Trekking in Altai Tavan Bogd National Park Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival at Ulaanbaatar and an Optional City Sightseeing

Guests will be greeted upon arrival at the airport, before being transported to a convenient, centrally located hotel. A 4-5 hour city tour can be arranged depending on your arrival time, which includes Bogd Khan’s Winter & Summer Palace, a series of beautiful traditional buildings in which the eighth Living Buddha and the last king lived.

You will also explore the Gandantegchinlen Monastery, which is the largest and most important monastery within Mongolia, before visiting the magnificent 82-foot high statue of Migjid Janraisig. You will finish the city tour atop Zaisan hill for a view of the whole Ulaanbaatar.

In the evening, your tour guide will give you a short briefing about the coming trip and answer all your questions, before taking you to a famous Mongolian restaurant for a first taste of Mongolian food.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Ulaanbaatar
Distance: None
Meals: Dinner

Day 2 Fly to Olgii and Camp in the National Park

The real journey will begin by taking you to a place that only a few people have visited. Mongolia’s western regions are a linguistic mash-up of Muslim and Mongolian customs, and trekking through this wild landscape can include a variety of encounters as well as a thrilling journey of discovery.

Today you will be flying to Olgii, which is the capital of Bayan-Olgii province. Unlike the rest of Mongolia, which is ruled by Khalkh Mongolians, Bayan-Olgii has a Kazakh majority, almost all of whom are Muslims. When you arrive, you will be greeted by your guide and taken west into the National Park.
Overnight Location: Camping in Olgii
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 3 Drive to Tsagaan River Valley

The Altai Tavan Bogd is a 636,161-hectare pristine landscape in Mongolia’s far west that contains extremely high peaks with perpetual snow and glaciers. The peak of Khuiten Uul on the Altai Tavan Bogd range, which rises to 4374 meters above sea level, is the highest point.

In addition to its natural beauty, the park also contains tens of thousands of petroglyphs that are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Numerous Turkic Stone Men and stone burial mounds can be found here.

Today you will travel through the foothills of the mountains for 5-7 hours, eventually arriving in the early afternoon at the Tsagaan River Valley. This is a popular spot for nomadic people to set up camp in the summer, and it is also where Tuvan people practice their Shaman religion. You will meet your camel guide here to get ready for the hike the next day.
Overnight Location: Camping in Tsagaan River Valley
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 4 Hike Potanin Glacier to Base Camp

Today you will begin the 18 km descent into the base camp. Camels will carry your baggage, which will be managed by the polite and supportive Tuvan citizens. On your way, you will pass by the Potanin and Alexander Glaciers – situated between 3,500 and 4,000 meters above sea level – before arriving at the base camp, which is situated at a height of 3000 meters.

It will take approximately 6 to 8 hours to complete the climb, after which, you will settle into gers and get ready for the next day’s trek to Malchin Peak.
Overnight Location: Camping in Tavan Bogd, 3000m
Distance: 6-8 hours, 18km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 5 Hike to Malchin Peak

Today you will depart on an expedition to the Tavan Bogd Glacier after a hearty breakfast. Here, you will hike through a high mountain landscape of wetlands and rocks, where you will have an incredible view of the five mountain peaks of the Tavan Bogd Mountain, as well as its glacier.

The absolute top of the Altai Mountains – and Mongolia’s highest mountain peak – will be in front of you, creating an incredible scene. Malchin hill, the smallest of Tavan Bogd’s mountain tops, is your final destination today at 4050m. It will take approximately 6 hours to reach the summit, from which you will be able to see Russia and China. After the tough climb through rocky terrain, you will return to camp for the evening.
Overnight Location: Camping in Malchin Hill, 4050m
Distance: 6 hour hike
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 6 Hike to Oigor River

The final day of hiking will take you to the north bank of the Oigor River, where you will meet a Kazakh family at their summer camp. Here, you will be able to experience their warm hospitality, while learning about their traditions and culture. Accommodation in a tented camp.
Overnight Location: Camping near Oigo River
Distance: 16km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 7 Drive Back to Olgii

Today is the last day of your journey across the wild west. You will pack everything into the vehicles and enjoy the picturesque Mongolian scenery as you return to Bayan-Olgii, where you will settle into your hotel accommodations for the night.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Bayan-Olgii
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 8 Flight Back to Ulaanbaatar

The time has come to leave and fly back to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia’s capital. You can use your free afternoon to see as you fit; a good option is to go see the lovely cultural exhibitions and admire the contortionists while watching colourful and rhythmic Mongolian dances.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Ulaanbaatar
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 9 Departure

On the final day of the tour, guests will make an individual departure after breakfast, saying goodbye to Ulaanbaatar before continuing on their travels.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast