The Golden Eagle Festival and Terelj Horse Trekking

Today, we will fly to Ulgii, the capital of Bayan-Ulgii aimag, home to Kazakhs and other minority groups. The Kazakhs’ pastoral-nomadic lifestyle is similar to that of the Mongolians, and they also hunt with Golden Eagles to supplement their living. 

Upon arrival, we will meet our driver and begin driving through mountain valleys to the Altai soum. We will arrive at our host Kazakh family in the evening and overnight in a ger. 

Visiting a Kazakh family is one of the highlights of our trip. Each ger is decorated with tapestries woven by Kazakh women, featuring unique patterns designed by the family. Kazakh women are renowned for their handcrafts and tapestries, while Kazakh men train Golden Eagles for hunting. This age-old tradition was preserved among the Mongolian Kazakh population during the 20th century. Eagles are caught from the wild and used for hunting for over 10 years before being released back into the wilderness. Kazakhs are happy to show you how eagles are trained and offer food and shelter, like any other nomadic families in the country. Enjoy a hearty Kazakh welcome dinner, renowned for its taste and variety. 

(Rustic Ger Camp; B, L, D).

Enjoy your breakfast early in the morning. In the morning, enjoy riding along the eagle hunters in the Altai Mountains. Riding with hunters will allow to observe how eagle hunters ride in the mountains and hunt from a first hand experience. 

Spend two days exploring the sights and sound of the Altai mountains. After lunch at the family, bid a farewell and we will drive back to Ulgii. Arrive in the evening and transfer to a local hotel. Overnight at hotel.

(Home stay & Local Hotel; B, L, D).

Enjoy your breakfast early in the morning. In the morning, enjoy riding along the eagle hunters in the Altai Mountains. Riding with hunters will allow to observe how eagle hunters ride in the mountains and hunt from a first hand experience. 

Spend two days exploring the sights and sound of the Altai mountains. After lunch at the family, bid a farewell and we will drive back to Ulgii. Arrive in the evening and transfer to a local hotel. Overnight at hotel.

(Home stay & Local Hotel; B, L, D).

We will fly back to Ulaanbaatar. Upon arrival, spend the rest of the afternoon for shopping and individual sightseeing. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. 

(Hotel Kempinski or similar; B, L, D)

After breakfast, drive to nearby Gorkhi-Terelj National Park (1 hour). Comprised of the southern Khentii mountain range, this mountain forest steppe region offers beautiful landscapes including unique geological formations and provides habitat for a variety of birds and plant-life. Also sheltered in this protected area are endangered musk deer and moose, brown bear, roe, elk, wolf, fox and badger. Spend your time exploring the surrounding area on foot or on horseback.

Overnight in tents. (Tent Camp; B, L, D).

After familiarizing yourself with your horses, begin trekking along the Zuun Bayan valley towards Zuugiin Spring, a natural spring used by locals for healing internal problems. Such springs are plentiful and popular in Mongolia; nomads use hundreds of them to cure various ailments. Spend the next two days continue riding through a pictures Terelj Valley, crossing over mountain streams and passes. 

(Approximately 6 hours riding; Tent camp; B, L, D).

After familiarizing yourself with your horses, begin trekking along the Zuun Bayan valley towards Zuugiin Spring, a natural spring used by locals for healing internal problems. Such springs are plentiful and popular in Mongolia; nomads use hundreds of them to cure various ailments. Spend the next two days continue riding through a pictures Terelj Valley, crossing over mountain streams and passes. 

(Approximately 6 hours riding; Tent camp; B, L, D).

After breakfast, begin the drive back to the starting point until we arrive at tourist standard ger camp. 

(Approximately 6 hours riding; Ger camp; B, L, D.

In the morning, begin driving to Ulaanbaatar. En route stop at Aryabal meditation temple which is Tibetan styled, white square shaped and white colored main building and porcelain roofs decorated with Buddhist and religious signs. Upon arrival in Ulaanbaatar, transfer to your hotel. In the evening, enjoy a traditional Mongolian performance followed by a dinner at a fine local restaurant. 

(Hotel Kempinski or similar; B, L, D).

After breakfast, visit Chinggis Khan museum, which houses the largest collection of Mongolian historical and cultural art crafts. In the afternoon, explore the Bogd Khan’s Winter Palace Museum followed by a visit to Zaisan Hill where you can get a magnificent bird’s eye view of the city. This old Soviet period relic is a popular place for locals to hang out and offers great panoramic views of the entire city. In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner at one of the city’s fine local restaurants. 

(Hotel Kempinski or similar; B, D).

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for departure. 

(B).