HORSE TREKKING ADVENTURE IN ALTAI AND EAGLE FESTIVAL
Why choose this tour? Or highlights of the trip
- Altai is the best travel destination in Mongolia
- Highest Altai mountains more than 4000 m from the sea level
- The best horse trekking itinerary
- Malchin peak climb
- Potanine glacier that biggest glacier in Mongolia and Altai
- Exploring historical things: Bal Bal stone & petroglyphs
- Biggest freshwater lake Khoton and Khurgan lake
- Experiencing rich culture of Mongolian Kazakh nomads
- Experiencing Eagle festival ect.
Day-by-day itinerary
-Day 1. Arrive to Olgii province and drive to Altai Tavan Bogd NP
Olgii is the highest Mongolian aimag (province). For the most part is located in the Mongolian Altai mountain region. The aimag is famous for the traditional hunting method using trained golden eagles. An estimated 80% of the world`s eagle hunters live here. At local airport you will be met one of our representatives: driver, English speaking tour guide, and cooker. We will drive from airport to the entrance of the “Altai Tavan Bogd National Park”. (180km from Olgii). Overnight accommodation will be in a tent. (B-L-D)
-Day 2 Glacier exploration.
After breakfast you will start horse trekking from the entrance of the National park to the base camp. For approximately 4-5 hour riding. In this day join our team camels and horses with guides. Baggage and all stuffs will transfer by camel. After 16km riding you will reach one of the longest Potanine glacier which is surrounded with snow-capped peaks of Altai Tavan Bogd mountains. Overnight accommodation will be in a tent. (B-L-D)
-Day 3 To climb “Malchin” peak.
We'll awake to the fresh mountain air and stunning morning glow of the Altai Tavan Bogd NP. This day we will climb up to the Malchin peak 4050 meter high which is located on the Mongolia and Russian border. So come hydrated and with plenty of sunscreen. It’s not a technical climbing. You can easily be on the top. You’ll have the best view of the whole Altai Tavan Bogd national park and the longest Potanin glacier from the top of the Malchin peak.
Return to the base camp and overnight accommodation in a tent. (B-L-D)
-Day 4 Ride back to “white river valley”
After having breakfast you will riding back to the Tsagaan gol (white river) valley. Approximately four-five hour ride this day. Have a rest, relax. There will be time for in evening hike to the beautiful two lakes. Overnight accommodation will be in a tent. (B-L-D)
-Day 5 Ride to the “Khara-Airkh” valley
Ride to the Khara-Airkh valley through “Shivet Hairkhan” mountain. On the way we will stop for watching numerous of petroglyphs (rockarts) from the Bronze and Turkic ages. After five hour ride you will reach Khara-airkh valley which is summer home of local Tuvan nomads. You will be able to get acquaint with the rich Tuvan culture and their daily life. You will have a chance to taste milk products such as: local yak cheese, milk vodka which is distilled from yak milk, and others. Overnight accommodation will be in a tent. (B-L-D)
-Day 6 Ride to the “Bear valley”.
On this day we will ride across on the highest mountain pass with continued camel support. The Bear valley offers you unspoiled natural beauty and unique opportunity to see wild animals such as: ibex ( wild goat), Argali sheep, red deer, snow leopard, Bear, Altai snow-cock, Golden eagle and many others. The wooded meadows between forested hills are covered with wild and sweet smelling flowers. You’ll enjoy the spectacular scenery of wild nature. Overnight accommodation will be in a tent. (B-L-D)
-Day 7 Ride to “Akh su” valley.
After having a breakfast you will start horse trekking from Bear valley to Akh su valley. After 2-3 hour trek you will stop for lunch one of the most beautiful “Green lake”. Water in lakes is fresh and surrounding forests are rich variety of rare plants and animals. Then continue on to Akh su valley that Kazakh Nomads spend their summer time. Overnight accommodation will be in a tent. (B-L-D)
-Day 8- Ride to Khoton lake
Full day ride through the dramatic steppe valley along the river that drains from the Altai Tavanbogd massif creating a series of beautiful lakes. Camp on the shores of beginning of Khoton Lake. The area is below the snow-capped Ikh Turgen Uul. The campspot is a mere 3km from the China border. We’ll set up our camp on the lakeshore of khoton. Overnight accommodation will be in a tent. (B-L-D)
-Day 9 Drive back to Olgii
Early morning we drive back to Olgii. On the way we’ll stop for watching Dear stones or Bal bals. Upon your arrival Olgii you will visit local Bazaar(outdoor market) and central museum of Olgii province..Make shopping for local art and souvenir. Overnight accommodation will be in a Kazakh yurt. (B-L-D)
-Day 10 Altai Nomads games or Eagle festival
Early morning we head to Altai sum where the eagle festival take place.
The ALTAI NOMAD GAMES will crown the champions in different disciplines such as Hunting with eagles, some Kazakh traditional horseback games, Such as; Kokpar, Kyz kuar, Tenge ilu, etc. The ALTAI NOMAD GAMES-aim to preserve and celebrate nomadic traditions.
The Golden eagle festival starts 10:00 o'clock.
- Registration of credential eagle hunter
- Opening ceremony of annual golden eagle festival with parade of all participants
- Competition of best kazakh costume, eagle and horse harness
- Lunch break at 12:00 o’clock
- Competition of how eagle adapted to hunters. While the eagles were perched high on the mountain side, the hunter would call for the eagle to come and join him on horseback.
- Tenge ilu competition (traditional coin grabbing game while riding a horse)
Overnight accommodation will be in a ger. (B-L-D)
-Day 11 Altai Nomads games or Eagle festival
2nd day of Eagle festival.
- Competition of how eagles adapted to hunters "Shyrga Tartu" (the eagles will be qualified how fast and smoothy catch a lure that made of fox or hare skin).
- "Kyz kuar" game show (Traditional horseback riding fun game for youth, boys whipped by girls if they reached by them).
- Lunch break at 12:00 o’clock
- Continuation of the game
- Kukhbar competition (Traditional horseback riding game fight over for the goat skin).
- Horse race- 100 horse expected
- Award ceremony for winners of festival
- Closing ceremony.
After closing ceremony we’ll drive back to Olgii.
Overnight accommodation will be in a ger. (B-L-D)
-Day 12 Farewell to Bayan-Olgii province.
After breakfast you will driven to the local airport with your guide for your return flight to Ulaanbaatar. B
The equipment and your personal belongings will be carried on camelback.
GOOD QUALITY CAMPING TENT
Altitude
Mostly we are camping and trekking around 1500-2000m high from the sea level. Some trekking routes may go as high as around 3000m but this is not a daily occurrence. When you climb up to the Malchin peak, it is about 4050m high from the sea level.
Weather
Some weather recommendations: Summer months in Mongolia are from early-June to mid-September. Although the Mongolian summers are hot and dry with occasional rain, the temperature can fluctuate as much 20 degrees centigrade between day and night, the weather at Altai Tavan Bogd NP is very changeable, so be prepared for all weather conditions. Mountain weather is always unpredictable, we recommend you to bring warm sleeping bags that rated -15 celcius.
TRANSPORTATION: 4 WHEEL DRIVE VAN
STAYING IN KAZAKH YURT
Culture meets the wild west
Jilipn
Outstanding Time In the Altai with Altai Nomads
It was apparent the Altai Nomads team had trusted and respected relationships with locals and businesses in the Altai. Team members were likable with easy-going personalities and continued to foster and grow those relationships with every interaction. Their partnerships with the Eagle Hunter families in particular benefit visitors in so many ways. Our visits to host families were received with excitement and great interest. Families were outgoing and welcomed us into their homes and always interested in us as foreign visitors.Spending several days hosted with eagle hunter families in advance of the Eagle Hunter festival gave us a level of context and recognition other foreign visitors to the event would not have.The Altai Nomads team went out of their way to ensure an experience of a lifetime. Their broader business relationships allow for great flexibility in the kinds of services and experiences they can offer visitors. I would definitely recommend Serik and his team for guided expeditionary trips throughout Mongolia
MichaelM12897
Horseback riding with Altai-Nomads Travel was one of my best holidays ever.
The people supporting the tour were all very kind, professional and knowledgeable about what they were doing. The horses were very well trained and despite the fact that I'm a beginner it was very easy to ride them. We also visited an eagle hunter family and stayed in a Kazakh yurt and it was a great and interesting experience to stay with locals. Another point I liked was that Serik and his team were very responsible and collected all our trash from each campsite and brought it all back to Ulgii. The only thing that I regretted was that I didn't bring a warmer sleeping bag as it gets really cold during the night but again, Serik was very kind a lent me his. I had an unforgettable adventure and I can highly recommended Altai-Nomads Travel.
Caroline C