THE HIGH MOUNTAIN DESTINATION EXPERIENCE AMONG THE HIGH MOUNTAIN

Refresh our inside, get inspired by the spirit of the mountains, the nomads, their survival instinct, and resilience. It gives us a lesson on life, that is seen in a different way abroad. 
And how beautiful would it be to bring this experience back home! Inspired spiritually thanks to those places, a sense of freedom, for a new start.

 To be part of our destination's experiences is to be part of those high mountains of the upper river Ider where nature is pristine, and where people are very close to Nature. It is a very special place to be. This why we chose this very place to be one of our key locations to travel to. Here, Nature has its place, and it has been to this day, very well kept under protection from human activities and infrastructure. This is necessary to keep it out of the destructions and traffic. In itself, it is an excellent place to set a temporary nomad outpost, which we created together with a nomadic family only when our travel season starts, and it shall be removed by the end of the summer, to leave no trace. This is our way of keeping our engagement with Nature and the State of Mongolia. This iconic destination is probably one of the few most beautiful places in the country. Because of its unique nature and terrain, with it being a bio reserve, you shall see only nature as far as the eyes can see.

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OVERVIEW

Located in Zavkhan province north of Uliastai town, Hidden and Upper pure Lakes, the grassy valleys surrounded with high mountain, river creeks, alpine lakes all combine to create a true wilderness experience. It estimates approximately ... miles.

From Ulaanbaatar city / 1100km, north-west  From Uliastai town 3 hours drive / 140km

CLICK TO ENJOY DESTINATION GALLERY!

Refresh our inside, get inspired by the spirit of the mountains, the nomads, their survival instinct, and resilience. It gives us a lesson on life, that is seen in a different way abroad. 
And how beautiful would it be to bring this experience back home! Inspired spiritually thanks to those places, a sense of freedom, for a new start.
 To be part of our destination's experiences is to be part of those high mountains of the upper river Ider where nature is pristine, and where people are very close to Nature.

HIGH MOUNTAIN DESTINATION UNIQUE EXPERIENCE AMONG THE HIGH MOUNTAIN 

This why we chose this very place to be one of our key locations to travel to. Here, Nature has its place, and it has been to this day, very well kept under protection from human activities and infrastructure. This is necessary to keep it out of the destructions and traffic. In itself, it is an excellent place to set a temporary nomad outpost, which we created together with a nomadic family only when our travel season starts, and it shall be removed by the end of the summer, to leave no trace. This is our way of keeping our engagement with Nature and the State of Mongolia. This iconic destination is probably one of the few most beautiful places in the country. Because of its unique nature and terrain, with it being a bio reserve, you shall see only nature as far as the eyes can see.
_________
OVERVIEW

Located in Zavkhan province north of Uliastai town, Hidden and Upper pure Lakes, the grassy valleys surrounded with high mountain, river creeks, alpine lakes all combine to create a true wilderness experience. It estimates approximately ... miles.

From Ulaanbaatar city / 1100km, north-west  From Uliastai town 3 hours drive / 140km

CLICK TO ENJOY DESTINATION GALLERY!

1st landing place: HIDDEN LAKE ADVENTURE
Local name: Heart Lake

1st landing place: HIDDEN LAKE ADVENTURE
Local name: Heart Lake

The Hidden Lakes up the mountains is one of those places in our hearts. Not far from our outpost, only about 5km up North-East, a pleasant short hike or ride awaits for it to be reached. Along a stream that nourishes the Ider river, we shall uncover a beautiful landscape uncovering two little lakes. We can choose to make a loop back to the camp or go further behind the mountains, in a counter-clockwise fashion to prolong the pleasure.
The lakes themselves take their source from the many mountains flowing down from 3 main valleys, of ancient glaciers formations origin. That incredible source has been preserved as a deep reservoir for sustaining the river Ider, especially during the dry seasons. We are always amazed to think about this very water will flow all the way to the North Pole, passing through Mongolia, Russia, and entering the Kara Sea in the end! Its crystal clear water is actually drinkable straight from the stream, a gift remaining from the ancient world, full of nutrients, and definitely not comparable to the current bottled water we can buy from a store. There, we are surrounded by the Tarbagatai mountains, numerous cold, and hot water springs, and hundreds of lakes. This is a beautiful wild region to discover and to feel how small the impact of humans touched the land. A perfect place indeed to venture, hike or ride horses around! Here, the mountains happened about 22,000 years ago, resulting from volcanic activity. Shortly after arriving at the hidden lake valley, you will be meeting your cook and our driver within the landscape for a beautiful picnic lunch together with tables set for you in this very landscape. A fantastic place to digest the true wilderness. 

2nd landing place: UPPER IDER LAKE ADVENTURE
Local name: Gyalgar Lake (Blinding Lake)

2nd landing place: UPPER IDER LAKE ADVENTURE
Local name: Gyalgar Lake(Blinding Lake)

At the footsteps of the hidden lake valley, visible on our way in, will be felt the presence of the Gyal Gara lake (blinding basin), taking its name from the reflection of the harsh sun onto its water, remembering us that the high altitude contributes to making the light blinding and hot. This home of many migratory birds is a deep source of pure freshwater that goes into the Ider river itself. It is by itself a reliable source of the long river, even during the dry season, giving it a chance to be a sustainable flow until the rain comes back again. 
It is possible to venture around the lake, for about half a day if you wish so, for a beautiful simple 3-hours hike about the same altitude as our outpost. It is quite perfect for a very first hike in the region to get accustomed to the altitude.

3d landing place: "DEER JUMPING" CANYON
Local name: "Buga Haraih" Canyon

3d landing place: "DEER JUMPING" CANYON
Local name: Buga Khairaikh

This will be a tailor-made expedition towards the very beginning of the marmot chain, and with a direct view towards the “Sound of the stirrup” Peak, the highest and the most beautiful summit of the region (3530m). We will not climb the peak itself, but get closer for a magnificent panorama view over many lakes and the upper river, and the wilderness surrounding. On our way there, we take a bit of support with our jeep and head out for two nights from our outpost into the wild, using comfortable tents. (Around 20km from our outpost). There, for a great time in this very remote location, we can build a bonfire next to our tents, allowing a great feeling about yourself, like a rebirth among Nature. We are here out of time, just like the great Nomads did centuries before us. Finally, this highlight of the trip will get you your own true representation of the earth. The worries of the modern world will be far from us, as we make one with our beautiful planet. 
Coming to this remote place is like gathering the pieces of a puzzle, a feeling of travel we had in previous lives, and be at ease in the present moment.

4th landing place: "THE SOUND OF STIRRUP" PEAK & PRISTINE LAKE ADVENTURE
Local name: "Duruu Khanginakh" Mountain

4th landing place: "THE SOUND OF STIRRUP" PEAK & PRISTINE LAKE ADVENTURE
Local name: "Duruu Khanginakh" Mountain
 

From our outpost, we will leave for about 2 hours drive to one of the highlights of your adventure. With our support vehicle, we will drive until our very wild tent camp, set right before the crossing of the Deer jumping canyon and the entrance of the valley that forms a natural opening, towards the Sounds of the stirrups peak.
It is called this way, because at this height (3550m above sea level), and when horsemen were riding, the sound made by the metal stirrups connecting one another made this distinctive noise. And from this altitude, the sound is carried away to vast distances, echoed by the mountains all around. That is the sound of the stirrups that the Mongols and especially the riders recall. We shall not do a rough steep climb of the peak itself but instead reach as high as 3130m, to have a wonderful view over the whole sacred mountain range, owned by no one. We will have a special view towards the top of Mount Otgontenger (4008m), the highest sacred peak of Mongolia: a place of deep worship, home of the most powerful spirit, and a mountain that is said to bring hope for good fortune to the Mongols. 
So this highlight will bring you both the best of the landscapes of Mongolia, being very wild without any human activity, and an incredible view over the most praised and worshipped place. Those mountains are kept pristine and sacred, for centuries with no one crossing, and it is a very humble experience to have. You will be here, among the ancient volcanoes that shaped the region, giving many sources of hot or cold springs, craters, and eternal snow peaks just like this one.

THE SPIRITS OF THE HIGH MOUNTAINS BY GALLERY
Photos by Enguerran Zandonai

THE SPIRITS OF THE HIGH MOUNTAINS BY GALLERY

Photos by Enguerran Zandonai

Explore yourself among the spirits of the sacred mountains, with this multi-way adventure
!
An experience towards wildlife, human connections, and a love for Nature