Western Mongolia Tour with Eagle Festival
12 days
Overview
The westernmost province of Mongolia does not only offer spectacular scenery – it’s home to Kazakh nomads, who are Mongolia’s largest minority group, and also there’s rich history around the Altai Mountains, which are Mongolia’s highest peaks. When you embark on this journey, you will get a chance to see how the Kazakhs keep alive their tradition of hunting with golden eagles and learn about their nomadic lifestyle that has not changed much for hundreds of years. The Altai Mountains, where Mongolia, China, Russia, and Kazakhstan converge has long history of various nomadic groups of people migrating through here or settling near dating back millenniums as it lies along the great Eurasian Steppe. There are still ancient petroglyphs and well-preserved burial sites at this relatively remote, unspoiled region. Camp in the wilderness near pristine lakes with view of snowcapped mountains and sleep in tents each night under thousands of stars.
The Eagle Festival is an event organized in the westernmost province of Mongolia each year during the second weekend of September and the first weekend of October. Bayan-Ölgii is the country’s only Muslim and Kazakh majority province. It is not only fun and games, but a way to preserve the ancient hunting tradition and unique cultural heritage of the Kazakh minority of Mongolia. During the 1990s, a newly democratic Mongolia devoted a lot of funding and resources to support its tourism sector. One of the ways was the founding of the Golden Eagle Festival in 1999.
Date & Price:
Departing: 08-09-2023
Finishing: 19-09-2023
Status: Open
Price Per Person:
Includes:
- 2 nights in the 4* hotel (twin + breakfasts)
- 6 tented overngihts (twins)
- 3 overnight in a local hostel in Ulgii town (twin)
- Camping/kitchen tent, shower tent, toilet tent/ & cooking equipment
- All indicated meals + drinking water
- All visits and National park fees
- Russian 4X4 Jeeps + gasoline with driver
- Expedition cook
- Domestic flight ticket UB-Ulgii-UB
- NP fee, Eagle festival entrance ticket and border area permit fees
Exludes:
- Optional activities
- Travel insurance
- Sleeping bags and mattresses
- Meals that are not indicated
- Gratuities
- International flights & Travel
- Visa fee
- Excess baggage fee on local flights
Travel information:
- * Visit Western Mongolia most highlights
- * Meet Eagle hunters and visit annual Eagle festival in September
- * Visit to Tavan Bogd National Park, named after Mongolia’s highest peaks.
- * Visit Khoton and Khurgan are two freshwater lakes
- * Visit to Baga Turgen waterfall
Day 1 Arrival in Mongolia
Arrive in Ulaanbaatar, the bustling capital of Mongolia. Our representative will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to a centrally located hotel. After settling into your room, meet your guide in the lobby for a walking city tour to the main square and nearby museums. Then attend an evening show of traditional performances followed by a welcome dinner.
- D
- Hotel
Day 2 Fly to western Mongolia
Pick up from the hotel and transfer to the airport for a 3-hour domestic flight to Ulgii, capital of westernmost province. Our team will pick you up on arrival and drive to Sagsai village. Here we will visit a Kazakh family and see their golden eagles used for hunting. You may get a chance to snap shots of eagle hunters dressed in their traditional clothes mounted on their horses with their magnificent eagles on their arms. We will set up our tented camp near here.
- B.L.D
- Tent
- 25 km
Day 3 Camp at summer spot for local Kazakh nomads
Today we will drive to Oigor valley which has a large petroglyph gallery showcasing more than 100,000 images spread across a length of 15 km dating back to 8,000 years ago. This site is registered on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List. Tonight, we will camp at a summer spot for local Kazakh nomads. We may visit their home and see how Mongolia’s Kazakh nomadic herders are living nowadays and get a peek into their lifestyle.
- B.L.D
- Tent
- 170 km
Day 4 Drive to Tavan Bogd NP
Drive to Tavan Bogd National Park, named after Mongolia’s highest peaks. Tavan Bogd literally means “Five Saints” and these peaks form part of the Altai Mountain range, where Mongolia, China, Russia, and Kazakhstan converge. Here we can get a panoramic view of these majestic snowcapped peaks. Mongolia’s highest point is the Khuiten summit standing at 4,374 meters above sea level. After visit, we will drive back to our camping spot.
- B.L.D
- Tent
- 40 km
Day 5 Drive to White River
Drive to White River valley and set up our tented camp near the summer pasture of the Tuvan people, one of Mongolia’s ethnic groups.
- B.L.D
- Tent
- 100 km
Day 6 Drive to Khoton and Khurgan lakes
Khoton and Khurgan are two freshwater lakes connected by a wide channel situated at the foothill of the Altai Mountains near the Chinese border. The landscape around the lakes is stunning with forests and snowcapped mountains. The lakes are home to several fish species including the grayling and lenok. There is a large collection of ancient petroglyphs depicting hunting scenes and figures of various animals, as well as some ancient burial sites. This evening, you may go swimming, exploring or just relax at the camp.
- B.L.D
- Tent
- 200 km
Day 7 Visit Baga Turgen waterfall
Go to Baga Turgen waterfall located in Turgen Valley near the western shore of Khoton and Khurgan lakes. The water drains from a 36-meter cliff and divides into two separate falls. The bigger waterfall’s height is 23 meters while the smaller fall is 13 meters.
- B.L.D
- Tent
- 60 km
Day 8 Drive to Ulgii
Drive 7-8 hours back to Ulgii. Dinner at local restaurant.
- B.L.D
- Local Hostel
- 200 km
Day 9-10 Attend Eagle Festival
During these 2 days visit the Eagle Festival which is an event organized in the westernmost province of Mongolia. Bayan-Ölgii is the country’s only Muslim and Kazakh majority province. It is not only fun and games, but a way to preserve the ancient hunting tradition and unique cultural heritage of the Kazakh minority of Mongolia. During the 1990s, a newly democratic Mongolia devoted a lot of funding and resources to support its tourism sector. One of the ways was the founding of the Golden Eagle Festival in 1999. This revived the ancient tradition of hunting with birds of prey which used to be practised more commonly by pastoral nomads of the Eurasian steppe. Participants arrive wearing their traditional clothes mounted on their well-groomed horses while holding their majestic eagles in their arms. Cultural exhibitions, folk performances, and sales of handcrafts take place in the town of Ölgii, followed by competitions a few kilometres outside of town near the base of the neighbouring mountains. Entrants compete for the awards of Best Turned-Out Eagle and Owner, Best Eagle at Hunting Prey, and Best Eagle at Locating its Owner from a Distance. Other activities include horse racing, archery, and the exciting goatskin tug of war on horseback called Bushkashi.
- B.L.D
- Local Hostel
- 50 km
Day 11 Fly to Ulaanbaatar
Transfer to the airport for a return flight to Ulaanbaatar. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel and rest or self-explore the city until farewell dinner.
- B.L.D
- Hotel
Day 12 Departure
Pick up from the hotel and transfer to the airport for your departure flight.
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Gallery
