Golden Eagle Festival and Central Mongolia tours

10 days, $2300

The Golden Eagle Festival is a must-see event in Asia. It is a festival to introduce the culture of the Mongolian national minority Kazakhs to the world and promotes their heritage to the next generation. The Eagle Festival is held in the Mongolian far western province Bayan Ulgii in September and October. During this September Eagle Festival Tour, you will spend 2 full days participating in the festival and another day visiting the homes of the Eagle Hunter, where you will have more personal touch with the eagle and eagle hunter – communicate with the eagle and eagle hunter, discover their unique lifestyle, and take photos. You will have a chance to hear the Eagle hunters’ story when visiting the Eagle Hunting Kazakh family and interact with the trained eagle in person. As well as, you will try traditional Kazakh meals and discover the surrounding areas of Ulgii town. Overall, it is a tour of in-depth cultural insights.

In addition to its stunning scenery, central Mongolia is extremely rich in cultural remains from all historical periods. During the central Mongolia tour, you will travel the semi-desert, visit the central Mongolian mountain steppes and part of northern Mongolian forested mountains with crystal clear water rivers, freshwater lakes, flower carpeted lands and basalt covered valleys. For you, every day will be interesting and surprising. The landscape is ever-changing and reveals beauty in different ways every day. Another highlight of the tour is visiting as many nomad families as you wish to observe first-hand the uniqueness of traditional nomadic life and feel the heartwarming hospitality of your hosts, who are not informed in advance but always welcome visitors warmly. There are abundance of potential nomad hosts as this part of Mongolia is more populated by nomad families than the other areas. A nomadic family stay is included to make your Mongolian holiday more authentic and experiential.

Day 1: Arrive in Ulaanbaatar, city tour

Meet at the airport and transfer to a hotel. After being refreshed, taken on a short city sightseeing tour if the time permits. First, you will visit Gandantegchilen Monastery. The monastery is a favored place for both locals and 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 restaurant.

Accommodation: 5* hotel Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Day 2: Fly to Ulgii town

Meet at the hotel and transfer to the airport for the Ulgii flight. Land in Ulgii. Dinner in a Kazakh restaurant city tour, art shop and go to hotel.

Accommodation: Local Hotel Meals: Dinner

Day 3: Visit Eagle Hunter Kazakhs

Today, we visit an eagle hunting Kazakh family to observe the life of the eagle hunters and communicate with both the eagles and hunters in person. Return to Ugii and free time.

Accommodation: Local Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4-5: Golden Eagle festival

The impressive Golden Eagle Festival starts with a parade of eagle hunters dressed in traditional hunting clothes, riding horses and holding their eagles in their right arms. There are up to 60 eagle hunters participating in the festival. Those will be 2 full days to see the eagle hunting festival, competitions, hunting techniques, the Eagles’ agility, and ability.

Eagle Festival Day 1

10:00 Opening ceremony, introductions, eagle hunting history, and practice
10:30 Parade of all participants
11:00-13:00 Eagles catch fox skin dragged behind their trainer’s horse.
13:00-14:00 Break for lunch
14:00-15:00 Eagles catch fox skin dragged behind their trainer’s horse.
15:00-16:00 Kyz Kuar (A race between a man and woman on horseback)
14:00-16:00 Bushkashi – Tug of war played on horseback with goatskin.
16:00-17:30 Tiyn Teru – Riders compete, grabbing flags or flowers from the ground while galloping on horseback.
19:30 Ethno-Kazakh and Mongol Concert with traditional music and dance

Eagle Festival Day 2

10:00-13:00 Eagle Call – Hunters call eagles from a distance. Points are counted when the eagles land on the hunter’s arm.
13:00-14:00 Break for lunch
14:00-15:00 Tiyn Teru – Riders compete, grabbing flags or flowers from the ground while galloping on horseback.
15:00-16:00 Bushkashi – Tug of war played on horseback with goatskin.
16:00-17:00 Kyz Kuar (A race between a man and woman on horseback)
17:00-17:30 Awards and Closing ceremony.

Accommodation: Local Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Ulgii town tour and fly back Ulaanbaatar

Morning tour of Ulgii town visiting the local market, the museum, and climb a small hill to see the panoramic views of the town. Lunch and transfer to the airport for the 17:00 Ulaanbaatar flight.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Leave Ulaanbaatar, start the countryside tour to Elsentasarkhai, 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, you will ride horses over the steppes with the help of a local equestrian. Also ride two-humped camels. Spend the day learning and experiencing first-hand about the nomadic life. In the evening, try authentic Mongolian barbecue cooked with hot stones.

Accommodation: Ger camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Visit Erdenezuu Monastery and see remains of ancient capital Karakorun

Kharkhorin, formerly known as the Karakorum, was once the capital of Genghis Khaan’s Great Mongol Empire in the 13th century. After the move of the Mongolian capital to Beijing, and the fall of the Empire, Karakorum was abandoned and then destroyed by Min soldiers in 1388. Today, in the vast valley of the Orkhon River, the awe-inspiring ancient monastery Erdenezuu coexists with the modern town Kharkhorin. Visit an active temple of the monastery and temple museums. Next, visit the Kharkhorum Museum displays some items from the ancient city Karakorum. The journey continues along the Orkhon River Valley and arrives at a ger camp located among mountains.

Accommodation: Harhorim Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Say 9: See last survivals of the earth’s wild horses and HS Khan Resort

Today, we drive through Ulaanbaatar and arrive at HS Khan Resort. After lunch, drive to Hustai National Park where the last survivals of the earth’s truly wild horses are roaming free in the wild. Visit the national park information center and watch a short movie about the national park. Next, we will drive to the core zone of the national park to see the wild horses. Seeing the wild horses sometimes require some hiking over the hills. Arrive back Ulaanbaator

Early back to Ulaanbaatar by to Cashmere Outlet and

-The biggest supermarket in Ulaanbaatar E-MART
Accommodation: 5* Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10: Departure from Ulaanbaatar

Eagle Festival Day 1

Eagle Festival Day 2

Accommodation: Local Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

TOUR PRICE PER PERSON

2 PAX 2300$
3 – 4 PAX 2100$
Group Tour 1850$

DISCOUNTS:

For children of a family trip
One free space for every 12 pax
Early booking discount: 5%
Please contact us for more trip details.

The tour includes:

All meals during the trip
All accommodations during the program
Transport with car including gasoline.
Local guide
Cook
Eagle Festival tax
Border permits and National Park entrance fees
Visa support including invitation etc.

The tour excludes:

International flights

Domestic flights Ulgii-Ulaanbaatar

Visa
Travel insurance
Charges for excess baggage
Airport taxes
Individual equipment
Drinks and extra charges in hotels and inns
All alcoholic drinks
All cost

Background

Is the September Eagle Festival Tour suitable for you?

The Eagle Festival Tour does not include long driving. Golden Eagle Festival takes place 30 km out of Ulgii town. September Eagle Festival size is smaller compared to the October Eagle Festival. 40-50 eagle hunters compete in the September festival, while 60-70 eagle hunters participate in October Eagle Festival. The September Eagle Festival’s advantage is that the audience can see and photograph the events from a closer distance.

Accommodation

The ger camps and hotels are in local standards and for twin share.

Meals

You will dine at local restaurants in Ulgii and have a picnic lunch or eat in ger food courts at the Eagle Festival site. Vegetarians and restricted diet travelers should inform of the dietary requirements before arrival in Mongolia. We will arrange the meals accordingly. We will supply two 0.5L bottles of water a day. Providing one large bottle (1.5 liters) of water instead of 2 small bottles is available upon request. More information about the Mongolia meals

Guides

Our English speaking guides will guide you through whole trip program.

Tour vehicles

The tour includes a round-way domestic flight to western Mongolia. Regarding the land transport, the September Eagle Festival Tour was designed with four wheels driving Russian vans, driven by experienced, friendly, and good mechanic-drivers. Different car types are available upon request for private tours. You may check the travel vehicle details at Mongolia transportation.

September weather during the Eagle Festival

The 2024 Golden Eagle Festival takes place on 16 and 17 September. Therefore, the tour departs Ulaanbaatar on 14 September and returns to Ulaanbaatar on 18 September. It occasionally snows in the Altai mountains in September. You should expect -2°C to +10°C during daylight and below 0°C at night/in the evening/ morning. Therefore, we suggest you bring warm clothes suitable for a little below 0⁰C, including your woolen hats and gloves. Please check the DISCOVERY TOUR PACKING LIST and pack accordingly. Also, consider the free luggage allowance on domestic flights – 15 kg per person, including the handbag.

To plan your dream holiday or customize the tour exclusively for you, please check the attractions in Western Mongolia

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Golden Eagle Festival and Central Mongolia tours