Timeline
16:33
Grab a warm drink and a snack from a local shop in Ölgii. The air is crisp in January, so start with something hot to keep your energy up.
17:18
Walk toward the edge of town where the view opens up to the southwest. Bugan Tou Mountain is a key landmark in this direction. Find a flat spot with a clear line of sight toward the WSW horizon.
17:33
Watch the sunset. The sun sets toward the WSW, casting long shadows across the Altai Mountains. The golden light begins around 16:41, so the sky will be painting the peaks in warm hues well before the sun actually dips below the horizon.
18:03
Stay for the last light. The cold sets in quickly after sunset, so enjoy the quiet beauty of the mountains as the light fades. Return to town when it is too dark to see the details of the landscape.
Local tip
Bring layers. The temperature drops significantly once the sun goes down.
Check before you go
- Check the latest weather forecast for wind and visibility.
- Ensure your snack and drink shop is open at 17:33 local time (60 minutes before sunset on 15 January).
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Ölgii (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).