Finally, here are some impression of the Altai mountain range. I’ve been driving for about there days through the Altai Travan Bogd National Park. As it is close to the Chinese Border a permit is required and the was organized by Baco , the co-owner of the Eagels Nest Travel Lodge. We camped at two lovely families. They shared their dinner and tea breaks with us and we sleeped close to the main fire places in our bags. And Baco was alway looking for the right route, asking families and horse-riders. Sometimes you were amazed where he finds them.

The Landy took a very hard beating during those two days - river crossing, getting stuck, crossing mounting ranges through snow, mud, clay, gravel and rocks. But the scenery was stunning. Highly recommended!!!

Well, this was a mess and partly stupid. I know the Landy can do a lot and the suspension can travel up to 700mm. The approach looked muddy and bumpy. However as the ground was partly frozen (it's the Altai) I thought that should be ok. So, with diff-lock and low range engaged and second gear in. Full speed ahead. It was ok until I slipped sideways into a big hole. And it was a deep short one. Game over.


No chance to pull myself out. So I organized a second car from the family nearby - a Russian UAF jeep. They finally got me pulled out. I stopped the road to the Glacier or today. And turned back to either Altai places.

So, this is something scary. Actually locks more scary inside the car than on photos.

In Khushuut I wanted to cross the River. The old wooden bridge however was under construction. Everyone around however said you can cross the river by car and your Land Rover should do it the easy way. However the whole thing looked crazy and I wasn’t sure how good everything is sealed, even with the raised air intake mounted. Up to 700-800mm would be the maximum in a really worse case scenario. But I really did not want to risk the engine so I organized a truck to pull me to the other side. The Engine was of course off! In the end I probably could have done the crossing depth-wise but the ice on the other side would have been a very very tough climb.

With Help form the Egels Nest Guest Hours I went to the Altai Eagle Hunters today. The drive in itself was very scenery and I saw also some rune stones.The Family was lovely. Had food and tee and even more tee and even if they understood only very little english I've managed to exchange some words, facts and small talk.

The main attraction was the Stone-eagle. The owner even dressed up and I was allowed to hold the eagle. Later went horse riding - which I have never done before so I haven’t had a clue but thank god the horse wasn’t speedy.

It's been a long driven but now I'm in Mongolia. A German dream Destination for Campers, Overlanders, Adventurists. The first stopp is the small city Ölgii. First night stayed at a hotel as I arrived very very late and it was only soso. However, next day I switched over to the Eagels Nest, a Hotel only for Tourist - ok I'm still the only ones around. However, they provided me with very good support and help - i.e. Eagle Hunters and the Altai National Park. And off course I went to the city and its local black market.

This is the third Nationalpark I campe for two nights and it was also the best one in Kazakhstan so far. And as it was pre-season I was again the only one around. Not even the close by hotel / store was open for a beer or so. But in exchange the landscape was stunning!!

I was heading down to the Balqash Lake and before I sorted our overnight camp I bumped into David Marcus - A South African Overlander, Land Rover Enthusiast & also known from Land Rover Magazines. Anyway. I had a nice first chat while he showed his Land Rover 300 TDI SW and the Discovery 2. The Discovery 2 was pulling the Landy as his engine was basically gone. Originally he wanted to drive own as far as possible before the night but then he stayed with us at the lake.

And of course I had a long chat about Landys, his Journeys and Missions. Superb bloke! Unfortunately he had a bad crash the next day at around lunchtime. Both Land Rover were heavily damaged but he was not hurt. With help from his Kazakhstan Land Rover Friends he managed to get a transport ....

So, after our first National Park I went to Astana. First night run a Hotel and next two ones couch surfing.

What to do? Well, I went after arrival straight to the main city park and first hat an interesting encounter: The BMW Club Astana. Very friendly bunch of People. Apart from food I was meandering through the park. Next Day I meet up with my couch surfer and in the afternoon we meet his friends from a local choir (also mainly expats), before however I went sight seeing, very touristy.

Astona is capital in the middle of nowhere and they are ramping up a new tow center with all those fancy modern Buildings, Parks and Shopping malls.