Mongolia
Where the steppe ends
Why this trip?
The journey begins in Ulaanbaatar, the coldest capital in the world, home to almost half the population of a country five times the size of Italy. The city has grown rapidly, and the ger districts on the outskirts are now home to hundreds of thousands of people who arrived from the steppe after losing their livestock.
1,200 km to the west, the Altai Tavan Bogd marks the border with Russia and China: glaciers, crystal-clear glacial lakes, and ten-thousand-year-old petroglyphs recognised by UNESCO. It can only be reached by plane and then by off-road vehicle, which keeps it on the fringes of conventional tourist circuits.
The province of Bayan-Ölgii, where Olgii is located, has distinct characteristics: it is predominantly Kazakh and Muslim, with a bazaar and mosque instead of monasteries. The tradition of eagle hunting is passed down from family to family, and the hospitality of the local families, who welcome visitors into their gers, makes this area a natural fit for small-group travel.
The project
In Ulaanbaatar we support the work of Caritas Mongolia, which since 2000 has helped herders hit by harsh winters: it runs shelters and food security programmes.
Volunteers dedicate their time to the people at the centre, preparing meals, chatting, and accompanying staff on house-to-house visits in the ger districts.
Activities are adapted to the time of year and the group of volunteers. Contact us for more information.
The itinerary
A domestic flight takes you from the capital to Olgii, where you are welcomed and hosted by Kazakh families. An off-road vehicle takes you to the Altai Tavan Bogd mountains, one of Mongolia's most remote national parks: here, days are spent hiking or horse riding amidst snow-capped peaks, permanent glaciers, alpine valleys, and freshwater lakes.
