ALTAI TAVAN BOGD NATIONAL PARK TREKKING TOUR

1 Nights in gers

Tour grade: Moderate

10 Nights / 11 Days

6 Nights in a tent

3 Nights at a hotel

TOUR OVERVIEW

“Tavan Bogd” literally means “The Five Holy” and is a group of snow-capped mountains that are the highest in Mongolia. They belong to a greater mountain range known as the Altai Mountains.

Geographically, it is the most remote part of Mongolia and boasts true pristine nature, abundant wildlife, and an interesting cultural heritage. The views in this area are dominated by vast glaciers, fast mountain rivers, and lush alpine pastures where large flocks of yaks, goats, and sheep graze. The culture of herding nomads in this region is authentic and rich.

The area is also known as a treasure trove of human history, with many ancient burials and rock art sites to explore. This trekking tour covers all of the above and is sure to be an unforgettable experience.

Tour Highlights & Destinations

See the highest peaks of Mongolia
Experience genuine wilderness
Track and spot wild mountain goats
Immerse yourself in authentic nomadic culture
Learn about Golden eagles used for hunting
Explore ancient rock art and burial places
Enjoy comfortable camping
Visit museums and attractions of Ulaanbaatar

Day 1. Arrival day & City Tour (L)

On this day, we will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to the hotel***. If you want, you can rest for a while, and then we will start a city tour. We will visit Zaisan Hill, and from the hill, you will be able to see the whole city.

Then we will visit Gandan-Tegchlen Monastery and Lunnch-Mongolian National History Museum and have a Mongolian traditional folk concert. We are going to drop you off at your hotel.

Day 2. Fly to Ulgii Town, Bayan- Ulgii Province, Western Mongolia (B/L/D)

You need to transfer to UB airport for a flight to Ulgii town located in Western Mongolia. Once you reach there, you will be greeted by your support team, who will then take you to Tavan Bogd NP. We will travel across the mountainous desert for about 5 hours to finally reach Baga Oigor Valley. This valley is home to an extensive petroglyph gallery that has been included in the UNESCO "World Cultural Heritage List". The stone and bronze age rock carvings here are spread across an area of 15km long and 500m wide. The images depict wild and domestic animals as well as scenes of human life such as hunting, handling domestic animals, worship, etc. After reaching the valley, we will set up our tented camp and spend the rest of the day exploring the rock art gallery at our leisure. Later, we will return to our camp for dinner and overnight stay.

2 men are riding horses and high mountains.

Day 3. Altai Tavan Bogd National Park NP Gate (B/L/D)

We travel through enormous V-shaped mountain valleys with small rivers streaming from the glaciers that cover the mountaintops. Mountain slopes covered in lush grass alternate with steep mountainsides completely covered in scree. We often come across large mushroom-like yurts of Kazakh herders and their massive flocks of yaks and goats, as well as a multitude of marmots. After lunch, we arrive at the Altai Tavan Bogd NP gate, which consists of a few yurts - home to local rangers at the foothills of even bigger mountains.

This is where the trek begins. Until dinner, you can walk and explore the surrounding foothills. This evening, local herders will arrive with their pack camels, which will carry our camp, luggage, and food for the next few days.

Day 4. Trek to Altai Tavan Bogd NP Base Camp (B/L/D)

After a satisfying breakfast, we will begin our trek to Tavan Bogd base camp (BC), which is the starting point for climbing the highest peaks of Tavan Bogd. You can watch Bactrian camels being loaded and set off for the BC. The majority of the route is a gradual ascent on high mountain terrain with occasional bogs, a few shallow streams to cross, and just two steep but short sections. Halfway through the route, you will be greeted with magnificent views of snow-capped peaks and vast glaciers.

Around lunchtime, the camel caravan will catch up to trekkers who typically arrive at BC in the late afternoon. Our campsite, located just over 3000 meters, offers breathtaking views of Mongolia's highest peaks and largest glaciers. Have dinner and overnight in a tent.

2 girls are hiking to the mountain with snow on top.

Day 5. A Full-Day Climbing to Malchin Peak (B/L/D)

After breakfast continue our trek along the biggest glacier moraine of Mongolia to climb Mt. Malchin (4051m), it will be a little challenging walk towards but as soon as you reach the top you will be greeted with a stunning view of Altai Tavan Bogd National Park.

Take your time and capture memories to last a lifetime. Although non-technical a return trip requires 6-9 hours depending on travelers’ fitness and weather conditions. We then return to our camp for dinner and overnight in a tent.

group tourists are hiking to the mountain.

Day 6. Trek out to lower gate of Altai Tavan Bogd NP (B/L/D)

On that day, we will be walking downhill towards the lower gate of the NP. However, there are some marshy sections and streams that require careful negotiation. Two-thirds of the way through, we will arrive at the edge of a deep V-shaped valley. At the bottom of the valley, we will hear the rumbling of the Tsagaan Gol River, which is full of glacial silt.

This river runs through a lush valley that is the summer pastureland of Tuvan camel herders who will be accompanying us. Upon reaching the riverside, we will descend steeply and arrive at our campsite. The campsite is located beside the rumbling river and you will be able to relax and socialize with other travelers who might be camping at the designated campground. Overnight in a tent.

Day 7. Trek to Shiveet Mountain (B/L/D)

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 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

Day 8. Explore Kazakh Culture (B/L/D)

We will leave the Tsagaan Gol Valley and make our way to the summer pastures of Kazakh herders. Mongolian Kazakhs are considered the carriers of authentic Kazakh culture and traditions, which differ from those of Mongolians in many ways. We will visit local herding families by randomly "knocking on the door" to learn about their stories, customs, and the differences they have.

We may be fortunate enough to witness their daily chores, such as tending animals and preparing food. Finally, we will find a suitable place to camp and enjoy our last night in the wild. Overnight in a tent.

Day 9. Drive to Ulgii Town (B/L/D)

On our way back to Ulgii, we will stop at a Kazakh family that practices an ancient craft of hunting with Golden Eagles. This tradition was almost forgotten, but it has been preserved by Mongolia's Kazakh minority, and today it's being actively revived. Even women are trying their luck in training eagles.

Although the actual hunting is done in winter, you can still learn about the craft and feel the weight of the massive birds by holding them on your arm. We plan to return to Ulgii by lunchtime and stay in a cozy hotel. If we have time, we can take a walk through the town streets, which have a distinctly Central Asian character, and visit the town market and museum. Enjoy a traditional Kazakh dinner.

lots of people gathering together and dancing.

Day 10. Fly back to Ulaanbaatar city (B/L)

Early in the morning, we will fly from Ulgii Town to Ulaanbaatar City. Once we arrive, we will have some time for shopping and can explore places like the State Department Store, souvenir shops, gift shops and cashmere shops. At 6 o'clock in the evening, we will attend a traditional Mongolian folk concert. After the concert, we will have a farewell dinner, and then we will transfer you back to your hotel.

Day 11. Departure (B)

This morning, we will pick you up from your hotel after you have breakfast at your hotel, and we are going to drop you off at the Chinggis Khaan International Airport. End of the tour.

Thank you for traveling with us.