Botanical tours

35-Day Altai Five Peaks to Nomrog Botanical Expedition

A west-to-east botanical expedition across alpine, wetland, desert, steppe and riverine ecosystems.

ModerateJune to August

Duration35 days · 34 nights

TransportDomestic flight · Private vehicle

AccommodationHotels · Camping

DifficultyModerate

Overview

This botanical expedition traverses Mongolia from west to east, exploring the country's most diverse ecosystems and plant communities. From the glacier-fed valleys of the Altai Mountains to the rich riverine forests of Nomrog Strictly Protected Area, the journey covers alpine tundra, wetlands, deserts, semi-deserts, mountain forests, steppes, river valleys, and eastern grasslands. It is designed for botanists, naturalists, photographers, researchers, and nature enthusiasts interested in Mongolia's remarkable floral diversity. Mongolia is home to an exceptionally diverse flora, with more than 3,200 recorded vascular plant species adapted to habitats ranging from alpine tundra and taiga forests to vast steppes, wetlands, semi-deserts, and the Gobi Desert....

Route sketch

Altai Five Peaks to Nomrog Strictly Protected Area

A complete day-by-day outline of the journey.

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Day 1
Arrival in Ulaanbaatar
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Day 2
Flight to Ulgii → Altay Five Peaks
3
Day 3
Botanical Expedition Across Mongolia
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Day 4
Botanical Expedition Across Mongolia
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Day 5
Botanical Expedition Across Mongolia
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Day 6
Botanical Expedition Across Mongolia
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Day 7
Botanical Expedition Across Mongolia
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Day 8
Botanical Expedition Across Mongolia
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Day 9
Botanical Expedition Across Mongolia
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Day 10
Botanical Expedition Across Mongolia
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Day 11
Botanical Expedition Across Mongolia
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Day 12
Botanical Expedition Across Mongolia
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Day 13
Botanical Expedition Across Mongolia
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Day 14
Botanical Expedition Across Mongolia
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Day 15
Botanical Expedition Across Mongolia
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Day 16
Botanical Expedition Across Mongolia
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Day 17
Botanical Expedition Across Mongolia
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Day 18
Botanical Expedition Across Mongolia
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Day 19
Botanical Expedition Across Mongolia
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Day 20
Botanical Expedition Across Mongolia
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Day 21
Botanical Expedition Across Mongolia
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Day 22
Botanical Expedition Across Mongolia
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Day 23
Botanical Expedition Across Mongolia
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Day 24
Botanical Expedition Across Mongolia
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Day 25
Botanical Expedition Across Mongolia
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Day 26
Botanical Expedition Across Mongolia
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Day 27
Botanical Expedition Across Mongolia
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Day 28
Botanical Expedition Across Mongolia
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Day 29
Botanical Expedition Across Mongolia
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Day 30
Botanical Expedition Across Mongolia
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Day 31
Botanical Expedition Across Mongolia
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Day 32
Botanical Expedition Across Mongolia
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Day 33
Nomrog Strictly Protected Area → Choibalsan
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Day 34
Flight to Ulaanbaatar
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Day 35
Departure

Photo gallery

Field images

8 photos

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Itinerary

Day by day

Exact roads can change with weather and local conditions. Drive times shown here come from the itinerary notes.

Arrival in Ulaanbaatar

Drive: Airport – Hotel (52 km, 1–1.5 hrs)

Airport pickup Expedition briefing Preparation and equipment check Overnight in Ulaanbaatar

Highlights

Airport pickup

Expedition briefing

Preparation and equipment check

Overnight in Ulaanbaatar

Meals: D Accommodation: Hotel in Ulaanbaatar

Flight to Ulgii → Altay Five Peaks

Flight: Ulaanbaatar → Ulgii (3 hrs) · Drive: 160 km (5–6 hrs)

Fly to Ölgii and travel to Altai Tavan Bogd National Park, home to Mongolia's highest mountains and a rich diversity of alpine flora. The journey offers excellent opportunities to observe unique mountain plants, wildflowers, and spectacular high-altitude landscapes of the Mongolian Altai.

Highlights

Scenic flight across Mongolia

Visit Altai Tavan Bogd National Park

Spectacular mountain landscapes

Meals: B, L, D Accommodation: Tent Camp

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Botanical Expedition Across Mongolia

Altai Mountains (Bayan-Ölgii) Altai Tavan Bogd National Park Alpine meadows and glacier ecosystems Endemic Altai flora High mountain botanical surveys Khar Us Lake, Hovd Mongolia's largest wetland ecosystems Aquatic and riparian vegetation Reed beds and wetland plant communities Gobi-Altai Mountains Mountain-desert transition zone Rare desert and rocky-slope flora Endemic dryland species Gobi Desert Saxaul forests Desert shrubs and medicinal plants Dune and gravel plain vegetation Khangai Mountains Forest-steppe ec...

Highlights

Altai Tavan Bogd National Park

Alpine meadows and glacier ecosystems

Endemic Altai flora

High mountain botanical surveys

Mongolia's largest wetland ecosystems

Aquatic and riparian vegetation

Reed beds and wetland plant communities

Mountain-desert transition zone

Rare desert and rocky-slope flora

Endemic dryland species

Saxaul forests

Desert shrubs and medicinal plants

Dune and gravel plain vegetation

Forest-steppe ecosystems

Volcanic landscapes and alpine flowers

Mountain valleys and meadows

Semi-desert vegetation communities

Sand dune flora

Transition between steppe and desert ecosystems

Feather grass plains

Wildflower-rich grasslands

Traditional pastoral landscapes

Orkhon River Valley

Tamir River Valley

Onon River Basin

Diverse riparian vegetation and wetlands

Vast grassland ecosystems

Rare steppe wildflowers

Important migratory bird habitats

Mongolia's richest eastern botanical region

Riverine forests and floodplain meadows

Rare eastern Asian floral elements

Final intensive botanical surveys

Nomrog Strictly Protected Area → Choibalsan

Drive: 340 km (7–8 hrs)

Drive back to the Choibalsan before flight to Ulaanbaatar.

Highlights

Final views of eastern steppe

Farewell to local hosts

Return to Choibalsan

Meals: B, L, D Accommodation: Hotel in Choibalsan

Flight to Ulaanbaatar

Flight: Choibalsan → Ulaanbaatar (2 hrs) · Drive: Airport Transfer

Highlights

Return flight to Ulaanbaatar

Farewell dinner

Meals: B, L, D

Departure

Drive: Hotel → Airport (52 km, 1–1.5 hrs)

Highlights

Airport transfer

End of expedition

Meals: B

What’s included

Airport pickup and airport transfer in Ulaanbaatar

All ground transportation during the tour (4WD vehicle with driver)

English-speaking tour guide

Hotel in Ulaanbaatar

Ger camps in the countryside

All meals during the countryside tour (breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Entrance fees to national parks and sightseeing areas

Bottled drinking water during the trip

Fuel and road fees

Not included

International and domestic airfare

Travel insurance

Mongolian visa fee (if required)

Personal expenses (laundry, phone calls, minibar, etc.)

Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks

Tips for the guide and driver (optional but appreciated)

Optional activities not listed in the itinerary

Additional hotel nights in Ulaanbaatar outside the program

Packing notes

Warm layered clothing (temperature swings are big)

Windproof jacket (very important)

Waterproof boots

Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen

Personal medications

Power bank / spare batteries

Field notes

Roads are rough → expect long, bumpy drives

No paved roads in many areas

Remote regions → limited shops & facilities

Nights can be cold even in summer

Can change quickly: sun, wind, cold in one day

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