Golden Eagle festival Mongolia 2021

Duration: 6  days, 5 nights
Type: Cultural and Soft-Adventure
Level: Moderate
Best season:  Autumn
Activities: Overland tour, Watching Eagle Festival , Visiting local kazak family, Hiking
Transportation: 4WD 
Meals: Local and basic
Accommodation: 2 - Kazak nomadic homestay, 2-night local guest house, 1-guest vger 

Why this trip is good:
The Eagle Festival or Golden Eagle Festival is a traditional annual festival held in Bayan-Ulgii province in Mongolia. At the eagle festival, Kazakh eagle hunters (Burkitshi) celebrate their heritage and compete in catching small animals such as foxes and hares with specially trained golden eagles thus showing off the skills of both the birds and their trainers. Dressed in full eagle hunting regalia and mounted on decorated groomed horses, the entrants compete for the awards of Best Turned out Eagle and Owner; Best Eagle at Hunting Prey and Best Eagle at Locating Its Owner from a Distance. Other sporting activities include horse racing, archery and the highly entertaining Bushkashi - goatskin tug of war on horseback.

Sustainability: Through tourism we help local nomadic people to preserve and portray their culture and lifestyle, while protecting nature and the environment. We help our tourists and visitors create a friendship with the local nomadic communities. Since New Milestone Tours was founded, we have been a benefactor economically and educationally for many communities in the remote regions. Your purchase of this trip not only enriches you but you become a patron in helping youth in this province by providing school kits that include things such as: uniforms, backpacks, notebooks, pens, pencils, etc. The local communities not only benefit from the income they derive from tourism but also from the exchange of cultures by learning from you about your country.
Meta tag: Visiting Mongolian Nomadic Community in Eight Lakes Self-Guided Trekking
Meta description: Cultural trekking tour in Eight Lakes and Orkhon Valley Mongolia to learn and experience nomadic lifestyle and traditions  

Included:
- All meals indicated on the itinerary
- All ground transportation 
- An English-speaking tour guides
- Activities (wildlife and hiking)
- Attractions places fee
- Golden Eagle festival ticket
- Domestic flight (round way)
- All national park or other entrance fee
- Drinking water and snacks       

Excluded:
- Travel insurance
- Additional tours to places not on the itinerary
- Additional horse riding and camel riding
- Hotel in Ulaanbaatar 

Day by Day itinerary
Day 1: Fly to Ulgii for 2.5 hours and drive to Altsantsogts county
Our driver will pick you up from your hotel and drop you off at the airport where you will fly to Ulgii city, Bayan-Ulgii Province. When you arrive in Ulgii you’ll meet with our local guide and driver. We will drive to Altantsogts rock painting which is the largest and most famous rock painting in Mongolia. As with most of western Mongolia, Altantsogts is the homeland of ethnic Kazakhs. Then, we will take a short hike to the Tsambagarav mountain. This is Western Mongolia’s second highest mountain and it is permanently snow-capped. After these activities, we will drive to a Kazak nomadic family for an overnight stay.
Meals: BF, L, D
Accommodation: Kazak nomadic family homestay

 Day 2: Drive to Altai county and visit Eagle Hunter families
Ready for a highlight of the trip! Drive to Altai county. We will visit a Kazakh Eagle Hunter's family and have the opportunity to learn about Kazakh Eagle hunting skills. It is a great way to see Kazak’s in their regular daily life and experience their amazing hospitality. On the way to the Kazak Eagle Hunter's family, we will stop by Tolbo Lake. It is about 50km south of Ulgii. This saltwater lake is high (2080m). The shoreline is treeless and the water is clean. It is a great place for scenic photos.
Meals: BF, L, D
Accommodation: Eagle hunter family homestay

Day 3:  Around Altai county and Hiking to the Nutsgent Lake
We will explore more of this scenic region and drive to Nutsgent Lake which is one of the highest lakes in western Mongolia. Here, we will do a short hike and then we will drive to the Uriankhai family and learn about their culture and lifestyle. We will learn archery in both the Mongolian and Uriankhai styles. Dinner will be traditional fare with the Urainkhai family and we will then return to our guest house for the night.
Meals: BF, L, D
Accommodation: Guest ger

Day 4:  Eagle Festival day
Ready for THE highlight of the trip! We will drive to the Eagle Festival or Golden Eagle Festival . This festival is an annual traditional festival organized in Bayan-Ulgii province of Mongolia. At the Eagle Festival, Kazakh eagle hunters celebrate their heritage and compete to catch small animals such as foxes and hares with specially trained golden eagles, showing off the skills of both the birds and their trainers.
Accommodation: Local guest house
Meals: BF, L, D
 

Day 5: Eagle festival day and Ulgii city tour
We will continue our stay at the Eagle Festival, then drive to Ulgii city. In Ulgii, we will visit the following places:
- Muslim mosque
- Local museum
- Flea-market
- “Peace peak” for Ulgii city viewpoint
Accommodation: Local guest house
Meals: BF, L, D

Day 6: Ulgii - Ulaanbaatar
After breakfast, we will take you to a local airport for a flight back to Ulaanbaatar. Once you arrive in Ulaanbaatar, if time allows, we will visit the following places:
·        Sukhbaatar Square – Central point of Ulaanbaatar, government building, and Genghis Khan's Memorial.
·        Gandan Monastery – is one of the largest Buddhist monasteries in Mongolia; the main destination for pilgrims and monks.
·        National History Museum of Mongolia – Great place to be introduced of Mongolian history, culture and ethnic groups.
·        Zaisan Hill – This peak provides a panoramic view of the capital city
Meals: BF, D

more than 5 people 2050 USD pp
 3-4 people 2150 USD pp
 2 people 2400 USD pp
 1 person 2800 USD pp