Mongolia & s Golden Eagle Festival
13 Days Starting and ending in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Visiting: Ulaanbaatar, Gobi Desert, Khongor Sand Dunes, Arvaikheer, Kharkhorin, Bayan-Olgii, Altai Mountains, Ulgii
Tour operator:
Tour code:
4329
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
- Explore the Gobi Desert including the Singing Sand Dunes
- Examine ancient petroglyphs
- Walk through the Flaming Cliffs
- Experience the Golden Eagle Festival
- Witness traditional Kazakh games
- Spend time with an Eagle Master Family
Join us for Mongolia's Eagle festival, or Golden Eagle festival, an annual traditional festival where Kazakh eagle hunters (Burkitshi) celebrate their heritage and compete to catch small animals such as foxes and hares with specially trained golden eagles, showing off the skills both of the birds and their trainers.
Prizes are awarded for speed, agility and accuracy, as well as for the best traditional Kazakh dress, and more. We visit are smaller more local Eagle Festival, allowing our travellers a more intimate experience with the Kazakh eagle hunters.
Combine this fascinating festival with exploring the fascinating Gobi Desert. Travel through the rocky mountainous terrain as well as Mongolia’s highest peaks and largest glaciers. Mingle with nomads as you learn their way of life and the challenges of living off the land.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrive In Ulaanbaatar
Location: Ulaanbaatar
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Bayangol Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Dinner
Welcome to Mongolia! Upon arrival, you will be met at Chinggis Khaan International Airport and transferred to your hotel in the centre of Ulaanbaatar (which the locals call “UB”), the capital of Mongolia. The remainder of the day is yours at leisure. This evening you will enjoy a welcome dinner where you’ll meet your fellow travellers and your guide will give a briefing on the adventures to come. Enjoy witnessing an incredible folklore concert this evening – a great introduction to Mongolian culture.
Meals
None
Accommodation
Overnight Best Western Premier Tuushin or similar
Service
Airport Transfer
Private vehicle with English-speaking guide
Day 2 - Yol Gorge
Location: Gobi Desert
Accommodation: Camp
Accommodation Name: Gobi Oasis camp or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
This morning, transfer to the airport for your 1-hour flight to the incredible Gobi.
This valley is nestled deep within the hills and is a safe haven to get away from the desert heat. Some areas of the valley are continually sheltered from the hot sun and house huge, blocks of ice that gradually melt away during the summer. It is very wide at the entrance and narrows gradually into a remarkable gorge. You will get to see wild animals such as ibex and wild sheep, and vulture. Enjoy a gentle walk through the gorge where you have the opportunity to observe the Lammergeier vulture. This vulture is also known as the ‘bearded vulture’
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation
Overnight Gobi Oasis camp or similar
Service
Airport Transfer
Private vehicle with English-speaking guide
Day 3 - Khongor Sand Dunes
Location: Khongor Sand Dunes
Accommodation: Camp
Accommodation Name: Gobi Erdene Ger Camp or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, drive through Gobi and at the end of the Altay mountain range is West beauty mountain. Arrive at your ger camp in time for lunch.
After taking a rest, you will drive on to the Khongor Sand Dunes, home to the ‘Singing Sands’. These spectacular dunes obtained their name from the noise made by the shifting sand in the wind. Feel the breeze in your hair as you ride a camel across the dunes before returning to the ger camp. Isolated from the rest of the country, the Singing Sands were a best kept secret for thousands of years. Take an easy camel ride in this area for 1 hour and take a walk amongst the sand dunes. Return to your ger camp in the evening.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation
Overnight Gobi Erdene Ger Camp or similar
Distance: 6 hour drive to Khongor Sand Dunes
Service
Private vehicle with English-speaking guide
Day 4 - Gobi - Bayanzag, Flaming Cliffs
Location: Gobi Desert
Accommodation: Camp
Accommodation Name: Gobi Oasis 2 Ger Camp or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning, drive to Khavtsgait mountain where you will see petroglyphs dating back 3000-500 years (elevation-1800m). Continue driving to Bayanzag, Flaming Cliffs. Many paleontological findings have been discovered here. The place is known as ‘Flaming Cliffs’ and was named by Roy Chapman Andrews, an American explorer who had visited Mongolia in 1922 and over the course of two years he searched
throughout the Mongolian Gobi Desert and found dinosaur fossils and dinosaur eggs about 10-15 cm. It was the first discovery of its scale and kind in the world that had been made at the time. Transfer to a local ger camp here and enjoy a good walk in the Flaming Cliffs. Sunsets are great in here, in the Gobi. Dinner at your ger camp (elevation -1300m).
Distance 3-4hour drive to Petroglyphs. Then 1 hour to ger camp. From ger camp 40 min drive to Bayanzag cliffs
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation
Overnight Gobi Oasis 2 Ger Camp or similar
Service
Private vehicle with English-speaking guide
Day 5 - Ongi Ruined Monastery - Arvaikheer Town
Location: Arvaikheer
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Arvaikheer hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, drive to Ongi Ruined Monastery. Ongi ruined monastery used to be home to 1000 lamas and once housed four universities. Anti-religious communists destroyed them in 1937. Only a single temple was renovated in 1992 (elevation 1300m).
After a picnic lunch, continue driving to Arvaikheer provincial capital town of Overkhangai province (elevation1650m).
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation
Overnight Arvaikheer hotel or similar
Distance: 3.5hour drive to ger camp to Ongi and 3hour drive to Arvaikheer town
Service
Private vehicle with English-speaking guide
Day 6 - Arvaikheer/Kharkhorin Town
Location: Kharkhorin
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Ikh Khorum hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast, we drive through the central part of Mongolia. You will notice the scenery change with more livestock and yaks in this region. We continue driving to Kharkhorin town. It is a collecting town for wheat, sea buck thorn mostly. This town used to be ancient capital of Mongols in the 13th century. Khubilai khaan moved his capital to Daidy (Beijing today) in 1270, it had lost importance and was destroyed twice. One of Mongol kings, Altan Khan decided to build a Buddhist Monastery complex on top of the ruins to stop robbing of the ancient capital ruins. This is Erdene Zuu monastery complex. Many of its parts were destroyed by anti-religious communists in the 1937. There are main temples and Tibetan temple (elevation 1500m).
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation
Overnight Ikh Khorum Hotel or similar
Distance: 3hour drive to Kharkhorin
Service
Private vehicle with English-speaking guide
Day 7 - Kharkhorin Town/Ulaanbaatar
Location: Ulaanbaatar
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Bayangol Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, head back to Ulaanbaatar. Drive through bareback mountains and sand dunes. Lunch will be taken on the way. Arrive at Ulaanbaatar and transfer to your hotel. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation
Overnight Khuvsgul Lake Hotel or similar
Distance: 5-6hour drive
Service
Private vehicle with English-speaking guide
Day 8 - Ulaanbaatar/Ulgii Town /Altai Town
Location: Bayan-Olgii
Accommodation: Camp
Accommodation Name: Altai Ger Camp or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today you’ll take a three-hour flight to Bayan-Olgii Province, where 90% of the population is Muslim Kazakh. This is the western most province in Mongolia and it has the feel of a wild west frontier town. Meet your support crew for the next leg of your Mongolian adventure before enjoying lunch in a Turkish restaurant.
Continue to drive out to Altai town. On arrival, you will transfer to your ger camp. Tomorrow is festival day. Dinner and overnight ger (elevation 2100m).
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation
Overnight Altai Ger Camp or similar
Distance: 3.5hour flight and 3-hour drive to Altai town
Service
Airport Transfer
Private vehicle with English-speaking guide
Day 9 - Eagle Festival
Location: Altai Mountains
Accommodation: Camp
Accommodation Name: Altai Ger Camp or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, you will start the day by visiting a local horse race. Mingle with the locals who have come to celebrate their unique cultural heritage.
Witness Kazakh hunters in all their glory, and see a parade of falconers on horseback, their prized eagles perched on their arms. After the parade, each hunter will demonstrate how well their bird obeys his commands by placing his eagle on a nearby cliff edge and calling it from below. It’s a spectacular sight to see these birds of prey soar down to their owners and alight on their arms.
The festival provides a unique opportunity to be up-close and be part of the festivity and to capture some incredible photographic opportunities.
The competition begins with a parade by eagle hunters with their hunting outfits and accessories. The most elaborate and beautiful adornments receive the highest marks. It’s followed by thrilling competitions. The Golden Eagles are evaluated for their speed, agility and accuracy. The festival provides a unique opportunity to be up-close and be part of the festivity and to take many incredible photographs. Return to your Ger camp. (Elevation 2100m).
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation
Overnight Altai Ger Camp or similar
Distance: 40 min drive to Horse racing field
Service
Private vehicle with English-speaking guide
Day 10 - Eagle Festival
Location: Altai Mountains
Accommodation: Camp
Accommodation Name: Altai Ger Camp or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning after breakfast you will head out for another fascinating day at the Eagle Festival. Today you will witness trained golden eagles display their speed and agility. To test their eagles’ skills, hunters drag a fox skin behind their horse, and the fastest eagle to land on the skin is considered the best hunter.
Witness traditional Kazakh games, such as aitis, a poetry duel; kyzkuar, a dating game played on horseback; and kokpar, a team sport played on horseback with a goatskin – some of you may know it as ‘goat polo’, the national sport of Afghanistan! We invite our Golden Eagle masters to join us at dinner (elevation 2100m).
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation
Overnight Altai Ger Camp or similar
Service
Private vehicle with English-speaking guide
Day 11 - Altai- Ulgii Town
Location: Ulgii
Accommodation: Camp
Accommodation Name: Altay ger camp in Ulgii or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning you will take it easy before setting off to visit a local Golden Eagle Master’s family and join them in their home for lunch. Then you drive out to Ulgii town in the afternoon. Transfer to local ger camp (elevation 1650m).
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation
Overnight Altay ger camp in Ulgii or similar
Distance: Less than 1 hour drive to Local Eagle Master family. 3-hour drive to Ulgii town.
Service
Private vehicle with English-speaking guide
Day 12 - Ulaanbaatar
Location: Ulaanbaatar
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Bayangol Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Following breakfast, we take a flight back to Ulaanbaatar city and transfer to our hotel. Visit the Gandan Monastery which is home to a huge gold-plated Buddha, a symbol of Mongolian national pride and cultural revival.
The rest of the day is at leisure until your farewell dinner this evening.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation
Overnight Best Western Premier Tuushin or similar
Distance: 3.5hour flight and 1hour drive to hotel
Service
Private vehicle with English-speaking guide
Day 13 - Departure
Location: Ulaanbaatar
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today is at leisure until it is time to transfer to the airport for your onward departure.
Meals
Breakfast
Service
Airport Transfer
What's Included
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Return airport transfers
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12 nights accommodation
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Meals as per the itinerary
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English-speaking local certified Guide
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Bottled water
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Private transportation
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Entrance fees
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Domestic flights (15kg luggage allowance)
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Eagle Festival fee
What's Not Included
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International flights
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Visas
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Travel and medical insurance
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All services, meals other than those indicated above
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Personal porters
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Any changes to the proposed and confirmed program.
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All items of a personal nature e.g. drinks, laundry, telephone calls, tips etc
Check out our Q&As
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What kind of transportation is provided during the tour?
The tour provides private transportation and domestic flights with a 15kg luggage allowance. Transfers are seamless with the assistance of an English-speaking guide.
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What type of accommodation can I expect on this tour?
You will experience a mix of modern hotels and traditional ger camps. Accommodations include stays at the Best Western Premier Tuushin, Bayangol Hotel, and various ger camps such as Gobi Oasis and Altai Ger Camp.
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What is the Golden Eagle Festival and what can I expect to see there?
The Golden Eagle Festival is a cultural event where Kazakh hunters showcase their skills with their eagles. You will see a parade of falconers on horseback, demonstrations of eagles obeying commands, and traditional Kazakh games. The festival offers a unique opportunity for photography and cultural immersion.
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Will there be opportunities to interact with local families during the tour?
Yes, you will have the opportunity to visit a local Golden Eagle Master's family and join them in their home for lunch, providing a personal insight into their way of life.
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What kind of wildlife might I see during the tour?
During the tour, especially in the Yol Gorge, you may see wild animals such as ibex, wild sheep, and the Lammergeier vulture, also known as the 'bearded vulture'.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes. Focusing on providing authentic experiences where ever you are in the world, Crooked Compass has access to a vast array of accommodation styles. From boutique properties in larger cities to local guest houses and home stays within small villages. Crooked Compass ensures that local authenticity flows through your accommodation throughout your tour without compromising standard.
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What sort of transportation is used for your tours?
Transportation utilised on a Crooked Compass escorted small group tour is a combination of a private air conditioned vehicle and local transport where appropriate. This may include a local bus ride, use of the cities metro system, a domestic flight to another city or overnight train ride.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Crooked Compass strives to be a leader in sustainable tourism. Crooked Compass is firmly committed to the principles of ethical travel. Our comprehensive Sustainable Tourism Practices policy summarises our commitments and actions. Although the very basis of our ground operations lends itself to the ethos of sustainable tourism, this policy re-iterates our commitment to: Use locally owned hotels Use locally owned ground agents Use local guides and drivers Promote community tourism projects from homestays to craft shops Support charities that work within the destinations that we travel to Carbon offset our travels
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Who runs your tours and are they experts in their fields?
Crooked Compass works with the worlds best operators who are specialists in their country, region and cities providing you with in depth local knowledge. We use local guides who live and breathe the areas they work in, making sure you experience their region, their way. We believe it is far better to have a local guide who knows a lot about a little than a text book trained Western tour guide who knows a little about a lot. Using local guides also ensures that money stays within local communities and supports the regions we visit.
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What can I expect from a Crooked Compass tour that I wouldn't get from travelling with an alternative company?
Crooked Compass provides a sensory way to understand the world – we help you live like a local, eat like a local, do what the locals do and seek the faces behind the places whilst discovering untouched lands and natural beauty. Crooked Compass tours delve deep into the heart and soul of a destination ensuring you get out of your journey all you intended and much, much more. Our intriguing itineraries have been created by travellers for travellers. Steering travellers to follow a different path, Crooked Compass’ itineraries allow you to experience the world’s most fascinating destinations in ways you never dreamed possible. It brings to life those ‘bucket list’ experiences you have yearned to do and separates the travellers from the tourists. Crooked Compass tours are culturally rich, reward travellers with unexpected encounters and uncommon rendezvous, creating truly unique, authentic travel experiences.
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Who do your tours cater for?
Crooked Compass escorted small group tours cater for those who are well travelled seeking the what’s next and what’s new. Our travellers are curious minded soft adventurers who want to uncover something more than the mainstream tourist trail. Crooked Compass tours draw travellers with an interest in sustainable tourism and conservation for the areas they visit. A Crooked Compass traveller is someone who is seeking something fresh and unique, who has a yearning for authenticity and discovery, with an appreciation for cultures, tradition and the natural world. We call them Cultural Purists.
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I am concerned about my impact on travelling through untouched regions. Can I offset?
Yes. All travellers on Crooked Compass tours have the option to offset their part of their tour’s carbon footprint by donating $4AUD (tax-deductible) at time of booking. 100% of these funds are donated to Greenfleet, an environmental non-profit organisation dedicated to protecting our climate by restoring our forests. By partnering with Greenfleet, we are confident that our carbon offset program provides genuine and lasting environmental benefits. Your offset donation funds plant trees and restore permanent native forests in Australia and New Zealand. As they grow, these forests provide many community and environmental benefits by absorbing carbon emissions, protecting our unique biodiversity, restoring habitat for native wildlife, preventing soil salinity and erosion, improving water quality and much more. If you’d like to find out more and offset the rest of your carbon emissions, visit www.greenfleet.org.au
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Low Deposit
Crooked Compass requires a minimum deposit of 20% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of crooked compass charges.
Up to 61 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.