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Routes

Altai Tavan Bogd Trekking

Mongolia's high-mountain trip, in Altai Tavan Bogd National Park on the Chinese and Russian border, built around the Potanin glacier and the Khuiten peak massif at about 4,374 m, with the Khoton and Khurgan lakes and Bronze Age petroglyph galleries at Shiveet Khairkhan on the approach. Access is by domestic flight to Olgii and then a long 4WD day to the park. Nights split between local gers, tourist camps and tents, and camels or horses usually carry gear on the glacier approach. Short six-day versions exist, but ten days upward is what serious trekkers book.

Typical length
6–17 days (Read more: 8)
Difficulty
demanding
Driving per day
up to 7 hours on the Olgii-park transfer days; short local moves in between
Total distance
Roughly 400 km of 4WD driving around Olgii on a 6-day version, plus about 1,700 km each way by air; trekking distance depends on whether you walk to the glacier or ride
Best months
Jun–Sep
  • Jan: not a best month
  • Feb: not a best month
  • Mar: not a best month
  • Apr: not a best month
  • May: not a best month
  • Jun: a best month
  • Jul: a best month
  • Aug: a best month
  • Sep: a best month
  • Oct: not a best month
  • Nov: not a best month
  • Dec: not a best month
Altai Tavan Bogd Trekking — StopsUlaanbaatar → Bayan-Olgii Kazakh eagle hunters and the eagle festivals → Altai Tavan Bogd National Park → Uvs Lake (Uvs Nuur) and its UNESCO basinUlaanbaatarBayan-Olgii Kazakh eagle hunters and the eagle festivalsAltai Tavan Bogd National ParkUvs Lake (Uvs Nuur) and its UNESCO basin

Stops: Ulaanbaatar → Bayan-Olgii Kazakh eagle hunters and the eagle festivals → Altai Tavan Bogd National Park → Uvs Lake (Uvs Nuur) and its UNESCO basin

Day by day

  1. Day 1

    Fly to Olgii, drive to the lakes

    Domestic flight west, a visit to a Kazakh eagle-hunting family, then about 200 km and 7 hours on rough road to the Khoton and Khurgan lakes. Night in a local ger.

  2. Day 2

    High lakes

    Exploring the lake basin, waterfalls and rock art. Tent camp.

  3. Day 3

    Tsagaan Gol valley to the national park

    Up the White River valley into Altai Tavan Bogd National Park, past the Shiveet Khairkhan petroglyph galleries. Local ger.

  4. Day 4

    Potanin glacier and Khuiten peak

    Trek or horseback approach toward Khuiten (4,374 m) and the Potanin glacier, roughly 30 km long, then back to camp.

  5. Day 5

    Return across the plateau

    About 200 km and 7 hours back east across a desert plateau with views of the Sogoog massif. Tourist camp.

  6. Day 6

    Fly to Ulaanbaatar

    Return flight from Olgii.

Price bands

budget join-in

265 USD

Prices as published for 2026

Group size assumed: 4 or more travellers

Includes: Discover Mongolia's 6-day Best of Altai Mountain tour is US$1,590 pp at 4+, including shared ger and hotel accommodation, private transfers, the internal flights with a 15 kg baggage allowance, English-speaking guide, all meals, entrance fees, camel support, horse rides and a sleeping bag.

standard private

296-348 USD

Prices as published for 2026

Group size assumed: 2-3 travellers

Includes: Same 6-day trip: US$2,090 pp at 2 people and US$1,777 pp at 3.

premium

250-578 USD

Prices as published for 2026

Group size assumed: solo, or a small private group on a 17-day western expedition

Includes: Solo occupancy on the 6-day Altai trip is US$2,977, about US$496 per day. Selena Travel's 17-day Majestic Western Mongolia, which covers Altai Tavan Bogd, Dayan Lake, Uvs Lake and Khyargas Lake, runs US$4,250-9,830 pp by group size with 3 nights of 4-star Ulaanbaatar hotel, 10 ger or local-hotel nights and 3 tent nights.

Accommodation

A mix: local family gers, tourist camps and tents. Longer western circuits use tents for three or more nights. Shower and toilet facilities are minimal to absent once inside the park, and sleeping bags are usually supplied by the operator.

Vehicle

4WD only for the park approach — this is one route where a van will not do. A domestic flight to Olgii is effectively mandatory given the distance from Ulaanbaatar. Camels or pack horses commonly carry gear on the glacier approach, and a border-zone permit is required.

Not for

first-time visitors on a short trip
anyone unwilling to camp or to spend two 7-hour days on rough road
travellers who cannot get a border-zone permit arranged in advance
people sensitive to altitude

Ask before you book

  • Is the border-zone permit arranged by the operator, and how long does it take?
  • How much of the glacier approach is walked versus ridden, and what is the daily distance?
  • Are pack camels or horses included for gear?
  • Is a sleeping bag supplied, and rated to what temperature?
  • How many tent nights, and is there any washing facility?
  • Is the Olgii flight included, and what is the baggage limit and the contingency if it is cancelled?
  • What altitude does the itinerary actually reach, and is there any acclimatisation day?
Sources (3)