Join us for the K2 Base Camp Trek this summer! Only a few spots left…
Join us for the K2 Base Camp Trek this summer! Only a few spots left…
DIFFICULTY: Moderate
TOTAL TREKKING DISTANCE: 100 KM
MAX ALTITUDE: 4020 meters
TOUR DURATION: 15 days
LODGING: Mix of hotels, yurt stays, camping
GROUP SIZE: 12 people Max
Mongolia. Even the very name of this East Asian nation inspires feelings of mystery, awe, and adventure. This is the land that Chenngis Khan and his army of Mongols built and it was once the seat of the most powerful people on earth.
The Altai region of Mongolia is home to some truly impressive mountain ranges, unique nomad culture, ancient traditions, and a whole lot of raw adventure potential – which is exactly why Epic has chosen Mongolia as our featured trip destination in 2024!
Over two weeks, you will explore deep into the heart of Tavan Bogd National Park in Western Mongolia on foot and on horseback. This westernmost corner of Mongolia shares borders with Russia, and China, and is home to the tallest peaks, and largest glacier systems found in the whole country. The national park is also the ancestral grazing lands of the Tuvan people, whose nomadic way of life and customs you will be immersed in along the journey.
Phase one of this unique expedition features a daily itinerary that will have you riding horses half the day, and trekking half the day – as you take in the great landscapes and nomad culture of the region.
Phase two of the trip has something very special in store for you. Attend a small-scale Khazahk eagle hunter festival and learn more about the fascinating people who are keeping this ancient tradition alive.
This Trekking in Mongolia expedition is for you if you want to experience…
Dates | Places | Deposit | Full |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 3rd - 17th, 2024 | $800 | $3600 (early bird price) | |
| September 24th - October 8th, 2024 | $800 | $3600 (early bird price) |
Whether you’re just curious about this trip or are ready to make a deposit, we’re here for you.
To submit an inquiry or make a trip deposit, please fill out and submit the form below.
Since 2018, Chris has been traveling to remote corners of the world leading Epic expeditions. Every year he leads group trips to K2 Base Camp, the Everest region in Nepal, the mountains of Kyrgyzstan, and other destinations in Central and East Asia. He is the director and founder of Epic Expeditions.
Chris wanted to take the concept of an adventure holiday a step further by combining his passion for photography, trekking, and alpine environments into one-of-a-kind curated adventures for people who are as stoked on challenging adventures and discovering new cultures as he is – thus this trip was born!
Transfer to the hotel and relax.
We aim to have our first team briefing in the afternoon at the hotel with your Epic trip leader. The rest of the day is free time with optional activities including visiting the Gandan Monastery, the National Museum of Mongolia, Sukhbaatar Square (also known as Chinggis Khaan Square).
In Gandan Monastery, we observe local prayers, monks, and the biggest standing indoor Buddha statue, and temples’ main claim to fame!
Team dinner at a nice restaurant in Ulaanbaatar and final preparations for our departure tomorrow.
Accommodation: Hotel
Olgii is the highest Mongolian aimag (province). The city is located in the remote Mongolian Altai mountain region and is culturally and ethnically very different from the rest of Mongolia.
In addition to the incredible landscapes found here, the Altai is famous for the traditional hunting method using trained golden eagles. An estimated 80% of the world`s eagle hunters live here.
Upon our arrival in Olgii, you will be met by our local staff and have lunch.
After lunch we will start the drive to the days’ destination: a homestay with a local eagle hunter family, where we will spend the night.
Accommodation: Kazakh Ger (Yurt)
After breakfast we start the drive to Altai Tavan Bogd National Park – an approximate 6 hour drive from the home of the eagle hunters. Here we will meet up with our local staff and our animal crew for the trip: our pack camels and horses.
The crew joining us here are from the nomadic Tuvan ethnic group and they live and work year round within the national park boundary, tending to their animals and living the same nomadic lifestyle of their ancestors.
We will camp near the entrance to the national park.
Accommodation: Tent
Today is the day the real adventure begins! The day starts either on horseback or on foot as we make our way to Malchin Base Camp. Spectacular alpine views unfold before us as we trek in the vicinity of the highest peaks and glacier systems of the national park.
Upon arrival at Malchin Base camp, we set up our own camp; our home for the next two nights.
Distance: 16 km
Camp altitude: 3090 meters
Accommodation: Tent
The objective this morning is to climb Malchin peak at 4,020 meters, a prominent mountain of the Altai range that makes up a natural border between Mongolia and Russia. The views from the top afford spectacular views of the Potanin Glacier; the longest glacier in Mongolia that stretches for 19 km from the eastern face of Mt. Khuiten. Other notable peaks that can be seen from the summit are Nairamdal (Friendship) at 4180m, Ulgii (‘Cradle’) at 4113m, and Bürged (Eagle) at 4068m.
The climb is not technical, though snow, wind, and alpine storms can happen at any time of year. From basecamp to the summit and back takes roughly 5-7 hours depending on your speed.
Distance: 11.8 km
Altitude gain: 1000 meters
Accommodation: Tent
Leaving Malchin base camp behind, we will move to White River Valley. We are graced by more incredible views of the Potanin Glacier, the surrounding peaks, and river systems along the way. As we enter White River Valley, we start to see the presence of Tuvan Nomad herder families and their ger camps.
The goal today is to camp near a nomadic family, interact with them, and discover how they live in this incredibly beautiful, but remote, harsh environment of the Altai.
Distance: 20.7 km
Altitude gain: 370 meters
Accommodation: Tent
The Khara-Airkh Valley is one of the least visited areas of the national park and the vibe today feels very wild and remote.
After five hours of trekking we will arrive in the upper reaches of the valley, which also serves as the summer home for many local Tuvan nomads. Again the opportunity may arrive to taste the various local treats; local yak and sheep cheese, milk vodka which is distilled from yak milk, and bread fried in animal fat, among other things.
Since tomorrow we are crossing a high mountain pass, the goal is to camp below or close to the pass so that our push up and over is shorter the following morning.
Distance: 10,5 km
Altitude gain: 400 meters
After breakfast, we ascend the Takhilt Pass. Due to the steepness and likelihood of a bit of snow present, for most of the uphill sections, nobody will be riding horses; the crossing is done by the whole team on foot.
More outstanding views of the surrounding peaks can be seen in all directions as we climb – weather pending of course!
After our crossing of the Takhilt Pass, we make the long descent into what feels like an entirely different landscape. Bear Valley is home to abundant wildlife including ibex, Himalayan brown bears, wolves, and red deer. The area is partly forested (the other valleys have no trees) and the fall foliage should be in full swing during this time of the year.
We will camp alongside a gorgeous braided river system flowing from the glaciers up the valley.
Distance: 15.4 km
Altitude gain: 575 meters
Accommodation: Tent
After having breakfast we leave Bear Valley behind and make our way to Akh Su Valley. Again, these areas are very remote and not often visited by foreigners, so we will likely have the whole route to ourselves, save for the occasional nomad horseman or two.
Today’s route takes across marches, through forests, and across rivers and is one of the most diverse hiking days we have.
You can be sure that the views during our final day of trekking in Altai Tavan Bogd National Park will not disappoint.
Distance: 14.6 km
Altitude gain: 540 meters
Accommodation: Tent
Transfer back to Olgii via 4×4 track (in pretty dope Russian made all terrain vans) where a hot shower and bed awaits.
Tonight we stay at a ger/yurt camp recently built by one of our local friends. In the evening, we shall feast on some tasty local cuisine, have some celebratory local beer, and reflect on our shared experiences of the last 9 days.
Drive time: Approximately 6 hours
Accommodation: Ger Camp (Yurt)
After so much movement and physical exertion – today is a day to chill, rest, and generally recalibrate.
There are no scheduled activities on the agenda today apart from a group dinner in town. If you are looking to bring back some genuine, locally made (no made in China fake souvenir crap) handcrafts like socks from yak wool, art, hats, bags, etc, there are some great shops in Olgii run by local artisans.
Spend the afternoon sipping lattes in a local cafe, visiting the interesting Museum of Bayan-Ulgii Province, checking out the local bazaar, or a combination of all three.
Accommodation: Ger Camp (Yurt).
Mongolia is famous for their various festivals and those involving eagles is no exception. Today is special as we will spend the day at one of the smaller scale eagle hunter festivals in the Altai Mountains. The festival is attended by roughly 30 local hunters and huntresses and is a very unique experience special to this part of the world.
We will drive to a remote site about 50 minutes from Olgii where the festival takes place. Here, we will enjoy various events throughout the day including an eagle calling competition, nomad sports, traditional dance, and some of the coolest traditional outfits you have ever seen.
If you are a photographer, this might be one of the days on the trip that you enjoy most!
The plan is to return to Olgii tonight to sleep in the late afternoon.
Morning flight back to Ulaanbaatar. We check into the hotel and have free time in the afternoon.
Back to the comforts of the capital! Team dinner in a local restaurant and perhaps even a tour of a local bar or two.
Accommodation: Hotel
Due to the fact that this trip is a real expedition in a very remote part of Mongolia, the fact remains that domestic flights get canceled, vehicles break down, or general delays in the itinerary can happen.
To ensure we are able to do everything on our planned itinerary AND so that none of you need to stress about missing your flights home, we built in this contingency day in the event we have any major delays leaving the Altai region.
If all goes well and we have our flight back to Ulaanbaatar on time, then today is simply a free day to explore the city on your own. There is plenty to do here and our staff can offer recommendations and aid with booking any transport you might need while in the city.
We round out the trip with a special team dinner at one of our favorite restaurants in the city.
Accommodation: Hotel
Sadly, our Epic expedition has come to an end! Time to catch your international flight home.
Check out of the hotel is around noon on this day. If you would like to stay on longer in UB, Epic staff can extend your hotel reservation for you.
Mongolian is the main language spoken throughout the country.
That said, where this trip takes place, Mongolian in not the primary language!
In Western Mongolia they mostly speak Kazakh (they even teach school in Kazak there) – the national language of Kazakstan. Deep with the national park we visit, the nomads there speak a Tuvan language, but also understand Kazakh.
English is not widely spoken in Mongolia, but our local guides are here to translate for you every step of the way.
Most western nationalities do not need to obtain a visa in advance to visit Mongolia, including the USA, EU countries, the UK, Australia, and Canada, etc.
A 30 day visa on arrival is pretty standard for the nationalities mentioned above.
A mix of hotels, Ger camps (yurts) stays, and quality 4-season tents while camping. Prices are based on shared accommodation (2 people in one room).
Single supplement rooms costs $600.
You should have decent fitness to properly enjoy this adventure. Although there is no extreme high altitude on this tour, you will be required to hike for multiple days over mixed terrain with the occasional steep ascent and descent.
The cool thing about this trip – and what makes it different from other trips we run – is that you will have the opportunity to divide your day between trekking and riding horses – thus making some of the distances we cover a lot more manageable.
That said, arriving with a decent level of fitness will only help you to enjoy the trip more!
Chat with us now!
Chat with us now!
Adventure Guide
Hailing from the Toronto region of Eastern Canada, with a background as a former standout athlete (hockey of course) and a love of mountain adventure, Clark is a welcomed addition to the Epic team.
In addition to being a keen photographer and adventurer, Clark brings his brilliant sense of humor, leadership skills, and positive attitude to everything he puts his mind to.
When he is not leading trips, he is working on taking over the hard apple cider game in Canada as a skilled craft brewer.
Meet him during : K2 Base Camp Trek
Adventure Guide
Noemi grew up in the mountains of German-Speaking Switzerland where she naturally developed a deep love and respect for mountain environments.
She is a talented photographer, aspiring climber, and speaks at least 5 languages fluently including Arabic (and probably a few more that we don’t know about), which she taught herself in a matter of months by watching YouTube videos.
Noemi has spent the last several years traveling, hiking, and photographing her way around many different countries in the Middle East, South and Central Asia, and Europe, and we could not be more stoked to welcome her to the Epic team!
Meet her during : Discover the Celestial Mountains | Island Peak Climbing Expedition
Adventure Guide
As our man on the ground in Mongolia, there is not much this legend can’t do. As a native the Bayan-Ölgii province of the Western Mongolia Altai, Syerik has been working as a guide and tourism entrepreneur…
for the past several years and is one of the rising stars in Mongolia adventure travel industry.
He is currently building a beautiful Ger (Yurt) camp near his hometown where he will host Epic Mongolia team members on our trip as well as other travelers from around the world!
“
He is the perfect guide for your trip to Mongolia. Serik did an amazing job giving us a well rounded experience in the Altai NP region and down in the Gobi…
The food was fantastic and Serik gave us many opportunities to learn about the Kazakh culture in that region including traditional meals. (I can’t recommend enjoying the milk tea enough!)
– Coastal
Head of canine operations
Choriza started off life as a care-free vagabond on the streets of Madeira Island without any place to call home. From the moment we met her, we knew this dog was just different, and it was pretty much love at first sight.
She gave up the dog street life in favor of joining her new dad Chris to become a full-time member of the Epic family towards the end of 2022.
These days she can be found listening in on the fringes of important Epic business meetings while half-asleep on the couch. She is a keen hiker, lover of mud, rare steak, and might just be the sweetest little dog we have ever seen.
Adventure Guide
An experienced trek leader and
IFMGA aspirant ski guide, avid alpine climber, devoted adventure photographer.
Organized and guided trekking expeditions, climbs and ski tours in Tajikistan’s Pamirs, Patagonia, Peru, Morocco, Nepal, Kyrgyzstan, Georgian and Russian Caucasus and Kamchatka.
A full member and meets the organiser of the British Alpine Club. Visited over 40 countries, lived in the UK for four years. Certified first-aider.
“
We joined Andrew on a fantastic trip to the Fann Mountains in Tajikistan, pure nature and magnificent scenery! Andrey was super prepared and led us safely up and down numerous passes and through some rough and icy cold rivers. Thank you for a very memorable trip, your planning and prep was excellent!
– Monika Steinlechner
Meet him during : Trekking in the Fann Mountains
Adventure Guide
Our man in Nepal, Sandip is what we like to call a “Swiss Army Knife”. There is not much Sandip can’t do when it comes to helping Epic to run our expeditions smoothly in Nepal.
His tireless work ethic, passion for all things trekking in the Himalayas, and smart decision-making mean that Sandip is a truly invaluable member of our team.
Sandip is passionate about showing visitors to his country an amazing time, and he goes above and beyond to make sure that happens.
His company Himalayan Masters is Epic’s trusted partner in Nepal and one of the country’s top new tour agencies.
“
We really enjoyed the entire journey, and I would like to say that Sandip is truly professional. He guided us and he is a hardworking person, providing us with the best service and taking care of each one of us. Plus, he is super funny! The kind of professionnal you always want to find on your path for your explorations!
– Alexandra Ruth
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Our flagship Pakistani adventure tour. Road trip with some hiking and cultural immersion.
A trekking-style tour that features some very remote locations, inlcuding a K2 viewpoint.
Adventure Guide
João has born in the mountains of Madeira Islands in Portugal. Nature lover, writer, musician, guide, for him, a day without contact with outdoor vibes is a nightmare.
With a degree in Cultural Studies in Portugal and a Master of Arts in Global Cultures and Creativity in the U.K.
João found out what really matters in life can be found on the trails, and in the contact with people from different backgrounds and cultures.
Guiding, crazy trekking missions, and sharing observations about the natural world, – these are some of João’s passions.
After trekking to K2 Base Camp and exploring all over Northern Pakistan, he fell in love with the country and the local people. His experiences resulted in his desire to share these feelings with the world.
João is one of the most experienced guides at Epic and his skillset and positive mindset in the mountains is second to none
When not in Pakistan, João is guiding and exploring in the Madeira Islands trails – discovering some of the hidden treasures on his Portuguese Island.
“
João I can not thank you enough for the off the beaten paths and views you keep giving. Definitely one of the most challenging and amazing hikes we did 1200m meters all the way up to Fanal forest and circling back to the hidden village. Wow!
– Jeffery
Meet him during : Lost World of Europe | Discover the Hunza Valley | K2 Base Camp Trek
Adventure Guide
Sohail is the newest addition to the Epic team and we are beyond stoked to have him on board. As a veteran of the Karakoram and a native of Karimabad in Hunza, there is not much Sohail can’t do in the mountains.
Besides having the ability to speak more languages than we can count, Sohail has explored every corner of Gilgit Baltistan and logs more trekking miles
in a year than most people will do in a lifetime. As of the summer of 2022, Sohail has summited Gasherbrum 1, Gasherbrum 2, and K2 – three of Pakistan’s five 8000-meter peaks. Sohail guides several trips including our annual bespoke expeditions but specializes in Hunza Valley tours.
“
Chris and Sohail, and the team at Epic are FANTASTIC! Highly recommend anyone to do a tour with ‘Epic’. They have the perfect balance of fun, excitement and wild adventures, tied in with being super professional and ensuring your safety/health in a foreign environment. Don’t waste a moment and book a tour with these guys as the value for money is UNREAL!
– Borgan
Meet him during : Discover the Hunza Valley
Adventure Guide
Pedro’s been traveling all around the globe since 2009. His keen interests in documentary photography, rural life, and local people from different ethnic groups have been the focus of many of his professional projects.
Since 2012, he has developed his passion for travel and awesome shared experiences into a full-time adventure photography tour leader position.
Pedro has found himself continuously going back to the Middle East, with his likely favorite destination being Iran. Pedro lead his 11th tour in Iran with Epic in spring 2020
When Pedro’s not traveling the world with Epic Expeditions, you’ll find him based in the western south of Portugal planning he’s next adventure missions, logistics and working out his photos in local exhibitions.
“
I loved the combination of hiking, camping around breathtaking scenery mixed with the cultural aspects. The guide (Pedro) is knowledgeable and work very hard to make the trip as memorable as possible. All in all an epic adventure with some extremely epic individuals! Go for it, you won’t regret it!
– Coastal
Adventure Admin / Marketing
After fleeing from the corporate fashion world in Paris towards the start of 2020, Diane has been working as a web developer and graphic designer remotely from various bases across the globe
She brings all of her incredible design and organizational power to Epic Expeditions and is responsible for many of the beautiful behind-the-scenes design elements.
Diane has been to Iran and to Pakistan twice including all over Gilgit Baltistan and KPK.
Head of Operations | Guide
A veteran of Pakistan travel, Ralph is an experienced guide, photographer and writer who specializes in documenting remote locations.
Not one to simply go where everyone else does, he insists on exploring new and lesser-known areas.
Together with Epic Expeditions, he shows people parts of Pakistan that most other operators don’t even know about. He is particularly fond of the village of Barah, which he believes will become just as famous as Hunza one day.
“
Just got back from EBT’s Trekking Amongst Giants 15 day tour. The experience was first class. Ralph, our head guide, ensured that the entire trip ran smoothly and relatively on time (a bonus for anyone travelling in Pakistan). We had so many unforgettable days on the tour and the trekking was well-planned, safe but also a rewarding challenge.
– Calvin
“
Traveling to a non-tourist destination can be a little intimidating but EBT takes all of the worry and trepidation away. From the pre-trip call to meeting the wonderful staff in person you can tell that you are dealing with a company that has a passion for what they do each and every day. Ralph, Zahid, and Khan were supportive, kind, and always willing to go the extra mile to make sure that everyone on the trip was getting what they wanted out of the experience.
– Katrina
Meet him during : Trekking Amongst Giants | Discover the Celestial Mountains | K2 Base Camp Trek
Founder | Adventure Guide | Director
Since he started exploring the world, Chris has been seeking out every shade of adventure in various parts of the globe and had visited more than 70 countries along the way.
Over the last 10 years, Chris has logged more than 7000 trail miles across five continents and climbed multiple 6000 + 7000 meter peaks in Pakistan and Nepal.
A few years back, a distant dream and a deep passion for the mountains and the people of Pakistan led Chris to co-found Epic Expeditions at a time when foreign adventure tourism in Pakistan was almost nonexistent. Since then, Chris has guided more than 20 expeditions to various parts of Northern Pakistan.
Chris believes in using photography and powerful adventure experiences to dismantle negative stereotypes regarding what mainstream media considers “dangerous” countries while facilitating unique and meaningful memories in the mountains for countless people from around the globe.
For him, an ideal start to the day begins with a steaming cup of good coffee, the beam of a headlamp, alpine boots, and a camera in hand.
He lives in Madeira Island when not leading expeditions in far-flung lands.
Chris also works as a writer and photographer on his blog Off the Atlas – an adventure travel blog all about Pakistan.
Read this interview our staff did with Chris to learn more about him!
“
Chris believes in Pakistan and its people, and he believes in the value of journeys shared with others and family cultivated on the road. Honesty and integrity are at the heart of what he does, and this really shines through in his work as a guide. He also makes great coffee – whether at 5am in an empty guesthouse or half way up a Himalayan peak.”
– Will De Villers
“
Pakistan is a magical country! Had 3 of the best weeks of my life thanks to Epic Backpacking Tours with owner, and one of our awesome guides, Chris. From detailed itinerary, preparation with an equipment list, and visa assistance. To amazing food, great porters, helpful guides, and great accommodations. Epic really hit home run after home run. […]
Their desire for adventure and amazing trip is just as high as yours. Bring a good pound of coffee for the trip. French press coffee every morning and no average tin coffee, plus you’ll be in your guides good books.
– Clark Tyler
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