Overview
On this thrilling “back of beyond” journey, we witness the Golden Eagle Festival, the cultural event captured in the acclaimed film The Eagle Huntress. We’ll watch as Kazakh horsemen and horsewomen compete in hunting with their magnificent trained eagles, releasing them to swoop down from cliff sides. Festival activities also include archery and breathtaking kukbar horseback games played at a thundering gallop. In the Gobi Desert, Three Camel Lodge is our home as we hike to petroglyph sites, climb golden sand dunes, explore the glacier-carved Yol Valley, and sip sundowners below the brilliant Flaming Cliffs, where the first dinosaur eggs were unearthed.
Loved the trip, guide and all crew members. Everything worked very well and was well organized. The cultural performance in Ulaan Bataar was unexpectedly excellent. Food at both camps was yummy—we ate too much! As always, we enjoyed the fellow WT guests.
— Irene R., Cincinnati, OH
Itinerary at a Glance
Days 1-6
Ulaanbaatar / Gobi Desert / Flaming Cliffs / Three Camel Lodge
In Ulaanbaatar, our visits include fascinating Gandan Monastery, the seat of Buddhism in Mongolia. We fly to the Gobi Desert, where our hikes from the charming Three Camel Lodge bring us to rock art sites and into the habitat of argali mountain sheep and soaring lammergeiers. We also have the opportunity to climb golden sand dunes and ride a magnificent two-humped Bactrian camel, a species native to Mongolia and China. We’ll explore the Flaming Cliffs, rich in dinosaur fossils, and watch the sunset paint the cliffs ochre and red.
Best Western Premier Tuushin Hotel
Days 1 to 2 (2 nights), Day 6 (1 night), Days 10 to 11 (2 nights)
Days 7-12
Ulgii / Golden Eagle Festival / Ulaanbaatar
A flight brings us to Ulgii in Mongolia’s far west, land of the Kazakhs, the traditional nomadic herders of Central Asia. Here in the High Altai, we’ll join in the annual Golden Eagle Festival of Kazakh hunters and their trained golden eagles. We’ll be front and center as the local Kazakhs parade on horseback dressed in their hunting finery, accompanied by their golden eagles. Kazakh families arrive from villages far away to enjoy the pageantry, and during competitions, awards are given to hunters with the most elaborate dress and to eagles that have demonstrated the most skill and agility. Archery and the fast-paced equestrian game of kukbar are part of the festival’s closing ceremony—it’s an unforgettable sight! Our accommodation is a comfortable ger camp. Depart on Day 12 via Ulaanbaatar.
Mongolia’s Golden Eagle Festival
Highlights
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Land of Genghis Khan
Discover the inspiring landscapes of Mongolia, from the legendary Gobi Desert to the vast steppes of the heart of Mongolia, visit thriving Buddhist monasteries, ride horses (and camels!), and experience the hospitality of traditional nomads.
