Contrary to the common belief that Mongolia is a country covered with steppes and deserts, here in the north woodlands are still preserved. These lush forests cover the Altaiain Mountains, on the southern ridges of the East Sayans. Due to scarcely populated and underdeveloped areas in the region the odds of meeting a bear, marten or a lynx are quite high. Khubsugul Lake, which is along our route, is full of fish.
To take part in our expedition you have to have to be in good physical shape, this is because it requires about 20-25km of walking a day. Before you participate in the expedition we strongly recommend that you pass our 2 day and basic courses. If you are a complete beginner however, and you want to dive into the world of the wild taiga then call us! Our instructor will meet you and assess your capabilities.
The route of this expedition takes 12 days along the eastern shore of the Lake, from the Khatgal settlement to Khankh. En route we will make stops to rest in the most beautiful and interesting places.
Duration: 12 days
Lenth: 180 km
Initial meeting place: city of Ulan-Bator, Mongolia
Group consists of 6-8 people
Price per person: 1000 EUR
Minors (under 18 years of age) get a 15% discount only if they take the trip with a parent.
Club discount - 7%
Route description
Day 1
The group meets up in the capital of Mongolia, in the city of Ulan-Bator. Before we board an UaZik, which is a kind of Russian mini-van in order to head to the west of the country, we will still have a few hours to go for a sightseeing tour and visit the statue of Genghis-Khan. We will spend the rest of the day on the road over the steppes in North Mongolia heading to the settlement of Muren.
Day 2
Upon our morning arrival in Muren, we will have a chance to get acquainted with the local traditions and customs; you will see with your own eyes a combination of a nomadic life style and a vast majority of people who came there as colonists to build stationary settlements. In the afternoon, we will have to go to the Khatkhal settlement. We will spend the night on the shores of Khubsugul Lake.
Day 3
This is where the walking part of the trip begins. Taking off to the north of Khatkhal we find ourselves in Khubsugul National Park, where the biggest lake in Mongolia is situated. Our route goes over highlands at a height of 1500m above sea level.
Day 4
Surmounting relatively flat land characteristic of the southern extremity of the Lake, we get to the beginning of a truly impressive area, here the western shore of Khubsugul Lake stretches north for 12o kilometers. Further along this route is the cedar-larch taiga which is perhaps the most southern taiga on the planet.
Day 5
We will spend the night in a camp that we have built on the shore of a mountainous stream with crystal-clear water before we set off to the north, walking a narrow path between the lake and ridges of the East Sayans rising above on the right. On average we will walk around 20 kilometers per day and use our remaining energy to explore the area and do some sightseeing.
Day 6
We will rest all day. However, before we do we will have to choose an appropriate place, whith strong winds that will save us from irksome mosquitoes and other biting insects, situated near water so we can shelter ourselves from the summer heat by having the chilly lake nearby and with a sufficient amount of firewood that we will use to warm ourselves during the cooler night. Those who want to may go fishing.
Day 7
We take off to the north. The path still meanders around the eastern shore of Khubsugul Lake. Yet the environment begins changing. Relatively gentle slopes turn into rocky ledges. En route we will have to overcome some obstacles in the form of small rivers. Depending on the amount of precipitation in the summer as we cross them we may walk over the dry stone bed or by wading though a tumultuous stream, tying ourselves together and holding hands for safety.
Day 8
To conserve our energy while still covering about 20 kilometers per day, we will devote the rest of the day to exploring the area. All throughout ancient Mongolian history, this land was a refuge for the tribes who fled into the woods to hide from neighboring tribes and invading conquerors. Who knows maybe we will get lucky and find one such site.
Day 9
The northern extremity of the Khubsugul Lake is dotted with canyons and gullies, across which numerous streams flow down the Sayans into the Lake. It takes about an hour or two to cross them. This is also why we started our route from the south, from a section that is easier to cross. At the end of the route all the participants will know each other well, and will begin trusting each other; this is the most important way to guarantee that the most dangerous challenges of the tour will be surmounted.
Day 10
Finishing our route along Khubsugul Lake, we will rest on the last day there. After setting up a field camp, we will make a sauna, swim in the waters of the crystal clear mountainous lake and say goodbye to the beauties of the National Park.
Day 11
We will arrive at the settlement of Khankh, our final destination in Mongolia. Saying good bye to the friendly Mongolian peoples and visiting a local shop when we board a soviet Uazik, a kind of Russian mini-van, then drive an unpaved road to the Russian border. We will cross the border close to the Mondy settlement, arriving in the western portion of the Republic of Buryatia. Here we will spend the night a kilometer away from that settlement on the shores of the Irkut River.
Day 12
400 kilometers separate us from the Trans-Siberian railroad. We will have to travel this road by taking a local marshrutka, a kind of van that can be ridden if fare is paid, a mixture between taxi cab and bus. The final point of our route is the city of Sludyanka which is located to the south of Lake Baikal. From there we can get to Irkutsk or Ulan-Ude or even spend a few days on the world’s oldest and deepest lake!
The above plan is flexible. En route some corrections can be made due in the route and the way we return to Khatgal.
Additional expenses:
Have any questions? Call +7 916 1765430 or send email on info@wolfin.ru
You need no visa
You need active sport insurance
Initial meeting point — city of Ulan-Bator