Gobi and Golden Eagle Festival Tour

Arrive in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia's vibrant capital where modern city life blends with traditional ger districts. Meet your guide and transfer to your hotel for check-in and time to refresh after your journey.

After lunch, explore the National Museum of Mongolia to discover the country's fascinating history and culture. Continue to the Chinggis Khaan National Museum (or Dinosaur Museum, depending on availability), followed by a visit to Sukhbaatar Square and the Zaisan Memorial, offering panoramic views of the city.

In the evening, enjoy a traditional Mongolian Folk Performance featuring throat singing, contortion, traditional music, and dance.

After breakfast at the camp, we start our wildlife expedition. All equipment and today’s lunch are packed and taken on our day-long horseback tour. Today we ascend from the eastern side of Altan Ovoo, the highest peak of the Baitag mountains. In the morning we observe the snow leopard habitat from the Urd nurse. We will have chances to see other wildlife including Mongolian ibex and famous Argali sheep. In the evening, glass to Khargaitai salaa canyon. Back to the camp for dinner and overnight.

Continue into the Gobi Desert and visit Yoliin Am (Eagle Valley) in Gobi Gurvan Saikhan National Park. Enjoy a scenic walk through the dramatic narrow gorge, surrounded by towering rock cliffs. The valley is renowned for its rich wildlife, offering opportunities to spot Siberian ibex, Argali wild sheep, bearded vultures (lammergeiers), golden eagles, and other native bird species while experiencing one of the Gobi's most spectacular natural landscapes.

Continue to Dalanzadgad and visit the Gobi Nature and History Museum, which features an impressive collection of dinosaur fossils, ancient eggs, and paleontological discoveries from the Gobi Desert. Afterwards, transfer to your comfortable ger camp, where you can relax and enjoy the peaceful desert surroundings before dinner and an overnight stay.

Drive to the spectacular Khongor Sand Dunes, known as the Singing Dunes. Stretching nearly 100 km in length and up to 300 meters high, they are among Mongolia's most impressive natural wonders.

Enjoy hiking to the dunes' summit and an optional camel ride with local camel herders while admiring the oasis along the Khongor River.

Travel to the legendary Bayanzag (Flaming Cliffs), internationally renowned as the birthplace of dinosaur fossil discoveries. Explore the striking red sandstone formations and ancient Saxaul forests while learning about Roy Chapman Andrews' famous expeditions.

Journey north toward the fertile valley of the Ongi River. Explore the ruins of Ongi Monastery, once one of Mongolia's largest Buddhist centers before its destruction during the 1930s. Enjoy the peaceful riverside setting and beautiful sunset over the Gobi landscape.

Continue your journey through the wide-open landscapes of Central Mongolia to Karakorum, the legendary ancient capital of the Mongol Empire established by Genghis Khan in the 13th century. Upon arrival, visit the magnificent Erdene Zuu Monastery, the oldest surviving Buddhist monastery in Mongolia, built in the 16th century using stones from the ruins of the former imperial city. Explore its beautifully preserved temples, ancient stupas, and fascinating history that reflects the revival of Buddhism in Mongolia.

Later, experience authentic Mongolian hospitality with a visit to a local nomadic family. Learn about their traditional lifestyle, observe daily activities, and enjoy a warm welcome inside a traditional ger, offering a unique insight into the country's rich nomadic culture.

After breakfast, drive to Khustai National Park, home to the reintroduced Takhi (Przewalski's Wild Horse)—the world's last remaining truly wild horse species. Explore the park's beautiful steppe landscapes, visit the visitor center, and enjoy opportunities to spot wild horses, red deer, marmots, foxes, and a variety of birdlife. Return to your lodge in the evening.

After breakfast, depart to  Ulaanbaatar, 

Arrive in Ulaanbaatar in the afternoon and enjoy free time to explore the city at your own pace. Visit museums or art galleries, browse for traditional Mongolian cashmere and handicrafts, or simply relax at a café before your final evening. This is an ideal opportunity to reflect on your unforgettable journey through Mongolia's diverse landscapes, rich history, and vibrant nomadic culture.

Early morning transfer to Chinggis Khaan International Airport for your domestic flight to Ulgii, the capital of Bayan-Ölgii Province and the cultural heart of Mongolia's Kazakh community.

Upon arrival, meet your local guide and explore Ulgii, visiting the local museum to learn about Kazakh history, traditional clothing, hunting culture, and the famous eagle hunters. If time permits, browse the colorful local market, where handmade embroidered textiles, fur crafts, and traditional Kazakh handicrafts are on display.

Flight: Ulaanbaatar – Ulgii (subject to airline schedule)

Drive into the beautiful Altai Mountains to visit a traditional Kazakh eagle hunter family near Ulaan Khus. Learn about their centuries-old tradition of hunting with trained Golden Eagles, recognized as one of the world's most remarkable living cultural practices.

Enjoy warm Kazakh hospitality while tasting traditional foods and learning about daily life, handicrafts, and horsemanship before returning to Ulgii.

Driving Distance: Approx. 110 km (2–3 hrs)

Today, attend the opening day of the spectacular Golden Eagle Festival, the largest gathering of Kazakh eagle hunters in the world.

Watch the colorful opening parade as hunters dressed in elaborate traditional costumes arrive on horseback with their magnificent Golden Eagles. Throughout the day, enjoy competitions showcasing traditional attire, hunting equipment, and the extraordinary bond between hunter and eagle.

One of the day's highlights is the thrilling eagle-calling competition, where hunters release their eagles from mountain ridges, challenging them to return swiftly to their masters below.

Driving Distance: Approx. 30 km

Enjoy another exciting day at the festival as the competitions continue. Witness dramatic hunting demonstrations where Golden Eagles pursue fox skins pulled behind galloping horses, displaying their remarkable speed, precision, and hunting instincts.

Watch Kokpar, the traditional Central Asian horseback game that showcases the riders' exceptional horsemanship, teamwork, and strength.

In the afternoon, attend the awards ceremony celebrating Mongolia's finest eagle hunters before enjoying traditional Kazakh music, dance, and cultural performances.

Driving Distance: Approx. 30 km

Transfer to Ulgii Airport for your morning flight back to Ulaanbaatar. Upon arrival, continue directly to Terelj National Park, one of Mongolia's most scenic protected areas.

En route, visit the magnificent Chinggis Khaan Equestrian Statue Complex, the world's largest equestrian statue. Continue into Terelj National Park to explore the famous Turtle Rock and hike to the peaceful Aryabal Meditation Temple, offering panoramic views over the surrounding valleys.

Later, visit a traditional ger museum and try your hand at Mongolian archery, one of the country's traditional "Three Manly Games."

Flight: Ulgii – Ulaanbaatar (subject to airline schedule)

Enjoy a leisurely morning surrounded by the beautiful granite mountains of Terelj National Park before returning to Ulaanbaatar.

Spend the afternoon at leisure for shopping, visiting local art galleries, or exploring the city's cafés. In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner accompanied by a traditional Mongolian cultural performance, celebrating the unforgettable experiences of your journey across Mongolia.

Driving Distance: Approx. 70 km (1.5 hrs)

After breakfast, transfer to Chinggis Khaan International Airport for your onward flight.

Depart Mongolia with unforgettable memories of the vast Gobi Desert, the spectacular Golden Eagle Festival, breathtaking landscapes, ancient heritage, and the warm hospitality of Mongolia's nomadic people.

Driving Distance: Approx. 50 km (1 hr)