The Altai extends from Russia to the far west of Mongolia and is a region full of contrasts. It is home to the highest mountains in Mongolia (over 4.000 m). The difficult terrain is home to the Kazakh nomads who are known to train their eagles for wolf hunting. Their beautifully decorated and painted tents are also typical for the nomads. The Kazakhs are a Turkish ethnic group from Mongolia and they are Muslims. Their traditions differ from those of the Mongolian Buddhists. Enjoy the rugged landscapes of incredible beauty between lakes and mountains on this trail. On horseback you will meet the locals and for a few moments you will participate in the life of this still existing, but by urbanization endangered, far eastern culture. Only very few tourists make their way to the remote Altai Mountains. This trekking tour in the west of Mongolia cannot be compared to a riding tour in Europe: we provide horses, camping equipment and a complete team on site. You will also be accompanied by a German speaking guide. Guests and team will help you to set up your tents and help you to fetch water or make a fire. The team will take care of the horses, as the customs are very different from those in Europe.
The luggage is mainly transported in the accompanying vehicle. A Mongolian cook will make the Mongolian cuisine tasty for you. However, the kitchen is adapted to European stomachs, so you don´t have to fear to be fed with offal every day. An expedition to a little known fascinating landscape and culture awaits you, where people still live in complete harmony with animals and nature. Forget your western customs and immerse yourself in another world. A good portion of adventurousness and openness towards foreign cultures are your most important companions on this trek.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Ulan Bator early in the morning. You will be met by the team on site at the airport. This is followed by a transfer to the yurt camp outside the city (about 35 minutes). In the afternoon you will visit the Mongolian capital and see, among other things, the Gadan Monastery, a popular pilgrimage site for nomads. While visiting the temples, you will often have the opportunity to witness a meeting of monks with prayers and chants. Do not hesitate to turn the prayer wheels over once! We continue with a tour to the market hall. Dinner and overnight stay in a yurt camp. (Or: flight to Hovd or Olgui, depending on the air traffic situation).

Day 2: Today you will take the plane to the province of Altai. The flight takes about three hours to your destination, the town of Hovd (or Olgui). The view from the plane of the mountains, lakes and plains will already give you a foretaste of what to expect. You will be greeted on site by the local riding guide, the cook, the driver and the guides who will accompany you during the tour. Enjoy a (with a little luck warm) shower. Dinner and overnight stay in a tent.

Day 3: From the steppe to the mountains: In the morning you will start your trekking ride into the valley, where you will meet for the first time cattle breeders who have set up their yurts around the river. Most of the time you will be accompanied by herds of goats, yaks and horses, which roam freely through the wide landscape. From the steppe you will gradually ascend into the mountains. In the evening you arrive at the tent camp, which is set up at a Kazakh winter camp site.

Day 4: Today you will ride through the Khokh Serkh valley, where you will enjoy a varied landscape. If it turns out, you will make a small stopover with locals. This gives you the opportunity to get to know the habits of the nomads. They live here very isolated. Typical are milk specialities such as cheese, yoghurt, milk or butter tea, which the nomads will certainly offer you. The milk products come from goats, mares or yaks. And of course you can also try the infamous national drink Kumys (or Airak, fermented mare´s milk). Dinner and overnight stay in the tent camp.

Day 5: Your tour continues today and the landscape changes again as you gradually advance to higher altitudes. From there you can enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery, which will surely take your breath away! You may also spot some eagles circling effortlessly above your heads. Dinner and overnight stay in a tent camp.

Day 6: Tsambagarav, an eye-catcher with its snow-covered peak: The tour leads you through different types of rock on all sides and offers you an incredible view on every mountain pass, you are now in the heart of Altai! Ask your riding guide to sing you the folk song The Honor of Altai. This song is known throughout Mongolia and expresses the respect for the magnificent mountain range. Afterwards you will have your dinner and spend the night in a tent.

Day 7: Tribes of the Far East: This morning you will sit up and ride through a wild and inaccessible landscape. On the way you will meet the isolated minorities Oold and the Zakhchin, who keep their herds in check from horseback. Thanks to your guide, you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself for a moment in the life of the local people. Afterwards dinner and overnight stay in a tent.

Day 8: The land of the Kazakhs: In this region of Mongolia live mostly Kazakhs. During today´s ride you will probably have the opportunity to see the impressive tamed eagles of the locals - they are becoming increasingly rare as the tradition of eagle hunting is losing a bit of its importance. Dinner and overnight stay in a tent.

Day 9: Your round trip continues through the mountains to a green oasis at the bottom of the valley, a beautiful place for a lunch break with good food followed by a nap. Afterwards you continue on horseback through the wide steppes. You will appreciate the sure-footedness of your Mongolian horse as you ride through rocky and narrow passages and at full gallop through wide steppes. If you are lucky, you will encounter herds of horses on your way and you will quickly understand why they are so skilful. The horses learn here in freedom in their natural habitat, the mountains, their perfect sure-footedness. Dinner and overnight stay in a tent.

Day 10: Your trekking ride today takes you to the magical lake Doroo Nuur, which consists of two parts separated by a dam: On one side there is fresh water, on the other salt water. It is a true wonder of nature, the locals call it the mirror of the sky. Here you have the opportunity to take a bath and watch the unique sunrise and sunset. When the water is calm, the mountains are reflected in the lake - enjoy this beautiful sight and take some photos! The lake is nestled between high mountains, which are partly wooded and partly offer green hillside meadows. Dinner and overnight stay again in the tent.

Day 11: After a last ascent you will reach the green plateau today. In these heights the meadows still bloom in spring even in midsummer, because it is far from being as dry as in the low-lying steppes. Enjoy once again wonderful gallops in this beautiful landscape. Soon you will see one of the highest peaks of the Altai mountains (the mountain Tsambagarav with 4.195 m). On this evening you can gather around the fire and listen to the Mongolian songs together. Afterwards overnight stay in a tent.

Day 12: Today it is time to slowly start the way back - towards Hovd. You leave the mountains and reach the steppes and the provincial town of Hovd. On the way you will have a picnic. Overnight stay in a tent or in a simple hotel depending on the flight time the next day.

Day 13: Return flight to Ulan Bator. Transfer to Olgui or Hovd airport and domestic flight to Ulan Bator or visit the surroundings of Olgui or Hovd depending on the flight connection and return flight the next day.

Day 14: Time for shopping or a cultural guided tour in Ulan Bator depending on the group´s wishes. The Gandan Monastery is particularly worth seeing. Lunch on own initiative. Dinner and overnight stay in a yurt camp on the outskirts of town.

Day 15: You will be taken to the airport for the return flight to Europe.

We reserve the right to make changes.

Accomodation
Overnight stay in tents and 3x in yurts, the traditional dwellings of the Mongolians. In a yurt you can stand comfortably and you are heated by an oven in the middle. The toilets are behind the bush, washing can be done on the way in the clear creeks. The tents are normal 2-person tents. Each guest receives a cloth mat, a sleeping bag is to be brought along. An overnight stay is possible in a guest house in Hovd.

Catering: Full board; packed lunch and warm dinner. Dairy products, meat and pastries are especially used. Vegetarian food is possible.

Saddle & Tack: Comfortable Russian saddles and local bridles.

Experience: You are able to control your horse in all gaits, have experience in terrain and enough stamina (daily you sit in the saddle for about 5-6 hours).

Horses: Mongolian ponies with a size between 1.35 and 1.45m. Tough, enduring and comfortable. Only geldings are ridden.