Golden Eagle Festival & Central Mongolia

About this trip

Day by day

1. Day1

   Arrival and City Tour

   Welcome to Mongolia. Greetings and assistance on arrival and transfer from the airport to the hotel in the city. You may need some time to relax and recover from long-flight. After a welcome lunch in a cozy grill restaurant, the city tour starts with the National History Museum followed by Sukhbaatar Main Square and Bogd Khaan Palace Museum. In the evening we will enjoy watching Mongolia’s premier traditional folk performance group. Accommodation: *Hotel (LD)
2. Day2

   Elsen Tasarkhai Sand Dune

   In the early morning, we will drive to Elsen Tasarkhai sand dune which is considered a mini Gobi. Upon arrival, we check-in the tourist camp. Here you will be riding two-humped camels over the hills and visiting a nomadic family. Mongolia is home to the largest number of two-humped Bactarian camels which are endangered in the world. In the evening we will sit around an open fire and enjoy watching the stars away from the city’s light pollution. Accommodation: GER CAMP (BLD)
3. Day3

   Kharkhorin Town

   Today morning, we will travel to Kharkhorin city. We will check-in the ger camp. Kharkhorin was once an ancient city that served as the capital of Mongol Empire for a short time. Kharkhorin’s landmark is Erdene Zuu Monastery. It is the first Buddhist Monastery in Mongolia, which was established on the ruins of ancient Kharakhorum city in the 15th century. We will see the Kharakhorum museum that contains artifacts from excavations in the ruins of Kharakhorum and Mongolian history. Accommodation: GER CAMP (BLD)
4. Day4

   Hustai National Park

   Early in the morning, we will drive to Khustai National park. We check-in to the Khustai camp and rest. After lunch, we will visit the museum of the park and in the afternoon explore the wildlife. It is one of the well-known and prestigious special protected areas in Mongolia. In addition to the takhi, there are populations of red deer, steppe gazelle, deer, boar, manul (small wild cat), wolf, and lynx. We travel through the national park with a Russian van while discovering the takhi and the wild animals. Accommodation: GER CAMP (BLD)
5. Day5

   Fly to Western Mongolia

   Transfer to the airport for the flight to Ulgii city, the center of Bayan-Ulgii province. Upon arrival, meet our local guide and have lunch at a restaurant. After lunch, visit a Kazak family to meet eagle hunters. In the evening, I returned to Ulgii city and check-in local hotel. Accommodation: *Hotel (BLD)
6. Day6

   Golden Eagle Festival

   During the two-day festival, visitors have the chance to witness the thousands of trained eagles with their trainers who are Kazakh nomad people. Many of them traveled as far as 200-300 km to compete. The festival starts with parades and competitions for costuming and hunting techniques. This festival has been celebrated since 2000 and now attracts travelers from all around the world. Each year the number of eagle hunters participating in the festival is increasing which makes the festival more colorful and spectacular. In the evening, we drive to a nomadic Kazak family where we will stay for two days during the festival. Accommodation: NOMADIC HOME-STAY (BLD)
7. Day7

   Golden Eagle Festival

   During the two-day festival, visitors have the chance to witness the thousands of trained eagles with their trainers who are Kazakh nomad people. Many of them traveled as far as 200-300 km to compete. The festival starts with parades and competitions for costuming and hunting techniques. This festival has been celebrated since 2000 and now attracts travelers from all around the world. Each year the number of eagle hunters participating in the festival is increasing which makes the festival more colorful and spectacular. In the evening, we drive to a nomadic Kazak family where we will stay for two days during the festival. Accommodation: NOMADIC HOME-STAY (BLD)
8. Day8

   Fly back to UB city and Terel NP

   Transfer to the airport for the flight back to UB city. Upon arrival at the airport, transfer to Terelj National Park. Its landscape is truly picturesque and has bizarre-shaped high mountains and cliffs, with a good amount of forest and rivers. Check-in the camp and rest. Climb up to the Aryabal temple. An afternoon horseback riding. Accommodation: GER CAMP (BLD)
9. Day9

   Ulaanbaatar City

   After breakfast, we drive back to UB city. After lunch, a guided shopping tour will be organized followed by an evening Gala dinner. Accommodation: *Hotel (BLD)
10. Day10

    Departure

    International Departure. (B)

Where you'll stay