Golden Eagle Festival tour /10 days/

During the communist period in Kazakhstan, many Kazakhs fled for Mongolia,settling down in Bayan Ulgii, an area that has been designated for the Kazakhs of Mongolia today. Kazakhs (Altaic Kazakhs or Altai-Kazakhs) living in Bayan-Ölgii Province of Mongolia continue to hunt with eagles today. There are an estimated 250 eagle hunters in the Western Mongolian province. Their falconry custom, so-called ‘horse-riding eagle falconry’, is unique in practice only with trained Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos daphanea) on horseback. Their hunting target is almost limited to Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) or Corsac Fox (Vulpes corsac). In the first week of October, 70 eagle hunters gather for the annual Golden Eagle Festival of Mongolia  They use eagles to hunt foxes and hare during the cold winter months when it is easier to see the gold colored foxes against the snow. Many Kazakh traditions have been preserved by the Kazakhs in Mongolia, eagle hunting being amongst them. Although the Kazakh government has made efforts to lure the practitioners of these Kazakh traditions back to Kazakhstan, most Kazakhs have remained in Mongolia.

The Golden Eagle Festival has been the largest gathering of eagle hunters and their eagles in the world since it started in 1999 with 70 eagle hunters participating in this event. It is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Event. The festival starts with display of eagles and hunters, and then goes into the events of eagles displaying their talents. The first event is the eagle catching fox skin dragged behind a horse, returning to their owner from a distance on command, as well as a camel race and Kazakh games of Tiyn Teru (a race to pick up a coin on the ground while on horseback), Kyz Kuar (“girl chase,” a man and woman race on horseback while the woman whips the man), and Kokpar (tug of war over a goat carcass while on horseback). On the evening of the first night is a concert of traditional Kazakh music at the theatre included in the price of a ticket.

Day 1 – 29th of September, 2020

Arrive Arrive in Ulaanbaatar, welcomed by Travel to Mongolia’s staff at UB airport. Drive to Hotel. After the lunch at restaurant, we will see Natural museum. In the evening we will visit Mongolian last king Bogdkhaans palace . Drive back to Hotel after the dinner.

Include that day:

  • Launch, Dinner 
  • Grand Hill Hotel /4 star/
  • Pick up airport
  • Museums

Day 2 – 30th of September, 2020

Fly from UB to Olgii. Arrive in Olgii. That day you will see local museum, visit souvenir shops. Same day start driving to Altay village where a famous eagle hunter lives, you will be welcomed in his wooden house. Have a welcome party, prepare sheep for you and nomadic neighbors. Everyone will have a bes parmak ( five fingers) big dinner. Overnight in his house.

Driving to Altay village 120 km from Ulgii

Include that day:

  • Breakfast, Launch, Dinner
  • Home stay /Stay at Eagle hunters family/
  • Van 4×4
  • English speaking guide

Day 3 – 1st of October, 2020

Training session on this day in the morning, how to ride a horse with a golden eagle on your arms to be ready to hunt wild animals ( such as fox, rabbit, pallas cat etc) on the Altay mountains. Enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Altay mountains with golden eagle.You will have a lot of information and experience exchanges with them.

Include that day:

  • Breakfast, Launch, Dinner
  • Home stay /Stay at Eagle hunters family/
  • Horse riding /2 hours/
  • English speaking guide

Day 4 – 2nd of October, 2020

Drive to Olgii, on the way back, you will stop by a Uriankhai ( Uriankhai is a small Mongolian ethnic minority) throat singer to listen to his throat singing. Arrive in Olgii.

Include that day:

  • Breakfast, Launch, Dinner
  • Guest house
  • Van 4×4
  • English speaking guide

Day 5 – 3rd of October, 2020

Start attending the Eagle Festival 

  • Registration and credential of Eagle Hunters
  • Opening ceremony of Annual Golden Eagle Festival
  • Competition of best Kazakh costume, eagle and horse harness
  • Horse race
  • Competition of how eagles adapted to hanters
  • “Tenge Ily” competition(Traditional coin grabbing game while ride a horse)
  • Urainhai archery competition
  • Competition of the best Kazakh costume of couples
  • Folk concert in local theatre at Ulgii town

Include that day:

  • Breakfast, Launch, Dinner
  • Guest house
  • Van 4×4
  • English speaking guide

Day 6 – 4th of October, 2020

Attend the eagle festival

  • Competition of how eagles adapted to hunters “Shyrga tartu”(eagles will be qualified how fast and smoothly catch a lure that made of rabbit or fox skin)
  • Camel race
  • “Khyz khuar” game show(Traditional horse back riding fan game for youth, boys whipped by girls if they reached by them)
  • Continuation game
  • “Kukhbar” competition(Traditional horse back riding game fight over for goat skin)
  • Award ceremony for winners of festival
  • Closing ceremony

Include that day:

  • Breakfast, Launch, Dinner
  • Guest house
  • Van 4×4
  • English speaking guide

Day 7 – 5th of October, 2020

Early morning you will start driving towards Altay Tavan bogd National park/180km from Ulgii/ where many Tuvan nomads spend their autumn. Experience differences of nomadic lifestyle. On your way you will stop to see Deer Stones.

Include that day:

  • Breakfast, Launch, Dinner
  • Home stay /Nomadic family/
  • Van 4×4
  • English speaking guide

Day 8 – 6th of October, 2020

Today you will do half day of horse riding/3 hours/ and reach 20KM Potaniin glacier which is biggest glacier in Mongolia. Camp just next to glacier. After lunch experience the glacier and come back at your camp there.

Include that day:

  • Breakfast, Launch, Dinner
  • Home stay /Nomadic family/
  • Van 4×4
  • English speaking guide

Day 9 – 7th of October, 2020

Drive back to Ulgii. 4 hour driving to Ulgii/180km/ and on your way you can take wild natures scene’s photography.

Include that day:

  • Breakfast, Launch, Dinner
  • Guest house
  • Van 4×4
  • English speaking guide

Day 10 – 8th of October, 2020

Fly to Ulaanbaatar

Include that day:

  • Breakfast, Launch, Dinner
  • H9 Hotel /4 stars/
  • Pick up airport 

Day 11 – 9th of October, 2020

Departure day and our driver will take to Chingiss Khaan international airport. Welcomed by Travel to Mongolia travel agency’s staff again.

Tour price: 1150USD/Pax

N:

Include service

Exclude service

Include service of Meals

1

A Van 4×4 with a driver.

Items of personal nature

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

2

Fuel for the trip for whole time

Beverages, alcoholic drinks, bar bills, laundry

Per day 3 bottle water for per person /1,5 liter/

3

English speaking guide

Travel and insurance

1 bottle wine during trip /0.75L/

4

Accommodation

International transportation

24 can of beer/0.5L/ during trip

5

All food, during the trip and at restaurants/Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner /

Excess baggage fee in the flight /15kg includes handbag is free of charge/

One time Mongolian traditional food  /lamb with vegetables/

6

All cooking and camping gears.

Optional activities

7

National park and border office permits (area you will go is close to China border)

Single supplement

8

Take you to Airports

Gratuity for the tour team

9

Camping equipment’s

taxi in Ulaanbaatar

10

Other small administration fees Basically, includes everything.

Domestic flight tickets

11

Pick you up from Chinggis Khan international airport

Group size

Price/Per person

1 pax

2530USD

2-3 pax

1980USD

4-6 pax

1650USD

7-9 pax

1430USD

10-12 pax

1310USD

13-15 pax

1160USD

16< pax

950USD

N:

Include service

Exclude service

Include service of Meals

1

A Van 4×4 with a driver.

Items of personal nature

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

2

Fuel for the trip for whole time

Beverages, alcoholic drinks, bar bills, laundry

Per day 3 bottle water for per person /1,5 liter/

3

English speaking guide

Travel and insurance

1 bottle wine during trip /0.75L/

4

Accommodation

International transportation

24 can of beer/0.5L/ during trip

5

All food, during the trip and at restaurants/Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner /

Excess baggage fee in the flight /15kg includes handbag is free of charge/

One time Mongolian traditional food  /lamb with vegetables/

6

All cooking and camping gears.

Optional activities

7

National park and border office permits (area you will go is close to China border)

Single supplement

8

Take you to Airports

Gratuity for the tour team

9

Domestic flight tickets

taxi in Ulaanbaatar

10

Other small administration fees Basically, includes everything.


11

Pick you up from Chinggis Khan international airport
Transport: 

This trip uses the highest level, latest model, air-conditioned private vans or 4WD vehicles for the maximum comfort on your touring days.

 

​Meals

In Ulgii, you will be dining at fine Turkish and Mongolian cuisine restaurants. Mutton, beef, rice and noodles form the basis of the Mongolian diet, so your meals will be based around this. However, the trail rations may include vegetables, eggs, peanut butter, cheese and sometimes yak! On some days there will be lunchboxes from tourist camps. It is good food and our experience has been that guests are happy with this arrangement. Please let us know in advance if you are a vegetarian. Alcohol is not provided on the trip but tourists are free to bring their own.

 

​Guide:

A Chinese, English or Russian speaking Mongolian guide will accompany the group at all times. The guide will be a native Kazakh person with great local knowledge who can deal with any requests and ensure that your holiday to become one of the most unforgettable experiences of your life.

 

Personal things to bring with you: 

Warm thin layers of clothing are the best such as bring a rain jacket, gloves and hiking booth. Don’t forgot first aid kit (medicine for headache, cold, diarrhea, runny nose; bandages; any medicine prescribed for you). All your camera equipment.