Stunning West Mongolia

Today, you will take an early morning flight to Ulgii. Our local guide and the professional driver will pick you up at the airport and then accompany you on a 6-7 hour drive to the Shiveet Khairkhan Mountain area renowned for its extensive rock art. The UNESCO World Heritage site - Petroglyphs is dated back to more than 12,000 years ago, and the ancient carvings can be found on the rocks. You can see vivid animal figures, including ibex, deer, and horses, as well as images of chariots in different periods, such as troikas of the Karasoke era (1300-800 BC) and carriages with canopies of the Sarmat Age (7-4 BC). Besides, some scenes of ancient nomads’ daily activities, such as religious ceremonies, hunting, and herding, were also carved. Try to decipher the story behind the images and have a glimpse of Mongolia’s cultural and spiritual history.

Then, continue driving toward the west to the entrance of Altai Tavan Bogd National Park and stay overnight at a yurt of a Kazakh family. Due to the isolation from the outside world for a long time, plus the government's permission to retain their own traditions, Kazakhs in west Mongolia preserve most of their authentic culture, from language, sports, and music to art, especially eagle hunting traditions that have been passed down for thousands of years. If lucky, you can chat with the hosts of the yurt and glimpse at the eagle hunting culture.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Nomadic Family Stay

After breakfast, pack your camping equipment, and we will set off and ride a horse to the Altai Tavan Bogd National Park Basecamp at an altitude of 3,090m (10,137ft) above sea level.

★ Four-hour Horse Ride to Altai Tavan Bogd Basecamp

Due to its remote location, Altai is unspoiled and primitive with many precious animals and plants. On the way to the base camp, you may be lucky to see wild goats, brown bears, and gray wolves, as well as majestic golden eagles swooping overhead. After crossing the endless grassland and turbulent river and passing through the dense forest, you will be welcomed by the fluttering, vibrant praying flags that locals hang for a blessing. Standing in front of the tent, you will be wowed by the majestic snow-covered Altai Mountains and extensive plains at its mountain foot. As night falls, you can see the clear sky shining with twinkling stars and lie on the lawn listening to the stories of Genghis Khan.
► Tips:
1. You can ask for a rest at any time, as a 4-hour ride may be a big challenge.
2. Please do not scream while riding, or the horse may be spooked.
3. A pair of gloves is necessary as you need to hold the reins for a long time. Besides, it is advised to prepare sun-protective gear because the UV rays are strong in such high-altitude areas.

 Altai Mountains - One of the Legendary Burial Places of Genghis Khan
In the dense forest of the Altai Mountains, there is a secret lake where Genghis Khan led his army resting during the Western Expedition. Viewing the serene environment, Genghis Khan told his followers to bury him beside the lake after his death and had his trusted followers guard him for generations. But whether Genghis Khan’s grave is here still remains a mystery. It is said that after he was buried, his tomb was leveled and sowed with grass, which has been perfectly concealed on the vast grassland. After the tomb’s sentinels died, no one could find his resting place anymore.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Tent

Your Malchin conquer day will start after a big breakfast. Among the three peaks of Altai Tavan Bogd, the 4,050-meter-high (13,000-foot-high) Malchin is the only one that can be easily reached without climbing equipment. It is also called Herder Mount because locals usually herded here in the past. On the way up, following the snow-covered paths, the mirror-like crystal sky and the stunning view of the glacier beckon you to keep going in the strong wind. When you finally stand on the top, the bird’s eye view of the spectacular Altai Tavan Bogd National Park and the Potanin Glacier will make this trek worthwhile. As Malchin Peak stands at the border between Mongolia and Russia, on sunny days, you may also view Belukha Mountain, the highest peak of the Altai Mountains located in Russia. Then, get down to the basecamp, where you will be rewarded by the crescent-shaped lake - Nogoon Nuur, also known as Green Lake. 
► Tips:
1. It takes 4-5 hours on average for the uphill hiking, which varies slightly according to individual speeds, and another 3-4 hours is needed to get back to the base camp.
2. Please wear warm clothes and trekking shoes to help you tackle strong winds and rocky, snowy paths. Besides, we suggest you prepare snacks and drinking water to refresh your energy.
3. Since sometimes the wind may be extremely strong, which is not suitable for climbing, we will lead you to trek to the borderline of Mongolia and Russia.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Tent

Today, we will set off early and drive northward to the beautiful lake area of the Altai Tavan Bogd National Park, where Lake Khoton connects Lake Khurgan by a broad watercourse. Most Kazakh herdsmen live here, with beautiful and clean lakes, peaks capped with ice and snow, canyons with unique landscapes, and vast grasslands. After arriving, the rest of the day is for your own arrangement.

You can hike along the lake shore to encounter ibex or stroll through the luxuriant forest to the upland to see the panoramic view of the Khoton and Khurgan Lakes. If you are an angler, don’t miss the chance to go fishing for grayling and lenok in the lake area. Ger camps near the shore usually provide fishing gear rental services. Want something more exciting? Go horseback riding and explore the ancient burial grounds, modern cemeteries, and human-shaped stones on the way.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Ger Camp

After a one-hour drive, we will arrive at today’s destination, Baga Turgen Valley. Passing through the slopes covered by trees, you will be led to the Baga Turgen Waterfall by a stream. Originating from the melting glacier, the turbulent water rushes across the plain and dashes down the cliff, forming a big waterfall of 23 meters (75 feet) high and a small one of 13 meters (42 feet) high. Surrounded by Siberian fir and larch forests, Baga Turgen Waterfall also provides a habitat for red deer, wild goats, and lynx, which you may occasionally encounter. Climbing to the top of the waterfall along the rocks to capture a 360-degree view of the valley is also exciting. Surrounded by snow-peaked mountains, streams nourish pine trees scattered across the grassland against the backdrop of the azure sky. Please wear trekking shoes and be careful when climbing, as some rocks may be loose.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Ger Camp

Since the best way to understand a place and a nation is to integrate into local families and learn about their lifestyles, we will escort you to drop by an eagle hunter’s family today. The Kazakh people of the Altai Mountains, distinct from other Mongolian ethnic groups, are known as the last eagle-hunting tribe for their tradition of training golden eagles to hunt for food and fur. Hunters usually wear clothes made of sheep and wolf fur and fox-fur hats called Hoovuuz. If time permits, you can observe how an eagle works in harmony with the local people in hunting. The hunter will ascend to a high vantage point with the eagle, scan the valleys and the plains, then release the bird assistant to capture prey, and summon the eagle back using a specific whistle. With the hunter’s permission, you can take your life photo with an eagle perching on your arm. Please note that such birds are heavy, reaching 4-7 kg (9-15 Lbs), and make sure you can support this weight with one arm. 

Afterward, we will drive back to Ulgii. On the way, you may encounter herds of horses across the road, offering you a chance to admire them closely. Before sunset, you will see colorful wooden houses and Mongolian yurts, which means we are approaching the destination. If it is sunny, the snow mountain reflecting the golden hues will leave you with an unforgettable memory. After checking into the hotel, you can stroll around or have a rest at the hotel.

 Partake in the Golden Eagle Festival of Kazakh
If you happen to visit Ulgii on the first weekend of October, you will have a chance to take part in the two-day Golden Eagle Festival held to celebrate the Kazakh people’s ancient bond with the golden eagles. During the festival, the best hunter and their majestic raptors gather on the steppe and compete with each other to clinch the golden medal. Eagles are released from peaks and dive at breakneck speeds, up to 190 mph, to snatch a fox-fur “prey” from their owners’ hands. The fastest and most precise eagle and falconer win. Besides, you can watch a thrilling, no-holds-barred horseback game, a tug-of-war with a headless goat, to feel riders’ brute strength, flawless horsemanship, and tacit teamwork. Want to explore the culture where humans and eagles have partnered for millennia? Connect with us so that we can craft a journey for you.

 Why are the Kazakhs so Obsessed with the Eagles?
It is not so much that Kazakhs are obsessed with the eagles, as that they revere such raptors. They think eagles symbolize strength, freedom, and the nomadic spirit, as well as the messengers bridging the earthly world and the divine. Since antiquity, Kazakhs have built close connections with the eagles. They trained golden eagles to hunt for daily essential food and fur. During the period of the Great Mongol Empire, Khan would lead more than 10 thousand eagle hunters to hunt every March. However, nowadays, there are only 250-300 eagle hunters left in Mongolia, making the old practice a vanishing heritage.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Mediana Hotel (3 stars) or similar

Say goodbye to Ulgii and you will be transferred to board the flight to Ulaanbaatar. After arrival, our guide and the driver will pick you up and send you to check in at the hotel. In the afternoon, we will escort you for a brief city sightseeing.

We will first worship the Gandan Buddhist Monastery, which allegedly survived Soviet-era religious purges (1917-1991) as a “museum”. Step into its main hall, and you will be awestruck by the 26.5-meter-tall (about 87-foot-tall) golden Buddha statue, which was rebuilt in 1996 after the original one was melted down to make bullets during WWII. The statue glitters with 2,286 gemstones and contains 27 tons of medicinal herbs, 334 Buddhist sutras, and 2.2 million prayer scrolls in its hollow core, so it is regarded as Mongolia’s national treasure. The courtyard in front of the monastery buzzes with pigeons. Buy a bag of pigeon food for 2,000 MNT (about 0.5 USD) to feed them, and let them perch on your head for a quirky photo!
► Tip: You are expected to remove sunglasses when admiring Buddha’s statue to show your respect. Besides, photography is banned in the main hall.

Then, we will continue to visit the Bogd Khan Palace Museum, which was once the palace of the last Mongolian King, Bogd Khan. By admiring more than 8,600 exhibits, such as an elephant specimen, a yurt made of 150 snow leopards' fur, and shoes embroidered with golden thread, you can have a vague imagination of Bogd Khan’s lavished life. At dusk, climb up the Zaisan Memorial Hill and enjoy the panoramic view of Ulaanbaatar and its surrounding hills and grasslands. In the evening, you will be transferred back to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Ramada Ulaanbaatar City Center (4 stars) or similar

Today, a 2-hour drive will lead you to the Hustai National Park southwest of Ulaanbaatar. With rolling hills and emerald grasslands, it is home to Przewalski’s horses, also known as the Mongolian wild horses. We will first briefly learn the history of the park at the information center and then, drive deep into the park to find the trail of the planet’s last pure wild horses. Following the marked roadway, our experienced guide and driver will escort you to several stops where horses usually roam freely. It is advisable to prepare a pair of binoculars since you can only see these previous animals from 200 meters (656 feet) afar. Spot these dun-colored animals grazing under the clear sky while winds tousle their punk-style manes. Besides, you may also see Siberian marmots popping out of burrows, red deer darting through the steppe, and golden eagles circling overhead. If interested, we will stop at the designated spot, where you can get out of the car and take a small hike. As night falls, we will check in at a Ger Camp in the park. The absence of light pollution here reveals a sky dusted with stars, which is hard to see in the neon-lit cities.  
 Best Time to Visit: Morning and afternoon are the best time to visit the park, especially in summer (June-August) days when horses usually hide in the shade of the forest at the scorching noon. We will stay overnight at the yurt in the park, which will provide you with more chances to trace these precious horses. 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hustai Ger Camp or similar

We will depart early this morning and take your chance to spot wild horses if you failed to see them the day before. Then, drive to the Terelj National Park. After about a 2.5-hour drive, you will enter the park, seeing the grasslands dotted with herds of cattle and sheep and colorful wooden yurts. Continuing driving for 20 minutes, one of the most popular spots, Turtle Rock will come into your eyes. Locals believe that it is very effective to make a wish toward the rock. You can also traverse the turtle’s back to its head, where a scenic outlook of the park unfolds. Please be careful when climbing, as the rock’s surface may be slippery. If time permits, we will dive deeper into the park to explore the Ariyabal Meditation Temple.

After lunch, a one-hour drive from Terelj brings you to one of Mongolia’s most iconic landmarks - the 40-meter high (131-foot) equestrian statue of Genghis Khan. It dominates the vast steppe landscape. Upon entering the ground floor exhibition hall, you will be immediately greeted by the world’s largest Mongolian boot standing at 9 meters (30 feet). If interested, you can also descend to a compact museum on its lower ground to feel the collision of Mongolia’s ancient and modern arts. The true highlight awaits atop the statue's head. An elevator ride through the horse's neck leads to a vantage point where you can not only catch the sweeping view of the grassland but also photograph yourself with the Great Khan statue. Want a more complete cultural immersion? You can rent a traditional deel robe (MNT 15,000/USD 4) featuring vibrant silk sashes and elaborate silver jewelry at your own cost. Then, we will return to Ulaanbaatar and arrange a farewell dinner to cap off this west Mongolia tour package.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Grand Hill Hotel Ulaanbaatar (4 stars) or similar

Our tour guide and the driver will meet you at the hotel lobby and transfer you to the airport for your departure flight. We wish you a nice journey home! If you want to continue to explore Mongolia’s Bayan Gobi and world-famous Lake Khovsgol, or experience the trans-Siberia train, we can tailor the itinerary for you. Welcome to consult at any time!

Meals: Breakfast