Kazakh nomad with golden eagle

In western Mongolia, the Kazakh people of the Altai Mountains still hunt using trained golden eagles, as their ancestors did. The centerpiece of our Mongolia journey is a trek in the stunning mountains where the Kazakhs live.

Photo by Alison Wright

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Trekking Mongolia's Altai Mountains

Exploring the Land of Genghis Khan

Mongolia is a magical land of legend, where mounted soldiers once galloped across the golden steppes with the warrior Genghis Khan as he forged his vast empire in the 13th century. Even today, Mongolia is a horse-based society with an enduring pastoral tradition and thriving nomadic culture. Our journey begins among the snow-capped peaks of the High Altai in far western Mongolia, where we hike to glaciers, camp at alpine lakes, explore ancient petroglyphs that are haunting testaments to the past, and experience a mountain world where traditional Kazakh nomads live by the seasons. Our post-trip extension brings us to the great Gobi Desert, where we explore the celebrated Flaming Cliffs, ride camels, and view the artistic remains of ancient dwellers of the Gobi.

Highlights

  • Trek in Mongolia’s High Altai, with its spectacular mountain scenery
  • Meet nomadic Kazakh families and experience their genuine hospitality
  • Explore recently discovered petroglyph sites
  • Extensions to the Gobi Desert and Lake Hovsgol, with Naadam Festival (in July)

Details

  • 14-day trip begins and ends in Ulaanbaatar
  • 3 nights in hotels, 9 nights camping, 1 night in ger camp
  • All meals included except 1 lunch and 1 dinner
  • 7-day trek on moderate to steep trails, 5-8 hours a day, altitudes between 8,000-10,000 feet

Tour Costs

$5395 (10-14 members)
$5695 (6-9 members)

Single supplement: $500
Internal airfare: $675 (subject to change)
Gobi Desert extension: from $1595

Prices are for 2010 dates.
Please Note: The prices for this trip have been significantly reduced since the publication of our 2010 catalog.

Departures & Leaders

Jun 28-Jul 11, 2010  Devendra Basnet
Aug 2-15, 2010  Devendra Basnet

Suggested Reading

Reading list, click here.

Itinerary at a Glance
Trekking Mongolia's Altai Mountains route-map

Days 1-2
Ulaanbaatar

We visit Gandan Monastery, the seat of Buddhism in Mongolia, with its temples, courtyards, and maroon-robed monks, and view artifacts from the days of Genghis Khan at the National History Museum.

Days 3-4
Ulgii / Syrgal

After flying to Ulgii in Mongolia’s far west, we travel to our private campsite in a pristine setting of lakes, rivers, lightly wooded forests, and the snow-capped Syrgal Mountains. Here we explore the 5th century BC stone monuments of the Pazyryk culture, an ancient people of the steppe, and visit local Kazakh families to experience their warm hospitality and unique pastoral lifestyle. Many Kazakh men hunt from horseback with trained golden eagles, pursuing foxes and rabbits across the mountains, and we hope to meet them and learn about their ancient skill.

Days 5-12
The High Altai / Tavan Bogd National Park / Ulgii

With horses and camels carrying our gear, we hike past several alpine lakes formed after the last glaciation, enjoying the magnificent beauty of the sylvan setting with its backdrop of snow-capped peaks. Along the way we marvel at the Biluut petroglyphs, a recently uncovered site in remote trackless terrain featuring more than 1,600 images of hunting and combat scenes, mythological figures, and symbolic sacred art. Crossing a 10,000-foot pass used by nomadic herder families as they move their flocks with the seasons, we arrive at Tavan Bogd National Park. In Mongolian, Tavan Bogd means “Five King Peaks,” and this park shelters an alpine world of dramatic mountains topping 14,000 feet and wildlife including ibex and Argali sheep. Our explorations here include a hike along the edge of the Potanin Glacier to a spectacular camp at 9,800 feet with a backdrop of the snowy flanks of Mt. Huiten (14,350'), Mongolia’s highest peak. While returning to Ulgii we stop to explore the Neolithic petroglyphs at Tsagaan Salaa, a World Heritage Site, where more than 10,000 of these ancient carvings were found in the 1980s.

Days 13-14
Ulaanbaatar

Return to Ulaanbaatar and enjoy a visit to the Zanabazar Fine Arts Museum. Depart in the evening on Day 14.

This is the Itinerary-at-a-Glance. For the complete trip description, Download Full Trip Brochure

Gobi Desert Extension
Days 14-19

Explore the Flaming Cliffs, ride Bactrian camels, hike in the Yol Valley, and view the petroglyphs of an ancient people.

Please call us or Download Full Trip Brochure for more information

Hotel Ulaanbaatar

Days 1 to 2 (2 nights),
Day 13 (1 night),
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

The Ulaanbaatar Hotel has an ideal location, right in the heart of the capital and within walking distance of the city’s great museums, ...
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Altai Mountains Camps

Days 3 to 11 (9 nights), Mongolia

We make hiking and camping in Mongolia as comfortable as possible. On trek we provide high quality mountain style tents, sleeping pads, and ...
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Mongolian Ger Camps

Day 12 (1 night), Mongolia

Gers are the traditional yurt-like tents used by Mongolian nomads for centuries, and these simple fixed camps are specially built and ...
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Note: Listed above are our signature accommodations for this trip. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.