Altai – the West

Day 1
We are picked up by our tour guide. Today we visit the Mongolian National Museum. You spend the night in the yurt camp on the edge of the capital.

Day 2
Domestic flight to Ulgii, capital of the most western province of Mongolia. This ares is populated mainly by Mongolian Kazakhs. We leave Ulgii for the Altai Mountains, staying overnight at the Khovd River. (B,L,D)

Day 3
We travel through the central Altai Mountains into the valley of the Tsagaan River, where the last nomads live, and set up our base camp there. This is also the farthest point that our vehicles can reach. We are now in Taven Bogd National Park, close to the Chinese border and home to the Five Kings Massif (five peaks with permanent snow). The highest mountain of the massif is Khuiten Peak at 4,374 metres. Tavan Bogd is the coldest region in Mongolia. It can snow even in midsummer. (B,L,D)

Day 4
Over the next three days we undertake a mountain hike in Tavan Bogd National Park and to the Potanin Glacier, named after a Russion explorer. Today we hike to the mountain and set up our tent camp. Our luggage is carried by horses or camels. (B,L,D)

Day 5
We explore the surroundings of the glacier and the Five Kings Massif. You experience this unique mountain landscape and hike through the national park. (B,L,D)

Day 6
Today we take down our tent camp and hike back to our base camp. (B,L,D)

Day 7
We leave the most western point of Mongolia and head west through the valley of the Tsagaan Gol. We travel to Tolbo Lake (Tolbo Nuur). We spend the last night in the province of Bayan Ulgii. (B,L,D)

Day 8
Via the town of Ulgii we travel to the snow-covered Tsambagarav Mountain, which rises to an altitude of 4,193 metres. The rest of the day is reserved for either a mountain hike or recuperation. (B,L,D)

Day 9
We start for the town of Khovd, capital of the province of the same name. Mongolian throat singing (Khuumii) and many ot its famous singers come from here. In Khovd we visit the local market. Then we’re off to Khar Us Lake (Khar Us Nuur) National Park, home of the eponymous lake and many different types of bird. This is the second-biggest freshwater lake in Mongolia. (B,L,D)

Day 10
Today we drive to the province of Zavhan, which stands out for its eclectic and beautiful nature. In this province there are sand dunes, steppes, mountains, lakes and rivers, all that Mongolia has to offer. We spend the night near the sand dune Mongol-Els. (B,L,D)

Day 11
We first travel to the province capital, Uliastai. Then onwards to the snow-covered, sacred Otgontenger Mountain that rises ro a height of 4,008 metres and is the highest peak of the Khangai Mountains. The very rare Vansemberuu plant that grows in just few rocky mountainous regions can be found here. It reaches a height of 30 to 40 cm and appears only in pairs (known as king and queen). Its flower is brown, circular and soft as silk. (B,L,D)

Day 12
Today we hike through the surroundings of the snow-covered, sacred Otgontenger Mountain. The sacred Otgontenger Mountain is flanked by several peaks that the Mongolians call the guardians of Otgontenger. The guardian on the western side is Dayan mountain, and we spend the night at its base. (B,L,D)

Day 13
We remain in the beautiful Zavkhan Province, spending the night outdoors near the Ider River. (B,L,D)

Day 14
Today we go to Khorgo National Park, comprising the dormant Khorgo volcano and Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake (Terkhiin Tsagaan Nuur). (B,L,D)

Day 15
We stay in this region today. We climb Khorgo volcano and enjoy the wonderful view ftom its peak. You can also rest at Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake. If you wish you can hike to the volcano and back. The route to the volcano is about 2 km and to the lake about 6 km. If you don’t want to hike you can go horse riding instead. (B,L,D)

Day 16
Via the town of Tsetserleg we travel to the Tsenkher hot springs situated in an idyllic valley. In the evening you have the option to bathe in the hot spring waters. (B,L,D)

Day 17
Today we’re off to the former capital of Genghis Khan’s Mongolian Empire: Karakorum (Kharkhorin). In the 14th century almost the entire city was destroyed by the Ming Dynasty. In Karakorum we visit the Karakorum Museum which contains the findings of the German-Mongolian excavations and representations of the different epochs og Mongolian history, from the Stone Age up to the Mongolian Empire. We also visit the famous Erdene Zuu Monastery, which was foundad in 1586 on the initiative of Abtei Sain Khan and is the oldest centre of yellow Buddhism in Mongolia. You have the option to join the Buddhist monks in prayer.

We travel through the hilly steppe country to the Elsen Tasarkhai sand dune. Here, in the midlle of central Mongolia, we find another small part of the Gobi Desert. (B,L,D)

Day 18
We spend this day at the Elsen Tasarkhai sand dune. We go for a hike and enjoy our last day in the steppe. (B,L,D)

Day 19
Today we drive to Ulaanbaatar. An evening concert introduces us to the delights of traditional Mongolian music. You hear the sound of the Mongolian horsehead fiddle and throat singing. (B,L)

Day 20
Our time in the mountains and the steppe has come to an end, and this is our last cahnce to explore the capital. A day of recuperation, you are free to spend it however you choose. (B)

Day 21
Return journey, organised individually. (B)