Getting There
Altai Tavan Bogd is 134km from the provincial capital of Ulgii. There’s no public transport here so most visitors to the park go as part of a tour group or with a hired car and guide.
What to Expect
From the Tavan Bogd Mountains, which give the park its name, to the large glacial lakes to the south, each area of the park has a unique appeal, including three areas comprising a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Throughout the park are foxes, wolves, eagles, falcons, as well as argali sheep, ibex, deer and elk. As well as natural attractions there’s also the cultural lure of Kazakhs and Tuvan nomadic herders, who live inside the park. The Kazakhs are the main ethnic group in the region and are known for their prowess in the traditional art of eagle hunting, as well as for their warm hospitality and colourful, large gers, decorated with rich embroidered wall hangings.
History
The Altai Mountains have been inhabited for around 12,000 years. In the park the UNESCO World Heritage-listed petroglyphs show the transition from hunter-gatherer to pastoralism, and later to the current semi-nomadic life that developed over the last 3,000 to 4,000 years.
Facilities
Other than a few ger camps there are few facilities within the national park. At Syrgal you will find a few shops selling basic shops, while at Tavan Bogd’s North Ranger Station you’ll find a few rudimentary groceries.
