Mongolia's Altai Trek & Eagle Hunting Festival
Details
The Altai Mountains in Mongolia offer spectacular views and are home to ethnic nomads like the Kazakh and Tuvan, known for their hospitality. The trip includes an opportunity to learn about the tradition of eagle hunting and experience a two-day eagle hunting festival, highlighting nomadic culture. A female guide leads the trek as part of a mission to promote gender equity in tourism, supported by a mixed-gender team. The tour is open to all genders.
TRIP DATES: SEPT 2-20 with eagle festival or SEPT 2-18 without eagle festival
See full details via THIS PAGE.
ITINERARY
DAY 1 Arrive in Ulaanbaatar
Our team will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel.
DAY 2 Fly to Ulgii
We will take you from your hotel and drive to the airport to catch the flight to Ulgii. Upon arrival, we will take you to your accommodation in town where you rest for a few hours. We will go for lunch at a restaurant and do a sightseeing of Ulgii, visiting the local bazaar, museum, local hand craft shop and Friendship Hill to see the panorama view of the city.
DAY 3 Drive to Hoton Lake (2300 meters)
Today we drive180 kms to reach the Hoton and Hurgan twin lakes where many nomadic Kazakh families stay during the summer. This is a beautiful place surrounded by mountains with forests which is near the Chinese border. We drive 15 kms north along Hoton lake and reach Biluut mountain where we meet our pack camels and horse rangers.
DAY 4 Altai Trek (1st day)
After breakfast, we will get ready for packing our things on the camels. On the first day of our trek, you can see petroglyphs. We meet the Kazakh people who live here and experience their generosity and hospitality. They live in ger which they made by hand. Today, we continue hiking inside the forest.
DAY 5 Altai Trek (2nd day)
In the morning, we continue our trek and enjoy the view of the Altai mountain. You will also enjoy some birdwatching. We will hike between 15 and 20 km and 4-5 hours each day.
DAY 6 Altai Trek (3rd day)
Today, we hike to Green Lake and leave behind civilization as we go deeper into the remote section of the mountains where we roam freely in nature. It’s a picturesque place that’s ideal for night time photography. At night, you can see a clear sky full of stars as you’re surrounded by high mountains.
DAY 7 Altai Trek (4th day)
. Today, we will get closer to Takhilbai pass which is one of the highest sections of the Altai mountain range. At this point of our trek, we are surrounded by the Altai mountains.
DAY 8 Altai Trek (5th day)
Today is a big day as we hike to the Takhiilbai pass which is located in an area inhabited by the Tuvan people.
DAY 9 Altai Trek (6th day)
On this day, we enter the Altai Tavan Bogd National Park where we start to view the snowcapped mountains and white glacier water river. Again, this area is inhabited by the nomadic Tuvan people with their herd of yaks and livestock. Today, we visit Tuvan families in their gers to learn about nomadic culture and lifestyle.
DAY 10 Altai Trek (7th day) Tavanbogd massif and climb to Malchin peak (2550m-3300m, 4025m)
The next few days are all about enjoying the best views in the Altai Mountains. We hike about 16 kms toward the base camp of the snow-capped Tavanbogd massif. Here, we enjoy the view of the Potanina glacier – the biggest one of the twenty glaciers in Mongolian Altai. Tavan bogd means “The Holy Five,”which refers to the five highest peaks, of which Huiten Uul is the highest in Mongolia at 4374 meters above sea level. It is a stunning setting with the awe-inspiring massif of high snow-capped peaks.
DAY 11 Altai Trek (8th day)
The Malchin peak is one of the highest peaks of the Holy Five mountains which is about 4050m above sea level. It is a nontechnical climb that takes 4 hours with 2-3 hours of descent. At the top, you will enjoy the view of the Altai mountain range and the glacier below.
DAY 12 Altai Trek (9th day)
After breakfast, we pack our things on the camel and start our 4 hour hike back to reach White River valley where our car will pick us up.
DAY 13 Drive to Sagsai Town & Eagle Hunting Community
Today, we drive 150 km to Sagsai town where we spend the night with an eagle hunter’s family. This is an opportunity to learn about the nomadic life and experience the hospitality in this part of the world. At night, we will have a traditional Kazakh meal called Sirne.
Day 14 Eagle Hunting Community Stay
We will learn about eagle hunting traditions with the eagle hunting family. To be an eagle hunter requires patience. The tradition is passed on from the father to his son/daughter. These days, female eagle hunters are becoming more common. Hunting with eagle is one of the traditional games of Kazakh people. The Golden Eagle can hunting with fox, rabbit, marmot and sometimes wolf. Today, we will also visit the Khusvegi Museum & English Library - a community-led initiative that complements the award-winning 30 day cultural immersion initiative, Khusvegi English & Nomadic Culture Camp - ran by the Sagsai community.
Day 15 Drive to Ulgii
After breakfast, we say goodbye to our host family and drive back to Ulgii.
Day 16 Fly to Ulaanbaatar
After breakfast, we drive you to the airport to catch your flight to Ulaanbaatar. (Those who booked for the Eagle Festival will follow a different itinerary from here).
Day 17 Fly home or extend to Day 19 with eagle hunting festival (see TRIP PAGE for full details).
PRICING
Per person for a group of two or more:
$2980 Altai Trek Only
$3380 Altai Trek with Eagle Hunting Festival
A deposit of $700 is required along with completing a booking form.
INCLUSIONS
- English-speaking guide.
- All land transports.
- All meals during the trek.
- All accommodations during the trek.
- Group camping equipment such as dining tents, cooking utensils, all meals during the trek, pack camels/horses & horse rangers.
- Hotel stay in Ulaanbaatar & Ulgii (with breakfast).
- Eagle hunter family visit and homestay in Sagsai.
- Sagsai Eagle Hunting Festival entrance tickets.
- Airport transfers.
- Trekking/entrance fees, border & national park permits.
EXCLUSIONS
Tips for Guides and porters, mountain equipment (eg sleeping bags), any personal expenses (such as laundry, souvenir shopping etc), extra activities (e.g. horse riding), visa fees & travel insurance, international and domestic flight tickets.
Questions? Send me an email - equity@browngaltrekker.com
Mongolia's Altai Trek & Eagle Hunting Festival