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Highlights
Spend 9 days exploring the western reaches of Mongolia
Become acquainted with Mongolian culture in the capital Ulaanbaatar
Head to the “wild west” of Mongolia to experience Altai Tavan Bogd National Park
Trek into the Altai Mountains to visit the Potanin, Alexander, and Tavan Bogd glaciers
Visit with a Kazakh family and learn about their customs and traditions
Tavan Bogd National Park is an amazingly beautiful wilderness area that embodies the special characteristics of a high mountain region, with snow capped peaks, icy crystal rivers, mountain valleys, steppe landscapes and delicate ecosystems.
This spectacular 9 day tour will take you from Ulaanbaatar – the capital city of Mongolia – to the western edge of the country to experience the pristine landscapes and wildlife that can be found there. With such an incredible opportunity to experience unfamiliar terrain and become acquainted with a new culture, there is no reason to put off your next Mongolian adventure!
Tavan Bogd National Park is an amazingly beautiful wilderness area that embodies the special characteristics of a high mountain region, with snow capped peaks, icy crystal rivers, mountain valleys, steppe landscapes and delicate ecosystems.
This spectacular 9 day tour will take you from Ulaanbaatar – the capital city of Mongolia – to the western edge of the country to experience the pristine landscapes and wildlife that can be found there. With such an incredible opportunity to experience unfamiliar terrain and become acquainted with a new culture, there is no reason to put off your next Mongolian adventure!
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Trekking in Altai Tavan Bogd National Park Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival at Ulaanbaatar and an Optional City Sightseeing
Guests will be greeted upon arrival at the airport, before being transported to a convenient, centrally located hotel. A 4-5 hour city tour can be arranged depending on your arrival time, which includes Bogd Khan’s Winter & Summer Palace, a series of beautiful traditional buildings in which the eighth Living Buddha and the last king lived.
You will also explore the Gandantegchinlen Monastery, which is the largest and most important monastery within Mongolia, before visiting the magnificent 82-foot high statue of Migjid Janraisig. You will finish the city tour atop Zaisan hill for a view of the whole Ulaanbaatar.
In the evening, your tour guide will give you a short briefing about the coming trip and answer all your questions, before taking you to a famous Mongolian restaurant for a first taste of Mongolian food.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Ulaanbaatar
Distance: None
Meals: Dinner
Day 2 Fly to Olgii and Camp in the National Park
The real journey will begin by taking you to a place that only a few people have visited. Mongolia’s western regions are a linguistic mash-up of Muslim and Mongolian customs, and trekking through this wild landscape can include a variety of encounters as well as a thrilling journey of discovery.
Today you will be flying to Olgii, which is the capital of Bayan-Olgii province. Unlike the rest of Mongolia, which is ruled by Khalkh Mongolians, Bayan-Olgii has a Kazakh majority, almost all of whom are Muslims. When you arrive, you will be greeted by your guide and taken west into the National Park.
Overnight Location: Camping in Olgii
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 3 Drive to Tsagaan River Valley
The Altai Tavan Bogd is a 636,161-hectare pristine landscape in Mongolia’s far west that contains extremely high peaks with perpetual snow and glaciers. The peak of Khuiten Uul on the Altai Tavan Bogd range, which rises to 4374 meters above sea level, is the highest point.
In addition to its natural beauty, the park also contains tens of thousands of petroglyphs that are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Numerous Turkic Stone Men and stone burial mounds can be found here.
Today you will travel through the foothills of the mountains for 5-7 hours, eventually arriving in the early afternoon at the Tsagaan River Valley. This is a popular spot for nomadic people to set up camp in the summer, and it is also where Tuvan people practice their Shaman religion. You will meet your camel guide here to get ready for the hike the next day.
Overnight Location: Camping in Tsagaan River Valley
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4 Hike Potanin Glacier to Base Camp
Today you will begin the 18 km descent into the base camp. Camels will carry your baggage, which will be managed by the polite and supportive Tuvan citizens. On your way, you will pass by the Potanin and Alexander Glaciers – situated between 3,500 and 4,000 meters above sea level – before arriving at the base camp, which is situated at a height of 3000 meters.
It will take approximately 6 to 8 hours to complete the climb, after which, you will settle into gers and get ready for the next day’s trek to Malchin Peak.
Overnight Location: Camping in Tavan Bogd, 3000m
Distance: 6-8 hours, 18km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5 Hike to Malchin Peak
Today you will depart on an expedition to the Tavan Bogd Glacier after a hearty breakfast. Here, you will hike through a high mountain landscape of wetlands and rocks, where you will have an incredible view of the five mountain peaks of the Tavan Bogd Mountain, as well as its glacier.
The absolute top of the Altai Mountains – and Mongolia’s highest mountain peak – will be in front of you, creating an incredible scene. Malchin hill, the smallest of Tavan Bogd’s mountain tops, is your final destination today at 4050m. It will take approximately 6 hours to reach the summit, from which you will be able to see Russia and China. After the tough climb through rocky terrain, you will return to camp for the evening.
Overnight Location: Camping in Malchin Hill, 4050m
Distance: 6 hour hike
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 6 Hike to Oigor River
The final day of hiking will take you to the north bank of the Oigor River, where you will meet a Kazakh family at their summer camp. Here, you will be able to experience their warm hospitality, while learning about their traditions and culture. Accommodation in a tented camp.
Overnight Location: Camping near Oigo River
Distance: 16km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 7 Drive Back to Olgii
Today is the last day of your journey across the wild west. You will pack everything into the vehicles and enjoy the picturesque Mongolian scenery as you return to Bayan-Olgii, where you will settle into your hotel accommodations for the night.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Bayan-Olgii
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 8 Flight Back to Ulaanbaatar
The time has come to leave and fly back to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia’s capital. You can use your free afternoon to see as you fit; a good option is to go see the lovely cultural exhibitions and admire the contortionists while watching colourful and rhythmic Mongolian dances.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Ulaanbaatar
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 9 Departure
On the final day of the tour, guests will make an individual departure after breakfast, saying goodbye to Ulaanbaatar before continuing on their travels.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
Trekking in Altai Tavan Bogd National Park Price and Dates
This guided trekking tour to Altai Tavan Bogd National Park is always run as a private tour for your group only and the price depends on the number of people in your group. Prices below are per person.- Guided groups of 2+: USD2195 per person
Accommodation on the Trekking in Altai Tavan Bogd National Park
This tour is based in hotels and camps. Hotels on this trip are 2 and 3-star and offer modern conveniences that can make this trip more pleasant. Rooms may have fireplaces or access to amenities such as hot tubs, steam rooms, or private decks to lounge on.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations.
What’s Included in the Trekking in Altai Tavan Bogd National Park?
Meals
8 breakfasts, 7 lunches, and 8 dinners are included in the tour.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 8 nights.
Transportation during the Tour
Local transportation, flights, and local airport transfers are included for you and your luggage. International airport transfers are not included. Please note that local flights have luggage included of up to 10kg and any extra weight is a subject to extra charge (around 2 USD per kg).
Also included
- English-speaking guide
- Camping and kitchen equipment
- National Park entrance fees
- Museum and Monasteries entrance tickets
- Pack animals during trek
Not included
- City touring
- Medical, trip insurance and
- Evacuation costs
- Alcohol and soft drinks
- Excess luggage on local flight: approximately 2 USD per 1 kg
- Visa Cost
- Items of Personal Nature
- Hotel in Ulaanbaatar (Day 8)
Optional extras
- City tour
- Extra nights before or after the tour
- Airport transfers
- How hard is the Trekking in Altai Bogd National Park?
- When is the best time to travel to Mongolia?
- Do I need a visa to travel to Mongolia?
- Are meals included on the Trekking in Altai Bogd National Park?
- Do I need insurance?
- How do I get to Ulaanbaatar to start this tour?
- Is the Trekking in Altai Bogd National Park in English?
- Where does the Trekking in Altai Bogd National Park end?
- How many members make up a group?
- Can I customize this tour?
- Do I need special vaccines to travel to Mongolia?
- Are there any travel restrictions for Mongolia?
- Is this country safe?
We rate this tour as a 4 / 5. This requires fitness and previous experience. This tour has a maximum of eight hours of climb in the glaciers, rocky trails, bumpy roads, and high altitude.
The best time to travel to Mongolia for this trek is during the June-August window, when the summer season provides the most favourable weather conditions. During this period, guests will experience warm sunny days and little chance of rainfall.
Check with your local country about visa requirements. You can also check online, although you should verify with your government.
8 breakfasts, 7 lunches, and 8 dinners are included.
Yes, it is mandatory to have health and medical insurance to join this trip, and your insurance should cover hiking.
Fly into Chinggis Khaan International Airport (ULN) where you will be greeted and transferred to the hotel.
Yes, the tour guide is English-speaking.
The tour ends where it starts, in Ulaanbaatar.
In order to ensure the utmost in personal service and quality, the groups are limited to a maximum of 8 to 10 passengers. During the expedition, knowledgeable and sympathetic guides will look after you with local auxiliary staff. While camel and horse trek, local nomads will guide around destined areas.
Yes! Please contact us with your preferred tour specifications and we’ll adapt this itinerary to your needs.
Check with your family doctor.
Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.
Politically the country is very stable. An elected President and Parliament is at the head of the country’s management. Administratively, if you meet your visa requirements, no other hassle will be experienced. Policemen are helpful to foreigners and no street violence exists. No natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods were registered recently. As a general rule in any other countries avoid walking during the night.
Customer Ratings
Mongolian Dot Travel is a B2B company that is a member of the Mongolian Tourism Association and one of Mongolia’s most reputable and professional Destination Management Companies.
