Aral Tolgoi and Petroglyphic Complexes of the Mongolian Al

Waypoint introductions and full write-ups

1. 1. Aral Tolgoi

   Aral Tolgoi sits on a bend of open ground in the Altai of western Mongolia, in the province of Bayan-Ulgii, where the land climbs steadily toward the borders with China and Russia. The name has the sound of a place: tolgoi means a hill or head, and aral an island, so think of a rise standing out in flat, braided ground, perhaps once surrounded by channels of the river nearby. It is part of the same ancient story as the petroglyph sites that lie along these valleys.

   Read the complete Aral Tolgoi write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Aral Tolgoi is where the day begins. Next is Upper Tsagaan Gol.

2. 2. Upper Tsagaan Gol

   Far out in Mongolia's westernmost corner, where the country wedges itself between Russia, China and Kazakhstan, the Altai mountains rise to the glaciated crown of Tavan Bogd. Below them the Tsagaan Gol, the White River, runs through valleys of larch and bare rock, and on the walls above the water prehistoric hunters carved some of the finest petroglyphs in Central Asia. They are part of the Petroglyphic Complexes of the Mongolian Altai, a UNESCO listing that spans thousands of years, from around the end of the Ice Age through the Bronze Age to the early Turkic era. The images show ibex, aurochs, deer, camels, hunters with bows, and in the later layers horsemen and chariots.

   Read the complete Upper Tsagaan Gol write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Upper Tsagaan Gol comes up about 148 km into the recorded legs. Next is Petroglyphic Complexes of the Mongolian Al.

3. 3. Petroglyphic Complexes of the Mongolian Al

   The Mongolian Altai does not look like the landscape of a rock-art gallery. It looks like open ground, grey and gold in the light, with snow mountains standing far off along the border of China and Russia. And yet near here, in the far west of Bayan-Ulgii province, the rocks hold thousands of petroglyphs, some of them thought to be many thousands of years old. Tsagaan Salaa and Baga Oigor are the best known. Aral Tolgoi is a neighbouring part of the same inscribed group.

   Read the complete Petroglyphic Complexes of the Mongolian Al write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   about 254 km into the recorded legs you reach Petroglyphic Complexes of the Mongolian Al. Next is back through Upper Tsagaan Gol.

4. 4. back through Upper Tsagaan Gol

   Return visit. Read the place description above.

   Read the complete Upper Tsagaan Gol write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   back through Upper Tsagaan Gol, late in the day. Next is Aral Tolgoi.

5. 5. Aral Tolgoi

   Return visit. Read the place description above.

   Read the complete Aral Tolgoi write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Back at Aral Tolgoi. That is the ride.