The magic of the Mongolian west - Horseback Mongolia
Off the beaten track

The magic of the Mongolian west

On the borders of Central Asia, Kazakh peoples live in harmony with their ancestral customs. Snowy peaks, glaciers, pristine lakes and lush valleys, the Mongolian Altai is one of the most remote parts of the World. A circuit alternating days of discovery by jeep and hikes, for those wishing to explore the west at a moderate pace.

Day 1Arrival in Ulan Bator and visit of the city

Day 1Arrival in Ulan Bator and visit of the city

  • Arrival at the airport, meeting with our driver. Transfer to your hotel, settling in, and rest.

  • Appointment at 12 o'clock at your hotel with your guide. He will take you to the restaurant of your choice.

  • Let's immerse ourselves in the heart of the Mongolian history, in the wonderful National History Museum. Three floors of a rich, glorious, violent and noble past, from prehistory to Soviet period, including the creation of the great Mongolian Empire by Genghis Khan.

  • Walk in the centre of Ulan-Bator. Discovery of Gengis Khan Square and the House of Parliament.

  • At 18 o' clock, Mongolian traditional show at Tumen Ekh: folkloric dances, contortion, and of course khoomi, the overtone singing.

1h 30m-1500km

Day 2Flight to the Mongolian Far West

Day 2Flight to the Mongolian Far West

  • We leave the hectic Mongolian capital to embark on our inner flight to Khovd.

  • Khovd was an important commercial centre located North of the silk road, that had forged links with Russia and China. In 1763, the Manchu administration made build the fortress of Sangiin Kherem. 3-metres (9,84 feet) high and 2-metres (6,56 feet) wide walls enclosed the city that covered an area of 4 hectares. Today, the province of Khovd houses 18 Mongolian ethnic groups.

    Visit of the local market.

  • Walk on the banks of Lake Khar Us, Southeast of the city.

Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Hôtel Nine

Lunch: Included

Accommodation: 2 stars hotel

Day 3In the Altai Mountains

Day 3In the Altai Mountains

  • We drive until Tavan Belchir Mount, whose name means "the five pastures". The mount is located North from Tsambagarav mounts, whose snow-covered peaks culminate at 4195 metres (2,61 miles) above the sea level. Many minorities live in this area, such as Uriankhai and Kazakhs.

Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: 2 stars hotel

Lunch: Included

Dinner: made by the family

Accommodation: Yurt for guests with a family

Day 4-5Trekking in Tsambagarav mounts

Day 4-5Trekking in Tsambagarav mounts

  • From Tavan Belchir, we start a 2-days trek in the valleys of Tsambagarav National Park. We'll meet Kazakh and Uriankhai nomads (Mongolian ethnies living in West of the country). We'll meet a Kazakh falconer who will show us his eagle.
    From Northwest of Tsambagarav mountains, we go closer to the snow-covered summits. View on the glacier.

Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Made by your team

Lunch: Included

Day 6Olgi, in the heart of Kazakh

Day 6Olgi, in the heart of Kazakh

  • Stop on the banks of lake Tolbo.

  • We arrive in the capital of Bayan-Ölgii province that is located in the most Western part of Mongolia and that is the farthest city from any ocean in the world. Olgii is located at 1636 km (1,02 mile) from Ulan-Bator, at 1710 metres (1,06 mile) above the sea level. Principally Kazakhs live there and its atmosphere is very influenced by Central Asia: many signs written in Arabic, mosques and their cupolas pricked up to the sky.

  • Visit of Olgii Museum that shows an exhibition about the fauna and flora of the area. We discover the Kazakh culture, notably with traditional costumes and with a Kazakh yurt built in the museum.

Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Made by your team

Lunch: Included

Dinner: Baavgain khondii camp

Accommodation: Baavgain khondii camp

45m-30km
Sagsai
5h 45m-190km

Day 7Meeting with a falconer and its golden eagle

Day 7Meeting with a falconer and its golden eagle

  • In the morning, we drive towards the village of Sagsai where we will encounter a Kazakh falconer. We will assist to this art, with few hunting demonstrations (animal skin tied to a cord). Lunch with the family.

  • We drive until the Sirgaal area. This very remote area, separated from China by high snowy summits, has the two beautiful lakes Khoton and Khurgan where the Khovd River has its source.

  • 3 nights overstay in a nomadic family. From their camp site we will head towards the Altai Tavan Bogd National Park.

Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Baavgain khondii camp

Lunch: made by the family

Dinner: made by the family

Accommodation: Yurt for guests with a family

Day 8Hike in the Altai Tavan Bogd National Park

Day 8Hike in the Altai Tavan Bogd National Park

  • From our camp, we'll go hiking along the banks of the Khurgan lake, a mountain lake surrounded by glacial moraines, the second largest in the National Park.

Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Made by your team

Lunch: Included

Dinner: made by the family

Accommodation: Yurt for guests with a family

6h-24km
Turgen waterfalls

Day 9Discovery of the Turgen Waterfalls

Day 9Discovery of the Turgen Waterfalls

  • Again from the camp of our hosts, we will hit the road for a second day of discovery. This new hike will take us near the chinese border, where we'll walk along the Baga Turgen river until reaching its waterfall, 40 meters high.

Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Made by your team

Lunch: Included

Dinner: made by the family

Accommodation: Yurt for guests with a family

5h 30m-180km
Zagast nuur

Day 10In the Northern part of the Altai Bogd

Day 10In the Northern part of the Altai Bogd

  • Long journey on the dirt road through the breathtaking scenery of the Altai. We ride along the Mogoyt river before reaching the Black Lake. The landscape become more and more mountainous. Last pass before arriving on the banks of the white river (Tsagaan Gol)

  • Get settled in a farming family near Zagast nuur, where we will stay 2 nights.

Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Made by your team

Lunch: Included

Dinner: made by the family

Accommodation: Yurt for guests with a family

Zagast nuur
Zagast nuur

Day 11Trek until Shiveet Khairkhan

Day 11Trek until Shiveet Khairkhan

  • Day of hiking on the Mounts Shiveet Maikhan, region populated by the Tuva, shamanic peoples for whom the mountain is sacred. Since hunting is here banned, we can see plenty Argali. We'll also have the chance to observe in the region protohistoric statues and Turkish tombs from the Bronze age.

  • Visit the site of Tsagaan salaa. On 15 kilometres (9,32 miles), we can observe about 10000 rock paintings on the rocks that cover the southern bank of white river, "Tsagaan Gol".

Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Made by your team

Lunch: Included

Dinner: made by the family

Accommodation: Yurt for guests with a family

Zagast nuur
6h 30m-220km

Day 12Track to Olgii

Day 12Track to Olgii

  • With regret, we leave the breeders who escorted us during these eight wonderful riding days in postcard landscapes. We find the track again (harsh in this place) and drive back to the capital of province : Olgii.

  • We settle ourselves in a Kazakh yurts camp, where we'll enjoy a certain comfort.

Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Made by your team

Lunch: Included

Dinner: Baavgain khondii camp

Accommodation: Baavgain khondii camp

2h-1700km

Day 13Return flight to Ulan Bator

Day 13Return flight to Ulan Bator

  • We embark on our return flight to Ulan bator.

  • Arrival in town and transfer to your hotel where you can rest a few moments.

  • Rest of the day free. With our guide, you can go shopping in the centre of the city.

Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Baavgain khondii camp

Accommodation: Hôtel Nine

Flight back

Day 14Have a nice journey and see you soon !

Day 14Have a nice journey and see you soon !

  • Breakfast at the hotel. We go with you to the international airport of Ulan Bator. The transfer can be organized at the time you want, according to the schedule of your flight.

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