01 / ROUTE
From the Gobi to the Altai mountains
We combined dunes, canyons, a glacier and two nights with families near Khoton, organising each leg separately with a local team.
Next chapter →Our family journey · June and July 2024
Mongolia.
The encounters make the journey.
Discover our journey ↓Explore the complete guide ↗The Gobi, the Altai and local lifeLocal life,
Local life,
at the heart of the journey.
This route brings together the dunes and canyons of the Gobi, the Altai Mountains, two nights with families near Khoton and a visit to eagle hunters. There is time for the landscapes and sights, but also for getting to know the people who live here.
It suits travellers who are happy to accept long drives, basic facilities and limited food choices in return for those landscapes and encounters. A local team takes care of the logistics, but simple gers, Mongolia’s traditional felt dwellings, offer few hotel comforts, and the journeys can still be tiring.
We are Laura and Iraitz, and we travelled with Niko, aged five, and Kai, aged two, in June and July 2024. The suggested itinerary starts in Ulaanbaatar, followed by the Gobi Desert and the Altai Mountains. The journey times and prices reflect our own experience and are intended as a guide.
Planning a trip to Mongolia
Mongolia, at our own pace.
Two regions, two local teams and time to share everyday life. Five chapters from our family trip to help you start planning yours.
Our journey in five chapters
Swipe to explore them
02 / TRANSPORT
The UAZ and those who knew the way
We travelled in a Russian off-road van with a guide and driver. A cook also joined us in Altai. Rough tracks and long journeys were part of the trip.
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03 / GOBI
Dunes, canyons and cliffs
Baga Gazriin Chuluu, Yolyn Am, Khongoryn Els and Bayanzag. We missed our flight to the Gobi and ended up travelling there by road.
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04 / ALTAI
A glacier and time with families
From Ölgii we travelled to Tsagaan Gol, rode horses to Potanin and stayed two nights with families near Khoton. We then met the Eagle Hunters in Sagsai.
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05 / PRACTICALITIES
Leaving room for change was part of the plan
A storm changed our stop before Khoton. Having a local team and accepting simple accommodation helped us adapt the journey.
Back to the start ←Our journey
Our route through Mongolia.
One journey through the capital, the Gobi and Altai. This map outlines the main stages of the route we travelled; the stops and resources are in the guide’s KMZ map.
Overview map · Not for navigation
OUR REAL JOURNEY · JUNE AND JULY 2024
The capital, Gobi and Altai.
We organised the Gobi and Altai legs separately with two local teams, returning to Ulaanbaatar between them.
- UlaanbaatarThe capital as our arrival and connection point.
- The GobiBaga Gazriin Chuluu, Yolyn Am, Khongoryn Els and Bayanzag.
- Ölgii and PotaninOn to Tsagaan Gol and the glacier, with a horseback excursion.
- KhotonTwo nights with local families and an outing to Baga Turgen.
- Sagsai and the returnEagle Hunters, Ölgii and the flight back to Ulaanbaatar.
Our experience: we missed our flight to the Gobi and travelled there by road. In Altai, a storm led us to change a stop before Khoton.
Now plan your own adventureEverything we learned,
Everything we learned,
in one travel guide.
Mongolia. Time to get to know the people.
Our journey begins with the landscapes and continues with the people.
- Gobi and AltaiStages, transport and local teams.
- Staying with local familiesKhoton, gers and life on the road.
- What we would do againBudget, logistics and the decisions we made.
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Buy the guide · €39.90Downloadable PDF · 50 pages · KMZ map
I'd like to see the free guide first ↓Open the guide’s map ↗Practical details for the journeyThe little things
The little things
that make the trip.
Stages, transport and local teams.
For those who want to get closer.
This guide will help if you want to combine the Gobi and Altai with local teams, sleep in simple gers and make time for encounters. We share our route, planning and the decisions we made with the children.
Free guide · 15 pagesBefore you decide,
Before you decide,
take a look inside.
A first look at the Gobi, the Altai and life with local families. Get a feel for our Mongolia journey and see whether this kind of travel is for you.
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About this guide
Will I receive a physical book?
No. This is a digital PDF guide for your phone, tablet or computer.
Is this a route to travel without a local team?
We travelled through the Gobi and Altai with local teams. The guide explains how we organised each leg and what to agree with them.
What does the KMZ map include?
Stops and resources from the guide. It is a reference for planning your journey, not a verified driving route.
Our journey in two chapters
Explore the Mongolia guide ↗From Gobi to Altai.
Our journey on film · 01/02
The Gobi with our family.
Our journey through the Gobi Desert with Niko and Kai.
Our journey on film · 02/02
Altai and Eagle Hunters.
The encounters from our journey through the Altai Mountains.