Trekking in Mongolia's Altai Mountains
Sierra Club Outings Trip | Supported Trekking (3 reviews)
![Photo: Rudy Scheffer Trekking in Mongolia's Altai Mountains](https://content.sierraclub.org/outings/sites/content.sierraclub.org.outings/files/styles/trip-main/public/trips/main-images/23700_7_RudyScheffer.jpg?itok=4Buexw7h)
Highlights
- Attend Mongolia’s age-old Naadam festival
- Meet Kasakh eagle hunters and their families
- Trek in Mongolia’s Altai Mountains
Includes
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Most meals, all lodging and gratuities
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Professional guide service
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All on-trip transportation
Overview
The Trip
This exclusive itinerary is a true testament to Mongolia’s diverse cultural and natural heritage. The journey begins in the capital, Ulaanbaatar, where you will have the opportunity to explore Mongolia’s age-old Naadam festival. It is an occasion to see Mongolians wearing their best costumes and gathering for large feasts and family reunions. The journey then continues to the western Altai Mountains where some uncharted lands await for trekking and meeting some of Mongolia’s most remotely located ethnic groups. There, you will have close encounters with Kazakh eagle hunters and Uriankhai archer families who maintain their age-old customs and traditions from the times of Genghis Khan.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arriving in Ulaanbaatar
Upon arrival at Genghis Khan International Airport in Ulaanbaatar in the late evening, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Overnight at hotel.
Day 2: Ulaanbaatar sightseeing
In the morning, we meet our local guide and take a leisurely city tour of Mongolia’s capital. The city is preparing for the age-old Naadam festival and we will observe the preparations.
Day 1: Arriving in Ulaanbaatar
Upon arrival at Genghis Khan International Airport in Ulaanbaatar in the late evening, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Overnight at hotel.
Day 2: Ulaanbaatar sightseeing
In the morning, we meet our local guide and take a leisurely city tour of Mongolia’s capital. The city is preparing for the age-old Naadam festival and we will observe the preparations.
We start with a visit to the Gandan Monastery to explore the country’s spiritual heritage. Next, we visit the outstanding museums of National History and the Fine Arts Museum of Mongolia.
After lunch, we visit the Zaisan Hill, where we get a bird’s-eye view of the area. This old Soviet period relic is a popular place for locals to hang out and offers great panoramic views of the entire city.
In the evening, we will enjoy a wonderful performance of traditional Mongolian music and dance, featuring Khoomii or “throat” singing followed by a welcome dinner at one of the city’s fine local restaurants.
Overnight at hotel. (B, D)
Day 3: Ulaanbaatar / Bayan Olgii
After breakfast, we transfer to the airport for our flight to Olgii, the capital of Bayan-Olgii, home to Kazakhs and many other ethnic groups of western Mongolia. Though Kazakhs’ pastoral-nomadic lifestyle is similar to that of the Mongolians, these nomads are predominantly Moslem. Explore the city and visit its market with a chance to purchase renowned Kazakh handmade crafts, including felt rugs. Then, time permitting, we will visit a local museum, which displays excellent cultural and natural exhibits.
Overnight in a local ger camp. (B, L, D)
Day 4: Bayan Ulgii / Naadam Festival / Altai Soum
Today we are observing the Naadam games. An early morning drive outside of the city to view the horse race of the Naadam Festival. Enjoy a picnic lunch along the way.
Naadam means games. Naadam originally was a way to train men to the military skill: every soldier had to be able to ride fast, shoot arrows and wrestle with enemies during combat. In Mongolia, with its scarce population and nomadic ways, where individual herders live far apart from each other it was important to come together from time to time for training. That is why the Naadam often referred to as 3 manly sports: horse racing, archery and wrestling. As time passed it became a way to celebrate important events and not necessarily the same men were participating in all three sports.
In the afternoon, begin driving to Altai Soum to our base camp at the Eagle Hunter’s family located in 125 km west of the capital (4-5 hours). Dinner and overnight at the local family. Kazakh women are renowned for their skilled embroidery, and their homes are beautifully decorated with ornate tapestries on the walls, ceiling and floor, with each design unique to a particular family. Reach your host family near the Chinese border and overnight in tents next to traditional Kazakhs families.
(Tents with communal gers; B, L, D)
Day 5: Optional horse back riding with Eagle hunters
Today we spend a few hours (optional) riding with eagle hunters into the mountains into Hoid Bardam Valley. Eagles are caught from the wild and used for hunting for over 10 years before they are released back into the wilderness. Normally a female eagle is used because of her maternity instincts is more aggressive and determined to hunt over the male eagles. Kazakh hunters will explain how eagles are trained and they offer us food and shelter, like any other nomadic families in the country. You will accompany some of the hunters on a horseback.
In the afternoon, we visit our host Kazakh herder family. It is one of the highlights of our trip. Each ger is decorated with tapestries woven by Kazakh women and each tapestry is decorated with unique patterns designed by the family. Kazakh women are renowned for their handcraft and tapestry skills and Kazakh men train Golden Eagles for hunting, an age-old tradition that has survived amongst the Mongolian Kazakh population during the 20th century. Learn about daily chores of Kazakh herders looking after their yaks and sheep.
(Approx. 3 hours hiking; Tents with communal gers; B, L, D)
Day 6: Trekking in the Altai Mountains
Today we begin trekking in the Holtsiit valley with excellent views of the distant mountains. In the afternoon, we arrive at a local Uriankhai family who will treat us with their traditional milk tea and homemade doughnuts. In the evening we get a chance to fish in the nearby Sagsai river.
(Approx. 6 hours hiking, 9 miles at 8,100’ altitude. Tents with communal gers; B, L, D)
Day 7: Trekking in the Altai Mountains
Today we day continue our trek in the southern Altai mountains and explore the surrounding area, enjoying a picnic lunch. We continue exploring the local flora and fauna then and return to our base camp. Overnight in tents along the river banks.
(Approx. 6 hours hiking; 10 miles at 8,300’ altitude. Tents with communal gers; B, L, D)
Day 8: Trekking in the Altai Mountains
Today, we will trek westward to the Taliin Lake. Along the way we will trek through the largest summer camps of the ethnic Uriankhai families whom we will visit and we enjoy viewing a traditional Mongolian archery contest. We then continue trekking and overnight near the shore of Lake Taliin.
(Approx. 6 hours hiking, 8 miles at 8,500’ altitude. Tents with communal gers; B, L, D)
Day 9 Lake Talin / Lake Tolbo
This morning we will begin driving back to Ulgii, via Lake Tolbo. Around lunch time, We will come across one of the highest mountain passes in the region with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. After lunch we drive back to Ulgii arriving at a local rustic hotel. Enjoy our dinner
(Approx. 4 hours of driving; local hotel: B, L, D)
Day 10: Ulgii / Ulaanbaatar
After breakfast, transfer to the local airport for our return flight to Ulaanbaatar. Upon arrival, transfer to our hotel and spend the rest of the afternoon on our own for shopping and sightseeing. Dinner is independent.
(Overnight in hotel, B)
Day 1: Ulaanbaatar / Gobi desert
After breakfast, begin driving to the Gobi Desert by a bus, enjoying a picnic lunch along the way and frequent rest stops. Arrive at your ger camp in the late afternoon and rest. Dinner and overnight in gers. If flights are available, we will fly Instead traveling by bus.
(Approx. 8-9 hours drivingl; Ger camp; B, L, D)
Day 12: Gobi Desert / Yol Valley / Moltsog Els
After breakfast, drive to the Yol Valley located in the Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park, the largest park in the country. Yol Valley is named after the “Yol” or Bearded Vulture, the huge, rare birds of prey who dwell in the higher cliffs of the valley. Ice built up by a small stream over winter persists in the valley’s canyon as late as July. This starkly picturesque valley is home to many of the Gobi’s wildlife, including Ibex, Argali sheep and Snow leopard.
Next, drive to the ger camp located nearby and rest in the afternoon.
In the late afternoon, drive to the Moltsog Els, one of Gobi’s few areas covered by sand.
(Approx. 4 hours driving; Ger Camp; B, L, D)
Day 13: Havtsgait Petroglyphs / Flaming Cliffs
In the morning, we visit the Havtsgait Petroglyphs where hundreds of rock paintings by Gobi’s first dwellers were made. Discovered only in the mid-2000s, this site contains some very rare depictions of Mongolia’s ancient culture and objects. Return to the ger camp for lunch.
In late afternoon we drive to the Flaming Cliffs, red cliffs that stretch for about 3 km. This legendary place was first discovered by the Central Asiatic Expedition led by Roy Chapman Andrews of the American Museum of Natural History in the early 20th century. It is where the first dinosaur eggs were discovered and many important dinosaur species have been unearthed. We will enjoy a sunset over the cliffs.
Overnight at the ger camp. (B, L, D)
Day 14: Gobi Desert / Gorkhi Terelj National Park
After breakfast we transfer to the airport to fly back to Ulaanbaatar. Upon arrival we drive a short distance to the Gorkhi Terelj National Park, comprised of granite rocks. En route we stop at Genghis Khan Equestrian statue, the largest of its kinds.
Overnight in a ger camp. (B, L, D)
Day 15: Ulaanbaatar
In the morning we drive back to Ulaanbaatar, arriving in time for lunch. The remainder of the afternoon is for last-minute sightseeing and shopping. In the evening we enjoy a farewell dinner at a fine local restaurant.
Overnight at hotel. (B, L, D)
Day 16: Departure
After breakfast we transfer to the airport for flights home. (B)
Logistics
Getting There
The cost of air transportation between the United States and Mongolia is not included in the trip fee. All travel within Mongolia is included. You are responsible for making your own international flight arrangements. For U.S. nationals, a visa is not required. Once you have registered for this trip, the leader will provide extensive instructions. Be sure your passport has several empty pages.
Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader
Getting There
The cost of air transportation between the United States and Mongolia is not included in the trip fee. All travel within Mongolia is included. You are responsible for making your own international flight arrangements. For U.S. nationals, a visa is not required. Once you have registered for this trip, the leader will provide extensive instructions. Be sure your passport has several empty pages.
Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader.
Accommodations and Food
Accommodations in Ulaanbaatar are in standard hotels. In other locales, we stay in traditional gers (yurts) or tents. All accommodations are based on double occupancy. However, you may choose single accommodations for an additional charge. Ger camps offer an authentic experience of Mongolian culture and provide the unique opportunity to visit areas which otherwise lack visitor accommodations. Comfortable beds consist of mattresses on elevated wooden frames with clean sheets, pillows, and blankets. Western-style shower and toilet facilities are located in a central building and meals are served in a camp dining room.
We’ve carefully chosen the restaurants for our group meals in Ulaanbaatar. Due to a short growing season, only some basic vegetables are available and fruits will be scarce. However, balanced nutritious meals are served in all of guest establishments we will be using during our journey in Mongolia. Vegetarian options will be available throughout the trip.
Trip Difficulty
This trip is designed for hikers in good health who are used to walking up to 10 miles a day for several consecutive days. The terrain is moderate, with trails consisting mostly of well-groomed dirt tracks winding through open tundra, and dirt roads. Good balance and tolerance of heights is required because some trails include narrow ledges with steep drop-offs, rock hopping, wooden suspension bridges, and short, steep ascents and descents. Elevations are also moderate and changes in elevation are insignificant. The highest peak in the area is Buyant mountain, which rises to 3,661 meters or 10,983 feet. The average hiking altitude will be around 8,000 to 8,500 feet.
Our support bus will carry our luggage and be available in case of illness, exhaustion, or injury. The length of any day's hike may vary from the itinerary, depending on the route selected, the weather, and group safety. considerations.
Equipment and Clothing
Sturdy hiking shoes, rain gear, and a daypack are essential; otherwise, your normal travel gear will do. The weather at this time of year in Mongolia is variable; we may encounter heat, very windy conditions, chilly rain, and dramatic thunderstorms all in one day, so you will need to be prepared with layers and waterproof rain gear. A complete list of equipment will be provided prior to the trip.
References
Books:
- Schaller, George, Into Wild Mongolia. An excellent book.
- Genghis Khan: His Conquests, His Empire, His Legacy.
- Marco Polo: The Journey that Changed the World.
- Mongolia -- Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture.
Videos:
Conservation
Since its founding in 1892, The Sierra Club has worked to preserve and restore the natural environment we all share on this planet. Thousands of grassroots-level volunteers spearhead our efforts to conserve and sustain resources, both in our own backyards and on a global scale. Through direct experience in the outdoors, Sierra Club outings enable participants to better understand, advocate, and participate in the environmental conservation goals of the Club.
On this trip we will learn about the environmental problems facing Mongolia include desertification, water supply issues due to climate change, biodiversity and air and water pollution. The presence of the Gobi Desert in the southeastern part of the country and mountains in the northwest provide natural limits to the amount of agricultural land.
Staff
Map
What Our Travelers Say
Karen K, Petaluma, Ca.
Very unique and memorable adventure!
One of the best trips I've ever taken. Mongolia is quite beautiful and its people are very friendly. Fun, unique, and variety filled programming.
Karen K, Petaluma, Ca.
Very unique and memorable adventure!
How was the quality of the volunteer leadership?
Trip leader and local guides were knowledgeable about local culture and history. And were fun and personable people.
What was the highlight of your trip? Any advice for potential travelers?
The highlights for me were the multiple visits with local families in their homes, camel riding, and eagle hunting demos.
Judith R, Gypsum CO
Trekking in Mongolia
How was the quality of the volunteer leadership?
Our trip leader was very conscientious of every ones needs and ability
What was the highlight of your trip? Any advice for potential travelers?
I loved the variety of activities. It’s important to be aware of your physical abilities as much of the hiking is taking place in a very remote part of the country
Mark R, California
Unique Trip
How was the quality of the volunteer leadership?
The trip leaders were very personable, knowledgeable, and accommodating to our needs. Three of the trekking days we averaged nine miles per day, but the leaders kept the pace accessible to all, and directed the trucks to pick up those wishing to ride.
What was the highlight of your trip? Any advice for potential travelers?
Trekking in the stark beauty of the Altai Mountains was the highlight. Few roads, and no signs or fences, felt like a leap back in time. We visited Mongolian families who warmly welcomed us and demonstrated skills such as archery and eagle hunting.
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