Bolatbyek.

Bolatbyek, who goes by Bek, is a certified guide based in Bayan-Ölgii, the Kazakh region of Western Mongolia.

He organizes trips into the Altai Mountains, centered on the Altai Tavan Bogd and Tsambagarav national parks, where travelers meet Kazakh eagle hunters and stay with nomadic families in their gers. Horseback riding, camel-assisted luggage transfers and camping in remote valleys are part of how his trips are built.

A trip with Bek usually comes with a driver, a cook and a nomadic family stay, and he adjusts the setup, including whether a cook or extra local guide is needed, to what the travelers want. Food follows what the host family serves: dairy and bread for breakfast and lunch, meat dishes such as besh barmak for dinner, and he lets guests know ahead of time if they should plan around dietary needs. He also warns travelers that phone signal in the mountains is limited, so replies can be slow once a trip is underway.

He describes the region as remote and quiet, close to nomadic life as it is still lived, which is what he wants visitors to see for themselves.