This is an adventurous 17-day trek in the remote Altai Mountains of Mongolia, that includes a local eagle festival. The daily plan can be tailored during planning, and remains flexible during the trip. This is an expedition and logistics/weather conditions will have to be considered each day.
This trek takes us to a remote part of Altai Tavan Bogd National Park. This area sees no tourism (apart from us!). Officially the area is closed to foreigners, but the outfitter has developed a good relationship with local officials, which allows us access. There will be the opportunity to meet the local nomadic people, whilst riding through a mix of open valleys, thick forest and high mountains.
Departure & Return Location
UlaanBaatar
Date and Rates
August 29 - September 14, 2027
10 days riding and smaller Eagle Festival around 12/13 September , 2027
Rate USD $ 4,048.03
Price Includes
- Airport transfers for international flights
- Return domestic flight from UB to Ulgii
- 4WD vehicles, including fuel
- National park and border entry fees
- English-speaking translator/guide
- Hiking tents, and all group camping gear
- Eagles Festival entry fee
- All meals from dinner on Day 1 (in UB) to dinner on Day 14, including snacks, tea and coffee
Price Excludes
- Personal camping gear (sleeping bag and sleeping mat)
- Excess baggage fees on domestic flights (about $3USD per kg). (Up to 20kg of luggage per person is included in the trip price)
- Visas, travel insurance (required), international flights
- Entry fees for sites such as monasteries and museums
- If you do wish to tip the local staff, as a way of saying an extra thank you, we can advise
- full riding days 9 (including optional rest days)
Additional services
- Entrance Fees
A typical day on the trip: Expect six to eight hours of riding per day, but be prepared for longer days when necessary. There will also be shorter days, and rest days as required. For those who would like more riding, it is often possible to ride out in the evening, or to take a longer ‘scenic’ route.The terrain is generally not good for fast riding, but for those who are keen for a gallop, there are some opportunities.
Suitable clients for this trek: This trek is suited to more adventurous riders, who do not mind ‘roughing it’ to a certain extent. The area of the Altai Mountains where we ride is remote and involves some days with packhorses. Riders are expected to minimize their personal gear when using packhorses.The terrain can be tough, and does involve some leading over rough, steep ground (typically less than an hour at a time). A good level of general fitness is essential to enjoy this trek. We can discuss what that means!By September the weather is generally sunny during the day, but can be below zero at night, and can snow at any time. Riders need to be aware of the possibility, and be prepared for, cold weather. We will discuss the gear they need to bring.
Cultural Interaction : Mongolia has seen relatively little tourism, so offers a uniquely authentic chance to experience one of the last truly nomadic cultures. There are no children begging for sweets, or people trying to sell souvenirs. In order to avoid these problems occurring in future we will explain the dos and don’ts.The guides have good contacts amongst the local people, so will be invited in to their gers for a glimpse of local life and offered various ‘delicacies’ to try. They will explain how to navigate the cultural minefield, such as always giving and receiving with the right hand whilst your left hand supports your right elbow…you will remember how it goes. Luckily the culture is quite ‘relaxed’ and transgressions are more a source of amusement than offence!There are wonderful opportunities for immersion in the local people’s’ lives. The women will be more than happy to give hands-on lessons in yak-milking and how to process the milk into a range of obscure dairy products. Herding the livestock is the men’s realm, but there is no problem for ‘honorary men’ from foreign lands to get involved. Mongolians are very proud of their culture and like to share it with outsiders.The majority of people in the area where we ride, and our team, are ethnically Kazakh. and they live the same nomadic lifestyle as elsewhere in the country. They have the same amazing hospitality.
The Eagle Festival: The trip will finish with the Eagle Festival. The first day, including the opening ceremony and we will fly back to UB on the second day. During the ride we will stage our own small Eagle Festival, meeting local hunters and trying our hand at horse games. There will be the opportunity to discover what it feels like to sit on your horse with a giant eagle on your arm.
- Stark beauty of Bayan-Ulgii's arid mountains and valleys as we drive south to Altai sum.
- Lush alpine meadows, forest and streams of this hidden corner of Altai Tavan Bogd National Park
- Great riding country, everything from tricky forest trails to high mountain grasslands, and open valleys, and not a fence or gate to be seen
- Fascinating bronze age archaeological sites
- Rare wildlife including Asiatic ibex, elk, argali, bears and wolves (if we are lucky)
- Mongolian culture - nomadic herdsmen still live the traditional lifestyle and will be as interested in you, as you are in them!
- Explore deep in to the Altai Mountains where even local people rarely venture.
- Attend the fascinating annual Eagle Festival
- Ulaanbaatar is best explored on foot and a guide is not essential
- The itinerary remains flexible (within the start and end dates) to allow for unforeseen circumstances such as changes to the domestic flight schedule
Day 1 Arrive in Ulaanbaatar
Arrive in Ulaanbaatar. We meet you at the airport/train station and take you to our hotel. You are free to explore this fascinating city before we gather for an evening meal and meet your fellow riders.
Day 2 Fly to Ulgii
Fly to Ulgii, the main town of Bayan-Ulgii aimag (province). From here we drive south to Altai sum(village), on the edge of Altai Tavan Bogd National Park (4-5hrs), and meet the horses. We start with a safety briefing and pointers about the local riding style, and then begin matching you to your ideal horse. A ride around the local area in the evening will allow you to decide if this is the horse for you.
Day 3 We start off by riding across open plain...
Set off riding across arid open plains, stopping for lunch with our wrangler Hatran's family at their summer camp along the way. Camp on the shores of Chigertei Nuur, a lovely freshwater lake.
Day 4 Jaranash Pass
Climb up to Jalanash Pass, snow-covered for much of the year, and over into a hidden world of alpine meadows, forests and fast flowing streams. Camp near a pair of ancient khun chuluu, or man-stones, from the Bronze Age.
Day 5 Ride down river toward the Chinese border
Ride through a military checkpoint and in to the border zone. Keep your passport handy, and your camera lowered. Reach our base camp, beside a fast-flowing mountain stream and nearby forest.
Day 6 Game trails of the area
A day ride to explore the local area, following game trails up through dense forest to reach alpine grasslands. The views west in to China are spectacular. Keep a watch for elk and ibex.
Day 7 - 9 Riding into spectacular country with pack horses
To explore further we need to load up the packhorses. Follow horse trails used by the border patrol to head down-river, establishing a second base camp for the next two nights. This is remote and spectacular country - Mongolia has a lot of beautiful places, but there is nothing quite like this. We ride up high again, through lush meadows and forest, following narrow game trails. Horse trekking paradise we like to call it! By Day 9 we return to our first base camp, riding high above the river valley this time.
Day 10 A rest day for the horses
TA rest day for the horses - it's hard country even for these amazingly tough horses. You may be ready for a rest yourself. Relax and read a book, or go for a hike in search of wildlife.ransfer to the airport/train station and say goodbye.
Day 11: Down the Pass to Swan Lake
It's now time to start making our way back out of the mountains, via the Pass of Death. It sounds ominous, but that's just the name we gave it when we first came this way many years ago. A series of steep switchbacks drops you down to the valley below. By September, snow is likely. Camp beside Khunt Nuur (Swan Lake).
Day 12: Yellow Gobi River
Ride down the valley and over to Shar Gobi Gol (Yellow Gobi River), where we first met the horses right back at the start. We make the most of the wide flat valley to do some fast riding, after all the mountain trails. For those who are keen you will find out just how fast these horses can really go.
Day 13: Informal mini eagle festival
In the morning we have an informal mini-eagle festival and horse games (see our Altai Mountain trek for details), and then drive back to Ulgii. Stay in a ger camp outside the town and prepare for the festival.
Day 14-15 : Informal mini eagle festival
Attend the Eagle Festival
Day 16: Fly back to UB
Fly back to Ulaanbaatar. Depending on the flight time, we may be able to see the sites of Ulgii, including the local market, a women's craft cooperative, and the provincial museum. Meet in the evening for our final group dinner and a well-earned drink.
Day 17 : Departure from UB
We will help with finding any last minute items to take home for friends and family, and if there is time you can see some more of the city. Finally we take you to the airport/train station and say bayartai.
