Tsambagarav Trek - Goyo Travel · Kazakh city that happens to be in Mongolia. It certainly feels...

Tsambagarav Trek

goyotravel.com - +44 (0) 1869 866520 - +976 9959 8468 – [email protected]

3-Jun, 13-Aug 2018 Duration: 12 Days Group Size: 4 - 12 Pax

Accomm. Type Name

Hotel UB Hotel

Camping Tent

Camping Tent

Ger Family Homestay

Camping Tent

Camping Tent

Camping Tent

Camping Tent

Ger Family Homestay

Horse Ride (optional); Ulgii Hotel Kobesh

Hotel UB Hotel

- -

Day 9

Day 10

Day 11

Day 12

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

Day 8

Overview

Arr. Ulaanbaatar; National History Museum; Tumen Ekh

Fly to Ulgii; Kazakh Bazaar; Museum; Khatu Valley; Petroglyphs

Trek Day 1 - Khatu Valley

Departures:

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

During your journey you will be staying

at a centrally located hotel in UB, a

characterful local ger camp just outside Ulgii,

and for the rest of the trip in the countryside

you will be camping.

Good quality tents and rest mats are provided -

and sleeping bags can be borrowed on

request. Basic shower and flush loo facilities

are available at ger camps - but when camping

it is river water and rocks/trees respectively. A

cooking/dining tent also accompanies this

expedition, in addition to a fantastic cook!

Trek Day 2 - Tsambagarav Plains; Nomadic Pastures

Trek Day 3 - Tsambagarav National Park; Waterfall

Trek Day 4 - Tsambagarav National Park; Glacier

Trek Day 5 - Tsambagarav National Park; Mara River

Trek Day 6 - Hovd River

Trek Day 7 - Hovd River; Eagle Hunter Homestay

Depart

Fly to Ulaanbaatar

At Goyo Travel we believe

that a good guide is essential

to the enjoyment of any trip.

Knowledge, enthusiasm,

good humour, pro-activity,

language and communication

skills need to combine with

responsibility and a

sensitivity to guests' needs.

Your guide will be

handpicked by us to suit the

itinerary and your

requirements. We personally brief them on all elements of

the trip. You will be sent

guide details in the week

prior to travel.

Tsambagarav Trek


Our vehicle of choice is the UAZ. These

beasts of the east were born for the wilds

of Mongolia. Fun, functional & practical,

with a high wheel base, large surround

windows, ample luggage space, and a

flexible sociable layout .

Ulgii province is remote and vehicles may

not be as new or well-maintained as in

other parts of the country, although we do

provide the best available. There is a

vehicle per every 4-5 guests.

There will be no vehicle support during

certain sections of the trek - pack camels

will carry luggage on these days.

Travel Details Arrival time tbc; 45mins/ 14km Airport-Hotel

Accommodation

Meals Included Dinner

Travel Details

Accommodation Camping

Meals Included

TRIP DETAIL

ULAANBAATAR - NATIONAL HISTORY MUSEUM - TUMEN EKH

Your guide and driver will meet you in the arrivals hall at Ulaanbaatar Chinggis

Khan Airport. Transfer to the hotel and check into your room. The plan for today is

quite flexible, as arrival times may differ between group members, and you will

probably want some downtime to relax and catch up on sleep. You may also need

to sort out exchanging money and other practical things.

We suggest meeting your guide in the hotel reception at 14:30 for a leisurely walk

across the impressive Sukhbaatar Square to visit the National History Museum with

its well-laid out informative displays showcasing the country's fascinating past.

Afterwards, walk south towards the city's main park, and enjoy an intimate

performance of music and dance by the Tumen Ekh ensemble at a small theatre. A

welcome dinner at one of our favourite Mongolian restaurants rounds off your first

day in Mongolia.

Standard Twin Room, Ulaanbaatar Hotel

Ulaanbaatar , meaning "Red Hero", was so

named in 1924, following the creation of the

Mongolian People's Republic. The city was

founded in 1639 as a moveable Buddhist

monastic centre but in 1778 it settled

permanently at its present location on the

Tuul River in north-eastern central Mongolia.

The city lies at an elevation of about 1,310

metres (4,300 ft) and is home to almost half

of the country's 2.7m population.

ULAANBAATAR - ULGII - MUSEUM - BAZAAR - KHATU VALLEY

Today you fly out west - it's often an early flight, so meet your guide in reception

and head to the airport where you'll probably have breakfast before boarding the

flight to Ulgii - our guide will have arrange a packed breakfast from the hotel if

necessary. Although your Ulaanbaatar guide will check you in, you'll be 'flying solo',

since you will have a local guide out west who will be waiting to meet you there.

On arrival, visit the local bazaar and museum, taking a stroll around this low-rise

town - a mix of soviet-style buildings and traditional clay brick dwellings. Then

jump in the vehicles and head an hour south-west - first of all stopping off at the

home of the horse/camel guide who will be bringing the animals to base camp the

next morning. This is just to check and re-confirm the arrangements and timings

for tomorrow for the local herder who will be leading the pack camel or pack-

horses. Then onto tonight's camp site on a ridge overlooking the Khatu Valley, with

a quick detour to a neighbouring valley to see some ancient petroglyphs.

Ulgii is the capital of Bayan-Ulgii Province,

1645km from Ulaanbaatar, and an ethnically

Kazakh city that happens to be in Mongolia.

It certainly feels like a Muslim-influenced

Central Asian region. There are signs in

Arabic and Kazakh Cyrillic; the market is a

bazaar rather than the Mongolian 'zakh',

selling kebabs (shashlyk) and stocked with

goods from Kazakhstan.

30mins/14km Hotel-Airport; Flight 3hrs (time tbc); 1hr/45kms to Khatu Valley

Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner


Travel Details

Accommodation Camping (Day 3); Ger Homestay (Day 4)

Meals Included

Travel Details


Meals Included

5-7 hours walking each day (depending on the day's route & speed/ability)


TSAMBAGARAV NATIONAL PARK - RIDING/TREKKING

After breakfast, set up off up the hill towards the upper glacial valleys of Tsambagarav - pass by the waterfall, and into a lush

green valley in the shadow of the glacier of Tsast Uul. On the later trip departure there will be many nomadic families in this area -

but the earlier trip will have the remote countryside to themselves. On the second day it will be a morning's hike to a lovely spot

next to a stream, and the afternoon can be spent walking up one of the beautiful narrow valleys next to one of the glaciers.

Tsambagarav is an area between Khovd and Bayan-Olgii Province in western Mongolia, and forms part of the Altai Mountain range. It has

two peaks - Tsambagarav (4208m) & Tsast (4193m). The National Park area covers more than 1,110 square kilometres. Known for its

stunning vistas and diverse wildlife, it contains many glaciers, rocky gorges, glacial lakes, and a 7m waterfall, in addition to deer stones ,

balbal (standing stones), and Kazakh and Uriankhai nomads. Many rare, endangered species can be found including the Argali sheep, Ibex,

Snow Leopard, Rock Ptarmigan and Altai Snowcock.

TREKKING - ALTAI MOUNTAINS - KHATU VALLEY - TSAMBAGARAV PLAINS

After breakfast, you begin the trek up the Khatu Valley which narrows into a green

valley with a mountain stream and rocky gorges cutting swathes through the

rugged terrain. There are a couple of herding nomadic families who live in the

upper reaches of this beautiful valley, and the will be opportunities to stop and

meet them, and be invited inside their ger to experience Kazakh hospitality.

On the first evening you will camp on the edge of the stream, and the following

day cross the mountain pass which separates this area from the plains that stretch

across to Tsambagarav Mountain in the distance. This evening you will reach the

wide valley floor and stay in a guest ger next to a nomadic family.



The Altai Mountains are characterised by

high glaciated snow capped mountains,

alpine forests, large lakes, rivers and

streams, mountain grasslands, barren rocky

mountain ranges and semi-arid desert type

valleys. The range extends for around 900km

into Mongolia through Bayan Ulgii, Hovd,

Govi-Altai and Omnogovi provinces.


Travel Details


Meals Included

Travel Details

Accommodation Simple ger next to eagle hunter (Day 9); Standard Room, Kobesh Hotel (Day 10)

Meals Included

2hrs/70km to Altantsogts


Kazakhs living in Bayan-Ölgii Province of Mongolia continue to hunt with eagles today. There

are an estimated 250 eagle hunters in the region. There is a local proverb: "There are three

things a real man should have: a fast horse, a hound, and a golden eagle".

These huge birds weight up to 6.5 kilograms with wingspan of seven or eight feet. With vision

about eight times sharper than human, they can spot a fox or rabbit up to a mile away.

Usually Kazakh hunters go for female birds as they are heavier than males and much more

aggressive. Eagles can live for up to 50 years but most hunters keep the birds for about 10

years and then release them back into the wild.

HOVD RIVER VALLEY - EAGLE HUNTER HOMESTAY - ULGII

Drive towards Altantsogts and reach the Hovd River where you will be staying tonight in a ger next to a local eagle hunter, Botei,

and his family. Enjoy Kazakh hospitality and in the afternoon and/or next morning you will have a chance to go riding or hiking in

the area. Return to Ulgii in the afternoon of the second day and you will have a chance to visit craft and textile shops, or visit the

museum and bazaar if you didn't manage to fit this in on your first day.



The Hovd River rises

in the permanent

snows of Tavan Bogd

Uul and flows 516

kilometres into the

lake of Khar Us Nuur.

The main tributaries

are the Tsagaan River

and Sagsai River. The

Khovd River supports

special fish, such as

the Hovd Umber and

other species.

MARA RIVER - HOVD RIVER

Over these 2 days you will descend through the lower valleys of the park, along the Mara River, which joins the tree-covered bed

of the largely dry Tsetsegiin River all the way to the Hovd. As you travel you will notice the amazing red hue of the rock cliffs,

which then rise up behind the tree-lined banks of the fast-flowing Hovd River, where you will camp on the second evening in a

fantastic secluded spot near the water's edge. The vehicles will join you tonight.


Travel Details

Accommodation Standard Twin Room, Ulaanbaatar Hotel

Meals Included

Travel Details

Accommodation

Meals Included

USD GBP

Cost Per Person $2,570 £1,975

Single Supplement* $50 £40

Currencies - All trip costs are priced in USD. The GBP and Euro rates above are indicative only - if paying in these currencies the amount will

be calculated according to the exchange rate on xe.com at the time of booking.

€ 2,235

€ 45

* Not applicable at rural homestay, as it may be necessary to share with other group members. Supplement only covers camping and hotels

Euro

ULGII - ULAANBAATAR

Fly back to Ulaanbaatar. The flight usually lands around 3pm. After arriving, head back to the hotel - perhaps a detour en route to

the Gobi Cashmere store might be an idea - it's up to you, so discuss with your guide. You may also want to do some shopping in

town - perhaps at some of the decent craft outlets (Tsagaan Alt felt shop, Quilters, Mary and Martha) or the State Department

Store. Your guide will be on hand to assist. After freshening up at the hotel, enjoy a farewell meal at one of our favourite

restaurants.

3hrs Flight (time tbc); Up to an hour/14km Airport-Hotel

Breakfast


Up to an hour (depending on traffic)/14km Hotel-Airport; Departure time tbc

-

DEPART

Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Included

Domestic flights - Airport transfers - English-speaking Local Guide - Surfacetransportation - Road taxes - Accommodation as specified - Sightseeing and activities as specified - Museum & park entrance fees - Meals as specified above -Water & snacks in the vehicle - Camping equipment EXCEPT sleeping bag

Excluded

International flights - Tips - Laundry - Bar bills -Items of a personal nature - Visas -Photography/filming charges at e.g. museums and monasteries - Sleeping Bag (can be borrowed on request)

Booking - To confirm your booking we require a deposit of 25% of total trip price. Balance due 8 weeks prior. Payment methods, bank details and further information can be found on our Booking Form & Conditions.


Travel Advice - We provide all our guests with a copy of our Mongolia Travel Advice. If you have not received this, please request a copy from us.

Tsambagarav Trek - Goyo Travel · Kazakh city that happens to be in Mongolia. It certainly feels...

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