Bekbolat.

Local Tour Company in Ulgii, Mongolia

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About Bekbolat

This company was founded by Bekbolat, also known as Bek, a native of Bayan Ulgii and an ethnic Kazakh. The Kazaks have been the dominant population group in the western provinces of Mongolia. Kazahks are Muslims who have their own culture and traditions, which are an important part in their lives. Your host, Bek, has a deep love and respect for his ancestral homeland and a firm commitment to cultural and ecological tourism. He is a well-trained, dependable guide, mountain climber and eagle hunter. Bek is dedicated to promoting sustainable tourism in the Altai Mountain region while sharing the wonders of its cultural and natural treasures with travelers from around the world. His vision is that responsible tourism will be an important part of the future of the region, and of his Kazakh people, where the remote and wild natural beauty of the Altai Mountains have kept other economic development opportunities to a minimum. He is fully dedicated to training and employing the Kazakh people, known for their hospitality, to manage and support Altai Expedition tours as guides, translators, chauffeurs, cooks, horse wranglers, and all other essential functions. Tourism will also allow further exposure and increased sales of such traditional Kazakh products as embroidery and felt rug making, further assisting the local people. Bek is supported by a group of trusted young people who he has personally trained to manage the tours They are well-known by him, as they are members of his extended family and clan. They are also co-owners of the company. Bek was born near the village of Sagsai to a family of goat herders, his own earliest profession, which enabled him to develop his deep inside knowledge of the mountains. He was the first of his family to attend high school. He is a graduate of the Mongolian National University in Ulaan Bataar, with a Bachelor of Science Degree. Bek returned to Bayan-Ulgii and worked for a small international NGO (Kazakh Family Development), active in providing primary education to the children of the region’s nomadic families. He became an instructor in small business management and handicraft production for Kazakh women. In the summer months Bek began to act as a guide for the first foreign travelers who visited Bayan-Ulgii, from which his company grew. It s is now Bek’s full-time business and profession.

Tours & Activities

14 Listings@else Listings

Horse Back Riding Tour In Western Mongolia

Tours & Activities

14 Days

Horse Back Riding Tour In Western Mongolia

Starts in Ulaanbaatar, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Experience a thirteen day riding tour surrounded by the spectacular, dramatic beauty of the Altai Mountains The horse is an important part of the nomadic life in Mongolia. At the same time Kazakh children learn to walk, they learn to ride! A nomadic family might use as many as three to four horses for transportation and work. Training the horses in the summer months enables the horses to become fit so they can endure our hard Mongolian winters. Our horseback riding tour will be led by Eltay Bugybai. Eltay is a helpful, friendly, skilled rider who will introduce you to horse welfare and assist you in advancing your riding skills. He will also lead you to the ancient monuments including deer stones, petroglyphs and Pre-Hun Scythian Burial Grounds. During your tour you will be surrounded by mountainous ice peaks, beautiful lakes, and magnificent rivers. You will ride for approximately 6 to 8 hours each day and cover up to 25 – 30 kilometres (about 15 miles) per day.

Mountain Biking Tour In Western Mongolia

Tours & Activities

13 Days

Mountain Biking Tour In Western Mongolia

Starts in Ulaanbaatar, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

For serious mountain bikers: wide open landscapes, breathtaking vistas! The foothills of the Altai Mountains in Western Mongolia, with their wide open landscape, breathtaking vistas of the snow capped high peaks, dry weather with pleasant, moderate temperatures during the late spring and summer months, are an ideal terrain for serious mountain bikers! We will bike about 55 km to 75km per day, depending upon the terrain. We’ll sleep in our own tent camps. The tour will be guided by local professionals who not only know the terrain, but are skilled mountain bikers, mechanics as well as gracious hosts.

Tours & Activities

11 Days

Altai Jeep Tour In Western Mongolia

Starts in Ulaanbaatar, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Transportation by jeep, camel, on horseback Due to the vast expanse of land in Mongolia the infrastructure is not developed, and traveling by road takes a lot of time. Tourists who go to the Bayan-Ulgii province, usually visit Altai Tavan-Bogd National park, Lake Khoton-Khurgan, and Lake Dayan, to see the ancient hieroglyph and petroglyphs, and the ancient stone man sculptures. They may also spend a few days staying with a family of nomadic sheperds to get acquainted with the ancient culture of Kazakh eagle hunters. The best way to visit those places is to travel by jeep as it also allows you to explore local sights, and to photograph the people, and their animals. Our jeep tours are available and can be conducted by English-speaking translators, guides, and experienced drivers who are experts about the region, local culture, and language. The crew also includes chefs who are experienced in cooking for tourists. The territory of the Western region of Mongolia is very rocky, roads are difficult to access, so the Russian cars UAZ-469, mini vans /UAZ-452/, and Toyota Landcruisers are best suited to Mongolian roads. Depending on the number of tourists, the trips are usually carried out by two jeeps, one carrying passengers, the other one carries necessary luggage, and other equipment including kitchen appliances.

Tours & Activities

11 Days

Fly Fishing Tour In Western Mongolia

Starts in Ulaanbaatar, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Pristine, clear lakes, stunning surroundings, and some very large fish! The Khoton and Khurgan Lakes are second largest and clearest of all lakes in Mongolia. The average depth is 26 meters, the maximum depth is approximately 58 meters. The landscape around the lakes is stunning: with forests and the snow-capped Altai Mountains. Khoton and Khurgan Lakes are home to the grayling (thymallus arcticus) and the lenok (brachymystax lenok). The lakes are located in an intermontane tectonic depression in the northern portion of the Mongolian Altai Region. The lakes themselves, as well as the mountains rivers which feed into the lakes, offer excellent sport fishing in a rugged and virtually unpopulated area.

Tours & Activities

6 Days

Home Stay Tour In Western Mongolia

Starts in Ulaanbaatar, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

This special tour takes you to discover a different world, Bayan Olgii is the only Kazakh province in the Mongolia. About 1750 the Kazakhs moved from Kazakhstan to China, Then 1844 the Kazakh leaders Kobesh and Jilhishi lead 500 families from China to a new home in to western Mongolia. The Mongolian Kazakhs are the only group among the Kazakh who maintain their pure traditional culture and language. One of their old traditions for which they are famous is the hunt with Golden Eagles, with which they hunt foxes, rabbits and even wolves! Kazakh women are also famous for their traditional embroidery. They are celebrated for colorful needlework used to decorate the inside of the Gers (nomadic tents). This is a only chance to stay among regular nomadic families and to share, and learn about their unique lifestyle.

Golden Eagle Festival Tour In Western Mongolia

Tours & Activities

4 Days

Golden Eagle Festival Tour In Western Mongolia

Starts in Ulaanbaatar, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

The Golden Eagle Festival has been the largest gathering of eagle hunters and their eagles in the world since it started in 1999 with 80-100 eagle hunters participating in this event. It is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Event. The festival starts with display of eagles and hunters, and then goes into the events of eagles displaying their talents. The first event is the eagle catching fox skin dragged behind a horse, returning to their owner from a distance on command, as well as a camel race and Kazakh games of Tiyn Teru (a race to pick up a coin on the ground while on horseback), Kyz Kuar (“girl chase,” a man and woman race on horseback while the woman whips the man), and Kokpar (tug of war over a goat carcass while on horseback). On the evening of the first night is a concert of traditional Kazakh music at the theatre included in the price of a ticket.

Tours & Activities

13 Days

Altai Trek Tour In Western Mongolia

Starts in Ulaanbaatar, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Join as an individual and make new friends, or come as part of a small group The beauty of the Altai Mountains, it’s variety of terrain and vegetation and wildlife, is best enjoyed on foot. We have carefully prepared a tour which will allow you to truly become a part of this unique and unknown part of our world. The tour is “sporty”, but experience has shown that anyone, including young teenagers and spirited seniors, with good walking shoes, can enjoy it leisurely. Join as an individual and make new friends, or come as small group, for instance as a family, and have a special experience together.

Altai Tavan Bogd National Park Short Trek

Tours & Activities

8 Days

Altai Tavan Bogd National Park Short Trek

Starts in Mongolia, Mongolia

The Altai region is a mountainous area located on the territory of Mongolia, Eastern Siberia, Kazakhstan and China. The mountain peak at Altai Tavan Bogd is located at an altitude of 4374 meters, and it is the highest point above sea level in Mongolia and is called Khuiten. Most scientists believe that the mountain name comes from the word “mountain with gold.” The glaciers are located at an altitude of 3,500-4,000 meters above sea level. The largest glaciers are the Potanin Glacier, Alexander Glacier, Greny Glacier. They stretch 16 kilometers in length and are the source of the Tsagaan River. The five highest peaks of Altai Tavan Bogd mountain are Khuiten peak 4374 meters, Friendship peak 4082 meters, Herdsman peak 4037 meters, Eagle peak 4068 meters, and Ulgiy peak 4050 meters. In 1956, mountaineers of Mongolia conquered the Altai Tavan Bogd peak for the first time. Since then, more than 700 climbers have conquered these peaks and they have become the favorite peaks for domestic and foreign mountaineers.

Tours & Activities

12 Days

Altai Tavan Bogd Mountain Climbing Tour

Starts in Ulaanbaatar, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Join us as we climb one of Mongolia’s highest peaks, Mount Khuiten Mount Khuiten is one of the highest peaks of the Altai Mountains and the highest point of Mongolia at 4374 m. The Kuithen Peak simultaneously borders Russia, China and Kazakhstan and is close to other beautiful peaks: Malchin, Niaramdal, Naran, Snowchurch and Olgii, and Mongolia’s longest glacier, Potanin, 19 km long.

Drivers

Hire A Experienced Driver For A Trip Around Mongolia

Our jeep tours are available and can be conducted by experienced drivers who are experts in the region and local culture. The territory of the Western region of Mongolia is very rocky, roads are difficult to access, so the Russian cars UAZ-469, minivans /UAZ-452/, and Toyota Land cruisers are best suited to Mongolian roads. Our drivers can drive you around Mongolia in comfort and safe.

Special Accommodation

Eagle Nest Hotel

Altai Expeditions own hotel, Eagle’s Nest, is located on the outskirts of the town of Ulgii, about fifteen minutes by car from the airport. Easy to reach and within walking distance from the town’s center, Eagle’s Nest Hotel has an unrestricted view of the Altai Mountains. The furniture is all locally crafted, floors and walls are decorated with Kazakh rugs and embroidered felt carpets. The design team includes a New York based architect who was inspired by the local architecture, as well as the “mission” of Altai Expeditions to open up the hidden beauty of the Altai Mountains, thereby supporting the economic development of the local people. Eagle’s Nest has ten double bedrooms, each with its own full bath with flush toilets, with comfortable single or double beds On the ground floor there is a restaurant which serves both international and local food, as well as a fully stocked bar. The rest of the ground floor consists of a comfortable lounge where guests can meet, and a reception desk which will provide guests with all the services they require. The ground floor will also be used as an exhibition space of the fine embroidery produced by the women of the region in cooperation with the Altai Expeditions Organization. Fully equipped for all modern forms of communication Eagle’s Nest is fully equipped for all modern forms of communication, including full mobile phone accessibility, cable web access, PCs, printers, and scanners. Eagle’s Nest also serves as headquarters for Altai Expeditions, as well as the point of departure and return for all tours. It is also used to train local people as guides, cooks, translators, drivers, and all other skills necessary to develop the region as a first class adventure travel destination, matching the region’s unspoiled beauty with the Kazakh tradition of unselfish hospitality.

Special Accommodation

Altai Peaks Ger Camp

The Altai Expeditions Ger Camp, located about 2 km west of the Bayan-Ulgii airport and 8 km from the town of Ulgii, was established in 2009. It consists of ten traditionally furnished gers, with between two and three beds per ger, accommodating up to fifty guests. The cost of ger stay and meals are included in your tour price. The camp also includes a beautiful, authentic Kazakh restaurant, housed in a specially built large ger. Our professional cook will prepare Western, Asian and traditional Mongolian and Kazakh hot and cold dishes such as “Besbarmak”, airag yogurt, yak cheese and hot milk. “Besbarmak” means “five fingers”, because the meal is typically eaten with the hands. It consists of a delicious stewed mutton, various sausages and vegetables, and homemade noodles sprinkled with parsley and onion. For an authentic Besbarmak meal, a boiled sheep’s head is placed on the table in front of the most honored guest who cuts bits and parts from the head and offers them to the other guests at the table. (It is, of couse, also possible to ask the staff to leave the sheep’s head in the kitchen!) The camp is fully equipped with modern facilities, warm and cold running water The camp is fully equipped with modern bathroom facilities including flush toilets and comfortable showers with warm and cold running water fed by a solar 220w power system, and its own clean water deep drilled well. The camp has full mobile cell phone and Wifi. The Ger Camp also provides a regular program of live, traditional Kazakh music performances, a souvenir shop, and Kazakh embroidery exhibits.

Special Accommodation

Altai Guest House

Welcome to the Altai Expeditions Guest House/Hostel. Located very close to the main square of Ulgii, it is in an older traditional type building, first constructed in 1960. It retains some very unique features from the Mongolian Socialist era, features which we aim to maintain. The building was originally a publically owned restaurant and hotel. In the early nineties the building was privatized and was used primarily for handicrafts. Recently, the building has been purchased and has reverted back to being a place of accommodation.

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