MONGOLIA

Tsagaan Gol Valley

Arrive in Ulgii where you will be met by your English-speaking guide, cook and driver at the airport. We will begin by setting off towards Tavan Bogd National Park, through the magnificent wilderness where you will have lunch whilst admiring the rocky plains, green valleys and rugged Altai peaks. Within the shadow of Shiveet Khairkhan, the sacred mountain of the Tuvan people, we will set up camp at the Tsagaan Gol Valley. We will also have time before sunset to hike up to the valley where you’ll be met with the view of a beautiful, expansive lake.

After breakfast, you will saddle up for 9 km and arrive at Konyrbel mountain where you’ll see the magnificent view of the glaciers and snow-capped Tavanbogd mountains and Mount Khuiten. Tavanbogd means “the Holy Five,” referring to the five highest peaks, of which Mount Khuiten is the highest in Mongolia standing at some 4374 m above sea level. You will also have time to walk the Potanin Glacier—the longest glacier in Mongolia. 

Khara Airykh Valley

On the third day, you will saddle up to ride to Khoton Lake when you can expect to see ancient rock carvings called petroglyphs, found at the sacred Shiveet Khairkhan Mountain. You will also ride past a local Ovoo, which is a sacred cairn found in Mongolian shamanic religious traditions, usually made from rocks and wood. Loading our equipment onto pack-camels, you can expect to reach Khara Airykh Valley after around 5-6 hours hiking. We will then ascend to the top of Shiveet Mountain, where you’ll have a very high chance of spotting some endangered wildlife including Siberian wild mountain goats. 

Bear Valley

Today you will cross the Altai Mountain range, a total of 32km, before setting up camp. This area is home to snow leopards and their prey, however they’re often very elusive and can be hard to spot. You will have a high chance of seeing the Altai snowcock, considered a very rare and endangered species. We will cross the Altai Range at 3600 m, where we’ll have stunning views of the mountain side. We will be close to the top of Tsaagan Khairhan, (Sacred White Mountain at 3662 m), where you will ride down to the scenic valley which the locals call Bear Valley. 

Aksu Valley

It will be a full day ride through an amazing river valley, where you can expect to see patches of Larch woods before reaching the Green Lake, where we will set up camp. This area is so remote that no other nomad families can migrate here to live. 

Machine Kabak

Today you will meet with your driver and drive to a stunning location called Machine Kabak. This trip will take us to our destination by afternoon. This area is the summer residence of numerous Kazakh herdsmen, who often welcome visitors to their gers, and we may also get to visit some Kazakh nomad families, where we can learn more about their culture. Enjoy the sunset of Western Mongolia and the sky with full of stars in the evening. We will have the opportunity to visit and see Turkic Stone Men as well as ancient burial sites. There will also be plenty of opportunities for birdwatching too. 

Baga Turgen Waterfall and back to Ulgii

After breakfast, we will hike about 7km to the Baga Turgen Valley and set up our camp, surrounded by three beautiful waterfalls and a whole host of local plants including wild fruits, red currents and gooseberries. After setting up camp, we’ll hike about 3km to see the waterfalls close up. After the hike, we will return to Ulgii passing through the Khovd River Valley. You will also have the opportunity to visit an eagle hunter and learn about this ancient Kazakh form of hunting with Golden Eagles. In the evening you will stay in a hotel and enjoy a traditional Kazakh concert and dine at the famous local restaurant.

Fly back to Ulaanbaatar 

After breakfast, we will take you to the airport to catch your flight back to Ulaanbaatar to finish your journey!