The western Mongolian Kazakh people have an unique tradition of hunting with eagles. This tradition is celebrated with a festival, held in the Bayan Olgii province, at the Altai Mountain. This unforgettable festival displays the Kazakh hunters’ supreme skill, about 500 eagle hunters. After the festival, you are able to explore the gorgeous landscapes in the Altai mountains, picturesque glaciers, lakes, ancient rock paintings, and rocky mountains.
Overview
Day 1: Ulaanbaatar city Day 2: Flight to Bayan-Ulgii Day 3: Golden eagle Festival day one Day 4: Golden eagle Festival day two Day 5: Flight back to Ulaanbaatar city Day 6: Chonjin Boldog, Terelj Park Day 7: Departure
Day: 1. Ulaanbaatar city
Arrival at Ulaanbaatar city. Our team will pick you from the airport and transfer to the hotel. After refreshment at the hotel, we start our city tour which includes Chinggis square, Gandan monastery, Zaisan hill and welcome dinner at Mongolian restaurant.
Day: 2. Bayan-Ulgii
Fly to Western Mongolia to Bayan-Olgii province. Depart from UB early in the morning and arrive at Ulgii after 3 hours of flight. Our drivers will pick you up from Ulgii airport and take you to your hotel. Lunch at the local restaurant, we will drive to “Boken Mountain” which is about 2700 meters high from sea level, to see the Ulgii town from up high. You will have a great view to take landscape pictures. Then, we will visit a local nomad family in the region to observe the way of living of Kazakh people. Late afternoon, we will be back to our hotel and have dinner at the local restaurant in town.
Day: 3- 4. Golden Eagle festival
It is going to be the most exciting 2 days. After the breakfast at our hotel, we would move to Hunter’s hill around 10: 00AM in the morning which is the place where the eagle festival is going to be held. Festival program info and schedule will be provided to everyone before breakfast. At the hunter's hill, everyone can be free to see the hunting or to take photos. Our guides are not able to interpret or guide with you all the time at the hunter’s hill. But if you need assistance anytime you can go to our “Gers” at the eagle festival site.
During the festival, we will keep updating you with the events happening there. We will have our own Ger at the festival site, so anytime, you can come to rest or to get warmed up and have tea and coffee. Lunch will be served at the Ger during festival hours. We will have dinner back in the town in a restaurant.
Day: 5. Ulaanbaatar city
Fly back to Ulaanbaatar city. Visit the Bogd Khan Palace museum in the afternoon. See Mongolian folk and dance concert.
Day: 6. Terelj National Park
Drive to Chonjin Boldog where you can see the Giant Mongolian Great Khan Chinggis Khan Monument on horse and see its museum and visit Terelj National park and Ariyabal Buddhist meditation temple. Hiking up a hill to see the temple. Great panoramic view and photo shooting from the top.
