"An Unforgettable Day in the Mongolian Countryside"

Erlan led a wonderful day tour for 5 friends of mine and myself into the countryside near Ulgii in Western Mongolia. We enjoyed breathtaking views with detailed explanations of the landscape and nomadic lifestyle from Erlan. His companion was an excellent driver even with some difficult road conditions and river crossings.

He explained what we should expect at the Eagle Hunter's home and helped prime us for the warm hospitality we received from the Eagle Hunter and his family. We enjoyed great meals with them and he helped explain the set-up of the house as well as what life was like for the family. They were living in their winter home and would soon pack up their belongings and migrate to a summer home.

The trip felt very authentic, with personal connections to Erlan, the driver, and the family we visited. We ended the day exhausted but very satified, with nearly all of us dozing off on the bumpy ride back to Ulgii. I would recommend Erlan and Sayat Travel to anyone and would gladly go on another trip guided by him, hopefully longer than a day next time!

"Trip of lifetime"

I have done my share of travelling but this trip to mongolia tops everything else .I went to west mongolia (eagle hunters trip in the Altai mountains)with a group of photographers led by daniel kordan our local guides were led by erlan.

1 -food in mongolia is very meat based so make sure you tell your guide if you want vegetarian meals (i got mine and was very happy with the choices greatest chef and sous chef 👨🏼‍🍳👩🏻‍🍳
2- hiking boots are a must !
3-we were there in september and first week october !!days were fine but the temperatures dropped to the negatives at night !!!pack your thermals for sure !!
4-be ready for long drives between venues .(mongolia is the 10th largest country in the world).
5- we made pit stops at convenience stores all along and they had the basic stuff you’d need (cornflakes /snacks/chocolates etc).
6- pack all your medicines.


I hope your experience in this great country is as beautiful as mine was !!!!

"Unbelievable time in Olgiy and Altai Tavan Bogd"
Review of: "Trek to Altai Tavan Bogd Nat.Park"

We spent two days with Erlan from Sayat Travel in Olgiy for the Golden Eagle Festival, and we were not disappointed. Seeing the Kazakh hunters compete with their eagles was an unforgettable experience, and one that I would recommend to anyone who wants to immerse themselves in traditional Kazakh culture Erlan was extremely hospitable host, very knowledgeable and was happy to answer all of our annoying questions. He and his family made it a fun, relaxing weekend where we did not have to worry about anything except having fun.

Following this we spent 6 days trekking through the Altai Tavan Bogd region. The scenery here was unbelievable, from vast expanses of the steppe to the snowcapped mountains as we neared Malchin Peak. We were accompanied by the best driver in Mongolia, a wonderful chef who prepared delicious meals and an English speaking guide named after Chinggis Khan himself.

"Top best outdoor experience with an amazing team!!"

Out of all my travels around the world this perhaps was one of the best, if not the best, experience I have ever had. A group of friends decided to embark on this journey spending about 3 weeks into the Altai Tavan Bogd National Park in Mongolia. Majestic sceneries and pristine landscapes with extraordinary nature dressed up with mountains, glaciers, rivers, and unique flora and fauna like no other.

Incredible trekking, hiking and even climbing one of the highest peaks in the region made us being privileged to see three countries from the summit! All of this, plus living and learning from nomadic life, long lasting traditions and culture and extensive knowledge of the region would not have been possible without the warmth, friendliness, kindness and exceptional hospitality provided by Erlan.

"Nomadic Travel around Ulgii with Erlan and team "

A very different kind of holiday.... Which we enjoyed tremendously! We visited local nomadic families and interacted with them on so many levels, despite the language barrier because we have Erlan who was so patient with the translation and really enriching our experience. There was sitting around the dinner table, devouring fresh lamb stew cooked by the locals, dancing to local music around the bonfire under the stars and learning about the lifestyle of the locals just to name a few.

We were also very well taken care of whether it was making sure the yurt we stayed in was warm enough throughout the night or observing all the safety precautions during our horseback riding. All that and the flexibility to tailor the itinerary to our needs which allowed the trip to happen very quickly, despite the short planning period we had.

"Great adventure with local experts "

A hidden gem; A region not many have touched; loving nomadic families; days of horseback migration; herding all manner of animals/livestock across rivers, rolling hills and vast plains; simply unforgettable.

As I write this review, I'm slightly worried that more and more ppl would come to this destination but I trust Erlan and Sayat Travel would do their utmost to preserve the local culture and way of life while sharing the love and lifestyle of these lovely nomads with the rest of the world.

"Unforgettable and totally worth it"

It was the trip of the year for me, before the trip started, I was having doubts if i would be able to withstand the elements for such trips. But the team from Sayat made it so much easier for me.

The guide was very knowledgeable, the driver very professional and the chef, is simply awesome, whipping up meals with his little portable stove, breakfast and dinner is always fresh and hot. Never once we had a repeat items for the 6 days trips. Until we asked for repeats.

Before this trip, I did not have any horse riding experience, we were given a crash course and off we go, as the horses are pretty tamed, we picked up really quickly and started to enjoy the ride, the beast master was really good with his horses. I highly recommend Sayat for their professional services and look forward to my next time with them!

"Eagle festival and staying with nomadic families. "

Wonderful trip around Olgyi the days before the eagle festival. We stay with nomadic families and shared time, food and the'. Great time during the two days of the festival as well as during our trip back to Ulaan Bator by UAZ minivan.

Six days in the flat of Mongolia. Great experience for my whole family. Perfect organization by Erlan of Sayat Travels.

If you want to do something really different go to this region of Mongolia with Sayat travels.

"Epic trip with best team"

Recently got back from an incredible seven day trip with Erlan in western Mongolia. The stories, experiences and photos were so amazing that my friends want to go there now, too, and have asked for Erlan’s company details so they can plan their own trips! Erlan has been a guide for ten years and his extensive knowledge, warmth and hospitality, and local friendships (nomads, eagle hunters etc) made for a truly authentic and memorable experience that I honestly don’t think many other tourists are lucky enough to have!

"Erlan and his team are great dudes to travel with and totally know their stuff"

Erlan and his team are great dudes to travel with and totally know their stuff when it comes to the local land, people, and wildlife. Erlan spoke English really well and I got along with him quickly. I’m always outdoors and traveling as much as possible, but Mongolia was truly one of the most special and unique places I’ve ever had a chance to check out. The nomadic families are so genuinely friendly and just pleased to see the rare visitor to their ger. I vouch for this hidden gem to anyone looking for an affordable and unforgettable adventure without crowds of tourists. I fell in love with the place and can’t wait to come back one day. 10/10 hands down.

"One of the best trips of my life"

I traveled through the Altai mountains and national park with Erlan’s team in 2019. One of the best trips of my life. I sometimes rewatch my drone footage and my jaw still drops at how beautiful and vast the scenery is. I played that Mongolian throat singing heavy metal music video by the Huu every evening by the fire, I was that into the place. One night the Sayat Travel guys sang some Kazakh folk songs after I showed them how to barbecue lamb the way I know. Awesome experience!

"You’re in safe and kind hands with this crew"

I did a trekking and eagle hunter visit tour with Erlan and the Sayat Travel team in 2019 with some friends. It was such a refreshing experience being out on the steppe, riding horses, driving a 4x4 a hundred miles and not seeing a single person. All I can say is this place will WOW you like few other places can. Now I know why Mongolians are so tough and once conquered a continent despite having so few people. The golden eagle hunters are amazing human beings and I hope their traditions continue. I wish I spent more time watching them hunt with their eagles. Erlan’s team really care about authentic and sustainable connections with the local nomadic people and leaving no trace behind on the tour. You’re in safe and kind hands with this crew. They’re also way more reasonably priced that other tour companies out there, some of which don’t even have local crews.

"It was super amazing!"

I’ve never been on a trip anything like the tour Erlan’s guys took my boyfriend and I on. It was super amazing! I thought I would be uncomfortable or scared but they really made me feel secure about everything. I got to try horse riding for the first time, and we even saw horses in the wild almost come right up to us. The families we visited were really nice, and the kids were so cute. They had a makeshift toilet tent for us too, it wasn’t just a hole behind a tree thank god. It gets really cold at nights but if you bring the right clothes you’ll be fine. They also do fires every night that we can, to keep you warm. Try the local food! But bring some spicy sauce if you’re like me.

"Unique experiences never to be had elsewhere"

Travelling solo to an alien part of the globe is always daunting with no idea of what to expect. Erlan of Sayat travels organized a custom trip to suit my needs without compromising on the experience quality!! Erlan himself personally followed me on the trip together with Bolka. The trip was nothing short of amazing!!

Horse riding over iced mountain ranges to hunting with the eagle hunters on a semi wild steed is something I will carry with me forever. Ice fishing on frozen Dayan Lake and the scenic views was something I had not even imagined would be part of the itinerary but Erlan made it happen. My food requests were also taken care off and I was promptly briefed on what to expect. Thank you Erlan .