Park. In 15 days, our group experience countless experience including but not limited to viewing sunset at the best sand dune, sand sliding to spring migration, eagle hunting, trekking along Altai Mountain. The whole trip leaves a lifetime impression on me about the wild but warm Mongolia. The trip is highly recommended.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Minhngo57

Sep 7, 2022

Great trekking and has the chance of visiting native families - Trekking through the forest is easy and great for a photo walk. Along the route we met several friendly families who offered us lunch and milk tea.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Jannikwt

Nov 1, 2019

Incredible piece of earth - better be keeping it - Full and long text. pls read through completely! I went on a 10 day (meant to be)-private tour with Discover Altai. The communication was overall good and professional in the beginning, where the booking procedure was made via email as my dates weren't available on here. A deposit was paid through a SWIFT Transfer to his bank in Mongolia. Just a few days prior my arrival he asked me if i would allow one more person on my tour, as she surprisingly booked the same dates as my tour. I then agreed, although i usually have my reasons to be on a private tour and seem not have given me the option anymore and we agreed on a fair discount. This whole thing made me worry and didn't ease my overall thinking about the whole trip. He then awaited me at the airport of Olgii together with our driver, the cook, our guide. The inbound flight made an extra stop to fuel up which was not mentioned in the itinerary, so you better plan some extra time flying with Mongolian airlines and was not unusually late by 2 hours. We drove to his home and got a little breakfast packed up and went on an endless bumpy ride over dustroads. Would recommend to arrive one day prior the trip starts, cause this drive is really exhausting but exciting! The next days breathtaking sceneries will be followed by incredible expiriences like climbing, hiking, horseriding, star gazing, daily washing in glacier waters.. never had anything like that. DO it! The guide spoke moderate english but the whole team (driver, cook, guide, camel/horse-boys) have their heart on the right spot and are there for you to build up your tent, bring tea, and make your stay as luxurious as possible. There is very little to worry about as the tour was well experienced and does work out well for medium to athletic outdoorers. We had two accidents on the trip which i highly encoureged to see a more professionell plan of action to it, as there is no medical service around. 1. the horse gear was old and not too safe. The saddle snapped off while crossing a steep passage. My travel companion could save here whilst still falling off the horse. The horse was frightened and then raced off, falling and unfortunetly died later due to inner injuries. In relation to that incident the foot iron of the horse left a deeper wound in my leg which had effect on my whole trip. The guide earlier told me he always has first aid with him in his daypack, which he hadn't at the time of my accident. Neither had I in my daypack. A first aid training on your side could be useful! 2. At the Malchin Peak we got into a thunderstrike which I with all my experience in mountains and sailing haven't seen coming. Lesson learnt: you are in nature and it is unpredictable. Better not go higher if not sure. What i really couldn't believe is the amount of waste that is left behind by other groups/tours in these remote and almost virgin areas. I start to collect rubbish at some point, but all that is brought for tourists need to find a way home rather than staying there in getting dumbed for centuries destroying the lands beauties i came to see. Also Discover Altai is not yet concerned enough on keeping waste to the minimum. All that single use plastic can easily be swapped to reusable containers. Also the driver chucked out his plastic out of the car with no thinking. At the peak of the debate on the plastic crisis in Europe a no go. Also: the freshwater container used to be vegetable oil container, which made all the water taste fatty. No go to me. Hope future tours will have different experience. My Tent was not watertight, and one zipper was broken. The sleeping bags they provide are not genuine and did hardly do their job in the freezing cold. He better get original quality products to full fill the job or you bring your own! Make sure you also bring dry bags to keep your stuff dry in heavy rain or snowfall. After some time i found out, that the price i paid for the used to be private tour was still lower than the price my surprise companion paid for the group tour.. transparency, honesty, fairness. You are travelling to a developing country where they want to make an outcome to have a good living for sure, but this is something that made me really angry, cause he made me lie and cover his back so i don't destroy her comfort or tour. He also recommended my dates to her weeks in advance well knowing my private tour will not be a private anymore.. bad play. The Duman Hotel he booked for us on the last night Olgii before departure was a bad place. Check with him, if he can put you on the flash and new one just next door. I put this honest and personal recommendation here for you to not! make you go with another tour or agent. He made me the most special experience in my life and will not want to miss it! Support him grow, let him learn and support him understand to save the place you are willing to visit. Check the prices and let him use paypal for a bigger security.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

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