Altai Mountain & Kazakh Adventures

Mongolia’s largest ethnic minority is the Kazakh people of the Altai. Kazakhs live peacefully keeping their completely distinct customs and strict traditions. They speak in their own language as the government gave them rights to keep their native language and religion. Traditional Kazakh gers are generally larger and beautifully decorated by creative Kazakh patterns. Kazakhs hunt on the horseback with trained golden eagles on their wrists and greyhounds slung across the saddle; eagle hunting game and pictures of eagle bearing Kazakhs are common scenery in the west. The hunters catch young female eagles around two years old and train them for their special hunting. Kazakhs are famous for its hospitality and friendliness like the Mongols.  

Day 1. Ulaanbaatar Arrival in Ulaanbaatar and transfer to hotel in the city centre. After lunch, we will start the city tour including Gandan Monastery, Chinggis Khaan square and surroundings including Parliament House, National Opera Theatre, Cultural Palace and House of City Council. Then we will drive to Zaisan Hill, which provides wide view of the Ulaanbaatar then we will visit Museum of National history with an excellent exhibitions such as Stone and Bronze Age, Turkic and Mongol Empire, rise of Buddhism and communist regime. Overnight and relax in the hotel.

Day 2. Bayan Ulgii province. In the morning, we will take flight to Bayan Ulgii province. The province is located in the Altai mountain range. After landing, we will do city tour and visit local museum. Lunch in the city then we will drive to the Altai soum. We will mount a tent near Sagsai river. Overnight in the tent camp near the river.

Day. Altai Tavan Bogd National Park. After breakfast, we will start trekking to the Altai Tavan Bogd National Park. The Tavan Bogd (Five Holy Peaks) includes the highest peak in Mongolia, Khuiten Uul (4353m), which borders China and Russia. This day we will trek 15-20km. The horses and yaks will transport the luggage. We will reach the foot of the Altai Mountain by the afternoon. Overnight in the tent camp.

Day 4. Altai Mountains. After breakfast, we will continue to trek to the Yolt Mountain. The scenery is spectacular with snow-capped Altai Mountain range. The average elevation is 10 000ft to 10 500ft equal to 3000-3200m. We will reach in the Yolt Mountain Valley in the afternoon. Relax and overnight in the tent camp.

Day 5. Dayan Lake. After breakfast we will trek to Dayan lake. Dayan lake is a moraine lake 18km long and fed by small rivers and snow waters. On the way, we will visit Kazakh family and Eagle hunters. Kazaks hunt wolves and foxes on horseback in winter time. We will experience Kazakh music and melody of Doombor, traditional musical instrument in the Kazakh family. Overnight in the tent camp near the lake.

Day 6. Khurgan Lake. We will have breakfast near the Dayan lake and trek to the direction of north. Our trekking route will reach the extreme western edge of the country along the Russian and Kazakh border. We will reach Khurgan Lake in the late afternoon. Khurgan Lake is alpine lake with 22 km long and 28m deep in places. Six rivers feed it, and the Khovd River flows from its eastern end. Overnight in the tent camp near the lake.

Day 7. Tsengel Khairkhan Mountain. After breakfast we will trek to the Tsengel Khairkhan, a snowcapped and sacred mountain. We will visit Uriankhai family, a small ethnic group of Mongolia, which speaks different dialect from Khalkha Mongolian. We will reach at the foothills of the Tsengel Khairkhan Mountain in the afternoon. Overnight in the tent camp.

Day 8. Tsengel Khairkhan Mountain. After breakfast we will do the tour around Tsengel Khairkhan Mountain. Today, we will take a route to the most spectacular mountain passes. We will see herds of horses and cattles. Overnight in the tent near the mountain.

Day 9. Tsengel Khairkhan Mountain. We will have a free day to explore the area and opportunity to have a photography session. The average altitude of our trekking route is 92 000-10 000ft or 2800-3000m. We will explore surrounding area of Tsengel Khairkhan, beautiful landscape and abundant wild life. Overnight in the tent camp near the mountain.

Day 10. Buyant River. After breakfast, we will start our day trek along the Buyant River. The Buyant River is beautiful river that is fed by Khar Lake. We will trek along the Sagsai river and we may have an opportunity to experience wildlife such as wolf, ibex, fox, marmot, lynx, falcon and Altai snowcock and many others. In the summer time temperature is around +10+15 Celsius. Overnight in the tent camp near the river.

Day 11. Sagsai River. Today we will trek along the Sagsai river. Kazakhs are famous for their unique way to host their guests including salty tea and “kazi”- specially prepared horse meat dish and “bishmarmak” mutton with noodles. We will overnight near the Sagsai river in the tent camp.

Day 12. Sagsai village. We will continue to trek along the Sagsai river to the village of Sagsai. Sagsai village is located on the bank of Khovd River. We will visit one of the Kazakh families and experience the Kazakh’s cultural performance. In the evening, we will celebrate dinner with Mongolian specialties. Overnight in the tent camp on the bank of Sagsai river.

Day 13. Ulgii/Ulaanbaatar. After breakfast, we will drive to Ulgii city. We will transfer to the airport to catch a flight to Ulaanbaatar. We will arrive in Ulaanbaatar; the nation’s capital in the afternoon. Overnight in the hotel.

Day 14. Ulaanbaatar. We will visit Bogd Khaan Palace Museum, the palace known as the Green Palace. The palace was built in 1903 dedicated to the 8^th Bogd Gegeen, the head of lamaist religion and last khan of Mongolia. Amazing bronze castings, silk paintings, paper icons, mineral paintings, god statues made by Zanabazar and his students is the main attraction of this Palace. After lunch, free time for shopping and we will see traditional folklore performance in the evening. Overnight and relax in the hotel.

Day 15. Departure. We will transfer to the “Chinggis Khaan” International Airport with professional Blue Gobi Tour Team.