Nomadic migration and Hunting with Eagle combined Photography tour /10 days/

The country, known as “land of blue sky”, has about 250 cloudless days a year. Average temperatures over most of the country are below freezing from November through March and close to it in April and October. Winter days are mainly – 25 °C (-13 °F) but sometimes can drop to −35 °C (−34 °F) in most years.

Every season, these nomadic shepherds move their livestock to different pastures. During the seasonal spring migration in western Mongolia Kazakh nomads herd their horses, camels, yaks, cattle, sheep, and goats from their winter pasture to the spring grasslands. Their spring home in Tavan Bogd National Park in western Mongolia.The Kazakhs of western Mongolia, known for hunting with eagles, are a nomadic people whose lives revolve around the movement of their livestock. Between February and April, about 200 families travel cross the Altai mountains on a 150km journey – it takes them about five,six days. Most of the nomads chooses to move their animals in February – before the lambing season. While the journey can be much harder than in March or April, it should mean fewer fatalities among his flock of pregnant ewes. Crossing frozen lakes and mountain passes, the nomadic Kazakhs of western Mongolia make an epic journey with their livestock every spring.

Most of the families and possessions travel to their spring camp on a truck, but the livestock must cross the mountains on foot to find fresh pastures.

The herders’ camels carry frozen meat and a stove so the men can cook up a hearty evening meal. Some is kept for lunch the next day to be eaten with bread. The nomadic diet is heavy with meat and dairy products. Few vegetables grow in western Mongolia and imported produce would quickly freeze solid during winter journeys. There are clusters of drovers’ huts dotted along the route. Provided by the Mongolian government, they are positioned at popular overnight camping spots and near the high mountain passes where bad weather often forces herders to seek shelter.

Camels carry everything that might be needed to survive in the wild – but in reality herders will only need to camp out if they are stopped by bad weather or if the migration route is busy and the drovers’ huts are full. The small huts that provide shelter for people on the move can fill up quickly. Herders bring animal skins to sleep on. Each day families starts to move the animals before first light when the temperature is still very low.

Neighbouring families often make the journey together, but there can be problems when different herds accidently begin to mix. Separating them is hard and time consuming. 

The herders carry long-wave radios so they can listen to weather reports. If the weather gets too bad on the days they plan to cross high passes, they must wait until it improves. On the lower sections of the migration route where there is no snow on the ground, the wind can quickly whip up a dust storm. The herders must then round up all the animals and wait for the wind to die down. 

As the animals begin to climb, the weather becomes harsher. So there’ll be less grass. Since that’s what the animals eat, they could be at risk. There are some really bad weather. Sometimes herders lose cattle, and they would die of cold or because of the storms. Their life revolves around finding pasture for the herds, and every spring, families on a risky journey.

During the so-called transhumance, entire families play a game of chance with their animals and their health, as they cross iced rivers and travel on narrow roads at an altitude of 2,000 metres. In the icy mountains, the temperature can reach -40C and there is always the threat of wolves attacking the herd.

This tradition offers a magnificent spectacle. The chance to experience this unique lifestyle was the motivation for a rather unconventional trip.

Date Itinerary Road/km/ Duration  Transport Address GPS coordination Foods Accommodation
Day 1 Arrive in Ulaanbaatar and pick you up our driver from airport stay at hotel n/a n/a Mini van /For pick up airport/

Narnii, Tuslax zam 64, Ulaanbaatar

 

   B+D Alpha hotel/4 star/
Day 2

Fly to Ulgii city. After lunch you will drive to Dayan lakes area. There is live three eagle hunter’s family. They are stay summer camping spot. They are brothers. Mr. Talab, Mr. Bazarbai, Mr. Aitkhaval. And they are living each own Ger with families. Next day they are ready move to autumn camping spot and waiting us.

 

 190km 4 hour Russian van 4×4 /Furgon/ Altai village Shar govi

48°12’46.92″N

89°26’10.90″E

B+L+D

For dinner you will have Kazakh’s traditional food meat collection

 Ger camp
Day 3 Today Preparation day of the Autumn Migration. And you take pictures with few eagle hunters /3 eagle hunter family live there/. And you can take pictures of Nomadic life style       Sagsai village, Dayan lake

48°31’7.71″N

89° 0’55.42″E

B+L+D

 

 Ger camp
Day 4-7

Morning will start the migration. The autumn Migration is Kazakh nomads moving by camel and loading all of nomads Ger /Ger is like big tent. All time nomads were lived in the Ger now still living in the Ger/ and equipment’s on the camel also herding the animals with Eagle hunters. It will continue 5 days and you are will follow by car during the migration. Destination is 170 km long.

On your way you are will through colorful mountain, snow mountain lakes, cross rivers and forest. You are will shoot pictures of beautiful landscape and animals also wildlife, wild-nature, scene of Nomads migration and Nomads lifestyle. Also you will spend 5 days with Eagle hunters and you can shoot eagle hunter pictures chance more.

 Per day 30km between 35km n/a Russian van 4×4 /Furgon/ Sagsai village area

48°58’6.26″N

89°58’11.27″E

 B+L+D Ger camp
Day 8 Finally we can reached on Mr.Bazarbai’s autumn camping spot.Today we will organize little festival of the Eagle hunters. Including 10 around Eagle hunters. On the Festival Eagle Competition of how eagles adapted to hunters, 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), Finally Eagle hunters will competition real hunting by foxes. n/a n/a n/a Sagsai village 48°47’11.72″N 89°46’37.58″E B+L+D Ger camp
Day 9 Afternoon You will drive to Ulgii city. 25km 40 minute Russian van 4×4 /Furgon/ Altai tavan Bogd national park

49°11’2.28″N

88° 5’40.18″E

 B+L+D Ger camp
Day 10 You will fly to Ulaanbaatar n/a 3 hours Airplane

Narnii, Tuslax zam 64, Ulaanbaatar

 

47°54’31.49″N

106°55’46.98″E

 B+L+D Alpha hotel
Day 11 Departure day. Our staff take you to airport. 15km n/a Bus Chinggis Khaan international airport, Ulaanbaatar

47°50’26.94″N

106°46’12.27″E

 n/a n/a

Group size

Price/Per person

1 pax

2790USD

2-3 pax

1980USD

4-6 pax

1850USD

7-9 pax

1680USD

10-12 pax

1410USD

13-15 pax

1280USD

16< pax

1150USD

 

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.

    Tour itinerary of Migration and Eagle hunters photography tour