🗓 Season & Travel Style

Our Altai & Naadam journeys operate in mid-July, when Mongolia celebrates its vibrant Naadam Festival and the Altai mountains are at their lushest. Days are warm (+20°C to +28°C) with cool nights, and long daylight hours allow for maximum exploration. Designed for active and curious travelers, this journey combines festival immersion, cultural encounters, and wilderness adventure. Experience horse racing, wrestling, archery, and Naadam festivities in Ulaanbaatar, then travel into remote terrain through alpine valleys, glacial lakes, and desert expanses. Discover Mongolia’s western Altai region, home to snowcapped peaks, pristine lakes, crystal-clear rivers, petroglyphs, and the legendary Kazakh eagle hunters. Enjoy moderate hikes, horse rides, and scenic drives along dirt and gravel tracks, often 4–6 hours per day. Short hikes through rugged mountains, alpine meadows, and steppe landscapes are common. Expect chilly mountain nights, desert winds, and the thrill of off-the-beaten-path exploration. This journey offers a perfect blend of cultural immersion, nature, and adventure, ideal for travelers seeking to connect deeply with Mongolia’s landscapes, history, and nomadic traditions.

🏨 Accommodation: A Balance of Comfort & Character

Hotel in Ulaanbaatar – Comfortable City Stay Your first and final nights are spent at a good-quality modern 3★ hotel in Ulaanbaatar, selected for comfort, cleanliness, and convenient location. Rooms are equipped with private bathrooms, hot showers, air conditioning or heating, free Wi-Fi, and breakfast service. Most hotels we partner with are within a short distance of Sukhbaatar Square, restaurants, and shops, allowing guests to explore the capital with ease. Examples of our partner hotels include Premium hotel, Aurora hotel, and Millenium plaza — or similar standards depending on availability. Local Ger Camps – Simple Comfort in Nature Some are spent in ger camps, which provide a cozy and clean base near attractions and stop-overs. These camps offer the traditional charm of Mongolia’s or Kazakh’s circular gers (yurts) Each camp provides:

• Private gers (yurts) with twin beds (extra beds available on request), bedding
• Shared outhouse toilets, no running water, electricity, or showers.
• Heating stove for chilly nights in the mountains

Please note:

• These camps do not provide one-time amenities such as toothbrushes, robes, shampoo, or conditioner
• We suggest bringing your own personal toiletries and towel.

Camps are peaceful, well-maintained, and located in scenic surroundings — allowing you to experience the landscape while sleeping comfortably. Ger camps are open seasonally from May to early October and provide the perfect blend of rustic charm and reliable comfort.

🍽 Meals: Hearty & Homemade

Meals are included as shown in the itinerary (B – Breakfast, L – Lunch, D – Dinner). Food in Mongolia is simple, nourishing, and always freshly prepared, reflecting the local climate and nomadic heritage. Breakfast

• Bread, butter, jam, eggs, sausage, and sometimes pancakes or cereals
• Tea or coffee is served

Lunch

• Main dish featuring meat (beef, mutton, or chicken) with rice, pasta, or potatoes
• Fresh vegetable sides such as cabbage, carrot, cucumber, or tomato salad
• Dessert or fruit with tea

Dinner

• Main course of meat, noodle, or rice dish
• Simple dessert (fruit, yogurt, or pastry)
• TeaGuests are often invited to join in cooking or tasting suutei tsai (milk tea) with their hosts.

Please note:

• Meat and dairy are central to Mongolian cuisine.
• Vegetarian meals can be arranged with prior notice, but gluten-free options are difficult to accommodate in rural areas.
• Bottled water (1.5 liters per person per day) is provided throughout the trip.

🚙 Transportation & Roads

All Travel Buddies tours operate with Japanese or Russian minivans. These vehicles are comfortable and proven to be the best around the rough drives of Western mountains Road conditions:

• Access roads to attractions and national parks are typically dirt or gravel.
• Daily driving distances average 4–6 hours, with scenic photo and restroom stops along the way.

Hiking:

• At a couple of places, it would require 3 – 5 km of hike through possible muddy or rocky dirt tracks
• It is possible to have a leisure hike around every camp

🕒 Typical Daily Schedule

Our tours follow a relaxed and well-balanced routine:

Time	Activity
07:00–08:00	Breakfast at camp
08:00	Depart for day’s drive or ride
12:30–13:30	Picnic or lunch stop
14:00–17:00	Visits, trekking, or sightseeing
18:00–19:00	Arrive at camp, rest
19:30–20:00	Dinner followed by free time under the stars

On longer travel days, you may continue driving for 2–3 hours after lunch to reach your next stop, followed by a sunset visit or evening activity.

📶 Connectivity

Internet access in rural Mongolia is limited, offering the perfect opportunity to slow down and reconnect with nature.

• Mobile network coverage is available in most towns and along major routes if you use a local SIM card.
• In remote locations, you’ll enjoy a true digital break — replaced by incredible stargazing and quiet evenings.

👩‍💼 Guides

Travel Buddies employs experienced, English-speaking tour guides who are friendly, professional, and passionate about sharing Mongolia’s history and culture. They ensure smooth coordination throughout your journey and help you connect with locals along the way. Guides in German, French, Spanish, Chinese, or Japanese can be arranged upon request. During horseback or camel riding, local wranglers will assist you for safety and guidance.

🧭 When to Travel

The best months for this journey are June through August, when the weather is warm and stable. Spring (May) and autumn (September–mid October) are cooler and ideal for photography, with fewer travelers.

• Average daytime temperatures: +18°C to +25°C in Ölgii, cooler in the mountains.
• Nighttime temperatures: drop +5°C to +10°C or lower
• Pack layered clothing, a warm jacket, and rain protection.

 

• Altai Mountains is cooler than average temperature in Mongolia

💼 What to Expect

Begin your journey with the vibrant spirit of Naadam, Mongolia’s most beloved festival, where you’ll witness traditional wrestling, archery, and horse racing — a vivid celebration of national pride and centuries-old heritage. From there, the tour blends adventure with deep cultural immersion: hike to ancient glaciers, explore alpine lakes at the edge of the Altai, and spend meaningful time with Kazakh eagle hunters who keep age-old traditions alive. Expect long scenic drives, moments of true wilderness, and authentic connections with local people across Mongolia’s wild western frontier.

Booking & Payment

To confirm your booking, a 30% deposit is required, payable via online payment (Visa or Mastercard) or bank transfer. Please note that card payments incur a 3% processing fee, which is borne by the client. Bank transfers do not have any additional charges. The remaining balance is due 30 days prior to your tour departure. There are no hidden fees beyond the card processing cost. Please review our Terms & Conditions for full details. Kindly note that bookings close one month before the tour departure date. 💛 Come as Guests, Leave as Buddies.