CUSTOMER FEEDBACK

I’d like to give a big thank you to Nur for making my 1st time in Mongolia an unforgettable experience! I booked my tour less than a week before my arrival. Nur responded promptly to my queries, took note of my tour preferences (what places I wanted to see and experience), suggested additional activities, and had everything planned out seamlessly in such short notice. I flew to Olgii not knowing what to expect except to be stuck in the cold wilderness for 6 days. But Nur welcomed me warmly at the airport and we drove to a mountaintop beside Olgii so I could enjoy a bird’s eye-view of the city!! Breathtaking! A sign of good days to come! Nur is a local of Bayan-Olgii and a very experienced photographer (check out his Instagram). This gave me a huge advantage as a tourist to experience the culture, food, and traditions from a local’s perspective (and Nur gave me a crash course on photography and social media marketing!). I learned how to make buuz, and after an hour of practice, I finally made the perfect buuz! I spent a few days with the families of Sailau and Jinsbek and it was a very enriching and inspiring experience. Nur taught me a few Kazakh words that came in handy when we visited eagle hunter homes. He answered every question I had, big or small. From how do eagles hunt foxes, to what material the nomad winter houses are made of, to why does Jinsbek carry a rifle (ans: protection against wolves). I learned how to ride a horse and a camel. I learned how the locals make tsuivan, besbarmak, and the ubiquitous milk tea.

I held my breath when Jinsbek’s eagle flew straight to my arm! The power of these ferocious birds is unmistakeable, I am slowly understanding the bond between hunter and eagle. Sailau’s family taught me several traditional songs on the dombra (2-stringed instrument like a guitar) and Nur sang for us—he’s got an AMAZING voice!! I taught them how to TikTok (lol!). They showed me their life in the steppe and I showed them my life in the city. Nur and the families were so warm and proudly shared their culture with me, I felt like I was among family and friends. The tour service was luxurious to say the least; we travelled by 4×4, we had really warm sleeping bags and blankets, and we had homemade meals with the families. It was the perfect intro to living a nomad life.

Best part is when we visited Jinsbek’s house which has a 360-degree view of the vast Sagsai steppe, with purple mountains towering in the distance and rivers quietly snaking through the earth. It was the kind of landscape that takes your breath away every time. Nur took me on a walking tour through grazing yaks and goats, and I had my mouth hanging open as we walked through the vast steppe.

I would highly recommend Nur Altai Tours to everyone planning to visit Mongolia. These guys know how to exceed expectations and give you a tour of a lifetime!!!