Eagle Hunting is one of the most noble and awe inspiring unions of beast and man. Get an inside look at this truly ancient and wonderful art.
The Kazakh minority in the west of Mongolia still practice the ancient tradition of hunting with Golden Eagles. Each September and October, Western Mongolia hosts the Eagle Festival in a spectacular two-day festival. Watch as Eagles land on their master’s arm while he is riding a horse at full speed, and other incredible competitions. This trip involves hiking through the Tsambagarav Mountain National Park (110.960 hectares) which contains numerous glaciers and snow-capped mountains, with a number of nice valleys and gorges. The park is host to spectacular scenery, diverse wildlife and numerous Turkic stone-men and petroglyphs. Enjoy mountain hiking, horse riding in the popular snow covered Tsambagarav mountain (4195 meters above sea level). Stay with a Kazakh Eagle Hunter family throughout the trip. Following the hunt there is entertainment in Kazakh gers, which differ from the usual Mongol gers in that they are highly decorated with woven carpets and textiles wall hangings.
Join us and come on this adventure of a lifetime to one of the most unique festivals in the entire world.
Traditional Ger Camps & Hotel, Nomadic Families.
Once you are in the countryside exploring Mongolia it is our preference to stay with local nomadic families and their Ger camps. Gers will be shared by 4-5 travellers when we stay with a nomadic family ger camps. As a Mongolian company we prefer to support these families financially, and help support their livelihood. We are sure this resonates with our travelers who enjoy engaging with their culture and way of life on the steppe. As well as directly supporting local herders, you can experience this rich traditional way of life first hand. You will stay in the Hotel in Bayan-Ulgii for some nights.
Please consider that travelling in the countryside of Mongolia can be quite remote. There are often no paved roads so driving can be bumpy and can take a little longer than you might be used to. Also, given the remoteness, western style comforts may not be available.
Western style and luxury options are available in some parts of Mongolia in the form of Tourist ger camps. Ger camps have comfortable beds, hot showers and western style amenities. These are not included in the price quoted in this itinerary. However, if you think that you would prefer to have access to these western style comforts then please let us know and we can adjust the quote for your itinerary.
Most of the meals on this tour are included in the tour price. All included meals will be prepared from fresh local produce. The majority of the shopping for food will be done before the trip departs, and fresh goods, such as meats, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products, will be bought en-route during the trip from supermarkets, local shops and markets. Breakfasts will generally consist of breads and cereals, if time allows a warm breakfast may be prepared. Many lunches will be provided en-route and will be light meals such as sandwiches and/or salads or local restaurants. All evening meals will be freshly-prepared hot meals, and will consist of a variety of continental and local dishes. Our COOK/GUIDE will organize the meal preparation and lead the way here. Vegetarian meals and other dietary requirements can be catered for but need to be specified prior to arrival
Summer months in Mongolia are from early June to mid September. Although the Mongolian summers are hot and dry with occasional rain, the temperature can fluctuate as much 14-20 degrees centigrade between day and night. So be prepared for all weather conditions.
Sleeping bag (we can provide sleeping bag, if your luggage is full), sleeping bag liner, walking poles, sunscreen, lip balm, a hat, long underwear, shorts, comfortable footwear, hiking boots, sanitary hand wipes, sunglasses, prescription medications (if needed), rain gear, flashlight, gloves.
