On this challenging trekking route to the beautiful Blue Lake at the top of the Arhangai Mountains, you will averaging between 20KM to 30KM per day through amazingly picturesque mountain valleys and along river banks. This area of Arhangai is known to Mongolians as the “Horse Breeders Paradise” for its beauty. Along the way you will experience the unspoiled local nature and warm hospitality of the area’s nomadic families. On this trek you will have opportunities to go horse back riding and learn how to use a yak as a pack animal.
Difficulty of trip: Challenging
Method of travel: Lots of trekking w/ ox-carts
Community Fee: $245 USD for 9 days/ 8 nights
Additional In-Country Travel Expenses
UB to Arhangai Bus Fee (approx.): $13 USD
Rural jeep to first ger and pickup (approx.): $108 USD
Note: Jeep cost can be divided by number of persons
Booking & travel orientation w/ handbook: $25 USD
Local Park Fee: $3 USD
Day One - Arrive at Mr. Bultenbor's nomadic ger: Ulaanbaatar to first ger: Public transfer will leave UB at 08:00 in the morning from Dragon center and you will arrive in Tsetserleg around 18:00 in the evening. Your local driver will be waiting for you and will take you to the first family Mr. Bultenbor. His family will serve you dinner and tea.
Day Two - Trek to Sumtiin Mountain Basin: After breakfast, you will have an opportunity to learn how to set up the frame of an ox cart as well as prepare Mongolian curds with family. Later, family members will start to pack up and you will begin trekking to Sumtiin Basin along the beautiful Tamir river valley. Along the way, you will pass Mongolia's oldest school as well as ruins of an ancient Buddhist monastery. (Although the communists destroyed monastery during the 1930s a local teacher Natsagnyam has managed to reconstruct the eight stupas on the site of the monastery with the support from local people. The original monastery was built over a hundred years ago and accommodated about 3000 monks.In 1918, Mongolia's first school was established and it’s still functioning today.) In addition to the Monastery, Tamir river valley is home to many ancient graves and burial sites. You will spot many Khirgesuur (piles of stones marking the burial site of an ancient warrior) and many tombstones. After approx 15kms of trekking, we will reach our camping site.
Day Three - Trek to Mr. Battulga's nomadic ger: After having a breakfast, you will trek for 12km to Mr. Battulga’s family. On the way you will be served a picnic. Upon arrival at Mr. Battulga’s ger, his family will serve you dinner and hot tea – in the evening the family will help you to set up your tents nearby his ger.
Day Four - Trek to Gangiin Bulan: After having a breakfast with Battulga’s family, you have an opportunity to learn how to make ‘White of Ih Tamir” curds (famous in Mongolia) and pack luggage on a yak cart. This early afternoon you will trek for 25km to Gangiin bulan where we will be camping for one night. On the way you will be served a picnic lunch and when you reach the camp site, Mr. Battulga will serve you a hot dinner and tea.
Day Five - Trek to Mr. Byambaochir's nomadic ger: After having a breakfast you will trek for 25km to Mr. Byambaochir’s family and the terrain becomes more challenging with small rivers to cross and some hills to pass over. On the way you will be served a picnic lunch, and in the evening, Mr. Byambaochir will serve you dinner and hot tea. Afterwards, the family will assist you to setup your tents nearby his ger.
Day Six - Trek to Blue Lake: After breakfast you will have an opportunity to the play the Mongolia ‘Horse Headed Fiddle’. Afterwards you will start trekking up to the 'Blue Lake' with the local herder. Today you don’t need to pack all your luggage, instead you will only take your day packs. The trek will be around 26km round trip, you will greatly enjoy the beauty of this mountain lake region. Upon arrival, you will be served a picnic lunch at the lake. In the late afternoon you will return to Byambaochir’s family for rest.
Day Seven - Trek to Mr. Battumur's nomad ger: After breakfast Mr. Byambaochir will show you how to pack luggage on a yak’s back. Then you will start using pack yaks from now on as the terrain becomes more challenging over the mountain. You will trek to Jargalant Valley for 27 kilometers where Mr. Battumur's family (local people call him as Oroso) will host you.
Day Eight - Trek to Shivert Mountain: After your breakfast Mr.Oroso will teach you how to make ropes with yak hair. Afterwards you will start trekking up to Shivertiin Mountain. Once you leave Orosoo’s home there will be no families further along the way until your meeting point with the local driver. Today you will stay overnight in tents after covering 22km.
Day 9 - Trek to Khujiriin Mountain: After breakfast, you will pack up and continue the 7 km trek with yaks to Khujiriin Mountain basin where the rural driver will be waiting for you. Exchange your goodbyes with the local herders and humble yaks before continuing your drive back to Tsetserleg for 80km
Included services:
All nomadic breakfast, lunch and dinner which are stated on itinerary
Herder guide service on route
Sightseeing
Pack animals on route
Cultural activities (make dried curds, pack on yak’s back etc)
Boiled water on route
Reservation services for two ways bus tickets between UB and Tsetserleg
Local jeep arrangement service by facilitator
Guest house and hotel reservation service by facilitator in Tsetserleg
|
