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Eagle festival Mongolia
9 days
We will explore beautiful Western Mongolian Altai mountains & steppes, glaciers, golden eagle & hunters and visit to Mongolian, Kazakh nomads so you can learn nomadic way of life
Overview
The Golden Eagle Festival or Eagle Festival is an annual traditional festival held in Bayan-Ölgii aimag, Mongolia. In the eagle festival, 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.
The Eagle Festival is held during the first weekend in October. Dark, rocky mountainous terrain forms the backdrop to the festivities, which incorporate an opening ceremony, parade, cultural exhibitions, demonstrations and handcrafts in the center of the town of Ölgii, followed by sporting activities and competitions 4 km outside of town towards the mountains.
A smaller festival, the Sagsai Golden Eagle Festival on 17-18 September each year especially for photographers, cinematographers and photo journalists, and the Altai Kazakh Eagle Festival, is also held each year in the nearby village of Sagsai in the last week of September. It follows much the same pattern as the larger Golden Eagle Festival, with about 40 eagle hunters participating.
Tour Brief: Duration: 8 nights / 9 days
Distance: 3580kms
Group: Min 2 - Max 12
Season: September-October
Itinerary
Day 1 Visit in Ulaanbaatar (20 July)
Arrival at the airport, meeting with our driver and guide. Transfer to your hotel, settling in and rest. We will take you in the restaurant. Let's immerse ourselves in the heart of the Mongolian history, in the wonderful National History Museum. Three floors of a rich, glorious, violent and noble past, from prehistory to Soviet period, including the creation of the great Mongolian Empire by Genghis Khan. Walk in the centre of Ulan-Bator. Discovery of Gengis Khan Square and the House of Parliament. Then Mongolian traditional show: folkloric dances, contortion, and of course khoomi, the overtone singing. Welcome dinner in Mongolian style restaurant. Overnight in the hotel. B/L/D
Day 2 Travel to Genghis Khan statue
Toady we will drive to “Genghis Khan Statue Complex” (50km about 2 hours) which is currently the biggest (40m high) equestrian statue in the world. From here, we'll use an elevator or walk to the head of the horse through chest and back neck of the horse, where we have a farseeing and good panorama view over the complex area. Afternoon will drive to Terelj and visit to nomad family to taste their dairy products and learn more about the nomadic way of life.Overnight in the ger with local family. B/L/D
Day 3 Flight to Bayan-Ulgii
After breakfast we will pick up from designated hotel for a transfer to the airport for a Domestic Flight to Bayan-Ulgii. Arrive in Bayan-Ulgii and explore the city. You will be picked up at the airport by your guide and brought to your homestay accommodation. Visit the city (museum, market, park, viewpoint and mosque). B/L/D
Day 4 Kazak family visit
Toady we will visit the village Sagsai soum and meet the eagle hunter. Drive by a Jeep or minibus to the village Sagsai soum (approximately 3-4 hour drive). We will weet Charknat, eagle hunter and his family at their home and to taste their dairy products. See the eagles in training, ride horses and enjoy the nomadic life style. Hunters typically keep their birds for 10 years before releasing them back into the wild. Sleep with the family in their ger (yurt). B/L/D
Day 5 Journey with eagle hunter
After breakfast we will ride with the eagle hunters to the festival.
Ride with the eagle hunters and their eagles on their horses to the festival. The journey will take one day. If you don’t want to ride a horse, you can drive to the festival by car. Sleep with the family in their yurts. B/L/D
Day 6,7 Enjoy the Eagle festival
Enjoy two unforgettable days at the festival. Visit the opening ceremonies, the different competitions, and the awards ceremony.
The event typically has 60 to 70 Kazakh eagle hunters displaying their skills. The events include having their golden eagles fly to them on command and catching a fox fur being pulled being a horse from a perch on a nearby mountain. At night there will be a traditional concert in the city. Enjoy a good dinner and sleep at a home stay accommodation in Olgii. B/L/D
Day 8 Flight to Ulaanbaatar
After breakfast transfer to Airport. Take flight from Olgii to Ulaanbaatar.
Arrival in town and settling in at your hotel, where you can rest a few moments. Rest of the day free. With our guide, you can go and shop in the center of the city. Optional: Ulaanbaatar by night (night club or pub). B/L/D
Day 9 Departure
Have a nice journey. Breakfast at the hotel. We go with you to the international airport of Ulaanbaatar. The transfer can be organized at the time you want, according to the schedule of your flight.
Activities
Rate
Price
* prices vary according to group size
2- pax 1730 p/p
3-4 pax 1490 p/p
5-8 pax 1350 p/p
9-12 pax 1190 p/p
INCLUDED
Transfers airport / hotel / airport
2 nights in 3* or 4* hotel in UlanBator, breakfast included
Domestic flight
Full pension during the tour+Water
1 nights in comfortable yurts camps with warm shower
5 nights with a host family, in a guest yurt
4WD jeep or minibus
Driver+Petrol
English or French speaking guide
Horse trek
Local guides for the treks
Entrance for fees parks and museum
NOT INCLUDED
International transport
Passport and visa fees
Repatriation insurance
Travel insurance
Drinks / alcohols extras
Any excursion that is not indicated in the program
Single room supplement:
Single supplement is available at 50 euros in the hotel (for 1 nights)
Single ger supplement:
Single supplement is available at 20 euros per night at ger camps.
For your journey in Mongolia, it is possible joining a fixed departure tour with a group, which has the advantage of providing a friendly atmosphere and to let you benefit from the best price. Our groups are composed of an average of 3 to 12 participants.
We offering camel riding, horse trekking and hiking tour based on local community. Nomadic families live in the area are main parts of the tours. They will supply camels, horses, meals, and accommodation for tourists.