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4x4 Off-Road Camping · May – September
ALTAI EXPEDITION
From $13,500≈ $675 / day20 daysChallenging
Duration
20 days
Group size
Max 5
Season
May – September
Difficulty
Challenging
GALLERY
The trip
WHAT YOU'RE SIGNING UP FOR
The Mongolian Altai is where the country starts to feel properly wild.
Over 20 days and 19 nights, you will drive west from Ulaanbaatar into the high Altai, toward the country's highest mountains and some of its most remote landscapes.
The expedition takes you into Altai Tavan Bogd National Park, home to the Five Sacred Peaks, Potanin Glacier, Khurgan Lake and Khoton Lake. But the names on the map are only part of the journey.
Getting there is the expedition.
You will drive your own Toyota Land Cruiser 79 through mountain tracks, rocky terrain, mud, sand, river crossings and high-altitude roads. Some roads are obvious. Some are little more than tracks across the landscape. Some become rivers after rain. And some were probably never really roads to begin with.
Our convoy travels with a professional lead driver in a separate operation vehicle, an expedition guide, mechanic and private chef. Your camper carries approximately 120 litres of fuel, with an approximate range of 500 km depending on terrain and conditions. We also carry recovery equipment and the tools needed to deal with the realities of remote travel.
For 19 nights, we camp in the wild and at remote base camps, including high in the mountains. There are no commercial tourist camps built around keeping you on a schedule. We choose places that allow us to experience the landscape rather than simply pass through it.
Around the lakes and mountains, there is time to hike, explore and get closer to the glacier by foot, camel back or horseback, depending on conditions and the day's plan.
The Altai is also home to a remarkable living culture. Along the journey, we meet nomadic families and experience the Kazakh culture of western Mongolia. If you travel in early September, you may also have the opportunity to experience the eagle hunting festival, when Kazakh eagle hunters gather for one of the region's distinctive cultural events.
Wildlife is part of the landscape too. Golden eagles, bearded vultures, ibex, argali, marmots and other wildlife inhabit the mountains. Encounters are never guaranteed — which is exactly what makes seeing them in the wild different.
And then there is the weather.
You can wake up to snow in July. Sunshine can become snow within hours. A river can rise overnight. A mountain pass can become difficult after heavy rain.
We don't fight those conditions.
We change the route.
Because in the Altai, the mountains make the rules.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Toyota Land Cruiser 79 modified camper
- Automatic transmission
- Comfortable sleeping space
- Fridge
- Solar power
- Heater
- Shower
- Toilet
- Camping equipment
- Camper equipment
- Fuel
- Recovery equipment
- Professional expedition guide
- Professional lead driver
- Separate lead/support vehicle
- Expedition mechanic
- Private chef
- Planned daily routes
- Radio communication between vehicles
- Starlink connectivity where available
- National park permits and applicable entrance fees
- Planned expedition activities
- Drinking water
- Airport pickup and transfer
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout the expedition
- Personalized menu planning before arrival
- Dietary requirements accommodated with advance notice
- Local cultural experiences
- Nomadic family visits
- Opportunities to experience local Kazakh culture
- Eagle hunting festival experience when dates and access align
NOT INCLUDED
- International flights to and from Mongolia
- Personal purchases and shopping
- Personal expenses
- Optional activities or services arranged outside the expedition
- Anything not specifically listed under What's Included
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Good to know
- Price is per vehicle — one vehicle costs US$13,500, whether one person or two people travel in it.
- Small convoy — we operate with a maximum of five expedition vehicles.
- Wild camping — all nights are spent at wild camps or remote base camps rather than conventional tourist camps.
- The mountains make the rules — weather, river levels, road conditions and mountain passes can change the plan. When the Altai says “not today,” we listen.
- Some roads disappear — rain can turn a track into a river, snow can cover a mountain pass, and mud can make a previously easy section of road very different.
- Four seasons in a day — sunshine can turn into snow within hours. Yes, even in summer.
- July snow is possible — high-altitude weather does not particularly care what month your calendar says it is.
- High altitude — the expedition reaches some of the highest terrain in Mongolia. Take your time, stay hydrated and listen to your guide.
- River crossings — guests may drive their own campers through river crossings when conditions are safe and the expedition team determines that crossing is appropriate.
- Fuel capacity — each camper carries approximately 120 litres of fuel, with an approximate range of 500 km, depending heavily on terrain, altitude, weather and driving conditions.
- Recovery equipment — expedition vehicles carry recovery and repair equipment for remote travel.
- Driving briefing — every guest receives a vehicle and safety briefing before departure.
- Professional support — a lead driver operates a separate operation vehicle, supported by an expedition guide and mechanic.
- Radio communication — vehicles remain connected throughout the expedition.
- Starlink — the expedition carries Starlink for connectivity where coverage and conditions allow. The mountains still get the final say.
- Private chef — breakfast, lunch and dinner are prepared throughout the expedition.
- Your food, your way — after booking, we ask about your food preferences and dietary requirements, then build your expedition menu before you arrive.
- Dietary requirements — vegetarian, vegan, halal and allergy-related requirements can be accommodated with advance notice.
- Wildlife — the Altai is home to golden eagles, bearded vultures, ibex, argali, marmots, wolves and other wildlife. Sightings are possible but never guaranteed.
- Eagle hunting festival — if travelling in early September, the expedition may coincide with the region's eagle hunting festival. Festival dates and access are subject to the local schedule.
- Horseback and camel exploration — depending on the location, conditions and local arrangements, horses or camels can be used for parts of the exploration.
- No fixed tourist circuit — the route is designed around the expedition rather than a checklist of attractions. We go where conditions and access allow.
- International flights — flights to and from Mongolia are not included.
- Personal purchases — personal shopping and individual expenses are not included.
- This is an expedition — expect rough roads, long driving days, remote camps, changing weather, river crossings, dust, mud and plans that occasionally need to change.
DEPARTURES & AVAILABILITY
No open departures yet — contact us for the next season. Contact
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READY WHEN YOU ARE
ALTAI EXPEDITION runs May – September. Tell us your dates and we will check availability within 24 hours.