EXPEDITION ALTAI | JULY & AUGUST 2028
Where the eagle hunters live
On foot and on horseback through the Altai mountains, from glaciers to nomad camps.
The story of this expedition
From Brussels you fly to Ulaanbaatar. From there a domestic flight takes you all the way to western Mongolia, where the country meets Russia, China and Kazakhstan. After a long drive over unpaved tracks we reach the starting point. From that moment the real adventure begins: a mountain range where more snow leopards live than people.
We travel on foot through valleys that open onto white glacier fronts and peaks above four thousand metres. The distances are long, the days longer and help is far away. No mountaineering required on the main route, but this is decidedly remote terrain.
In Mongolia a child learns to ride before it learns to walk. Part of the journey we cover the way the local herders do: on horseback, through wide valleys, at a pace that forces you to adapt to the land instead of the other way round.
A Kazakh minority in the Altai has hunted with golden eagles for centuries. You sleep in their ger, share their salted tea and see up close how a bond between human and bird of prey is built over years. This is not a performance, this is their life.
We deliberately choose July and August: the only window when the high passes are free of snow, the rivers fordable and the nomads are in the high summer pastures with their herds.
The story of
this expedition
From Brussels you fly to Ulaanbaatar. From there a domestic flight takes you all the way to western Mongolia, where the country meets Russia, China and Kazakhstan. After a long drive over unpaved tracks we reach the starting point. From that moment the real adventure begins: a mountain range where more snow leopards live than people.
We travel on foot through valleys that open onto white glacier fronts and peaks above four thousand metres. The distances are long, the days longer and help is far away. No mountaineering required on the main route, but this is decidedly remote terrain.
In Mongolia a child learns to ride before it learns to walk. Part of the journey we cover the way the local herders do: on horseback, through wide valleys, at a pace that forces you to adapt to the land instead of the other way round.
A Kazakh minority in the Altai has hunted with golden eagles for centuries. You sleep in their ger, share their salted tea and see up close how a bond between human and bird of prey is built over years. This is not a performance, this is their life.
We deliberately choose July and August: the only window when the high passes are free of snow, the rivers fordable and the nomads are in the high summer pastures with their herds.
Self-sufficient,
but never alone
From the moment we start we are off grid. We filter water from mountain rivers, cook our own expedition food and pitch our camps where nature allows it.
You learn to ride along with the herders, be a guest in a ger and cover long distances where help is far away, guided by an experienced X- Guide whom you meet well in advance during the preparation programme.
Safety & guidance
Safety is the foundation of every Element X expedition. Our X Guides are professionally trained, hold WFR certificates and have years of experience in extreme conditions.
Every expedition has satellite phones, GPS tracking, safety procedures, an evacuation plan and local support in Morocco.
Before departure we also carry out a thorough risk analysis and prepare everything down to the last detail.
Guided by real expedition leaders.
You step into nature, away from the
beaten track, but always with the certainty of experienced guidance
and safety first.
Safety & guidance
Safety is the foundation of every Element X expedition. Our X Guides are professionally trained, hold
WFR certificates and have
years of experience in extreme conditions.
Every expedition has satellite phones, GPS tracking, clear safety procedures, a detailed evacuation plan and local support in Morocco.
Before departure we also carry out a thorough risk analysis and prepare everything down to the last detail.
Self-sufficient,
but never alone
From the moment we start we are off grid. We filter water from mountain rivers, cook our own expedition food and pitch our camps where nature allows it.
You learn to ride along with the herders, be a guest in a ger and cover long distances where help is far away, guided by an experienced X-Guide whom you meet well in advance during the preparation programme.
We let no one step into the unknown unprepared.
An expedition of this calibre starts months in advance. The preparation programme consists of an individual phase and a group phase.
Individual phase
Starts immediately after registration. You receive an inspiration pack with practical tips, insights and exercises to start moving like an expedition member. You gather your expedition gear using the packing list (do not buy anything yet: bring what you already have to the kick off). And you share your medical information, because the best preparation is a plan for when things go wrong.
Group phase
Starts 3 to 6 months before departure with the kick off: a full day on which you meet your team, taste the expedition atmosphere and take the first steps as a group. There we plan the follow-up moments together and the WhatsApp group starts. Training includes, among other things: getting to know the group and roles, physical screening and analysis, a personalised training schedule, technical and resilience training, gear, nutrition and sleep setup, and a final check.
Accredited service provider for the KMO-portefeuille
To help entrepreneurs and KMO leaders grow as much as possible, a leadership programme/training is linked to this expedition, which closely aligns with the adventure. This programme falls under the theme Business strategy and is eligible for subsidy via the KMO-portefeuille.
As an entrepreneur, you can receive up to 30% subsidy on the training costs of this programme. Important (!): only the training itself is eligible. Travel, accommodation, and expedition costs are not covered by the subsidy.
Accredited service provider for the KMO-portefeuille
To help entrepreneurs and KMO leaders grow as much as possible, a leadership programme/training is linked to this expedition, which closely aligns with the adventure. This programme falls under the theme Business strategy and is eligible for subsidy via the KMO-portefeuille.
As an entrepreneur, you can receive up to 30% subsidy on the training costs of this programme. Important (!): only the training itself is eligible. Travel, accommodation, and expedition costs are not covered by the subsidy.
As seen in
Picture this: endless valleys without a single sign of civilisation, herds moving across the view, a ger with the tea water steaming, and an eagle lifting off from an outstretched arm.
On Expedition Altai you travel to one of the last places where nomadism is not folklore but the only logical way to live: where distances are measured in days and hospitality is not a choice but a necessity for survival.
Picture this: endless valleys without a single sign of civilisation, herds moving across the view, a ger with the tea water steaming, and an eagle lifting off from an outstretched arm.
On Expedition Altai you travel to one of the last places where nomadism is not folklore but the only logical way to live: where distances are measured in days and hospitality is not a choice but a necessity for survival.
Frequently asked questions
No. You do not need to be a top athlete. Through our preparation programme (screening, training schedule and targeted training) we build your level up to expedition level in 3 to 6 months.
Very safe. We work with WFR-certified expedition leaders, satellite communication, evacuation plans and clearly outlined safety protocols.
The full expedition programme, gear, workshops, guidance, all local costs and meals are included, plus the full 3 to 6 month preparation programme. Flights, personal clothing and insurance are not included.
Frequently asked questions
No. You do not need to be a top athlete. Through our preparation programme (screening, training schedule and targeted training) we build your level up to expedition level in 3 to 6 months.
Very safe. We work with WFR-certified expedition leaders, satellite communication, evacuation plans and clearly outlined safety protocols.
The full expedition programme, gear, workshops, guidance, all local costs and meals are included, plus the full 3 to 6 month preparation programme. Flights, personal clothing and insurance are not included.
Ready for the land of the eagle hunters?
Taking an option is free and without obligation; your spot is only confirmed after the intake.
Koen De Leeuw
Expedition leader | Element X
“Where people still live nomadically, you cannot travel on your own schedule. You adapt to the land and to your hosts. For many participants that is the biggest adjustment, and afterwards the most valuable one.”
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