Itinerary
8 Days in Western Mongolia: Ölgii, Kazakh Families and the Altai
Short answer
Fly from Ulaanbaatar to Ölgii, spend a night with a Kazakh eagle-hunter family, then drive into Altai Tavan Bogd National Park for a short trek towards the Potanin Glacier and a night at Khoton Lake before returning to Ölgii and flying back. Expect long, rough drives, basic accommodation and cold nights. Best July–August; time it for early October to include the Golden Eagle Festival.
Key facts
- Length
- 8 days
- Route
- Ulaanbaatar → Ölgii → Altai Tavan Bogd → Khoton Lake
- Driving load
- Heavy
- Pace
- Adventurous — long rough drives, two walking days
- Good for
- Hikers, Photographers, Second-time visitors, Culture-focused travelers
Western Mongolia is a different trip from the classic Gobi or Central routes: mountains instead of steppe, Kazakh culture instead of Khalkh, and much more remote.
What makes it work
- A local team based in the west — they know the families, the routes and the permit process.
- Flights — the overland alternative is two to three long days each way.
- Weather buffer — mountain weather can delay walking days.
Honest trade-offs
- Long, rough drives (days 4, 6 and 7).
- Camping and homestays: basic toilets, no showers some nights. See toilets & showers.
- Cold nights even in summer at altitude.
See also: Western Mongolia · Altai Tavan Bogd · Golden Eagle Festival.
Day by day
Day 1
Ulaanbaatar
Arrival day. Your local team confirms permits for the park.
Day 2
Fly to Ölgii
Flight west (≈ 2 h). Afternoon in Ölgii — market, mosque, museum — and meet your crew.
Day 3
Eagle-hunter family
Drive to a family who keeps golden eagles. Time with the family and their birds.
Day 4
Into Altai Tavan Bogd
Through valleys and herder summer camps to the end of the road below Tavan Bogd.
Day 5
Towards the Potanin Glacier
Walk (with camels or horses carrying gear) to the base camp area facing the glacier.
Day 6
Glacier views → Khoton Lake
Morning by the glacier, then walk out and drive to Khoton Lake.
Day 7
Khoton Lake → Ölgii
Petroglyph sites on the way if time allows.
Day 8
Fly to Ulaanbaatar
Flight back. Fly home on day 9 or later.
Ask about this itinerary We'll adapt it to your dates, group and pace.
Questions travelers ask
Do I need permits?
Yes — a border-zone permit and national park fee for Altai Tavan Bogd, usually arranged by your local operator in advance. Bring your original passport.
Can I combine this with the Golden Eagle Festival?
Yes, by timing the trip for the first weekend of October — but by then the high Altai is cold and snow is possible, so the trekking part becomes shorter and more weather-dependent.
Mongolia Relay
Want this itinerary, adjusted to you?
Sample itineraries are starting points. Tell us your dates, group and pace, and we’ll come back with a realistic version and who could run it.