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Gobi Desert to Golden Eagle Festival Tour 🇲🇳

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$6,400.00

Experience the captivating beauty of Mongolia and immerse yourself in the exhilarating Eagle Festival—a mesmerizing celebration of culture and tradition.

Reviews 1 Review

5/5
Vacation Style Holiday Type
- Jungle
- Snow & Ice
Camping, Discovery, Festivals, History, Wildlife
Activity Level Moderate
Group Size Small Group
10

All about the Gobi Desert to Golden Eagle Festival Tour 🇲🇳.

Embark on an awe-inspiring journey through the mystical expanse of the Gobi Desert, an iconic landscape steeped in ancient history and natural wonders. As you traverse the vast dunes and rugged terrain, you’ll be captivated by the desert’s raw beauty and timeless allure.

Explore hidden oases, ancient petroglyphs, and nomadic settlements, gaining insight into the rich culture and traditions of Mongolia’s desert dwellers.

But the adventure doesn’t end there. Experience the excitement and grandeur of the Golden Eagle Festival, a vibrant celebration of Mongolia’s nomadic heritage and the age-old art of eagle hunting.

Guides

The majority of our company’s guides are English speaking. We also have guides who speak German, French, Spanish, and Japanese. They are all friendly and helpful and most of them were born and raised in the Mongolian countryside. Therefore, they have good knowledge about every aspect of Mongolia. The local equestrians will help you when riding a horse and camel. The guide will fly from Ulaanbaatar to Ulgii with a group of travelers. For small groups and private tours, an English-speaking Kazakh guide serve you. The advantage of having a Kazakh guide is they communicate with the Kazakhs and Eagle Hunters well. Alternatively, a guide can fly with you from Ulaanbaatar, and this is subject to a price increase because of the high price of the Eagle Festival flight.

Transportation

The tour includes a round-way domestic flight to western Mongolia. Regarding land transport, four wheels driving Russian vans serve for group tours, and Russian vans and jeeps for private tours in western Mongolia. In the Gobi Desert, Korean and Japanese vans serve for group tours, and vans or jeeps serve for private tours.

Marvel at the skill and agility of Kazakh eagle hunters as they showcase their bond with these majestic birds of prey, participating in thrilling competitions and demonstrations. Immerse yourself in the festival’s lively atmosphere, filled with traditional music, dance, and festivities that offer a glimpse into the soul of the Mongolian steppes.

From the boundless landscapes of the Gobi Desert to the cultural extravaganza of the Golden Eagle Festival, this journey promises an unforgettable blend of adventure, exploration, and cultural immersion in one of the world’s most captivating destinations.

The tour package inclusions and exclusions at a glance

What is included in this tour?Items that are included in the cost of tour price.

The tour includes:

2 nights in a five star hotel in Ulaanbaatar
10 nights in Ger camps
4wd vehicle transfer
Return domestic flight
English speaking guide
Meals as indicated in the itinerary.
Daily bottled water
Horse & camel riding
Entry fees to national parks and museums
Eagle Festival ticket

What is not included in this tour?Items that are not included in the cost of tour price.

The tour excludes:

International travel
Excess baggage fee in the domestic flight
Bar bills, laundry, telephone calls
Travel & medical insurance
Visa fee
Single supplements
Optional activities & additional services
Gratuity for guides & drivers/optional

Day 1 Arrive in Ulaanbatar

Our driver will meet you at the airport and transfer you to a centrally located hotel. Leisure day to relax and discover the city.
Day 2 Tsagaan Suvarga colorful mud cliffs

Tsagaan Suvarga means ”White Stupa.” It is one of the most famous highlights in the Gobi Desert. Tsagaan Suvarga is a spectacular natural formation of colorful, massive mud cliffs that look like stupas. Hiking through these cliffs provides us the chance to take some amazing photographs.
Day 3 Drive to Gobi Gurban Saikhan Mountain National Park, visit Eagle Valley

The Gobi Gurban Saikhan Mountain is a beautiful national park, rich in wildlife and scenic places. Among the picturesque valleys, Yoliin Am/Eagle Valley is accessible by car. After our vehicle brings us to a designated parking area, we will walk through the resplendent valley into the depths of a sheer rock canyon, where you’ll notice very little sunlight intrudes. As such, it has ice until the end of June. The hiking continues for 2.5 to 3 hours for travel into the valley and back to the vehicle. Bearded eagles, elusive wild sheep, and ibexes are indigenous to this valley.
Day 4 Khongor Sand Dunes and dromedary camel riding

The journey will continue to Khongor, the tallest solid dunes. Upon reaching Khongor, we visit a nomad family, ride dromedary camels, and climb one of the dunes, depending on how much physical challenge you wish to face. If you climb one of the tallest dunes, spread the sand northwards against the wind to find out why locals call the dunes ”Singing Sand.” The Gobi Desert views are fantastic from the top of the dunes.
Day 5 Flaming Cliffs and Khavtsgait rock drawing

First, we travel to the Khavtsgait Valley in the West Saikhan Mountain of the Gurban Saikhan Mountain National Park to explore Khavtsgait rock drawing which dates back to the Late Bronze Age and early Iron Age. After our visit to the rock drawing we have a 1 km hike on the return journey. Our adventure will continue to the Flaming Cliffs, where American explorer Roy Chapman Andrews found the remains of dinosaurs. The first dinosaur nest found in Flaming Cliffs had research importance that the dinosaurs laid eggs. After relaxing at the Gers, escaping from the afternoon sun, we will enjoy exploring the cliffs in search of dinosaur fossils we may find and take evening pictures of the Flaming Cliffs.
Day 6 Drive to Ongi Monastery on the open steppe

This morning we will visit the Gobi tree grove Bayanzag. This tree only grows in the Central Asian desert. Next, drive through slate mountains and on 80 km Ongi steppes heading to Ongi Monastery. Ongi Monastery was one of the seven biggest monasteries in Mongolia. There were two separate monasteries consisting of more than 30 temples on the shores of the Ongi River, surrounded by the Gobi Desert mountains. The temples were destroyed during the socialist purge of the 1930s. Now the ruins of the monasteries involve an expanse area. Visit a new active temple and a Ger museum, explore the monastery ruins and climb a nearby mountain, which rewards stunning views of the surrounding areas.
Day 7 Kharkhorin, ancient Monastery Erdenezuu

Our today’s journey takes place in the transition zone from the Gobi desert to the mountain steppes. Kharkhorin, formerly known as Karakorum, which was the capital of Genghis Khan’s Great Mongol Empire in the 13th century. After the Mongolian capital moved to Beijing and the fall of the Empire, Min soldiers destroyed the abandoned Karakorum in 1388. Today, in the vast valley of the Orkhon River, the awe-inspiring ancient monastery Erdenezuu coexists with Kharkhorin town. See some valuable religious articles in the monastery museum, and view its stunning architecture. Visiting the Karakorum Museum is also part of today’s program.
Day 8 Visit nomads, horse riding and return to Ulaanbaatar

Today is the last day you spend in the beautiful countryside of Mongolia. On our way to Ulaanbaatar, we will visit a horse-herding nomad family, ride horses on the steppes and have a nomadic lunch.

Arrive in Ulaanbaatar and transfer to your hotel.
Day 9 Fly to Ulgii town

We will pick you up from your hotel at 11:50 AM and transfer you to the airport for the 14:45 to 15:45 Ulgii flight. Land in Ulgii and check in at a Ger camp. Next, a short drive to Ulgii town and climb Zaisan Hill to see the panoramic view of the town. Return to your Ger camp after dinner.
Day 10 Visit Eagle Hunter Kazakhs and Ulgii Town Tour

Today, you visit an eagle-hunting Kazakh family to observe the life of the eagle hunters and communicate with both the eagles and hunters in person. In the afternoon, you will visit the Ulgii Museum and market.
Day 11-12 Golden Eagle Festival

The impressive Golden Eagle Festival starts with a parade of eagle hunters dressed in traditional hunting clothes, riding horses and holding their eagles in their right arms. There are up to 60 eagle hunters participating in the festival. Those will be 2 full days to see the eagle hunting festival, competitions, hunting techniques, the Eagles’ agility, and ability.
Day 13 Fly back Ulaanbaatar

Fly back to Ulaanbaatar from 10:40 to 12:40. On this final day our driver will transfer you to y0ur hotel if you’re staying another night.

Eagle hunting in Mongolia is a winter sport

Just under a third of Mongolians are nomadic or semi-nomadic

Nowhere are horses more central to daily life than in Mongolia.

Accommodation

In the Gobi Desert and central Mongolia, you will stay in traditional dwelling Ger’s at a Ger camp. After returning from the Gobi Desert, you will spend two nights in a centrally located five star hotel in Ulaanbaatar. The accommodation in Ulgii is of very local standard compared to the Ger camps in the Gobi Desert. In Ulgii, you will stay at a local hotel for 3 nights.

What is Ger Camp?

Ger camps, featuring the traditional roundhouses of nomadic life, are the main accommodation in the countryside during the tours. The Ger camps are located close to the main attractions or in scenic areas in the appropriate day’s driving distance from one another. Mongolian camp has approximately 15-40 Ger’s, a large Ger restaurant or a house restaurant serves European and Mongolian meals. Some Ger camps have game rooms and open playgrounds. Flush toilets and showers are located in separate blocks from the Ger accommodations. There are several Ger camps featuring attached private bathroom Ger’s and those Ger’s are considered en suite. If you wish to stay at the en suite Ger’s, please inform us in advance and we will gladly arrange an en suite Ger for an additional fee. The Ger camp staff work hard to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable stay for their guests. Some of the Ger camp staff speak basic English while others speak English and other languages fluently.

About the Ger dwelling

Many tourists find that “The Ger’s are a cozy and comfortable accommodation.” A Ger is a traditional Mongolian felt-covered roundhouse style structure with a wooden frame; the main feature of Ger’s is that they are collapsible and portable homes, suitable for nomadic living. The exterior and interior walls and roof of modern Ger’s are covered with white canvas making them more comfortable and airy living spaces. A center-top window and bottom natural air conditioner design of this round shaped, circle dwelling allow the Ger’s to always have air circulation and good energy.

The Ger Accommodation Interior

Each Ger accommodation features 2-4 single beds with clean linens, an alter, night tables, a dining table, chairs, hangers and a charming wood burning stove. Slippers are available at the showers or provided in the Ger’s. Visitors find that staying in a Ger is an essential part of their Mongolian experience. The camp Ger is lockable with a padlock as a precaution.

The Ger Camp Electricity

The Ger’s have a single electric light bulb and some of them include a socket (220-V Asian-style plug and you may bring your adapter) to charge batteries. In other camps in remote areas, guests also have the option to charge batteries at camp restaurants and lodges. Ger camps in remote areas supply electric power by generator, available at certain times of the days. The paths are lit in the evenings, and lights are turned off at night in order to not attract flies and other insects. Therefore, bringing a flashlight/torch is recommended.

The Ger Camp Heating

The wood-burning stove warms the Ger quickly but keep in mind that Ger camps in the Gobi desert have a limited supply of wood. Ger camp staff should attend to the fire several times when required and on request. Guests have the option to request a small amount of wood to self-manage their Ger stoves. Extra blankets are provided upon request.

The tour package inclusions and exclusions at a glance.

No FencesWide open spaces

Unbelivable Night SkiesEndless Stars

This tour includes overnight stays in ger camps in the countryside, a local hotel in Ulgii, and a night hotel in Ulaanbaatar. The itinerary does not involve demanding physical activities. Traveling in Mongolia always requires long driving through changing landscapes and steppes with scenic views. You will drive approximately 3.5 to 6 hours a day. Day 1 is the longest day, with 7-hour driving plus 1-hour lunch on the way. The itinerary includes some light activities, such as 1-3 hours of soft hiking and horse and camel riding with the help of local wranglers. Khongor sand dune climbing is the most challenging experience, but it is not mandatory. You can enjoy the sand dunes and the view while climbing one of the lower dunes. You will spend 5-7 hours outdoors watching the Eagle Festival for 2 days. Thus, we suggest you wear suitable clothes for September near 0⁰C.

Tour meals are included as indicated in the itinerary.
In the Gobi Desert, ger camps serve occasional European but mainly Mongolian meals. Meat is the main ingredient for meals and is served for lunch and dinner with vegetables, salads, and soups. There will be more meat in traditional Mongolian meals.
A typical breakfast includes tea or coffee, bread, jam, butter, eggs, and sausage. There are some cookies, cheese, cereals, pancakes, and more at some ger camps for breakfast.
For lunch, meals include salads, Mongolian soups, main course (pasta, rice, vegetables, beef/mutton/chicken/fish near lakes/rivers), dessert, and tea.
Ger camps serve salads, the main course, a dessert, and tea for dinner. You will join nomads for nomadic lunch for one day. Different types of meals offered simultaneously are not customary in Mongolian tradition.

In Ulgii, you will eat in Kazakh, Mongolian, and Turkish restaurants. A cook will prepare meals in a ger during the Eagle Festival.
If you are a vegetarian or have other dietary restrictions, please inform us in advance, and we will make arrangements accordingly. We will supply two 0.5L bottles of water a day. Providing one large bottle (1.5 liters) of water instead of 2 small water bottles is available upon request.

In the Gobi Desert and central Mongolia, you will stay in traditional dwelling gers of the ger camp. After returning from the Gobi Desert, you will stay 2 nights in a centrally located 3* hotel in Ulaanbaatar. The accommodation in Ulgii is of very local standard compared to the ger camps in the Gobi Desert. In Ulgii, you will stay at a local hotel for 3 nights.

Visiting Mongolia in September will be a delightful experience. The summer crowds will be ebbed away from the Gobi Desert. Temperatures start to drop, though still comfortable and warm enough to enjoy outdoor activities. It occasionally snows in Mongolia in September. September Gobi Desert daylight temperature fluctuates between +8°C to +20°C and around +2°C to +10°C at night/in the evening/ morning. Western Mongolian temperature is 5-10°C lower than the Gobi Desert.
Hence, we suggest you bring warm clothes suitable around 0⁰C, including your woolen hats and gloves. Also, please consider the free luggage allowance on domestic flights – 15 kg per person, including the handbag.

Overall Rating

5/5

Sanjeev Jha

Reviewed On 26/01/2017

5/5

You have to be crazy about adventure tours to build a theme that displays the tours so elegantly that a person browsing the tours on site literally falls in love with place even before booking the tour.