Tour in Western Mongolia
Duration:
Tour grade:
Group size: 2
Tour highlights: Western Mongolia picturesque area, experience life of the Eagle Hunting Kazakhs, horse riding, go to mountains with the eagle hunters and see how they train the eagles for hunting.
Day 1: Arrive in Ulaanbaatar, city tour
Meet at the airport/ the railway station and transfer to a hotel. After being refreshed, taken on a short city sightseeing tour if the time permits. First, we will visit Gandantegchilen Monastery. The monastery is a favored place for locals as well as foreigners due to its interesting religious artifacts and peacefulness. A 26 m gilded statue of a Buddha is another thing of interest. Next, visit Central Square and the National Museum of Mongolia. Have a welcome dinner in a Mongolian barbecue restaurant.
What’s Included: 3* hotel, airport pick up, city sightseeing.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Day 2: Leave Ulaanbaatar, start the countryside tour to Elsentasarkhai (mini-Gobi), experience nomad life, Mongolian barbecue, horse and camel riding.
Elsentasarhai is a unique place representing features of the Gobi Desert, mountain steppes and grasslands in a single area. Arrive in Elsentasarkhai by lunch time and visit a nomad family. After the nomadic lunch, we will have a horseback trekking over the steppes with the help of a local equestrian. We also ride two-humped camels. Next, ride back the nomad family and spend the day learning and experiencing first-hand about the nomadic life. In the evening, try authentic Mongolian barbecue cooked with hot stones.
What’s Included: Nomad home stay, Mongoian barbecue, horse and camel riding.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Visit Erdenezuu Monastery and see remains of ancient capital Kharkhorin
Kharkhorin, formerly known as Karakorum, was once a capital of Genghis Khaan’s Great Mongol Empire in the 13th century. After the move of Mongolian capital to Beijing, and the fall of the Empire, Karakorum was abandoned and then destroyed by vengeful Manchurian soldiers in 1388. Today, in the vast valley of the Orkhon River, awe-inspiring ancient monastery Erdenezuu coexists with modern town Kharkhorin. Visit an active temple of the monastery and temple museums. We also visit the Kharkhorum Museum displays some items of the ancient city Karakorum.
What’s Included: ger camp.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Fly to Ulgii
Meet at Ulaanbaatar at 11:30 am and transfer to the airport for 14:20 flight to Ulgii, a central town of Bayan-Ulgii. Land in Ulgii after 2.5 hours flight. Meet your local guide and driver. Visit a town Kazakh family home and have a Kazakh meal for the dinner.
Accommodation: Local hotel
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Driving distance: 30 km
Day 5: Drive to a picturesque area, visit the eagle hunting family.
The journey continues to the eagle hunter family. On the way, you explore some ancient tombs and balbal stones dates back to the Turkic era. Visit an eagle training Kazakh family and discover their unique lifestyle, try Kazakh foods and stay with the Kazakh family. The family lives in a picturesque area. See how the Eagle hunter/huntress treats the eagles and ask whatever you wish to know about the eagle hunting.
Accommodation: An extra ger of the eagle hunters
Meals: Breakfast: Lunch, Dinner
Driving distance: 150 km driving on the rough roads
Day 6: Go to mountains and see the Eagle Hunting
You will mount on horses (driving is available if you do not have much horse-riding experience) and go to nearby mountains to see how the Kazakhs hunt with the Eagles. Hunting real animals will require days sometimes. Therefore, they use baits for the eagle hunting demonstration.
Drive back Ulgii town. Visit a sovenier shop and local market if the time permits.
Accommodation: Local hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Driving distance: 150 km on the rough roads
Day 7: Fly back Ulaanbaatar
Fly back Ulaanbaatar at 07:30 and land Ulaanbaatar at 10:30 AM. Transfer to your accommodation/to the railway station. End of the trip.
Accommodation: not included
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Driving distance: 30 km
The tour includes:
- 2 nights in a local hotel
- 1 night in an extra ger of a Kazakh family
- English speaking guide
- Return domestic flights.
- Entry fees to national parks
- Daily bottled water
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary.
- Horse riding
The tour excludes:
- Items for personal use, beverages, alcoholic drinks
- Travel and medical insurance
- International transportation
- Visa fee
- Single supplements
- Excess baggage charge in domestic flights (handbag 5kg + luggage 10 kg.)
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