Trip of a Lifetime!

We chose Altai Nomads Travel based on their recent TripAdvisor reviews, and our experience did not upset. My husband and I had been planning to travel to Mongolia for several years. We initially didn't know if we wanted to travel on our own or with a guiding company and we were SO glad that we booked with Altai Nomads. From the first time we inquired, Serik was quick to respond and was able to prepare a custom trip that catered to all the things we wanted to do and see. His prices are very competitive compared to other companies, and he came through with everything that was promised- we didn't have to worry about flights, car rental, transport, food, shelter, park permits, etc. Altai Nomads made sure everything was covered! We traveled with a guide, a cook, and 2 camel wranglers, with 3 horses and 3 camels. (My husband and I are not keen on horses, so we trekked with our guide while the others rode horseback.) We started in the North of Altai Bovd National Park and traveled South, down to the twin lakes over a period of 2.5 weeks. The terrain was amazing, with giant mountains and glaciers in every direction! Our guide was extremely helpful, and every day spent time pointing out artifacts, petrogliphs, and explaining the culture and norms of a nomadic life. Many days we got to join the local nomads in their gers for warm tea, cream, and cheese. Our cook deserves a paragraph of her own... we had been told prior to leaving that Mongolian food was not the best, but every day she prepared us a feast and proved the nay-sayers wrong! The food was absolutely delicious, with lots of variety and thoughtful touches. Every morning we had a warm breakfast, and then were given packed lunch made of homemade treats to take with us on our trek. Dinner included things like homemade dumplings, soups, meatballs, and stir fry. We had afternoon tea every day after we were done hiking, which provided warm breads, jams, and cookies, and candy bars. We never left the table hungry or unsatisfied. All in all, choosing Altai Nomads was the best decision we could have made. I strongly feel that arranging a trip like this on your own would have been extremely difficult, especially with limited time in the country. Serik, and all the people at Altai Nomads were amazing; they provided a dream trip with the best team members, fantastic food, competitive prices, and a flawless itinerary. Their professionalism and knowledge of the region is second to none, and I can't recommend them highly enough!