Gobi Triangle and Golden Eagle Festival

Arrival in Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia. A tour guide and driver welcome you at
the airport and transfer to the hotel in 50 km. We kindly advise you to take a very good rest.

We would check out the rooms after breakfast and drive to Dundgovi province to get White Stupa Mountain. On our way, we will have lunch, which is at a local dining place. Once we arrive in the tourist camp, we check in the tourist camp. Afterwards, we will drive to White Stupa Mountain to walk and hike up. The famous mountain, which is a copper ore in mid Gobi area. The scarp of Tsagaan Suvarga is located in the south west of the Dundgovi province. It is a sheer slope that was an ancient seabed that featured a sedimentary structure that was created over millions of years. It is interesting to see this slope because it faces eastward of the sun. It also appears to be the ruins of an ancient city from far away. (Breakfast – at the hotel, Lunch – local place, Dinner – camp)

This morning, we will have breakfast at the camp. We will head to the famous valley, which is another wonder of the Gobi Desert in Mongolia. It is called Three Beauties of Gobi, a massive rocky mountain. This mountain has steep rock walls and a river flows through between the rock walls. Length of Yol Valley is 10 km. The mountain gorge is named after a bearded vulture which is called Yol in Mongolian. The valley is elevated 2800 meters above sea level and covers an area of 64 square km. Yol Valley forms a gorge that is deep and narrow. The ice field reaches several meters thick by the end of winter and it is several km long. We will stay at a different camp to rest. Meals: (BLD)

Today we will drive to “Khongor Sand dunes”, which is stretched through 130 km from the north west to the south east and its width varies 3-20km, situated between Sevrey, Zuulun and Bayan Bor high mountain ranges. The highest point of the dunes is 195 m and local people call it Duut Mankhan – Singing dunes. This dune makes a thundering or whistling sound when sands slide down in the wind.

Flat, stable and steep sand dune forms are resulted by the local wind and besides. It is believed that the sand dunes were brought here by the wind from the remnants of ancient sea bottom. There are narrow rivers called Khongor River and Seruun Bulag right in the foot of Khongoryn Els and stream through about 10 kms and create Adag Nuur (lake) right behind the Duut Mankhan. The area around the foot of sand dunes looks more like an oasis, where rain percolates through the loose sand and accumulates on the underlying pediment surfaces. We will stay at a different camp to rest. Meals: (BLD)

From the sand dunes, we will drive to historical sightseeing near Bulgan town in the South Gobi province. You will likely never forget your visit to the Flaming Cliffs in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert. This stunning setting is the stuff of ad campaigns and holiday card photos, but it’s so much more than a beautiful place. Long before the discovery of the world’s first dinosaur eggs put the Flaming Cliffs on the proverbial map, this dramatic landscape served as a resting place for the camel caravans travelling from Beijing. We will stay at a different camp to rest. Meals: (BLD)

After breakfast at the camp, we will drive to our next destination, which is about 150 km on a dirt road again from the flaming cliffs. One of the biggest monasteries in Mongolia, Ongi, was founded in 1660 and consisted of two temple complexes on the North and South banks of the river Ongi. At its heyday, Ongi monastery consisted of over 30 temples, 4 big Buddhism universities and over 1000 monks at a time. We will stay at a different camp to rest. Meals: (BLD)

As usual, we will breakfast at the camp and drive 280 km heading to KharKhorin city, the longest drive on our tour. The city is a base of the ancient capital of the Great Empire of Mongolia in the 13th century. We visit Erdene Zuu monastery, one of three monastic centers, to have basic information about Mongolia and its history.  Afterwards, we will visit the KharKhorin museum in the city. We will stay at a different camp to rest. Meals: (BLD)
Full board meals would be served. Tent stay.

After having breakfast at the camp, we would head to the next destination called Hustai National Park, where people watch wild horses Takhi – Przewalski’s horse. It is 250 km/ 155 miles away from the town on the paved road. We will Lunch and dinner at the national park in the tourist camp. Overnight in the tourist camp too. The National Park is famous for its wild horse sanctuary and different species of wildlife. We would watch documentary films about the NP in the information centre. Meals: BLD

We would check out the camp after breakfast and drive back to the capital. Today is a leisure day for us. Free afternoon and preparation for the Golden Eagle festival for next few days. We will check in a chosen hotel to take a good rest before heading to a different province in the west. Full board meals are included.

In the morning, we will check out from the hotel taking a domestic flight to Ulgii city in Bayan-Ulgii province. Ulgii is a city in western Mongolia that serves as the capital of Bayan-Ulgii province. It’s located at an altitude of 1,710 meters (5,610 feet) and has a population of 28,496 people. The town is predominantly populated by Kazakhs and thus the primary language spoken there is Kazakh.

The city is also known for its vibrant embroidery industry with works heavily inspired by Kazakh music and art; we do not forget its annual Golden Eagle Festival which celebrates the ancient Kazakhstan custom eagle hunting every October. Ulgii is the perfect place to travel to see a different side of Mongolia.

In west Mongolia, the Kazakh buckthorn hunts with horses and eagles. This is an ancestral heritage passed down through generations. According to one Kazakh eagle catcher, all Kazakh children enjoy eagle training and scouting. We will stay at a tourist camp with full board meals.

These 2 days will be spent in the Golden Eagle festival. The festival is organized outside all day long for the sake of the hunting eagles and horses. Golden eagles are born for hunting; they have incredible speed, great eyesight, and powerful feet with sharp talons. The Eagles are hooded by a specially made hood to keep them calm. It is removed when scanning areas of the steppes. The Eagles can spot even the slightest twitch from a great distance. Eagles are a very important part of the environment. By eating dead animal matter, they help with nature’s clean-up process. Eagles are also hunters, so they keep animal populations strong. They do this by killing weak, old, and slower animals, leaving only the healthiest to survive.

This fascinating festival is held by the local Kazakh minority to bring and promote their heritage to their next generation and to the world. Local Kazakhs show their eagle hunting culture and their unique traditions. It starts with the opening parade with well-dressed hunters and is about authentic competitions of eagle training skills and hunting with golden eagles. Specially trained eagles catch small stuffed animals such as foxes and hares. In addition, some uncommon cultural events and small competitions are organized including, traditional coin grabbing game while riding on horseback, Uriankhai archery competition. After enjoying the festival we will take a rest at the camp.