Bayan Olgy and Altay Mountains

Detailed Map

Happy Camel	Panoramio	Wikipedia	Openstreet
Picturesque view Water source / well Fishing Area Monastery Man stone / statue Historical site	City Park Cave Bridge Ruin Script	Deer stone Khirigsuur Mosque Cemetery Ger Camps Family	Chez Bernard Mine Airport Museum Dam Statue

Detailed Tours Description

Day 1: Flight to Ulaangom and Kharkharaa Mountains

Today we will fly to Ulaangom. Depending of the arrival date, we will driv on a rough but scenic road into the Kharkhiraa valley. We will reach the Kharkhiraa River where we will set up our tented camp. This river finds its sources in the Kharkhiraa Mountain. Its water flows into the Uvs Lake.

Day 2: Uureg Lake

Today we will head for Uureg Lake, which lies close to the Russian border and Siberia. It is a large, beautiful slightly salt-water lake surrounded by glorious mountains and some snow-capped 3000 meters plus peaks. The mouth of the valley leading into the lake is lined with nomad's summer gers. The scene is breathtaking and so are the people. We will have the opportunity to visit some families.

Before reaching the lake we will cross the Ulaan Davaa Pass, enjoying the views of the red mountains and sprawling valley floor.

We will spend the whole afternoon around the lake. The lake is great for swimming and there are good opportunities for hiking, fishing, bird watching, etc.

Sunsets and sunrises in this dramatic scene can be stunned. They make us feel as if we are the only people on earth or as if we have reached the edges of the viable world.

We will camp along the lakeshore

Day 3: Achit Lake

From here we will drive to Achit Lake. Achit Lake is the largest freshwater lake in the province. It is on the border of Uvs and Bayan Ulgii provinces, and is an easy detour between Olgii and Ulaangom. It offers stunning sunsets and sunrises as well as good fishing. The lake is home to an astonishing array of water bird flocks.

Before reaching the lake we will cross the Ogotor Hamar Pass from which you will have breathtaking views of the region.

We will hike the whole afternoon around the lake.

Day 4: Olgii (Ulgii)

Today we will reach the most western aimag of Mongolia, Bayan-Olgii. Unlike the rest of Mongolia, which is dominated by Khalkh Mongolians, about 90% of Bayan-Olgii's population are Kazakh, almost all of them Muslims.

Olgii, capital city of the aimag is a Muslim influenced ethnically Kazakh city. It is home to a mosque.

Olgiis mosque and madrasah (Islamic place of learning) is worth a quick look, especially on Friday at lunch time when weekly prayers are held, though you may not be allowed inside. The mosque holds the offices of the Islamic Centre of Mongolia. Its unusual angle is due to its orientation to Mecca.

We will spend the afternoon strolling around in the aimag centre. We will visit the museum that has some interesting displays and gives a good overview of Kazakh culture. We will also pay a visit to the mosque.

Day 5: Namarjin Valley and the Tsambagarav Mountain

After breakfast we will set of for Namarjin Valley. On the way you will have excellent views of Tsambagarav Mountain (4200 meters), one of Mongolia's most glorious snow-capped peaks. We will also drive along several Kazakh settlements and a beautiful turquoise lake. The grassland in this valley is covered with a carpet of alpine flowers.

Day 6: Bayangol Valley and Khar Us Lake

In the beginning of the afternoon we will pass Khovd, capital city of Khovd Provinve.

Sangiin Kherem is the Mongolian name for the remains of the Manchu fort in the Northern part of Khovd city, Mongolia. The fort was built in the 18th century, and later became the seat of the Manchu amban and his office. The fort has a quadratic layout, the walls are made of clay. There were gates at the east and west and watch towers at the four corners. The fort's walls were surrounded by water ditches, with wooden bridges to access the gates. The remaining walls are 3 metres high and 1.5 metres thick , oriented at the four corners of the earth, each side was 0.33 km. According to Russian geographer M. V. Pevtsov, who visited the city in 1878, the height of the walls back then was 4.5 metres[1]. The southern portion of the fort was occupied by the Manchu amban, treasury, offices, and military barracks. The eastern part was occupied by commercial firms, a Chinese Buddhist temple and a mosque. Since the year 1912 when city Khovd was liberated from the Manchu administration and the fort was taken by force, the citadel declined.

The whole day we will explore the region of lush valleys, dozens of little lakes and permanently snow-capped peaks.

We pass through Bayangol Valley from where you will have a fine view over Khar Us Lake.

In the evening we will set up our tents close to a nomad family. We will experience the warm hospitality offered by the Mongolian families. For dinner we will be offered a typical Mongolian barbeque that will be prepared by nomads. Those who want will have the opportunity to try the "airag" or fermented horse milk. Our guide - translator will help us to forge contact with the local population.

Day 7: Tsenkheriin Agui Cave

The Tsenkheriin Agui (also known as Khoid Tsenkher) caves are for their cave paintings, dates from 20.000 years ago. Interesting is that both mammoths and ostriches are depicted on the walls, proving that both lived in Mongolia up to approximately 15,000 years ago.

The cave has numerous passages to explore. The largest cavern (12 by 18 meters) is about 15m high.

We will make a short trekking in the caves area.

Day 8: Davri

For today on we will start driving again eastwards, reaching Altai town after 2 days of intensive driving.

We will overnight close to Davri.

Day 9: Alta

Today we will reach Altai, capital city of Gobi-Alta Province. Alta is nestled between the mountains of Khasagt Khairkhan Uul (3579m) and Jargalant Uul (3070m).

We will overnight somewhere past Altai.

Day 10: Flight back to Ulanbator

Today we will fly back to Ulanbator.

Optional Day: 2 days trip to Khoton and Khukh an Lakes on the way to the Tavan Bogd Mountain

Form Ulgii we will drive further westwards into the direction of the Tavan Bogd Mountain. We will reach in the afternoon the Khoton and Khukh an Lakes.

1 or 2 Optional Day: Overnight in a Khazak Eagle Hunters Family

During these two days we will live a life of a Kazakh eagle hunter! We will be follow our eagle hunter and his bird on horseback for 3-4 hour treks through the Altai Mountains looking for prey. The rest of the time we will be interacting with the family members (Kazakh people tend to have large families) and experiencing their daily life. Kazakh people are known with their warm hospitality so prepare to feel greatly welcome in their home.

Optional Day: Tolboo Lake

On the way from Olgii to Khovd, we will stop for a day at Tolboo Lake, a pristine sweat water lake, situated at 2080 metres above sea level. The lake is the site of a famous battle in the 1920's struggle for Mongolian independence and several monuments recognize the heroism of Mongolian soldiers. We stop in Deluun village to visit the local WWII monument, then continue to the Chigertei River, whose unusually warm water is fed by a nearby hot spring.

Optional Day: 3 days trip to Eej Khairhan Mountain

This ancient stone massif Eej Khairkhan rises from the desert and resembles a prone woman. The massive has 7 interconnected water pots. When the first pot is filled up, it creates a little waterfall by spilling its excess water to the next pot through the stone threshold, which is 40 to 50 cm long.

Nearby the water pots there is a little cave monastery where the monk knows as the Monk with the white horse and the white camel lived. About 30 minutes walk westwards are some spectacular, ancient rock paintings of ibex, horsemen and archers. This area was protected in 1992.

Book Now

Prices

We offer 3 different price categories for our tours:

• Budget Trips: tented camp, cook, food, guide, Russian mini van

• Normal Trips: ger camp stay with food, guide, Russian mini van

• Luxury Trips: ger camp stay with food, guide, Japanese jeep

Please contact us for the updated prices. We offer special discount prices for off season tours.

Service in Ulaanbaatar

Please click here for more information about services in Ulaanbaatar.