Altai Trek and Altai Eagle Festival 2012

Sept11/Day 1: To Ulgii

Meet your local Kazakh guide arriving at Ulgii airport or report at the bar of Blue Wolf Restaurant in Ölgii, latest 17h00. You will meet your local guide here. Check in at Blue Wolf Ger Camp. Dinner in the big Kazakh yurt (ger). Dinner. (1725m)

Sept12/Day 2: To Baga Turgen Uul

We will load our equipment onto pack-camels and/or pack-horses  and start hiking nearby western side of Hurgan Nuur and Hoton Nuur,where  many Nomadic Kazakh families spend summer.Along the lakes,we see the beautifull waterfall,rockprintings and some ancient Trukic stones with face.On the right side we see the snowcapped mountains with forest,which make the wall between China and Mongolia.(5-6hrs, 2100m) 

Sept13-14/Days 3-4: To Hoton Lake

Full day trek through the dramatic steppe valley along the river that drains from the Altai Tavanbogd massif, creating a series of beautiful lakes. Our impressive camel caravan comes out to the steppe valleys of the lake area. We pitch camp on the shores of Hoton Lake. The area is below the snow-capped Ikh Turgen Uul. We are now only 10km from the China border. These are the summer pastures of numerous Kazakh herdsmen.  Their yurts are a bonanza of handicraft. They are a very friendly and hospitable people.  A fishing rod comes in handy here. The largest subspecies of Mongolian Grayling (Thymallus arcticus) is easily fished here. The numerous Great Cormorants in the vicinity are a good indicator that there are plentiful fish in the lakes.

second day, Trek up a valley with patches of Larch forests and have a picnic lunch near the so-called Green Lake,After few hours trekking come to Bear Valley, where we will pitch camp.(5-6hrs, 2100m-2200m)

Sept15-16/Days 5-6: Altai Mountains crossing

We have allocated two full days for the crossing of the Altai Mountain range, the total distance being 32km. We will pitch camp before the snowy area. Certainly big game such as Snow Leopards and its prey species live here, but they are extremely difficult to see.   Perhaps you may see Altai Snowcock, the highest altitude living bird of Mongolia.
We will cross the Altai at the highest elevation of some 3600m  and have broad views across the Altais. We will be near the peak of Tsagaan Hairhan Uul (3662m). (5-6hrs,2300-3300m) 

Sept17/Day 7 To Shiveet Khairkhan

Trek down to Shiveet Hairhan Mountain, where the Tuva people live. Here we will now be able to view the biggest petrolgyphs from the period of the Huns (approx 200 B.C.).  The Huns were the reason for the Chinese emperor Qin Shi Huangdi to build the Great Wall of China.(5-6hrs,2300-2600m) 

Sept18-20/Days 8-10: Tavanbogd massif
 

First day, trek for  11 kms toward the base camp of the snow-capped Tavanbogd massif. Pitch camp next to the 20km long Potanina glacier – the biggest of the twenty glaciers in Mongolian Altai. Remain there for two nights.   Tavanbogd means “The Holy Five”, referring to the five highest peaks, of which Huiten Uul is the highest in Mongolia, 4374 meters above sea level. Quite a considerable height at this altitude. It is a stunning setting with the awe-inspiring massif of high snow-capped peaks.

Second day, for a full day we will make day hikes to the Malchin Uul. These are non-technical climbs.

Third day, trek back to Tsaagan River (White River).The pick-up vehicle(s) will arrive this campside tonight.  (5-6hrs,2700-4025m)

Sept21/Day 11: To Sagsai

Drive via Ulaanhuis over desert mountain landscapes, with the snow-capped Sogoog Mountain as a powerful backdrop and the Altai Mountain range ahead of us. We will find numerous petroglyphs and Turkic stones along the Sogoog River basin. Bayan-Olgyi is rich in archaeological remains, as a reminder of the Bronze Age and the time of the Huns and Turkic invasions.After 5-6hrs, arrive back to Sagsay village and Blue Wolf Ger Camp.

Sept22-23/Days 12-13 Altai Eagle Festival

Meet the Kazakh Eaglehunters.The rodeo of eaglehunting.A fantastic opportunity for photographers and adventurers alike to see these magnificent birds up close.There are approx.400 eaglehunters in Bayan-Ulgii aimag.eaglehunters from around regions gather to test their finely trained birds in singular contests of speed and agility in these few days.During the festival we also see some Kazakh Traditional Horse Games  like “BushKushi”(Try to take out from each other the goat skin on horseback),”Kiss woman on horseback”,”Pick up coins from the land on horseback” and others.In the evening we enjoy to have the Kazakh Concert with some traditional songs and music. Overnight in Kazakh felt ger.(B,L,D)

Sept 24/Day14:  To Olgyi

After breakfast, drive a short way (one hour) to Olgyi. The bazaar in Olgyi is interesting, as well as the mosque, which has been renovated in recent times. We usually have the whole morning to visit Olgyi. There are some very interesting back street handicraft shops and a well-stocked local museum. Overnight in Blue Wolf-Ulgii Gercamp.

Sept 25/Day 15: Fly out

Take a flights leave for Ulaanbaatar. You may – at additional cost – add a transfer to Hovd (5-6h).

Some recommendations:

Summer months in Mongolia are from early June to mid September.Although the Mongolian summers are hot and dry with occasional rain, the temperature can fluctuate as much 20 degrees centigrade between day and night.So be prepared for all weather conditions.

What to bring:

Binoculars,sunscreen,a hat,gloves,long underware for travel in the high mountains,comfortable footware,lip balm,sanitary hand wipes,sunglasses,prescription medications,(if needed),rain gear,flashlight.

Transport:

Western Mongolian families frequently move from one pasture to the other using camels.The services of some herdsmen will be hired by the expedition, and they will provide us with their animals.

Staff:

A local guide who speaks English,Kazakh and Mongolian will accompany the group at all times.A cook will follow, with an assistant.In addition, the services of the local herdsmen will be hired along with their animals.The horsemen follow a traditional lifestyle in the areas where we will be riding.

Meals:

Our cook will prepare the meals.We pride ourselves in having cooks adapt to both western and Mongolian cooking on our trips.There are always vegetables available, and we have no problem accommodating vegetarians on our trips.For breakfast we can usually buy fresh yogurt from the herdsmen in the local area some days.

Price:

USD 2050 per person (min 2 members)

Group size:

2-18

Discounts available for groups

Includes: English speaking guide and all meals. All overnights gers(5nts)  and tents(9nts) , camping equipment and all local transport(UB-ULG-UB flights),all Border, National Park and Festival permits.

Excludes: Drinks, local flights, laundry and renting of riding horses.Visa fee.

Single tent/ger supplement is USD 20 per night.