ALTAI MOUNTAIN BIKING TOUR

ITINERARY

• Arrival in Ulaanbaatar

  Upon arrival in Ulaanbaatar, you will be met by your guide and transferred to a hotel in the city center. Time permitting you will be taken on a guided tour to some of the city’s highlights, including a giant Buddha statue at Mongolia’s main Buddhist center, the National Museum, and the central square. A traditional throat singing and contortion performance will be presented at the end of the day. At a welcome dinner, you will be given an informal introduction to the tour ahead of you. (dinner)

• Fly to western Mongolia and start biking (55km)

  Transfer to the airport and fly to the westernmost province of Bayan-Olgiy where the country’s highest mountains lie. On arrival meet with the support team and start biking straight from the airport heading towards the mountains and acclimatizing to the dry air and altitude. The 80km tarmac stretch is the only sealed part of the whole journey of 550km across the Altai mountain range. Tonight, we erect our tent camp not far from the Mongolian-Russian border. When camping 3-person dome tents are provided on a twin-share basis together with a mess tent and a camping shower. Plus we carry a toilet tent with a seat placed over a cat hole. (tent; breakfast, lunch, dinner)

• Cycle to Khaishintsar Mt. (69km)

  Two-thirds of the way is a gradual ascent along the Russian borderline on desolate mountain roads and faint tracks until reaching the day’s highest point at 2575m. Vast numbers of domesticated animals mainly yaks and goats grazing on steep slopes and rugged ridges can be often seen. They belong to local Kazakh nomads whose felt-walled tents known as gers or yurts, can also be seen in twos or threes. An occasional encounter with a curious shepherd or local children always offers a chance for taking some good photos. The last 20km is downhill to a grassy campsite by a small stream. We sleep at almost 2200m.

• Cycle to Baga Oigor petroglyph gallery (45km)

  We cycle further west across a mountainous desert with terrain that requires more climbing than the previous days. Although the riding surface is dominated by packed soils rocky tracks and loose soil are also present, especially near the tops of mountain passes. The destination is the Baga Oigor valley, the site of an extensive petroglyph gallery included in the UNESCO "World Cultural Heritage List. Stone and Bronze Age rock carvings here are scattered across an area 15km long and 500m wide. Images depict wild and domestic animals and scenes of human life such as hunting, herding, worship, etc. Here we set up our tented camp and explore the rock art gallery. (tent; breakfast, lunch, dinner)

• Ride to Tavan Bogd National park (59km)

  We continue a short while along the rugged folds of Baga Oigor valley and stop at a border patrol station to settle formalities. The road then climbs up a grassy shoulder between two dome-shaped mountains. This brings us to an enormous V-shaped mountain valley with clear streams running down from glaciers that cover the ridge top. The main feature of the mountains here is the alternation of grassy slopes with massive walls of loose scree. Here we cycle by some alpine lakes, a summer base for local Kazakh herdsmen. They live in large mushroom-like yurts and tend their massive flocks of yaks and goats. It will be interesting to visit them and learn about the way of life which seemingly hasn’t changed for many hundreds of years. At the day’s end, we arrive at Tavan Bogd NP gate, a few yurts - home of local rangers at the foothill of even bigger mountains. (tent; breakfast, lunch, dinner)

• Ride to Tavan Bogd viewpoint and descend to White river (24km)

  We pedal and push the bikes on the high mountain terrain strewn with running streams and patches of snow. The day’s halfway point is an elevated hill from which there opens a panoramic view of Mongolia’s highest peaks and largest glaciers. We have a picnic lunch while enjoying the magnificent views before heading down towards a deep V-shaped valley at the bottom of which rumbles a torrential river full of glacial silt. This is the White River. Its lush valley is the summer pastureland of herding nomads. We free-wheel down a steep slope and arrive at the campsite by the glacial river. (tent; breakfast, lunch, dinner)

• Ride to Toroo valley (65km)

  We cycle downstream along the White river valley and visit a Tuvan family. Also known as the Uriankhai these ethnic people of Turkic origin have historically been moving around southern Siberia. Traditionally they practice shamanism - worship of ancestral and natural spirits but today their belief is a strong blend with Tibetan Buddhism. We use the chance to learn about their way of life and to taste food and drinks offered by the unwritten local rules. After the visit, we climb back to the brim of the valley towards Holy Mt. Shiveet and cycle along its base. A massive flat rock strewn with hundreds of images of wild beasts, cattle, and hunting people lies at the mountain's east end. From there we roll downhill into the widening valley for another 20km. After lunch, we leave the White River valley behind and climb to a high rocky plateau on a rough road used for seasonal migration. We spend the night at 2600m. (tent; breakfast, lunch, dinner)

• Bike to Khoton lake (45km)

  Continue further south enjoying spectacular scenery: grassy uplands, alpine lakes, and rugged hills. We will be traveling at an altitude of 2500m but still depending on the time in the summer we might come across locals moving with antique Russian trucks fearlessly negotiating tricky mountain roads. We may as well meet Kazakh hunters who train golden eagles and use them for hunting. Although actual hunting is done in winter you can still see the massive birds and have a photo taken holding one on your arms to impress your family and friends. At the day's end arrive at Khoton, a spectacular alpine lake bordering China’s Xinjiang province. (tent; breakfast, lunch, dinner)

• Rest day

  We spend a well-earned rest day at ease. The Khoton lake campsite is truly idyllic. A snow-capped ridge marking the borderline with China and wooded slopes below reflect in the mirror-like surface of the lake. You can go swimming or explore some distinct and well-preserved rock carvings just beside the camp. (tent; breakfast, lunch, dinner)

• Ride to Black lake (72km)

  We cross a narrow strait linking the Khoton with its “sister” lake called Khurgan and ride along the latter enjoying views of the snow-capped ridge that marks the borderline with China and pretty woods at its foot. Our camp tonight will be at another highland lake with the snow-capped Mt. Tsengel as the backdrop. (tent; breakfast, lunch, dinner)

• Ride to Sagsay town and transfer to Olgiy town (70km)

  We ride the length of the lake's shore and continue along with rugged mountain bases and grassy slopes that are perfect grazing for yaks and sheep of which you will see hundreds along the way. After enjoying a fast ride on a gradual downhill throughout the morning we climb to the top of a dry ridge at 2660m followed by a 15km fast downhill to our next campsite amidst the semi-desert landscape. (tent; breakfast, lunch, dinner)

• Return to civilization (35km)

  The last 35km to Olgiy town are rather uneventful. The tour’s last challenge will be climbing 400m in 8km. The following descent brings us to the edge of the capital of the westernmost province and a cozy hotel just in time for a shower and beer to celebrate the end of the cycling adventure. Tonight, we get a chance to enjoy some Kazakh songs and music and traditional delicacies. (hotel; breakfast, lunch, dinner

• Flight back to Ulaanbaatar, goodbye dinner

  Transfer to Olgiy airport and fly back to Ulaanbaatar. Upon arrival transfer to your hotel. Rest until we gather for a farewell dinner. (hotel; breakfast, lunch, dinner)

• Departure transfer

  Transfer to the airport for your return flight back home. (breakfast)