West Mongolia - Altai
The Altai Mountains contain the highest peaks in Mongolia, swathed in glaciers; it is an isolated and dry environment.
The Gobi is a harsh, sparsely populated environment with little precipitation. Nomads still travel around the Gobi with herds of horses, goats, sheep, and especially camels. Wild animals such as gazelles, argali (wild mountain goats), antelope, wild ass, the worlds only species of desert bear and snow leopards also inhabit the Gobi, alongside eagles, vultures, cranes and other migratory birds that descend upon the few lakes for a refill whilst en route to or from summer breeding grounds.
- Fly to Ulaangom, and go trekking with camels, yaks and other pack animals, through pristine countryside alongside wild rivers and clear mountain lakes, as mountains and glaciers rise up around.
- Visit the Kazakhs during the Eagle festival in October, or go with them on an eagle hunt for wolves.
The Kazakhs who also live in Altai are the biggest minority in Mongolia. They are still nomads but are culturally very differently from the Mongolians. They speak a different language to Khalkh Mongolians are Muslims (but not strictly observant), and hunt with golden eagles. We often organize treks in the Altai region, but jeep tours are also possible. Because of the distance between Ulaan Baatar and Altai, it is usually necessary to take two inland flights, rather than transfer by road.
