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TREK DARKHAN TO AMARBAYASGALAND KHIID

Trek main points
Trek Length: 70Km, 3-4 days
Navigation: easy.
Start point: Darkhan - there is daily transportation from Ulaanbaatar.
End point: Amarbayasgalant monastery.
Getting out: hitch a ride on the 35km dirt road to the main paved road.
Gers: several gers along the trek.
Horses: Half way through the trek, there is a horse farm.
River crossing: Orkhon river, no bridge, walk across, or on horse.
Events: generally in August Buddhist ceremony.
Tourist Ger camps: near the monastery.
More maps and trek details are at the end of this page.

The trek follows valleys from Darkhan to the magnificent monastery Amarbayasgalant Khiid, once one of the three largest Buddhist centres in Mongolia. It is located in the Ivon Gol River Valley at the foot of the Burenkhan Mountains. It was built over a period of 10 years from 1726 to 1736. A few thousand resident monks served and studied at the monastery. The monastery was built to honor the memory of Zanabazar one of the great Buddhist leaders of Mongolia. After he died his remains where brought to be buried in this monastery.
During the Soviet purge the monks were persecuted, and some of the temples demolished. Restoration of the monastery began in 1990 after the fall of the Soviet Union. Today (2009) there are 50 resident monks, including ordained monks and those studying at Amarbayasgalant. They range in age from 11 to 104. Head of monastery today is Luvsansonom (Olonbayar).

Trek highlights
The trek from Darkhan to Amarbayasgalant monastery follows a green steppe valley. The trek crosses the Orkhon river (not an easy task). The Orkhon river begins in the Khangai mountains in center Mongolia, it flows across the border to Russia into the Baikal lake, one of the largest lakes in the world.
About half way along the trek you will come across a nomadic family with horses; they will be happy to offer you a horse ride to the monastery.

Navigation
Navigating along the trek is easy. It starts at Darkhan, a large town with daily connection to Ulaanbaatar. The trek itself follows valleys. There are Ger's all along the trek, enabling you to use the Mongolian GPS (Ger Positioning System), just ask about the way to Amarbayasgalant Khiid (the monastery).

Trek Description
The trek starts from Darkhan and takes 3-4 days. Except for crossing the Orkhon river there are no technical challenges. The length of trek is 70Km; about half of the trek follows a gentle slope along the river; the second half of the trek descends towards the monastery.

Crossing the Orkhon river
The 2 crossing locations marked on the map are relatively shallow.
You can walk through. The water will reach your waist at the most.
There are horseback riders in the region; one can hitch ride across.
After heavy rain in the Khangai mountains the river might be high; wait to see if locals or horseback riders are crossing.

Getting to Darkhan
There are daily buses, and minivans leaving from Dragon station. The cost is 6,000 Togrog.
Taxis are available at Teevriin Tovchoo next to Idre's Guest House . There are also daily trains going north that stop at Darkhan.

The ride from Ulaanbaatar directly to the monastery (350km) takes about 7 hours. Most of the way is on paved road, the last stretch of 35km is on dirt road.

Return trip (from the Monastery)
With patience you can hitch a ride on the 35 km dirt road to the paved road connecting Erdenet and Darkhan.
You can arrange in advance for a van from Darkhan to come and pick you up. You will have to pay the driver for both ways.

Tourist Ger Camps
There are tourist camps, one next to the monastery, and a larger one 17km south of the monastery. Cost is $35 a night including 3 meals.
Contact the monastery tourist camp manager at 99011818

Russian Maps: how to download the original Russian map (large size, need a print shop)
To download maps, click on the map links below.
On the download page which appears, scroll to "Topographic map download"
A countdown shows, and after 20 seconds - type the code that shows, and click OK to start downloading. it looks like this:

Maps index:

Download maps (scale: 1:100,000)

http://en.poehali.org/maps/100k--m48-092.html Darkhan map

http://en.poehali.org/maps/100k--m48-091.html Monastery map

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TREK KHANGAI - BAYANKHONGOR TO TSETERLEG

Trek descriptions
The trek follows a dirt road that is used occasionally by horses vans or jeeps.
There are a few Ger locations.
Start point is at Bayankhongor, the trek goes along the river up to a mountain pass, and down the river to Tseserleg, on the other side of the Khangai mountains.

Trek distances:
Total 178km (trek 123km, driving 55km)
Bayankhongor to Erdenetsogt 25km - get a jeep
Erdenetsogt to Mountain pass 52km going up the river (2-4 days)
Mountain pass at 2751m height
Mountain pass to Bulgan 71km going down the river (3-5 days)
Bulgan to Tseserleg 30km - get a jeep

Trek suitable for:
Motorbikes (river crossings),
mountain bikes (rocky),
horses, walking (long).

Walking Difficulty:
It is a long (6-10 days) walk not a technical walk.
Carry water, tent and food.
Water:The walk is along the river. Water has to be treated, purified with chlorine/iodine pills or filter pump (best).

Start point – Bayankhongor

Byankhongor hotels (price 2011)
Enh Nomins - Энх Номун - $10 - phone: 01-442-22255
Uran Desh - Уран Дэш Seoul - $20
Negdelchin - Нэгдэлчин - $15
Manduhai Ger Camp - out of town - 3 bed Ger 20,000T - tel: 99442009, 99442808, 99052577, 88118680

Transportation to Erdenetsogt (27 Km north of Bayankhongor)
Cars start to fill up from 13:00, and usually leave only in late afternoon after they fill up.Price - about 3,000 T(price 2011)

Private Jeep
To hire a private Jeep - expect to pay about 500 T per Km for same day trip.
You will be expected to pay for the driver's trip back. 2011 price

Russian Maps: how to download the original Russian map (large size, need a print shop)
To download maps, click on the map links below.
On the download page which appears, scroll to "Topographic map download"
A countdown shows, and after 20 seconds - type the code that shows, and click OK to start downloading. it looks like this:

Maps index:

Download Russian maps - scale 1:100,000
100k-I47-023.gif - Tseserleg http://en.poehali.org/maps/100k--l47-058.html
100k-I47-035.gif - Bulgan http://en.poehali.org/maps/100k--l47-035.html
100k-I47-034.gif - River http://en.poehali.org/maps/100k--l47-034.html
100k-I47-046.gif - Mountain Pass http://en.poehali.org/maps/100k--l47-046.html
100k-I47-058.gif – Erdenetsogt http://en.poehali.org/maps/100k--l47-058.html
100k-i47-070.gif - Bayankhongor http://en.poehali.org/maps/100k--l47-070.html

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TREK BAYAN OLGII-CAMP BASE KHOTON NUUR

This trek takes place in the highest region in Mongolia - the Altai Tavan Bogd mountains (5 peaks mountain). The trek goes through high mountain passes, freezing cold rivers, beautifull lakes, breathtaking views of the mountains and highest peak in Mongolia and through scattered Mongolian and Kazak nomads who aren't on the tourists path.
This trek is difficult in several aspects - It's remoteness, physical difficulty and the need to be self sufficient as it doesn't pass through any villages on the way.
While the Trek doesn't really start in the Altai Tavan Bogd base camp, it is a few hours walk from it.

Difficulty scales
Length - Takes about 5 days to one week.
Physical Difficulty - Long hiking days and altitude changes.
Navigation –  Trail is not marked and navigation is needed.
Remoteness -: Arriving to starting point is only by hired jeep.
Equipment - Camping equipment is required as there are no villages on the way.

Getting in
The starting point is the park ranger's ger which is a few hours from the Altai Tavan Bogd base camp. Getting there is by hired jeep which can be organized through the tourist information office in Olgii. It is about 180km from Olgii on mountain dirt roads.

Getting out
You can either arrange with the driver a pick up at Khoton Nuur or continue walking about 2 more days to Tsengel and find there a car heading for Olgii. There is also a chance of finding a car leaving lakes area towards Tsengel.

Route description
The route starts where the dirt road into the mountains stops at the ger of the park's ranger. From there it is possible to wal a few hours to the base camp of the Altai Tavan Bogd peak. From the ger you start walking southwards, crossing a first ridge into Tsagaan Gol (The white river). Crossing the big river you start climbing slowly in the valey towards a steep climb to the hieght point in the trek - Khara Salaguun Davaa which is a big pass in the mountains about 3100m high. The pass could be covered with snow and difficult to cross, depending on amount of snow (it can also be clear and easy to cross). From the pass, the rest of the way is a descent towards the two lakes - Khoton and Khurgan Nuur.
From here you either head to Tsengel with a car you prearranged or find a car heading in the direction, or you can continue walking down along the river until you reach Tsengel.
The whole trek should take between 5 and 8 days.
On the way you will find nomad gers. Most of them are Kazaks but there are some Mongolians too. The biggest concentration of nomads are around the lakes.

Special notes

1. Because of the proximity of the region to the Russian and Chinese borders any one who travels in the area is required to carry a "border pass". The border pass is a piece of paper given to you by the army that states your route and number of people in the group. The border pass is free and can be acquired with the help of the tourist information office in Olgii. Note that if you are hiring a driver to take you to the starting point and out he needs a permit too. Once you have the permit technically you are not allowed to separate the group, but if you go alone without a guide and tell the army on the way that you are being picked up at the end of the trek by the same driver you can get around it.
2. You also need park permits to enter the area which can be bought at the tourist information too. Cost about 4000 tugrug.
3. The nomads in the area are mostly Kazak. Most of them do understand Mongolian but not necessarily.
4. In summer, along the lakes there are swarms of mosquitos. Make sure you have reppelent and nets

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TREK TAVAN BOGD

Is the name of a region and national park in the far west part of Mongolia in the Bayan-Ölgii province.Tavan Bogd (Таван богд) meaning Five-Saints for the five snow covered mountain peaks.

Khüiten peak
The highest peak in Mongolia is Khüiten (Хүйтний) meaning cold in Mongolian.
Height 4,374m (14,350 feet), various other numbers appear on different maps.
In 1956 was the first recorded accent by the Russian Pieskariow and 12 Mongolians.

Malchin peak
Malchin (Малчин) means herder in Mongolian.
Height 4050m other numbers appear on various maps.

Nairamdal Peak
Nairamdal means friendship in Mongolian. The peak marks the border between Mongolia, Russia and China. Height 4180m (13,390 feet).

Potaniin Glacier
The Potanin glacier is the longest glacier in Mongolia, it is about 14Km long.

Trekking to Base camp and Malchin peak.
You can walk all the way to base camp, and get a good view of the glacier and peaks.
Malchin peak is a non technical climb, and you get great views of the Potanin glacier, the peaks around and Russia. It takes about 5-7 hours to get to the top from the Potanin glacier.
Several tour companies offer trips to the region, like the local company Nur Altai.

Climbing Khuiten peak.
To climb to the Khuiten peak you need all the technical gear including ropes, and crampons. From base camp to the peak and back it takes 3 days.
First day, walk from base camp to the front camp, second day climb to the peak 8-10 hours round trip. Third day walk from the front camp to base camp.
This climb is demanding and is done in a group with experienced climbers.
There are crevasses on the glacier and snow pits climbing the mountain.
There are several tour operators, that offer a trip to Khiten Mt. The cost is $2000-$3000 per person depending on company and number of people in the group. The cost includes domestic flight from Ulaanbaatar and back, food, guides, tents, gear, camels, Jeep transfers, lodging.

Getting there
Ask for assistance at the tourist information in Olgii, ask for Nazguul she manages the office. If the office is closed call her (her phone number is on the office door). She will arrange for a jeep, guide, give you directions, etc.
From Olgii get a jeep to take you to the end of the dirt road, and walk from there.