Migration With Nomads And Golden Eagle Festival
About this tour
Potential journeys included photographing living and learning from Eagle Hunters and joining a traditional migration with a nomadic family and their herds of animals.
Soaring over the Altai’s cliffs and slopes are the legendary Golden Eagles – known as the Berkut, which are renowned for their hunting prowess and revered by the Altai Kazakh people.
Nauryz means ‘new day’, it is celebrated in the Great Steppes from ancient times. Nauryz symbolizes goodness and wealth, happiness and love and a great friendship.
This itinerary will take us into the heart of the Altai Mountains where Golden Eagles, Eagle hunter, the nomadic life and migration in a truly mythic landscape and culture. Migration is the biggest culture of nomads with thousands of years history , moving from one place to another following their pasture.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Ulaanbaatar International Airport, Mongolia
By your arrival in UB meet by our guide and transfer to hotel. Today we will do city site seeing tour. Explore Gandan Monestry, Buddhist center in UB., Zanabazar museum, and The Winter Palace. Dinner at restaurant. Overnight in hotel.
Day 2: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Bayan-Ölgii, Mongolia
Transfer to UB airport and fly to Olgii about 3 hrs. Meet by our team. Have a lunch and tour briefing, we will drive 70kms (2 hrs) to the southwest to come to a traditional Kazakh Eagle hunter’s winter home in an impressive valley on the Sagsai town called Biteu valley. This is a valley where live most of Eagle hunters and Kazakh Nomadic families. We will meet Eagle Hunter and his magnificent Golden Eagle, and learn from a true master about the traditions and skills of hunting with Eagles in the Altai. Overnight in wooden house.
Day 3: Bayan-Ölgii, Mongolia to Uujim, Mongolia
The Mongolian Kazakhs use for hunting female eagles as far they are bigger than mail ones and more aggressive. These eagles are trained to hunt foxes, wolves, rabbit and wild cat. Everyday going side by side on horseback with eagle hunter to hunt mostly fox we learn and enjoy this unique customs of the Mongolian . Overnights in wooden winter house.
Day 4: Uujim, Mongolia
Everyday going side by side on horseback with eagle hunter to hunt mostly fox we learn and enjoy this unique customs of the Mongolian . Overnights in wooden winter house.
Day 5: Uujim, Mongolia to Ulaangom, Mongolia
We drive about 6 hrs to south-east and reach the Ulaangom province. Here we will be able to have beautiful views of the entire Altai Mountains range. Reach Dorbod nomadic family talk with them during the dinner. Overnight in ger.
Day 6: Ulaangom, Mongolia to Badrakh, Mongolia
Follow nomadic movement towards Twin Peaks. Joining a traditional migration with a nomadic family and their herds of animals. We will go also with pack camels which load the ger \yurt\ that we set up each evening to stay. You will see real nomadic life and migration. We will be on horseback everyday for these days. Overnight in nomadic style ger.
Day 7: Ulaangom - Tarialan, Tarialan, Mongolia
We will moving with nomadic family by riding horses. Last night with the nomadic we will celebrate our successful migration and have traditional meal is called Sirne. Overnight in hotel.
Day 8: Ulaangom, Mongolia to Bayan-Ölgii, Mongolia
We well drive back to Bayan Ulgii province to celebrate Nauryz Kazakh traditional festival and Golden eagle festival.
Day 9: Bayan-Ölgii, Mongolia
After early breakfast, drive 1.5 hrs and come to the festival place. Meet the Kazakh Eagle hunters. They from different kinds of towns to test their magnificent Golden Eagle. Best time ever to get amazing shots of eagle hunters with their traditional clothes on horseback with their Golden Eagle. Beside eagle competition there are many Kazakh traditional games take place here: “Bushkashi ” is the traditional game to show power of men \try to get the goat skin from each other on horseback\, ‘Pick up coin’ \try to get the coin from the ground galloping on horseback , ‘Kiss woman’ race of man and woman \if the man can pass her he got chance to kiss her but if it’s opposite she has chance to whip him\ . In the evening we will have Kazakh traditional concert to celebrate Nauryz and enjoy the traditional meal. Overnight in hotel.
Day 10: Bayan-Ölgii, Mongolia
Final competitions and awarding day of eagle hunters and other participants. During this two days you can get great shots of nomadic eagle hunters with their eagle, nomadic people with their traditional embroidering clothes and magnificent Golden eagle . Overnight in local hotel.
Day 11: Bayan-Ölgii, Mongolia to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Depart to Ulgii airport and fly to UB.
Day 12: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Ulaanbaatar International Airport, Mongolia
Take your international flight.
What's included
During the trip you will have own cook chief for cooking. We have no problem accommodating vegetarians on our trips.
It's not excluded international flight tickets.
What to know
What to bring: Binoculars, comfortable shoes Long underwear for travel in the high mountains, comfortable footwear, Prescription medications, (if needed), Money belt and small padlocks Daypack for use on day or overnight excursions Torch/flashlight (and spare batteries) Toiletries/roll of toilet paper/travel wipes Sunscreen, lip balm, sunhat and sunglasses Earplugs and eye mask (for light sleepers) Warm clothes - when travelling in cooler climates Wind and waterproof jacket
Route & locations
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Ulaanbaatar International Airport, Mongolia