The Altai Mountains, with eternal snowcapped peaks and glaciers, are the highest of the three major mountain ranges in Mongolia, straddling the Russian and Chinese frontiers in the Far West. In this remote region live many nomads of various ethnic minorities. The Kazakhs are Muslims and speak the ancient Kazakh language. The Tuvans are Buddhist and shamanistic. This dramatic journey will bring us to Mongolia’s highest mountain region. We will trek to the Potanin glacier supported by pack camels and locals. We will then continue across the high Altai and trek into the lakes region, next to the Chinese frontier. Local Kazakh herdsmen keep their priceless Golden Eagles next to their yurts.

Brief Outline Itinerary

On our journey we will use low-impact traditional modes of transport. Our equipment will be carried on pack-camels, and also, possibly, packhorses. We will fly to western Mongolia on an almost 4 hour domestic flight from Ulaanbaatar. We will transfer out to the mountain regions from Ölgii, the Kazakh provincial capital, by 4wd Russian vehicles. Our crew will be Kazakhs and/or Tuvan. The local guide is trilingual at least: English, Mongol and Kazakh. Possibly also Tuvan and Russian.

DAY 1:  To Ölgii
Meet your local Kazakh guide upon arriving at Ölgii airport or report to the bar of the Blue Wolf Restaurant in Ölgii, 17h00 at the latest. You will meet your local guide there. Drive half an hour west to Sagsay village and check in at Blue Wolf Ger Camp. Dinner in the big Kazakh yurt (ger).  

DAY 2:  To Altai Tavanbogd National Park
We load our luggage and drive via Ulaanhuis over desert mountain landscapes, with the snow-capped Tsambagarav Mountain as a powerful backdrop and the Altai Mountain range ahead of us. We will find numerous petroglyphs and Turkic stones along the Goloog River basin. Bayan-Ölgii is rich in archaeological remains, as a reminder of the Bronze Age and the time of the Huns and Turkic invasions. At Shiveet Hairhan Mountain, where numerous Tuvan nomads live, is Altai Tavanbogd National Park, where we will pitch our camp. Shiveet Hairhan is sacred for these local people. Overnight in tents.

DAY 3-5: Tavanbogd massif
We will load our equipment onto pack-camels and/or pack-horses - and trek for  6km toward the base camp of the snow-capped Tavanbogd massif. Pitch camp next to the 20km long Potanina glacier – the biggest of the twenty glaciers in Mongolian Altai. Remain there for two nights. Tavanbogd means “The Holy Five”, referring to the five highest peaks, of which Huiten Uul is the highest in Mongolia, 4374 meters above sea level. Quite a considerable height at this latitude. It is a stunning setting with the awe-inspiring massif of high snow-capped peaks. For a full day we will make day hikes to the Malchin Uul. These are non-technical climbs. Back at Shiveet Hairhan Uul we will be able to view the biggest petroglyphs from the second period of the Huns (200 B.C.). The Huns were the reason that the Chinese emperor Qin Shi Huangdi built and finished the Great Wall of China at this time. On the third day, trek back on the far side of the Tsagaan River and pitch camp.  We may have a chance to view Siberian Ibex (Capra sibirica) here.

DAY 6-7: Altai Mountains crossing
We have allocated two full days for the crossing of the Altai Mountain range, the total distance being 32km. We will pitch camp before the snowy area. Certainly big game such as Snow Leopards and its prey species live here, but they are extremely difficult to see. Perhaps you may see Altai Snowcock, the highest altitude living bird of Mongolia.
We will cross the Altai at the highest elevation of some 3600m  and have broad views across the Altais. We will be near the peak of Tsagaan Hairhan Uul (3662m). Then we will trek to a scenic valley which the locals call  Bear Valley, where we will pitch camp for two nights.

DAY 8-9: Bear Valley
Small streams that develop into rivers originate here. They are fed by melting glaciers which flow down broad steppe valleys. Surrounding the valley are mountains and forested hills of larch. Along the rivers there are wooded and alluvial meadows with broad leaf forests. We will day hike in the area.   

DAY 10: To Green Lake
Trek down a valley with patches of Larch forests and reach the so-called Green Lake, where we will pitch camp.

DAY 11:  To Hoton Lake
Full day trek through the dramatic steppe valley along the river that drains from the Altai Tavanbogd massif, creating a series of beautiful lakes. Our impressive camel caravan comes out to the steppe valleys of the lake area. We pitch camp on the shores of Hoton Lake. The area is below the snow-capped Ikh Turgen Uul. We are now only 10km from the China border. These are the summer pastures of numerous Kazakh herdsmen.  Their yurts are a bonanza of handicraft. They are a very friendly and hospitable people.  A fishing rod comes in handy here. The largest subspecies of Mongolian Grayling (Thymallus arcticus) is easily fished here. The numerous Great Cormorants in the vicinity are a good indicator that there are plentiful fish in the lakes.

DAY 12: Ikh Turgen Uul
Another sacred mountain is Ikh Turgen.  We trek east along the southern shore of Hoton Lake. Subject to the permission of the border police we may have a chance to trek around the mountain, toward the Chinese frontier. In any case, we plan to camp by the beautiful Fish River.

DAY 13:  To Horgon Lake
Trek out to the steppe valley towards the Horgon Lake, passing an old simple wooden mosque that, for some unknown reason, was spared in the purges of the 1930s. Perhaps because it was so remote. The pick up vehicle(s) will arrive at this campsite tonight.

DAY 14:  To Ölgii
Drive to Ölgii towards the Hargant Valley below Tsengel Hairhan Uul (3043m), another of the many snow-capped mountains. Here live Tuvans. They are Buddhists, but of a Turkic speaking ethnic group. Their gers (yurts) are more like Mongol gers as opposed to the larger Kazakh ones. Arrive back to Sagsay village and Blue Wolf Ger Camp.

DAY 15:  Ölgii and out
After breakfast, drive a short way (30 minutes) to Ölgii. The bazaar in Ölgii is interesting, as well as the mosque, which has been renovated in recent times. We usually have the whole morning to visit Ölgii. There are some very interesting back street handicraft shops and a well-stocked local museum. In the afternoon, flights leave for Ulaanbaatar. You may – at additional cost – add a transfer to Hovd (5-6h).

Practicalities

Transport: Local nomadic families frequently move from one pasture to another using pack-camels or pack-horses. The services of some local herdsmen will be hired by the expedition and they will provide us with their animals. 

Staff: A Kazakh leader will accompany the group at all times in Bayan-Ölgii. The service will be in English. There will also be a cook. In addition, the services of the local herdsmen will be hired along with their animals. 

Meals: Our cook will prepare the meals. We pride ourselves in having cooks adept at both western and Mongolian cooking on our trips.  There are always vegetables available, and we have no problem accommodating vegetarians on our trips.  

Alternative  connections to Ölgii: If interested in entering or exiting across the land border with Russia, we can pick you up or leave you at Barnaul, in southern Siberia (Russia).

Includes: All meals. All overnights in ger camp (2n.) and tents (12n.), camping equipment and all local transport.  Border permits. If you fly to/from Ulaanbaatar airport on trip dates transfers there are included.

Excludes: Imported drinks, rent of riding horse.  Flights. Visa fee. Domestic flights. USD 337 each way UB-Ölgii (price of Sep2009).

DATES ex Ölgii 2010 (Sat-Sat):

AT01: 19Jun-03Jul 
AT02: 03-17Jul 
AT03: 17-31Jul
AT04: 31Jul-14 Aug
AT05: 14-28 Aug
AT06: 28Aug-11 Sept
AT07: 11-25Sept