🏔️Altai Tavan Bogd national park Trekking 9-Day
📍 Western Mongolia | Altai Tavan Bogd mountain | Altai Tavan Bogd National park | Baga Turgen waterfall | Eagle hunter family
🏔️ A Camel-Supported Long-Distance Journey Through the Heart of Mongolia’s Highest Mountains
This 9-day expedition trekking adventure takes you deep into the heart of Altai Tavan Bogd National Park, Mongolia’s highest and most remote mountain region. Designed for adventurous travelers, the journey combines high-altitude glacier trekking, ancient cultural landscapes, and authentic nomadic encounters into one unforgettable experience.
The route includes a spectacular camel-supported trek to Potanin Glacier, where you camp at around 3,000 meters with sweeping views of Khüiten Peak (4,374 m), Mongolia’s highest summit. From icy glacier valleys, the expedition continues through historic corridors such as Khar Salaa Valley, rich in ancient Turkic petroglyphs, and onward to dramatic landscapes filled with waterfalls, glacial rivers, and wide alpine basins.
As the trek progresses, the scenery softens into fertile summer pastures in Akhsu Valley, where Kazakh nomadic families continue a traditional herding lifestyle unchanged for generations. The journey concludes at the turquoise shores of Khoton Lake, followed by a cultural highlight—visiting a Kazakh Eagle Hunter family, learning about one of Central Asia’s most iconic traditions.
With camels carrying all luggage and equipment, trekkers walk with only a daypack, while a professional cook prepares fresh meals even in the most remote camps. This expedition is ideal for those seeking a true wilderness challenge, rich cultural insight, and access to landscapes few travelers ever experience.
⭐ Tour Highlights – Altai tavan bogd national park trekking
- 🏔️ Explore Mongolia’s Highest Mountain Region Trek deep inside Altai Tavan Bogd National Park, home to Mongolia’s highest peaks, vast glaciers, and some of the most untouched wilderness in Central Asia.
- 🧊 Potanin Glacier Base Camp Experience Hike to the edge of Potanin Glacier and camp at around 3,000 m, surrounded by ice fields and dramatic alpine scenery.
- ⛰️ Views of Khüiten Peak (4,374 m) Enjoy breathtaking perspectives of Khüiten Peak, Mongolia’s highest mountain, rising above the Altai skyline.
- 🥾 True Long-Distance Expedition Trekking Experience demanding yet rewarding trekking days of 20–25 km, ideal for strong hikers seeking a serious adventure beyond standard trekking routes.
- 🐫 Fully Camel-Supported Trek All luggage, food, and camping equipment are carried by camels, allowing you to trek with only a daypack while enjoying a well-organized expedition.
- 🪨 Ancient Turkic Petroglyphs & History Walk through Khar Salaa Valley, discovering ancient rock carvings and archaeological sites that reveal thousands of years of nomadic history.
- 🌊 Bear Valley’s Waterfalls & Glacial Rivers Trek through dramatic landscapes filled with cascading waterfalls, white glacial rivers, and narrow mountain corridors.
- 🐎 Kazakh Nomadic Life in Akhsu Valley Visit summer pastures and interact with Kazakh nomadic families, gaining insight into traditional herding lifestyles that continue today.
- 🏞️ Khoton Lake – Altai’s Alpine Jewel Reach the turquoise waters of Khoton Lake, one of the most scenic lakes in western Mongolia.
- 🦅 Eagle Hunter Family Visit Meet a Kazakh Eagle Hunter family and learn about the ancient tradition of hunting with golden eagles, a unique cultural highlight of the region.
- 🍽️ Professional Cook & Full Board Enjoy freshly prepared hot meals every day, even at remote high-altitude camps.
- 🌌 Pure Wilderness & Night Skies Camp far from civilization under star-filled skies, surrounded by silence, glaciers, and towering mountains.
Detailed Itinerary:
- 🚙 Distance: ~200 km
- ⏱️ Driving Time: ~5 hours
- 🏕️ Accommodation: Nomadic ger camp / yurt / tent
- 🍽️ Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Arrive in Ölgii, the cultural and administrative center of Mongolia’s western Kazakh region. Meet your expedition team: trekking guide, driver, professional cook, camel handlers, and local support crew.
After loading supplies and checking equipment, depart Ölgii and drive west toward the Altai Mountains. The landscape gradually transforms—from open steppe and grazing land to rugged valleys framed by snow-capped peaks. Herds of yaks, camels, and horses roam freely, offering a first glimpse of the nomadic world you are about to enter.
By late afternoon, reach the Altai Tavan Bogd park gate area. Settle into camp, enjoy a freshly prepared dinner, and attend a detailed expedition briefing covering trekking distances, altitude considerations, weather patterns, and safety protocols.
- 🥾 Trekking Distance: ~16 km
- ⏱️ Trekking Time: ~5 hours
- 🏔️ Camp Altitude: ~3,000 m above sea level
- 🏕️ Accommodation: Expedition tent camping
- 🍽️ Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner
Today begins the first major trekking objective: Potanin Glacier, the largest glacier in Mongolia and a defining feature of the Altai Mountains.
Camels carry all camping equipment, food, and luggage, allowing for a comfortable walking pace. The trail follows a wide glacial valley, gradually ascending as massive ice fields and jagged ridgelines dominate the horizon.
Throughout the day, enjoy breathtaking views of:
- Khüiten Peak (4,374 m), Mongolia’s highest summit
- Snow-covered ridges feeding the Potanin ice system
Arrive at a dramatic glacier-side campsite. The evening is spent resting, photographing the glacier, and enjoying hot meals in one of Mongolia’s most powerful high-mountain environments.
- 🥾 Trekking Distance: ~16 km
- ⏱️ Trekking Time: ~5 hours
- 🏕️ Accommodation: Ger camp / yurt / tent
- 🍽️ Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, dismantle camp and begin the return trek, following the camels back down the valley. The descent reveals new angles of the glacier, icefalls, and surrounding peaks as lighting conditions shift throughout the day.
Arrive back at the Altai Tavan Bogd gate area in the afternoon. Enjoy a relaxed evening at camp, allowing time for recovery before entering the next, more remote trekking section.
- 🥾 Trekking Distance: ~20–23 km
- ⏱️ Trekking Time: 6–7 hours
- 🏕️ Accommodation: Tent camping
- 🍽️ Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner
Today marks a transition from glacial landscapes into deep cultural territory as you trek south into Khar Salaa Valley.
This valley has been used for centuries as a migration route and seasonal corridor by Turkic and Mongolic peoples. Along the trail, discover:
- Ancient petroglyphs and rock carvings
- Stone burial markers and ritual sites
Camp in a secluded section of the valley, surrounded by rugged mountain walls and open skies—where history and wilderness intersect.
- 🥾 Trekking Distance: ~20–25 km
- ⏱️ Trekking Time: 6–8 hours
- 🏕️ Accommodation: Riverside tent camping
- 🍽️ Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner
The route today leads into the dramatic and rarely visited Bear Valley, one of the most visually striking areas of the expedition.
Expect:
- Cascading waterfalls spilling from high cliffs
- Milky-white rivers flowing directly from glaciers
- Narrow mountain corridors opening into broad alpine basins
Camp is set beside a glacial river, where the constant sound of flowing water and crisp mountain air create a deeply immersive wilderness experience.
- 🥾 Trekking Distance: ~20–22 km
- ⏱️ Trekking Time: 6–7 hours
- 🏕️ Accommodation: Tent camping
- 🍽️ Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner
As you trek toward Akhsu Valley, the terrain gradually softens. This fertile valley serves as a summer grazing area for Kazakh nomads, whose lives are closely tied to seasonal migration.
🐎 Visit nomadic families, observe herding activities, and learn how traditional knowledge allows people to thrive in extreme mountain conditions. This day provides one of the most meaningful cultural encounters of the expedition.
- 🥾 Trekking Distance: ~22–25 km
- ⏱️ Trekking Time: 6–8 hours
- 🏕️ Accommodation: Tent camping
- 🍽️ Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner
The final trekking day leads toward the turquoise waters of Khoton Lake, one of the most beautiful alpine lakes in western Mongolia.
Forests begin to appear, wildlife becomes more abundant, and the atmosphere shifts as the long trekking section concludes. Meet your drivers near the lake and enjoy a final night of wilderness camping beside calm waters.
- 🚙 Distance: ~180 km
- ⏱️ Driving Time: ~5 hours
- 🏨 Accommodation: Hotel
- 🍽️ Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Drive back to Ölgii via a scenic mountain route. En route, stop at the Khairakh Tolgoi petroglyphs, an important archaeological site featuring ancient rock carvings.
Continue to visit a Kazakh Eagle Hunter family, where you learn about the centuries-old tradition of hunting with golden eagles—an iconic cultural practice of western Mongolia.
Arrive in Ölgii and check into your hotel.
- ✈️ Flight: Ölgii → Ulaanbaatar
- 🚐 Transfer: Morning airport transfer
- 🍽️ Meals: Breakfast
End of expedition. Depart western Mongolia carrying unforgettable memories of glaciers, valleys, nomads, and one of the most remote trekking routes in Central Asia.
📝 Tour Notes: Altai tavan bogd national park trekking
- 🥾 Trekking Level: Moderate to Challenging Designed for fit travelers. Trekking days range 16–25 km, with long hours on natural terrain.
- 🐫 Camel-Supported Expedition All luggage, food, and camping equipment are carried by camels with local handlers. Guests hike with a daypack only.
- 🍽️ Meals & Cooking A professional cook travels with the group and prepares all meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner), including packed lunches on trekking days.
- 🏕️ Accommodation Style Expedition tent camping during the trek, hotel stay in Ölgii, and cultural visits en route.
- 🚿 Comfort in Remote Areas Portable shower and portable sitting toilet available on request, as there are no hotels or restaurants inside Altai Tavan Bogd National Park.
- 🌦️ Weather & Flexibility Mountain weather can change quickly. The itinerary may be adjusted for safety due to weather, river levels, or trail conditions.
- 📡 Connectivity Mobile signal is very limited or unavailable during trekking days.
🎒 What to Bring: Altai tavan bogd national park trekking
🥾 Trekking Clothing
- Well broken-in hiking boots
- Trekking pants (quick-dry)
- Thermal base layers
- Warm fleece or insulated jacket
- Windproof & waterproof outer shell
- Warm hat & gloves
- Extra socks
🎒 Daypack Essentials (20–30L)
- Water bottle
- Snacks / energy bars
- Sunglasses & sunscreen
- Lip balm
- Rain cover
🏕️ Personal & Camp Items
- Sleeping bag (can be rented)
- Headlamp or flashlight
- Power bank (no electricity)
- Personal toiletries & wet wipes
- Personal medications
📌 Note: All main luggage is transported by camels.
⭐ Why Choose: Altai tavan bogd national park trekking
- 🏔️ Trek Mongolia’s Highest & Wildest Mountains Explore the heart of Altai Tavan Bogd National Park, home to glaciers, high peaks, and untouched valleys.
- 🧊 Potanin Glacier Experience Camp near Potanin Glacier with views of Khüiten Peak.
- 🥾 True Expedition-Style Trekking Long-distance trekking (20–25 km/day) for travelers seeking a real adventure, not a soft hike.
- 🐫 Camel-Supported Comfort Enjoy challenging trekking without carrying heavy packs.
- 🪨 Ancient History on the Trail Discover Turkic-era petroglyphs in remote valleys.
- 🐎 Authentic Kazakh Nomadic Culture Visit summer pastures and learn directly from nomadic families.
- 🦅 Eagle Hunter Experience Meet a Kazakh eagle hunter family and learn about this ancient tradition.
- 🍽️ Strong Logistics & Safety Professional guide, cook, and local support team throughout.
❓ FAQs – Wild Altai Trek, Waterfalls & Eagle Hunter Expedition
- Q: How difficult is this trek?
- A: Moderate to Challenging. Long trekking days (16–25 km). Suitable for fit hikers.
- Q: Do I need mountaineering experience?
- A: No technical climbing is required, but good physical fitness is essential.
- Q: Will I carry my luggage?
- A: No. Camels carry all luggage, food, and camping equipment.
- Q: Where do we sleep?
- A: Expedition tent camping, one hotel night in Ölgii.
- Q: Are meals included?
- A: Yes. All meals are prepared by a professional cook.
- Q: Are showers and toilets available?
- A: Portable shower and sitting toilet are available on request.
- Q: Is there mobile signal or Wi-Fi?
- A: Very limited or none during trekking days.
- Q: What is the best time to join?
- A: July to September.
- Q: Is travel insurance required?
- A: Yes, comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended.