We are dedicated to providing well planned and carefully tested active holidays in Mongolia.
“Tavan Bogd” literally meaning “The Five Holy” is a group of snow capped mountains, highest in Mongolia and which belong to a greater mountain range known as the Altai. Geographically, it is the remotest part of Mongolia with true pristine nature, abundant wildlife and interesting cultural heritage. Views here are dominated by vast glaciers, fast mountain rivers and lush alpine pastures where large flocks of yaks, goats and sheep graze.
Arrival in Ulaanbaatar (UB), the capital of Mongolia and transfer to a centrally located 4 star hotel. Afternoon guided city tour will introduce you to the highlights of the city: the Gandan Temple - city's main Buddhist center, the central city square with a grand statue of Genghis Khan and the Zaisan Memorial, an elevated hill on the city's edge providing a panoramic view of UB. Then choose to visit one or two museums from the following: National Museum introducing Mongolia's history from early humans to modern era, Dinosaur Museum with a unique collection of dinosaur fossils, Choijin Lama or State Oracle Residence-museum displaying best samples of Buddhist artwork and religious masks. Winter palace of Bogd Khan showcasing rare statues of Buddhist deities and items of personal use of this last theocratic ruler of Mongolia is also worth considering. An evening folk show of music, throat singing and contortion will be followed by a welcome dinner. (dinner, hotel) Read more
Transfer to UB airport for a flight to Ulgy town in Western Mongolia. Upon arrival meet with your support team and drive to Tavan Bogd NP. We travel across mountainous desert for 5 hours to arrive at Baga Oigor valley, the site of an extensive petroglyph gallery included in the UNESCO "World Cultural Heritage List. Stone and Bronze age rock carvings here are scattered across an area 15km long and 500m wide. Images depict wild and domestic animals and scenes of human life such hunting, handling domestic animals, worship etc. Here we set up our tented camp and spend the rest of the day leisurely exploring the rock art gallery. We then return to our camp for dinner and overnight. (breakfast, lunch, dinner, tent) Read more
We travel along enormous V-shaped mountain valleys with small rivers streaming from glaciers that cover the mountain tops. Mountain slopes covered in lush grass alternate with steep mountainsides completely covered in scree. Large mushroom-like yurts of Kazakh herders and their massive flocks of yaks and goats often come across our way as well as a multitude of marmots. Shortly after lunch we arrive to Tavan Bogd NP gate, a few yurts - home of local rangers at the foothill of even bigger mountains. This is the starting point of the trek. Until dinner you may walk and explore the surrounding foothills. This evening local herders will arrive with their pack camels that will carry our camp, luggage and food in the next days. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner, tent) Read more
After a hearty breakfast we trek to Tavan Bogd base camp (BC), the launch pad for climbing the highest peaks of Tavan Bogd. Watch Bactrian camels being loaded and set off for the BC. Most of the route is a gradual ascent on a high mountain terrain with occasional bogs and a few shallow streams to cross and just two steep but short sections. Halfway through the route magnificent views of snow capped peaks and vast glaciers will come into your sight. Around lunch time the camel caravan overtakes trekkers who normally reach BC in the late afternoon. Our camp site at just over 3000meters allows impressive views of Mongolia’s highest peaks and largest glaciers. Tented overnight. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner, tent) Read more
Our today’s goal is to climb one of the lower and easier peaks of the area. Although non-technical a return trip requires 7-9 hours depending on trekkers’ fitness and weather conditions. We hike along the Potanin glacier moraine for an hour before stepping on the mountain. Although entirely on scree the trail is well established and marked requiring just trekking poles. Once at the top enjoy spectacular bird eye views of glaciers, snow capped peaks and the Russian territory. There is also a less demanding option of climbing to a lower ridge that marks the borderline between the two countries. Off the mountainside leisurely stroll to the camp. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner, tent) Read more
Going to the lower gate of the NP is an easy downhill stroll although some marshy sections and streams need to be negotiated. At two thirds of the way we reach the edge of a deep V-shaped valley at the bottom of which rumbles a torrential river full of glacial silt. This is Tsagaan Gol river. Its lush valley is the summer pastureland of Tuvan camel herders accompanying us. A steep descent to the riverside and arrive to our campsite beside the rumbling river. Enjoy a well earned rest and socialize with other travelers who might be camping at the designated camp ground. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner, tent) Read more
Easy morning hike to visit a Tuvan family most likely that of one of the camel herders that had accompanied us during the previous days of trekking. Tuvans also known as Uriankhai is an ethnic group of Turkic origin that has historically been moving around southern Siberia. Traditionally these cattle herding nomads practiced shamanism - a worship of ancestral and natural spirits but today their belief is a strong blend with Tibetan Buddhism. We use the invitation to learn of their way of life and to taste food and drinks offered by the unwritten local rules. After the visit we hike to Mt.Shiveet and climb to its wide top with a goal of spotting wild mountain goats (Capra Ibex). Seeing them is almost guaranteed but requires a bit of tracking and hiding. A less demanding hike around the base of the Holy mountain will allow you see more ancient rock art displaying fascinating scenes of hunting by distant residents of the Altai region. We return to our camp beside the mountain. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner, tent) Read more
We depart from the Tsagaan Gol valley drive to summer pasturelands of Kazakh herders. Among millions of Kazakhs living in different parts of the world Mongolian Kazakhs are seen as the bearers of authentic Kazakh culture and traditions which are different from that of Mongolians in many ways. We randomly “knock on the door” and visit local herding families to find out about these very differences, their stories and customs. We might be lucky to see their daily chores: tending animals, preparing food etc. Eventually we find a suitable place to camp and enjoy the last camping out in the wild. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner, tent) Read more
Getting back to Ulgy takes about 3 hours. However, along the way we stop at a Kazakh family that practices an ancient craft of hunting with Golden Eagles. The once nearly forgotten tradition had been preserved by Mongolia's Kazakh minority and today it's being actively revived with even women trying their luck in training eagles. Actual hunting is done in winter but still you may learn about the craft and feel the weight of the massive birds by holding them on your arm. We aim to return to Ulgy by lunchtime and settle in a cozy hotel. Time permitting you can walk the streets of the town that has a distinct Central Asian character, visit the town market and museum. A traditional Kazakh dinner accompanied by music and songs will be fitting final to your travels. (Breakfast, dinner, hotel) Read more
After breakfast transfer to Ulgy airport for flight to Ulaanbaatar. On arrival transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your own disposal. Nevertheless, you may consider doing more city visits or souvenir shopping as your guide will still be available on standby. In the evening gather for a farewell dinner. (Breakfast, dinner, hotel) Read more
Transfer to airport for your return flight home. (Breakfast)
Batbayar, On behalf of the six of us, I just wanted to thank you for organizing a fantastic trip to Mongolia. We really enjoyed all aspects of our trip and thank you for working with us to design a trip that enabled us to see and explore so much of the great country in a short amount of time. Also, Jack did a fantastic job as a guide, and we enjoyed spending time with the three drivers as well. We all have said we will highly recommend this trip and working with your company to our friends back home. Thanks for all the help. Read more
Dear Batbayar, Just a quick email to let you know we have safely returned to Shanghai after an amazing trip to Mongolia. I wanted to thank you for planning an excellent trip for us. We experienced many wonderful things and had a fantastic time living with nomadic families and seeing the beautiful countryside. Our trip was made even more enjoyable because of the experience of both the guide and the driver. They did an excellent job making sure we experienced everything that Mongolian culture had to offer. Mogy, our guide, was informative and friendly and looked after us extremely well. He is a very valuable asset to your company. He works very well with the driver too, who we named James. They make an excellent team. We felt very safe in the hands of James when he was driving through the countryside on small dirt roads. His navigation skills are amazing, always reliable and accurate. It was due to their skill and expertise that our trip was particularly successful. Thank you again Mongolian Trekking for serving us so well. A very special thank you to Jack and James. We will certainly recommend your company to any friends and family who are planning to visit Mongolia and when we return in the future we will definitely be contacting you. Best wishes. Read more
Hi Bat, Sorry it has taken me so long to reply to you... I was going to come in on Monday before we left and tell you how great the trip was but we ran out of time as we went back out to the CHCF Ger Village to play with the kids... The trip was amazing... Mongolia is one beautiful country and the people just add to this! Chookaa and Umba were brilliant... I can't speak more highly. It was like traveling with two additional friends on the trip. We had such a great laugh with them both, sung, drunk vodka, laughed and just generally learnt a lot about the culture and Mongolia from them both! We even made Chookaa leave one night and made Umba try to explain the next day to us in english once we thought we had the right plan we got her to come back in and check (was very very funny)! When we come back next year on the school trip I would LOVE to have them both come along on the few days we travel to the Ger camp... I miss them both a lot and Mongolia already! Can you please email me a postal address to send some photos through to Chookaa as she has some names of people we need to try and get them to in the countryside! Thank you so much for organising the trip and sending great people with us I am looking forward to next year already! Thanks again. Read more
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