Tour Dates:
10th Sep- 24th Sep 2024 - 14 days 13 nights.
NOMAD LIFE AND EAGLE FESTIVAL TOUR 2024 MONGOLIA /Special/
Explore Mongolia at the crossroads of Russia, China, and Kazakhstan, to experience the timeless beauty of the Mongolian Kazakh people and their way of life. We journey into magnificent and dramatic landscapes where for thousands of years these valleys have been home to a nomadic people whose livelihoods rely on hunting and herding. The trip is carefully designed to provide cultural immersion into all aspects of Kazakh nomadic experience, especially its 2,000-year-old tradition of hunting with Golden Eagles. In one of the planet’s remotest corners, the warmhearted Kazakhs will embrace you with authentic life-changing experiences. Join our Nomad life and Eagle festival tour 2024 Mongolia /Special/ !!!
Guests must arrive in Ulaanbaatar before 14:00 September 10th 2024 or arriving 9th Sep is recommended. Upon arrival at the Chinggis Khaan International Airport, our staff will meet you for the transfer to hotel.
DETAILED ITINERARY
10 SEP – ARRIVE TO ULAANBAATAR
Guests are recommended to arrive on 9th Sept to deal with jetlag, However you’re still welcome to arrive before 14:00 on 10th Sept. According to sudden domestic flight schedule changes we have made minor updates on our tour itinerary. (Recent update - 1st March 2024)
We will meet at the hotel lobby at 15:30 for a short briefing about our tour, followed by a visit to the theatre for an incredible cultural show and then enjoy a welcome dinner at a known restaurant in town. (D- Dinner)
*Please note that accommodation on 10th Sept is not covered by our tour, however we can make reservations and book the hotel for you.
*We have an early flight tomorrow morning to western Mongolia.
11 SEP - DAY 1: WESTERN MONGOLIA
Our destination today is the sacred Shiveet Khairkhan Mountain, home to Tuvan nomads and mountain ibex.
We will get picked up from our hotel at 5:00am and drive almost 1 hour to get to Chinggis Khan airport to fly to western Mongolia…Ulgii, the provincial capital, landing at 8:40 local time. After breakfast in town we’ll drive 4WD Land Cruisers heading to the most remote area, Shiveet Khairkhan Mountain in the Altai Tavan Bogd National Park. Most of the drive will be along the Tsagaan Gol, or the Yak milk river valley. The drive is going to be long but smooth and beautiful to our campsite. We stop along the way to take in the dramatic landscape and have opportunities to photograph. (BLD- Breakfast Lunch and Dinner)
12 SEP - DAY 2: SACRED MOUNTAIN
After breakfast we have a short trek to the largest Petroglyphs site in Central Asia. The Petroglyphs date back starting from the Neolithic period (11,000 BC) to the Bronze Age (6,000 BC). Located in a mountain valley carved out by Pleistocene (Ice Age) glaciers, the site is protected by the relative inaccessibility due to both terrain and weather. Exploring the rock carving provides exceptional documentation of the prehistoric and early historic communities, and reflects the development of human culture over the period of thousands of years in the Altai Mountains. If we are lucky, we will have ibex sightings up close. Shiveet Khairkhan is home to a little over 300 mountain ibex
After lunch at our camp, we drive a little further to a stunning spot to view the magnificent Altai Tavan Bogd Mountain peaks followed by a visit to animist Tuvan nomad families, the smallest ethnic minority within Mongolia. Over tea, we’ll discuss about their culture and way of life. Shiveet Khairkhan Mountain is considered sacred by Tuvans.
We head to our campsite to relax and refresh. In the early evening we gather around the bonfire with one of the last of the Tuvan Shamans and join in an intimate shamanic ritual at the campsite. (BLD)
13 SEP - DAY 3: SNAKE VALLEY
We depart early and drive following the Tsagaan Gol (White River), through sandy terrain and on to rocky high passes. You would notice that terrain changes by hours. We will see more trees on our drive. On the way through the Mogoit Valley (Snake valley) we will stop by an old cemetery that marks the first Kazakh migration from northern Xinjiang in Western China. We continue our drive and take a short walk to the Turkic Balbal (human) rock and then onwards to our campsite nearby the Khovd river and Dayan crossroad close to some local families, either nomad or sedentary. (BLD)
14 SEP - DAY 4: DAYAN
Today is going to be a short drive. Post breakfast, leisurely visit local families close to camp. Learn about their daily life, do some photography. We drive southeast along the Khovd River, then to Black Lake and Dayan Lake. The Khovd River is the longest river in western Mongolia. At Black Lake, we will have the view of Khoton and Khurgan Lakes, located in the far west following the Altai Mountain range, bordering China. In the afternoon we might have chance to visit some local nomad families close to our camp. (BLD)
15-16 SEP - DAY 5-6: - TWO-DAY HORSE TREK EXPEDITION TO KHARA KUL
Experience an epic two-day horse riding expedition with Kazakh horseman and pack-camels. Brush up on your horse riding skills, saddle up your horses and ride through pristine valleys and passes. The 4wd land cruiser would take round trip to get to the next camps.
On Day 6 – For those interested, chance to fly fish for graylings at Black lake of Altai village.
Horse Riding: We will ride horses at a Walk, for most parts of the trail. It will be very gentle and relaxed riding. The approximate distance each day will be a 10 mile ride; approximately six to seven hours ride including lunch break and stops in-between (BLD)
17 SEP - DAY 7: ARDAK’S AUTUMN CAMP
Today we have a short drive through a scenic valley to our campsite close to an eagle hunter family in Altay village. After lunch we take a short rest. In the early afternoon we will visit an eagle hunter family to spend time with the hunter. Over piping hot Kazakh tea, we have the opportunity to get insights into their daily lives and age-old traditions of hunting with the golden eagles. After some more tea, we will have a hands-on demonstration by the hunter on how they train the eagles.
If time permits, we will visit a few more eagle hunters to hear their stories. By late afternoon we come back to our camp to enjoy traditional Kazakh dinner with an eagle hunter family. We might have chance to observe the process of how these locals nomads make felt with lamb wool. (BLD)
18 SEP - DAY 8: TRUE LIFE EAGLE HUNTING EXPEDITION
After a leisurely breakfast, at around 10 am we meet legendary eagle hunters of this area and ride with the hunters to a nearby mountain on a hunting expedition. The expedition lasts for approximately five hours. Today is your chance to photograph up close the eagle hunters.
We are back at the camp by mid-afternoon. Enjoy time to relax and refresh. In the late afternoon we gather around a bonfire at the camp to enjoy folk songs by local herders. (BLD)
19 SEP - DAY 9: TOLBO LAKE
After breakfast we say goodbye to the eagle hunter and his family and leave Altay village heading to Tolbo village. It is possible to fish on Sagsai river on the way, that there are some spots that are known as good fishing spots. Then we would continue driving heading to Tolbo lake. We have our temporary ger camp by Kizilbast mountain near to beautiful Tolbo lake, in a beautiful spot. This is the place where we would spend 3 coming nights that is close to eagle festival site.
20 SEP - DAY 10 VISITING LOCAL SCHOOL – RELAXING DAY
We would have another great day to visit Tolbo village school. Welcome to a brief but impactful journey to Tolbo Village School, situated 60 miles away from the bustling center of the province. You'll have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the vibrant educational environment of this remote school, make a meaningful contribution, and witness firsthand the resilience and determination of its students and staff.
Introduction to Tolbo Village School by the school staff, providing insights into its history, challenges, and successes. Opportunity for brief interactions with teachers and students, exchanging greetings and learning about their aspirations. By end of the visit We will present notebooks and pens to the school, symbolizing our support for their educational endeavors. Then we would return back our camp and spending the afternoon for rest and relaxation. (BLD)
21 SEP - DAY 11 EAGLE FESTIVAL
After breakfast at our camp we would drive to eagle festival site that is 15 minutes away from our camp. Eagle festival starts at around 10:00am in the morning. We would enjoy this full day eagle festival, and we would have great opportunity to photograph all the interesting activities and competitions.
Opening Ceremonies | Competition | Awards Ceremony
Witness a local eagle festival featuring about 40-60 eagle hunters. The competition begins with a parade by the hunters wearing hunting outfits and accessories. The most elaborate and beautiful adornments receive the highest marks. It is followed by thrilling competitions.
The golden eagles are evaluated for their speed and agility. Interesting Kazak traditional games such as Kokbar (buzkashi) and Kazak archery will also take place at the eagle festival. Winners are selected in each event. The festival provides a great opportunity to photograph.
A traditional Kazakh ger is set up for us at the eagle festival site, offering us a place to relax, get warmed up if the weather is not warm, and to have lunch, tea and coffee during the day. (BLD)
22 SEP - DAY 12 FLIGHT TO ULAANBAATAR
Today we will drive to Khovd city about 3.5 hours on paved road to catch our flight to Ulaanbaatar. Along the way enjoy scenic beautiful drive and views of snow caped mountains.
Our estimated arrival into Ulaanbaatar is 15:50…transfer to hotel. (BLD)
23 SEP - DAY 13: ULAANBAATAR
Enjoy your morning breakfast then meet at the lobby at 8:30 am and drive to Gandantegchinlen Khiid “the great place of complete joy”, the largest Buddhist monastery in Mongolia. Built in 1838, the monastery felt the purges of 1937, however was not destroyed and was kept open as a “show monastery” until 1990 when full religious ceremonies returned.
From Gandantegchilen Khiid we’ll proceed to National museum of Mongolia for a guided tour testing what we’ve learned about Mongol and Kazakh history. After museum enjoy your free time to shop. At 17:45, we’ll meet at the hotel lobby and walk a known restaurants in town for our farewell dinner. (B - D)
24 SEP - DAY 14 - DEPARTURE
Depart Ulaanbaatar today after breakfast. You would get transferred to airport (B-Breakfast)
Accompany these fascinating mountain nomads on their hunts, and explore the breathtaking countryside.
