Trip Duration: 14 days and 13 nights

Trip Dates: Sept 11 - Sept 24, 2024

Group Size: 8-16 paxs

Trip Cost: $5,495/person

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TRIP INFORMATION:

 

Explore Mongolia at the crossroads of Russia, China, and Kazakhstan, to experience the timeless beauty of the Mongolian Kazakh people and their way of life. We journey into magnificent and dramatic landscapes where for thousands of years these valleys have been home to a nomadic people whose livelihoods rely on hunting and herding. The trip is carefully designed to provide cultural immersion into all aspects of Kazakh nomadic
experience, especially its 2,000-year-old tradition of hunting with Golden Eagles. In one of the planet’s remotest corners, the warm hearted Kazakhs will embrace you with authentic life-changing experiences. Join our Nomad life and Eagle festival tour 2024 Mongolia /Special/ !!!

 

 

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

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​• Immerse yourself into the rugged charm of Kazakh nomads of the Altai Mountains.
• Gain an intimate insight into one of the most primal relationships between man and nature, and learn about
their age-old tradition of hunting with the Golden Eagles.
• Explore the largest and the most intact Petroglyphs in Central Asia dating back starting from the Neolithic
period (11,000 BC) to the Bronze Age (6,000 BC).
• Discover ancient burial mounds (khirigsuur) of the early Nomadic period and stone man (balbal) from the
Turkic period.
• Meet animistic Tuvan nomads, the smallest ethnic minority within Mongolia. Ethnically Turkic, Tuvans in Altai
continue to hold on to their nomadic heritage as they have for centuries.
• Travel with one of the last of the Tuvan shamans of Altai. Experience an intimate Shaman ritual under the vast
Altai sky and connect with the spirits of southern Siberian ancestors.
• Experience an epic two-day Horse Riding Expedition with Kazakh horsemen and pack-camels carrying all our
supplies.
• Photograph up close, Eagle Hunters on a daylong hunting expedition, followed by two days being a spectator
at a local Golden Eagle Festival. The trip provides endless opportunities to capture award-winning images.
• Soak up the magic of sleeping in your private Kazakh Ger in the vastness of Altai wilderness.

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Guests arrive in Ulaanbaatar by September 10th, 2024 evening. Upon arrival at the Chinggis Khaan International Airport, our staff will meet you for the transfer to our hotel, located within walking distance of Sukhbaatar Square, museums and shops. Note that our staff will be holding a Kazakh Tour signboard. In the unlikely case you don’t
connect with the Kazakh Tour staff member, you can take a taxi to the Best Western Tuushin Hotel.
Address: Prime Minister A. Amar Str.15, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia 14200 tel # +97611323162. Driving time from airport to Best Western Tuushin Hotel, approx. 90 mins. Dosjan’s cell# +976-99422006 Cost of Taxi approximately
$32 - MNT 100,000₮

 

 

ITINERARY:

 

Day 1 (Sept 11th, 2024): Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

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Enjoy your morning breakfast. Meet at the lobby at 9.00 am to meet your fellow travelers and your guide. After a brief orientation, we’ll walk through Sukhbaatar’s square then to Chinggis Khan museum. Chinggis Khan museum opened recently, in November, 2022. It is a great museum where you would get general knowledge of the culture, history as well as other information about Mongolia.
After visiting the museum we will walk a couple of blocks to a known restaurant for lunch. Post lunch, take it easy and rest for the afternoon. Meet at the lobby at 6 pm for a welcome dinner.
Best Western Tuushin Hotel (B,L,D) Elevation: 1350m/4430feet
*Visit to Ganden Monastery and the Museum is optional.

 

Day 2 (Sept 12th, 2024): Ulaanbaatar / Ulgii, Bayan Ulgii Province

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Our destination today is the sacred Shiveet Khairkhan Mountain, home to Tuvan nomads and mountain ibex.
We would get picked up from our hotel and will drive almost 2 hours to get to airport. We would have lunch at the airport, then check in starts at 12:30pm then We fly to Ulgii, the provincial capital. We would land in to Ulgiiat 15:30 local time, then we ride 4WD Land Cruisers heading west to Shiveet Khairkhan Mountain in the Altai Tavan Bogd National Park. Most of the drive will be along the Tsagaan Gol, or the White River valley. The drive is going to be long but smooth and beautiful to our campsite. We stop along the way to take in the dramatic landscape and have an opportunity to photograph.
Drive: 100 miles (170 Km), approx 4.5 hours drive time including stops. We would get to our camp by 20:30.
Overnight in Ger (B,L,D) Campsite Elevation approx: 2400m/ 7874feet

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Day 3 (Sept 13th, 2024): Shiveet Khairkhan Mt, Tavan Bogd National Park

 

After breakfast we have a short drive to the largest Petroglyphs site in Central Asia. The Petroglyphs date back starting from the Neolithic period (11,000 BC) to the Bronze Age (6,000 BC). Located in a mountain valley carved out by Pleistocene (Ice Age) glaciers, the site is protected by the relative inaccessibility due to both terrain and weather. Exploring the rock carving provides exceptional documentation of the prehistoric and early historic communities, and reflects the development of human culture over the period of thousands of years in the Altai Mountains.
After viewing the Petroglyphs, we drive a little further to a stunning spot where we can view the magnificent Altai Tavan Bogd Mountain peaks. We do a short hike to Shiveet Khairkhan Mountain and if we are lucky, we will have ibex sightings up close. Shiveet Khairkhan is home to a little over 300 mountain ibex.
We have another short drive to visit the animist Tuvan nomad families, the smallest ethnic minority within Mongolia. We will have the opportunity to share tea and get to hear about their culture and way of life. Shiveet Khairkhan Mountain is considered sacred by Tuvans.
We head to our campsite to relax and refresh. In the early evening we gather around the bonfire with one of the last of the Tuvan Shamans and join in an intimate shamanic ritual at the campsite.
Drive: Today is mostly short drives | some short hikes; little longer hikes may depend on ibex sightings | Overnight in Ger (B,L,D)

Campsite Elevation approx: 2400m/ 7874feet

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Day 4 (Sept 14th, 2024): Mogoit Valley/Khovd River

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We depart early and drive following the Tsagaan Gol (White River), through sandy terrain and on to rocky high passes. Today the terrain changes. We will see more trees on our drive. On the way through the Mogoit Valley we will stop by an old cemetery that marks the first Kazakh migration from northern Xinjiang in Western China. We
continue our drive and take a short walk to the Turkic Balbal (human) rock and then onwards to our campsite nearby the Khovd river and Dayan crossroad close to some local families, either nomad or sedentary.
Lunch along the way.
Drive: 65 miles (100 Km) 4 hours drive including stops along the way | Overnight in Ger (B,L,D)
Campsite Elevation approx: 2100m/ 6890feet

 

Day 5  (Sept 15th, 2024): Dayan

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Today is going to be a short drive. Post breakfast, leisurely visit local families close to camp. Learn about their daily life, do some photography. We drive southeast along the Khovd River, then to Black Lake and Dayan Lake. The Khovd River is the longest river in western Mongolia. At Black Lake, we will have the view of Khoton and Khurgan Lakes, located in the far west following the Altai Mountain range, bordering China. In the afternoon we might have chance to visit some local nomad families close to our camp.
DRIVE: 30 miles (50 Km) 4 hours drive including stops along the way | Overnight in Ger (B,L,D)

Campsite Elevation approx: 2800m/ 9180feet

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Day 6-7 (Sept 16th & Sept 17th, 2024): - Two-Day Horse Trek Expedition to Khara Kul

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Experience an epic two-day horse riding expedition with Kazakh horseman and pack-camels. Brush up on your horse riding skills, saddle up your horses and ride through pristine valleys and passes. We would have a Bactrian camel to carry our pack lunch and support gear. The 4wd land cruiser would take round trip to get to the next camps.

On Day 7 – For those interested, chance to fly fish for graylings at Black lake of Altai village.
Horse Riding: We will ride horses at a Walk, for most parts of the trail. It will be very gentle and relaxed riding.
The approximate distance each day will be a 10 mile ride; approximately six to seven hours ride including lunch break and stops in-between | Overnight in Ger (B,L,D)

Campsite Elevation approx: 2600m/ 8530feet

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Day 8 (Sept 18th, 2024): Altay Village- Ardak’s autumn camp

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Today we have a short drive through a scenic valley to our campsite close to an eagle hunter family in Altay village. After lunch we take a short rest. In the early afternoon we visit an eagle hunter family to spend time with the hunter. Over piping hot Kazakh tea, we have the opportunity to get insights into their daily lives and age-old traditions of hunting with the golden eagles. After some more tea, we will have a hands-on demonstration by the hunter on how they train the eagles.

If time permits, we will visit a few more eagle hunters to hear their stories. By late afternoon we come back to our camp to enjoy traditional Kazakh dinner with an eagle hunter family.
Drive: 21 miles (35 Km) 2 hours drive including stops along the way | Overnight in Ger (B,L,D)

Campsite Elevation approx: 2000m/ 6560feet

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Day 9 (Sept 19th, 2024): Altay, Eagle Hunting Expedition

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After a leisurely breakfast, at around 10 am we meet legendary eagle hunters of this area and ride with the hunters to a nearby mountain on a hunting expedition. The expedition lasts for approximately five hours. Today is your chance to photograph up close the eagle hunters.
We are back at the camp by mid-afternoon. Enjoy time to relax and refresh. In the late afternoon we gather around a bonfire at the camp to enjoy folk songs by local herders.
Overnight in Ger (B,L,D)

Campsite Elevation approx: 2000m/ 6560feet

 

Day 10 (Sept 20th, 2024): Tolbo Village

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After breakfast we say goodbye to the eagle hunter and his family and leave Altay village heading to Tolbo village. It is possible to fish on Sagsai river on the way, that there are some spots that are know as good fishing spots. Then we would continue driving heading to Tolbo. We have our temporary ger camp by Kizilbast mountain near
to beautiful Tolbo lake, in a beautiful spot. This is the place where we would spend 3 coming nights that is close to eagle festival site.
Drive: 85 miles (135 Km) 6 hours drive including stops along the way | Overnight in Ger (B,L,D)

Elevation approx:1750m/ 5741feet

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DAY 11 & 12 (Sept 21th & Sept 22th, 2024): Eagle Festival near Tolbo Lake – stay

Each day on this coming two days, after breakfast at our camp we would drive to eagle festival site that takes 15minutes. Eagle festival starts at around 10:00am in the morning. We would enjoy this 2 days of eagle festival, we would have great opportunity to photograph all the interesting activities and competitions.

Opening Ceremonies | Competition | Awards Ceremony
Witness a local eagle festival featuring about 40-60 eagle hunters. The competition begins with a parade by the hunters wearing hunting outfits and accessories. The most elaborate and beautiful adornments receive the highest marks. It is followed by thrilling competitions.
The golden eagles are evaluated for their speed and agility. Interesting Kazak traditional games such as Kokbar(buzkashi) and Kazak archery will also take place at the eagle festival. Winners are selected in each event. Thefestival provides a great opportunity to photograph.
We would set up a ger at eagle festival site, that we would use it during the festival to relax, to get warmed up ifthe weather is not warm, to have lunch and have tea coffee during the day.
Each day we would drive from our temporary ger camp and drive back after the events.
Driving distance: 15kms/10miles

Elevation approx: 1790m/ 5870feet

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FESTIVAL DAY 1 / September 21
• 10:00 Opening ceremony, introductions, Eagle Hunting history and practice.
• 10:30 Parade of all participants.
• 11:00-13:00 Fox Skin
The real test of a hunter's ability, Eagles must catch a fox skin dragged behind their trainer's horse.
• 13:00-14:00 Break for lunch
• 14:00-16:00 Fox Skin -
The real test of a hunter's ability, Eagles must catch a fox skin dragged behind their trainer's horse.
• 14:00-16:00 Archery - Same time will be started Western Mongolian Archery Competition.
Archery people will shoot from bow to balls and goat skins on horse back.
• 16:00-17:00 Kyz Kuar - A race between a man and woman on horseback
• 17:00-18:00 Bushkashi - Tug of war played on horseback with killed goat, common throughout Central Asia
• 18:00-18:30 Tiyn Teru - Riders compete to pick up flags or flowers from the ground during the race
• 19:00 Break for dinner
FESTIVAL DAY 2 / September 22
• 10:00-13:00 Eagle Call Tests hunter's ability to 'call' Eagle to their horse from a distance
1. 13:00-14:00 Break for lunch
2. 14:00-15:00 Camel Race 6kms
Camel riders can be women and men.
• 15:00-16:00 Tiyn Teru - Riders compete to pick up flags or flowers from the ground during the Race
• 16:00-17:00 Bushkashi - Tug of war played on horseback with deceased goat, common throughout Central Asia
• 17:00-17:30 Kyz KuarA race between a man and woman on horseback
• 17:30-18:00 Awards and Closing ceremony -

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Day 13 (Sept 23th, 2024): Fly back to Ulaanbaatar

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After breakfast, we would get transferred to Ulgii airport to catch our morning flight back to Ulaanbaatar.
We arrive in Ulaanbaatar in the early afternoon and return to our hotel. After checking back into our hotel,spending the afternoon for rest and relaxation.
Meet at the hotel lobby at 7 pm for a farewell dinner at a restaurant in town.
Tuushin Hotel (B,L,D)

Elevation: 1350m/4430feet

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Day 14 (Sept 24th, 2024): Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

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Depart Ulaanbaatar today after breakfast. You would get transferred to airport (B)

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NOTE:

Transportation: Throughout the trip in Altai we will use 4WD Land Cruiser jeeps. Each jeep will be dedicated tothree clients.
Depending on the number of sign ups, one jeep may have to accommodate our local Kazakh guide.
We will also have a Russian vans carrying supplies, gears and staff. Trucks carrying Gers will also travel.

Accommodation: There are no Ger or Tourist Camps along this trail. In each destination we will set up our own camp with simple Gers in open wilderness. The Gers, each sleeping two clients or a family of three with simple beds will be set up by the local nomads at the appointed destination prior to our arrival. We will have a stove in
each Ger and a dedicated staff to stoke the fire every three hours during the night. Kazakh Gers are bigger and taller than the Mongolian Ger. Ger means Mongolian nomad tent.

Shower: We will have one dedicated shower tent set up in each destination during the entire trip.

Toilet: We will have a mobile toilet with toilet seat at each of our campsites that our crew will set up.

Electricity/Charging: We bring a portable generator so that we have electricity at our camps and most importantly have access to charge your camera batteries and other gadgets.

Food: We will have a dedicated dining Ger in each destination. We serve a big western style breakfast every morning. We prepare pack lunches during our travels and daytime expedition. Dinner is a three course: soup, main course and dessert. Catering available for Vegetarians.

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Weather & Packing List: See details on weather and packing list.

TOUR COST: $4915USD tour cost + $580USD RT Domestic airfare = $5495USD PAX
Single accommodation during trip: 1050USD

Tour cost includes /Western Mongolia and UB /: Double or twin occupancy at Premier Tuushin Best Western Hotel, Ulaanbaatar for 6th Sep & 19th Sep. You’re advised to arrive by 5th of September 2023. Please inform us of your arrival time and we can assist you with making x-tra nite reservations prior and post trip. Welcome and farewell dinners and lunch, all entrance fees to museums based on itinerary, English speaking guide, lodging (ger camps), meals , National Park fees, Military permits, Airport transfers, everything related to transport; trucks to move gers from camp to camp, local crew, offerings to eagle hunters, shaman boo, payments for camels and horses, eagle festival taxes, RT domestic airfare.

Doesn't include: Any additional hotel/ ger camp nights that may be necessary due to domestic airline schedule changes or other factors, pre-trip expenses, overweight charges on domestic flights, limited to 15 kgs, medical immunizations, emergency evacuations, visa fees, travel insurance, and other expenses of a personal nature (alcoholic beverages, laundry, etc).

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GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE TOUR:
Mongolia remains one of the last great adventure destinations in Asia. Located between China and Russia, it isthree times the size of France, yet with a population of only 3.2 million, is one of the most sparsely inhabited countries in the world. It is also one of the highest countries in the world with an average elevation of 1580 metres/5183 feet - the highest peak, Tavanbogd Uul, at 4374 metres/14,350feet , has a magnificent glacier that
towers over Mongolia, Russia and China. Between the peaks lay austere deserts, but elsewhere Mongolia has numerous saltwater and freshwater lakes, the largest of which is Lake Hovsgol. The Mongolian climate is extreme with long sub-arctic winters. But, with over 260 sunny days a year, it is also known as the 'Land of the Blue Sky'.
Mongolia is a remote country with unpredictable weather and an underdeveloped infrastructure. It is therefore most important that you come prepared. If you are coming between late September until June, expect some extremely cold weather and snow storm or windy days. The average winter weather temperature would be minus 20 Celsius/68 Fahrenheit degrees and at nights it could drop down till -35 Celsius/-31 Fahrenheit.

We use Mongolian nomad tent gers/yurts on this tour with stoves and simple beds in it. We keep the fire onevery 3 hours during the night to keep you warm and provide good quality sleeping bags with extra thick blankets. Note about our sleeping bags, https://www.amazon.com/Browning-Camping-Kenai-Degree-
Sleeping/dp/B0036U1TOW Browning brand – 20C/-4F plus we would prepare mattress and a thick blanket on the slumberjack cot. - https://www.amazon.com/Slumberjack-56880016-Adult-Tough-Cot/dp/B014VWIES2
However, if you have a good quality warm sleeping bag you should consider bringing it.
Our crew will set up gers at each of the destinations. You’ll be sharing gers with some other members of this tour each night. Long drop style toilet with toilet seats are set up at each of our camps.
We will have electricity at our camps to charge your battery every night. However, we recommend you bring 3-4 batteries just in case if everybody charges their batteries. You might have to wait your turn or because of colder weather your battery may discharge quickly.
Our cook will provide you delicious meals.

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Pack list:

Traveling to Mongolia requires special consideration due to the climate. Your packing list will depend on the type of activities you plan to do while in Mongolia and the time of year you travel. Temperatures range from the low 4C/39F to the mid 20s/68F in the summer months. Winter temperatures range from -15 degrees Celsius/5 F to -40degrees/ -40 F. The thermometer stays below freezing for 8 months. Packing the right kind of clothing is essential.
You should pack everything in a soft duffle bag or backpack rather than in a suitcase or trunk, which will make it easier to load into vehicles. There is limitation on your luggage on internal flights, they allow only 15kg including backpacks, hand bags, you would have to pay 1.3USD for every extra kg. But that is not too bad, for an example if
you have 25kg in total you would have to pay 13USD for your extra weight. The following general packing list gives recommendations on the type of equipment or clothing that we think most practical.

Clothing
Isothermic clothing is perfect for Mongolia as it traps the warm air and body heat helping you stay warmer.
Consider wool long underwear as your base layer. Fleece pullover shirts are comfortable year round for an insulating layer. Use Isothermic clothes for sleepwear during overnight in gers. Pack Smart Wool socks for your feet. Even in the summer you will need cool weather clothing. Plan to layer your clothes for maximum warmth.
Come prepared for at least some snow/snow storm, wind, and some colder nights and mornings. There are also many beautifully clear and sunny warm days with bright blue skies.

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Backpack or soft duffle bag –.

Sleeping bag - rated comfortable down to -15C- 25C /5 Fahrenheit to -13 Fahrenheit / (comfort zone) for pre-winter trips. However it is guideline only, it also depends on how sensitive you are for the cold weather. Please let us know if you bring your sleeping bag.

Day pack – recommend OSPREY brand or similar quality which will fit a Camel back water bag.

Head lamp/flashlight – good quality head lamp

Spare batteries/bulbs
Water bottles with wide mouth. Good for using sterie pen.

Personal medications – our first aid kits are equipped with basic first aid supplies... according to Mongolian law we are not allowed to dispense any medications. You should bring common medicines for headache, stomach upset, colds or allergies, based on your experience and your knowledge of what you might require. Bring a sufficient supply of all prescription medications.

Towel – a travel towel that is compact, very absorbent, and fast drying is the best kind.
Small Travel pillow.
Sleeping bag liner.

Waterproof, well worn-in walking boots - Good quality for cold snowy weather comfortable footwear is essential. Whatever you wear on your feet the most important thing is warm and comfort. It is vital to ensure your boots are well worn in and lightweight.
Ariat® Official Site - Ariat Men's Western Boot
Ankle support and waterproofing is recommended.
Here is a link to the boots I used to recommend, these are for the ladies but they make them for men too - https://www.doversaddlery.com/ariat-terrain-h20-boots/p/X1-
38844A/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIkYan68v74QIVlONkCh0BAgSLEAQYBSABEgL5pPD_BwE
Doversaddlery also sells riding helmets and chaps. Recommend to bring riding helmet and half chaps for horse riding.
Good Bicycle helmet and snow gaiters okay.

Waterproof pants – you might walk on the snowy terrain.
Fleece jacket or warm sweater/jumper – we find a fleece jacket with a full length zipper in front to be the most practical, and wind-stopper fleece the best for spring and autumn.

Cotton t-shirts – two to three T-shirts will usually suffice.

Long sleeve shirts – one light weight, fast drying, light colored one, preferably with buttons down the front so you can wear it open over a T-shirt for sun protection – and one medium weight for cool evenings.

Lightweight trousers – breathable warm thick trousers recommended.

Warm hat –which can cover your ears, even some part of your face.

Socks – socks should be of a material that keeps your feet dry.

Underwear – fast drying. Sports/athletic bras offering good support are best for countryside portions of all trips – roads are bumpy here!

Gloves –warm enough.

Sun glasses – should be dark and offer UV protection.

Sun cream – choose one with stronger protection (SPF 20 or more) if you are light skinned. A Neutrogena sunscreen stick for easy application to lips, nose and cheeks. Altai weather is very dry, with cold wind.

Spare glasses – carry them in a sturdy case.

Resealing (ziploc) plastic bags – bring enough to protect your documents, money, camera, binoculars, and other items from wetness, sand, and dust. A few extra bags are handy for repacking wet clothing until you reach your next camp and can dry them out
binoculars/camera – carry in a soft padded case if possible.

Wet tissues – choose unscented ones that will not attract insects.

Money belt/pouch – it is preferable to have a flat pouch that can be worn inside clothing.

Riding chaps – Just let us know if you do not have. We could provide.
emergency contact number – must be left on file in our office-and you have to fill out our client information form online. (must)

Casual clothes for travel/city – you may want to bring an extra folding dufflebag so you can leave any spare items at our office.
It is a good idea to try on clothing at home to ensure that what you bring is sized for comfortable layering. Weather in Mongolia is unpredictable, and layering your clothes for warmth is a practical alternative to packing bulky items you may never wear.

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MEALS:

We prepare big western style breakfasts in the mornings and have packed lunch every day. And in most cases, our
camp crew gets to the destination before us to prepare table and hot tea.

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BREAKFAST:
Toast (with honey, jam, choco cream and/or butter); French toast; pancakes; eggs scrambled, fried, poached, omelet); cooked vegetables; oats, cereals; tea; coffee; cocoa; juice.

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LUNCH:
We mix up salads and cold meats on the trail. Lunch at camp is usually a mix of hot meals and salads. Vegetable salads; cold meat sandwiches; eggs; tuna salad; grilled cheese sandwiches; canned fruits; French fries, otherwise known as chips; tea; coffee; cocoa; juice.

DINNER:
First and Second dish, dessert:
Soup; beef, pasta; rice; vegetables; Some Mongolian traditional food such as buuz (dumplings); canned fruits;tea; coffee; cocoa, juice.
Vegetarians are happy with us! We do prepare vegetarian meals! Please make sure you have indicated that when you fill our client information form. https://kazakhtour.com/clientinfo/

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COVID-19 REGULATIONS
COVID-19 infections are decreasing in Mongolia, with under 100 new infections reported on average each day.
That’s 3% of the peak — the highest daily average reported on September 7, 2021.
There is no limitation in the country anymore, life is getting back to new normal again.
Mongolia fully opened its air gates to international travel from February 14, 2022
• NO PCR - PCR test or rapid test are not required to enter Mongolia.
• Vaccination is not required - Both vaccinated and non-vaccinated travelers can travel to Mongolia without any limitation -Effective as of March 14, 2022
• NO testing is required upon arrival at the border points.
• NO quarantine or self-isolation.
• Free vaccinations and treatments are available for travelers.
-When you leave Mongolia - Tests are required depending on which country you return to and which airline you fly with. Just for an example Turkish Airlines does not require a PCR test for passengers. in General in these days most of the people do not wear masks.
Kazakh tour crew and staff have fully vaccinated with 4 doses of vaccine. (2 doses of Verocell Sinopharm and Pfizer)

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GENERAL INFORMATION
MORE about the Region.

Mongolian Altai Eco Region
Sprawled across the mountain system where Russia, Kazakhstan, China and Mongolia come together is a vast and relatively pristine wild land, the Altai-Sayan Ecoregion. An Ecoregion is a distinct territory defined by natural processes rather than political ones. Its borders are ecological, and its provinces are interconnected habitats.
The Altai-Sayan Ecoregion is one of the planet's most important strongholds of biodiversity - big enough and sufficiently intact to support most of its natural species. It covers over 386,000 square miles (an area the size of Texas and New Mexico combined) in four countries. It includes three mountain ranges - the Altai, the Sayan, and the Mongolian Altai - and large tracts of the country surrounding them. Two of the ten largest river basins in the world - the Ob and the Yenesei - have their headwaters here. But not all the water flows to the sea. The Khovd River, which has its genesis in the glaciers of Mongolia's Altai Tavn Bogd Mountains, flows into the Great Lakes Basin, a depression with no outlet whose lush wetlands comprise the last great reed beds of central Asia.
The Mongolian section of the ecoregion includes three national parks (Lake Khovsgol, Khar Us Nuur, and Altai Tavan Bogd), seven strictly protected areas, and two nature reserves.
An effort is currently underway to coordinate management of wild areas throughout the ecoregion, in all four nations. The concept recognizes a fact well-known by any migratory animal of Central Asia: that the whole is greater than the sum of its separate parts.

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EVENTS BEYOND OUR CONTROL:
Force Majeure & Delayed or Cancelled Trips: Kazakh Tour may, at any time, cancel or withdraw a tour or trek due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control such as weather or other acts of God, strikes, war, hostile governments, riots, fire, pandemics, etc. In these cases, we will, with no penalty to ourselves, undertake to notify you of the circumstances for our withdrawal of the tour. In the event we choose to cancel a tour for one of these uncontrollable and safety oriented reasons, neither Kazakh Tour nor our staff, vendors or service providers will be liable or responsible for refunds, reimbursements, increased or altered trip fees or damages to participants or clients.