Open steppe and emerald meadows. Forested valleys and thick marshland. Turquoise alpine lakes and glaciated peaks. Western Mongolia's 2,456-square-mile Altai Tavan Bogd National Park, in the Altai-Sayan eco-region, near the Chinese border, has it all. Explore the park on Tusker Trail's 15-day, 100-mile Mongolia Trek—16 guests, six camels, a local guide, and a cook cover eight to ten jaw-dropping miles per day by foot and horseback, traversing around the Five Holy Peaks of Altai and keeping eyes peeled for argali, lynx, and Saker falcons. Digs are sturdy mountain tents, as well as the ger camps of nomadic Kazakhs on days two and 12. If you're lucky, your hosts may show you a thing or two about their 1,000-year-old tradition of hunting with golden eagles. $5,140; tusker.com.
Altai Tavan Bogd National Park, Mongolia Photographer: Photo by Tusker
Comments
Summited Kili with Tusker last year and it is a first rate operation. One climber on the Kili climb had been on the Mongolian horse trek the year before and swears she never wanted to leave Mongolia. Hope to make the trek this June. Also, the cook on the trip, Alex from Tanzania, performs magic in a field kitchen so I know the daily fare will be terrific.
Flag ThisI climbed Kili with Tusker in 2009, which is why I elected to go with them to Mongolia this June. They run the best, most professional adventure tours that I have encountered in more than 50 years of traveling, climbing and trekking throughout the world (and when you reach your mid 70s, you're pretty particular about how you spend your time and money).
Flag ThisI just spent a month touring around Mongolia this past July...and it is truly a trip of a lifetime. Altai Tavan Bogd is magnificent, especially when experienced on a horseback (or walk) to the glaciers. It doesn't matter if it's Tusker or a local tour operator (preferable since all the money goes to local business and much cheaper), just go and experience the beauty of the Land of the Blue Sky before it gets too "touristy".
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