🏔️ 5-Day Altai Tavan Bogd & Khoton Lake Adventure Tour
📍 Western Mongolia | Altai Mountains | Khoton Lake | Eagle Hunter Family
🏔️ Altai Tavan Bogd & Khoton Lake Adventure Tour
Discover the wild beauty of western Mongolia on this immersive journey through Altai Tavan Bogd National Park, home to Mongolia’s highest peaks, vast glaciers, crystal-clear alpine lakes, and ancient nomadic traditions. This 5-day adventure combines dramatic mountain scenery, light hiking, cultural encounters with Kazakh eagle hunters, and peaceful nights in ger camps and nature—perfect for travelers seeking authentic Altai experiences beyond the beaten path.
⭐ Highlights
- 🏔️ View Khuiten Peak, Mongolia’s highest mountain
- ❄️ See the massive Potanin Glacier in Altai Tavan Bogd National Park
- 🌊 Relax by the crystal-clear Khoton Lake
- 💧 Hike to Baga Turgen Waterfall, one of the most scenic waterfalls in the Altai
- 🪨 Explore ancient Turkic stones and petroglyphs
- 🦅 Visit a Kazakh eagle hunter family and experience their lifestyle
- 🏕️ Sleep under the stars in remote, untouched landscapes
- 📸 Incredible photography opportunities in wild Altai scenery
Itinerary:
✈️ Upon arrival in Ölgii City, meet your local guide and driver.
🚙 Begin a scenic drive west toward Altai Tavan Bogd National Park, passing vast steppe, river valleys, and rugged Altai mountain scenery.
Along the way, enjoy views of snow-capped peaks, nomadic herder camps, and untouched wilderness—your first glimpse into Mongolia’s remote west.
- 🛣️ Distance: ~200 km
- ⏱️ Driving time: ~5 hours
🏕️ Accommodation: Nomadic ger camp / yurt stay or tent camping
🍽️ Meals:
- 🥗 Lunch – Picnic-style meal en route
- 🍲 Dinner – Freshly prepared by tour cook at camp
🍳 After breakfast, head off-road deeper into the national park to reach a high-altitude viewpoint.
This dramatic drive reveals breathtaking panoramas of:
- 🏔️ Khüiten Peak (4,373 m) – Mongolia’s highest mountain
- ❄️ Potanin Glacier – the largest glacier in Mongolia
Spend time photographing the glacier, absorbing the silence of the high mountains, and enjoying the raw beauty of the Altai. A picnic lunch is served with unforgettable views before returning to camp.
- 🚙 Distance: 15 km (one way)
- ⏱️ Driving time: ~2 hours each way
🏕️ Accommodation: Nomadic ger camp / yurt stay or tent camping
🍽️ Meals:
- 🍳 Breakfast – At camp
- 🥪 Lunch – Picnic near the viewpoint
- 🍲 Dinner – Hot meal prepared at camp
🍳 Breakfast at camp before driving toward the stunning Khoton Lake, one of the most beautiful alpine lakes in western Mongolia.
En route, stop to explore:
- 🪨 Ancient Turkic stone statues
- ⚱️ Bronze Age burial mounds
- 🖐️ UNESCO-listed petroglyphs, carved into the rocks thousands of years ago
Arriving at Khoton Lake, enjoy free time to walk along the shoreline, relax, photograph reflections of the Altai peaks, or observe local nomadic life.
- 🛣️ Distance: ~160 km
- ⏱️ Driving time: ~4 hours
🏕️ Accommodation: Nomadic ger camp / yurt stay or tent camping near the lake
🍽️ Meals:
- 🍳 Breakfast – At camp
- 🥗 Lunch – Picnic during the drive
- 🍲 Dinner – Lakeside dinner prepared by cook
🍳 After breakfast, take a short drive to the Baga Turgen Waterfall trailhead, followed by a scenic hike through forested valleys.
- 🚶 Hiking time: ~1.5 hours (one way)
🌊 Reach the powerful Baga Turgen Waterfall, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Altai region.
🦅 Lunch with a Kazakh eagle hunter family, where you will:
- Learn about traditional golden eagle hunting
- Experience nomadic hospitality
- Enjoy photo sessions with hunters and eagles
🚙 In the afternoon, drive back to Ölgii City.
- 🛣️ Distance: ~200 km
- ⏱️ Driving time: ~5 hours
🏨 Accommodation: Hotel in Ölgii City
🍽️ Meals:
- 🍳 Breakfast – At camp
- 🍽️ Lunch – With eagle hunter family
- 🍲 Dinner – Restaurant or hotel dinner in Ölgii
🍳 Breakfast at the hotel.
🚐 Transfer to Ölgii Airport for your domestic flight back to Ulaanbaatar.
End of your unforgettable Altai Tavan Bogd adventure.
🍽️ Meals:
- 🍳 Breakfast – Hotel
🧭 Important Tour Notes
ℹ️ Due to the remote wilderness of Altai Tavan Bogd National Park:
- 🚿 Portable shower available on request
- 🚽 Portable sitting toilet provided
- 👨🍳 Professional cook travels with the group
- 🍽️ All meals freshly prepared during the tour
- 🏔️ No permanent hotels or restaurants inside the park
✨ Why This Tour?
This journey offers a rare combination of Mongolia’s highest mountains, glaciers, pristine lakes, ancient history, and living Kazakh nomadic culture—perfect for adventurers, photographers, and nature lovers.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Is this tour suitable for beginners?
A: Yes. No technical skills are needed. Moderate fitness is enough.
Q: Are showers and toilets available?
A: Portable shower and portable toilet are provided upon request. Facilities are limited inside the national park.
Q: What kind of accommodation should I expect?
A: Nomadic ger camps, family stays, camping in nature, and one hotel night in Ulgii.
Q: Is food included?
A: Yes. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included daily, prepared by a professional traveling cook.
Q: Can I meet eagle hunters?
A: Yes. You will visit a Kazakh eagle hunter family near Baga Turgen Waterfall.
Q: What should I pack?
A: Warm layers, windproof jacket, hiking shoes, sun protection, personal medication, and camera.
Q: Is altitude sickness a concern?
A: Some viewpoints are high, but the itinerary allows gradual acclimatization. Staying hydrated helps.
Q: Can this tour be customized?
A: Yes. We can add horse trekking, extra lake days, or longer Altai exploration.