Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sagsai
Most travellers pass through Sagsai on their way to the lakes in Altai Tavan Bogd Na-
tional Park, with little reason to stop. That is until September when this tiny community
hosts the
Altai Eagle Festival
(per person US$30; 3rd weekend Sep)
. The festival, held
about 6km southwest of the town (GPS: N 48°52.250', E 89°37.170'), is smaller than the
one in Ölgii, although it follows much the same program. One notable difference is that
live animals are not used as bait. Blue Wolf Travel (
Click here
)
is a sponsor and a good
source of information. It also operates a
ger camp
( 9910 0303; with/without meals
US$30/15)
and arranges
homestays
(with breakfast/3 meals US$10/15)
and return transport
from Ölgii (US$85 per eight-seat vehicle). A taxi from Ölgii should cost around T5000
per person one-way.
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Tsengel
Of the 12
sums
in Bayan-Ölgii, Tsengel is the largest. Although the town itself is bigger
than most, it is still just a collection of gravel roads and wooden fences that surround
compounds, each containing an earth and log home, possibly a ger or two and invariably
a guard dog in a foul mood.
The principal reasons to stop here are to visit Tuvan
khöömii
throat singer
Bapizan
(
9941 4816; 30min demonstration T10,000-20,000)
and to grab a bite at the surprisingly ex-
cellent
Artysh Cafe & Hotel
(mains T1500-2000, sandwiches T500; 9am-10pm Mon-Sat)
.
The menu will likely bamboozle your guide (if you have one) as it is written in Tuvan
but the food is mostly Mongolian. If you are heading to the Altai Tavan Bogd National
Park you can grab sandwiches and drinks from the chiller out back. The attached
hotel
(
9542 8279; s/d T15,000/30,000)
is also good value with clean and simple rooms.
Tsengel is 75km from Ölgii on the road to the twin lakes of Khoton Nuur and Khurgan
Nuur. A share jeep leaves at 7am for Ölgii's market (T5000) and returns at around 5pm.
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Altai Tavan Bogd National Park
This stunning region stretches south from Tavan Bogd and includes the twin lakes of
Khoton Nuur and Khurgan Nuur (and the less interesting Dayan Nuur), which are the
source of the Khovd Gol that flows to Khar Us Nuur in Khovd aimag.
