Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Heading west from Ölgii, spend three to four days around
Altai Tavan Bogd National
Park
. With proper equipment and permits it's even possible to scale Mongolia's highest
peak, the 4374m Tavan Bogd, though a visit to the base camp and glacier is more feas-
ible. With more time, consider doing a horse trek around
Khoton Nuur
.
On the way to or from Tavan Bogd, stop in
Tsengel
or
Sagsai
, authentic Kazakh vil-
lages that offer a taste of life in the Wild West. A few families here keep eagles and it
may be possible to meet them. From Sagsai it's even possible to go rafting back to Ölgii.
The best time to make this journey is in late September or early October, which gives
you the chance to watch the spectacular Eagle Festival in Ölgii or Sagsai.
From Ölgii, the main road winds northeast, passing
Üüreg Nuur
, another gorgeous
camping spot, en route to
Ulaangom
. Allow a week for trekking around
Kharkhiraa
Gol
. An experienced driver can get you from Ulaangom to Uliastai, visiting
Khyargas
Nuur National Park
and
Ikh Agui
cave en route. If you arrive at Khyargas Nuur before
mid-September, you'll have a chance to see hundreds of squawking cormorants at Khet-
suu Khad.
From
Uliastai
you can take a horse-riding or hiking trip to
Otgon Tenger Uul
. Catch
a flight back to Ulaanbaatar from Uliastai, or spend a few more days and go overland.