Altai Mountain Trekking Tour

When you arrive in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, we will take you to your 4-star hotel in the city center. In the afternoon, you will start a city tour, visiting Sukhbaatar Square and the Genghis Khan Museum. At 6:00 pm, you will enjoy a traditional folk show with throat singing (Khoomei), contortion, and Mongolian dances. After the show, you will have dinner. ( Hotel/Dinner)

n the morning, we will fly to Ulgii, the only city in Mongolia with a large Muslim community. There we will meet our support team, including the cook and driver. From Ulgii, we drive to the Altai Tavan Bogd Mountains and continue to the Tsagaan Gol Valley. This valley is home to the Tuvan people, a small ethnic group in Mongolia. They speak a Turkic language but follow Buddhism. The Tuvans will be our local guides and will lead the camels for the next few days. (Tent/B,L,D)

Today we trek to the base camp of the Altai Tavan Bogd Mountains. In the morning, camel drivers will load our luggage, and we will carry our daypacks with lunch prepared by the cook. We walk about 15 km, slowly gaining altitude. From the first hill, we see the Tsagaan Gol Valley and the snow-covered peaks. The weather can change quickly with snow, rain, or wind, so bring a rain jacket and warm clothes. Today we reach a maximum altitude of 3,100 m, and we will stay overnight at the base camp at 3,000 m, surrounded by the peaks and glaciers of Altai Tavan Bogd. (Tent/B,L,D)

Today we climb Malchin Peak (4,051 m), one of the five sacred peaks of the Altai Tavan Bogd Mountains. We begin early in the morning. The trail is rocky but does not require technical mountaineering gear; only trekking poles are recommended. As we climb higher, we pass alpine meadows and rocky ridges. Since we will be above 4,000 m, you should bring a raincoat, windstopper, warm down jacket, and your packed lunch. The climb takes about 6–8 hours in total. From the top of Malchin Peak, which sits on the Mongolia–Russia border, we will enjoy panoramic views of the Altai peaks, the Potanin Glacier, Mount Belukha in Russia, and the wide Ukok Valley. Today’s maximum altitude is 4,051 m, and in the evening we return to base camp at 3,000 m. (Tent/B,L,D)

Today we pack our luggage and walk down the beautiful Tsagaan River Valley. Along the way, we cross small swampy areas and hear the powerful sound of the river rushing through narrow gorges and moraines. From the valley, we can see the Grane Glacier, named after a Finnish geographer, and the snow-covered Altai peaks that look like something from a fairy tale

Today we trek about 18 km to the Khar Salaa River Valley. Our route takes us to the foot of Shiveet Khairkhan, a sacred mountain long worshiped by the Tuvan people. The area is rich in wildlife, especially ibex, and is also home to ancient rock carvings, burial sites, and human remains dating from the Paleolithic (Stone Age) to the Bronze Age. We will set up camp at 2,650 m at the foot of the snowy mountains. (Tent/B,L,D)

Today we face the challenge of crossing the Takhilt Pass (3,200 m), a snowy mountain pass that serves as the main migration route between the northern Altai and the southern steppes. Local herders use this pass only from July to September. The landscapes on each side of the pass are very different: the north side is rocky and open, while the south side is green with flowers, forests, and marshes. We will trek about 19 km in total and descend to 2,100 m, where we set up camp. (Tent/B,L,D)

Today we trek 21 km along the Tsagaan-Usny River Valley. The trail leads through green valleys with larch trees and marshes. On the way, we will see a heart-shaped lake at 2,183 m. In the evening, we camp in a wide open valley at 2,116 m, where our driver will meet us. (Tent / B,L,D)

Today we say goodbye to the camel drivers and continue our journey towards Khoton & Khurgan Nuur Lake, 20 km. Along the way, we will pass ancient tombs and visit local Kazakh families, where you can see and buy their handmade crafts. By afternoon, we reach the lake shore, where you can relax and even swim. Tonight we camp at Biluut Tolgoi (2,080 m), a famous petroglyph site with rock carvings dating from the Paleolithic to the Bronze Age. (Tent/ B,L,D)

Today we travel 220 km to Ulgii. On the way, we stop at a Kazakh eagle hunter’s home to learn about the tradition of eagle hunting and take photos with a golden eagle. In Ulgii, we check into a hotel. In the evening, we visit a Kazakh family, enjoy the national dish besbarmak (“five fingers”), and experience dombra music and songs in a warm family performance. (Hotel/B.L.D)

Fly back to Ulaanbaatar. The afternoon is free to rest or explore the city. You may visit souvenir and cashmere shops. In the evening, we will enjoy a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (Hotel/B.L.D.)

Transfer to the airport for your international flight. ( B.)