The Altai mountains in western Mongolia are a long way from the Mongolian capital, and I had no idea how to get there. The routes I read about were confusing, so I joined an open trip. It was organised by Rani (@rantje on Instagram), and it was a good decision for a first timer in Mongolia. Here is how the journey went, step by step.
Why an open trip
The hard part of Mongolia is not the sightseeing but the transport from Ulaanbaatar to Bayan Olgii. The yearly Golden Eagle Festival is a high season where all of the domestic flights can be sold out. When this happens, either we rent a car or take a bus to go the Altai Mountains. Joining a group meant someone else had already worked out the connections.
What it cost
I paid a total of IDR 23 million to Rani. That figure includes the Beijing to Ulaanbaatar flight on MIAT, which cost about IDR 6 million by itself. It also includes lodging, transport, guides, and festival tickets. Food is with ourselves, either we eat local food, or bring Indonesian dried foods that is more taste friendly to us. Please note that this is a very very cheap version of this trip since we are staying at local houses and even brought our own sleeping bag.
How much do other Golden Eagle Festival tours cost?
| Operator and tour | Price per person | Approx. IDR | What the listing says | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discover Altai, 7 days (1-7 Oct 2026) | from USD 990 | 16 million | Festival tickets and a stay with an eagle hunter’s family are included; international airfare is not | Link |
| Discover Altai, 4 days (from 2 Oct 2026) | from USD 1,400 (4+ people) | 23 million | Homestay with an eagle hunter’s family, 4×4 transport | Link |
| View Mongolia, 5 days (2-6 Oct 2026) | USD 1,710 | 28 million | Group departure | Link |
| Discover Altai, 8 days (28 Sep-5 Oct 2026) | USD 2,300 (join the group) | 38 million | Two full festival days, visits to hunting families | Link |
| Tour2Mongolia, 7 days (2026) | USD 2,490 for 2 people, USD 2,200 for 3 | 41 million (36 million) | Includes Terelj National Park; excess baggage charged on domestic flights | Link |
| Selena Travel, 7 days (2025 listing) | from USD 2,550 | 42 million | Return Olgii-Ulaanbaatar flight with 15 kg baggage included | Link |
| BTTC Travel, 8 days | USD 3,850 | 64 million | Flights to and from Ulgii, full board, English-speaking guide | Link |
| Mudita Adventures, 8 days | from USD 3,999 | 66 million | Ulaanbaatar to Altai Tavan Bogd National Park | Link |
| Exodus, 17 days (6 Oct 2026 departure) | USD 7,350 (land only) | 121 million | Combines the steppe, Gobi, and the festival | Link |
| Abercrombie & Kent, 12 days (30 Sep-11 Oct 2026) | USD 23,995 | 396 million | Luxury, guaranteed departure | Link |
My own flights were extra. I booked Jakarta to Beijing on Singapore Airlines a year ahead and paid about IDR 7 million.
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