Discover
the Altai

Essential Information

Preparing for your expedition to Western Mongolia is crucial. Here is what you need to know before you take off.

Getting There

All major international flights arrive in Ulaanbaatar (UBN). From Ulaanbaatar, you'll take a domestic flight to Ulgii (ULG) — the capital of Bayan-Ulgii province, gateway to the Altai mountains. The domestic flight takes approximately 3 hours.

Our team will meet you at Ulgii airport and handle all ground transportation from there. We typically use 4x4 Toyota Land Cruisers to navigate the rugged terrain.

When to Visit

• June – September: Best for trekking, horse riding, and cultural experiences.
• October: Eagle Festival season — the famous Golden Eagle competitions.
• November – April: Snow Leopard observation season. Cold but profoundly rewarding.

What to Pack

• Layered clothing (base layer, insulating layer, waterproof shell)
• Sturdy hiking boots, broken in before the trip
• Sun protection: sunglasses, hat, sunscreen, etc.
• Personal medications
• Walking sticks
• Backpack

Fun Facts About Western Mongolia

The Golden Eagle Tradition

Kazakh Eagle Hunters (Berkutchi) have been hunting with Golden Eagles for over 6,000 years. The tradition is passed from father to son, and the bond between hunter and eagle is one of the most remarkable human-animal relationships on the planet. Each eagle is trained for 7-10 years before being released back into the wild.

257 Sunny Days

Mongolia is known as the "Land of the Eternal Blue Sky." The country averages 257 sunny days per year — more than most Mediterranean countries. Even in winter, the skies are often crystal clear, making it ideal for photography.

Our Expeditions

Every BREATHE ALTAI expedition is designed to immerse you in the culture, wildlife, and landscapes of the Altai. Here's what makes our approach unique:

Small Groups

We keep groups small (4-8 people maximum) to minimize our impact and maximize the personal experience. This allows us to adapt the itinerary to the group's interests and pace.

Local Guides

All our guides are locals from Bayan-Ulgii. They know the mountains, the wildlife, and the communities intimately. Many have been guiding for over a decade.

Community First

We work directly with nomadic families, local musicians, and artisans. Revenue from our tours goes directly back into the local community — from supporting schools to funding conservation efforts.

The Five Sacred Peaks

The Altai Tavan Bogd — meaning "Five Saints" — is a massif of five peaks that form the highest point in Mongolia. At 4,374 meters, Khuiten Peak towers above a landscape of glaciers, alpine meadows, and turquoise lakes untouched for millennia.

A Sacred Landscape

For the Kazakh and Tuvan peoples, these mountains are deeply sacred. Ancient petroglyphs dating back over 10,000 years have been discovered throughout the region, telling stories of hunting, ritual, and the bond between humans and the natural world. UNESCO has recognized these rock art sites as part of the Altai cultural landscape.

Glaciers of the Altai

The Potanin Glacier, stretching 14 kilometers, is the longest glacier in Mongolia. Standing at the confluence of three great water basins — the Arctic Ocean, the Pacific, and the Central Asian internal drainage — is a humbling reminder of the Altai's global significance.

The Ghost of the Mountains

The snow leopard — known as "irbis" in the Altai — is one of the most elusive and magnificent predators on Earth. Mongolia is home to an estimated 1,000+ snow leopards, making it one of the most important strongholds for this endangered species.

Our Observation Approach

Breathe Altai's Snow Leopard Observation Tour is designed with conservation at its core. We work with local trackers who have spent decades reading the mountains — identifying pugmarks, scrapes, and scent marks that reveal the leopard's movements.

The Last Eagle Hunters

In the frozen valleys of the Mongolian Altai, a tradition older than most civilizations still lives. The Kazakh berkutchi — eagle hunters — have partnered with golden eagles for over 4,000 years. Today, fewer than 250 active practitioners remain.

The Bond Between Hunter and Eagle

A young eagle is captured from the wild at around two years old. The hunter raises the bird by hand, feeding it, speaking to it, and sleeping beside it. Over months, an unbreakable bond forms. After 7–10 years of partnership, the eagle is released back into the wild to breed.

Nomadic Hospitality

In a world of permanent addresses and digital connectivity, the nomads of the Altai still live by the rhythm of seasons. Families move 2–4 times per year, following their herds across vast grasslands and mountain passes.

Life in the Ger

The Mongolian ger (yurt) is a masterpiece of portable architecture. It can be assembled in under two hours, yet withstands winds of over 100 km/h and temperatures of -40°C. Every ger follows the same layout — the door always faces south, and guests are always seated in the place of honor at the north end.

The Land of the Eternal Blue Sky

Mongolia averages over 260 sunny days per year — more than most Mediterranean countries. In the Altai region, this translates to extraordinary conditions for photography, stargazing, and simply being outdoors.

Stargazing in the Altai

With virtually zero light pollution, the Altai Mountains offer some of the best stargazing on the planet. The Milky Way stretches overhead in vivid detail, and on clear winter nights, the aurora borealis occasionally shimmers at the northern horizon.