Mongolia & s Golden Eagle Festival

This morning, transfer to the airport for your 1-hour flight to the incredible Gobi. From the airport you will drive to Mukhar Shivert Gorge (approx. 92km/1.5 hours), adjacent to Yol Gorge. Here you will find a valley nestled deep within the hills and an oasis to get away from the desert heat. Some areas of the valley are continually sheltered from the hot sun and house huge blocks of ice that gradually melt away during the summer. It is very wide at the entrance and narrows gradually into a remarkable gorge.

Enjoy a hike through Mukhar Shivert Gorge where you will be able to observe the Lammergeier vulture or ‘bearded vulture’, a scavenger bird of prey that whose diet is 80% bones and marrow. Keep your eyes peeled for other wild animals such as ibex and wild sheep. You will hike for 40 minutes to a waterfall, and return after a short rest stop (approx. 70-80 min total hiking). (B,L,D)

Overnight – Standard Ger Camp with shared bathroom facilities

After breakfast, drive through the Gobi to Khongor Sand Dunes. At the end of the Altay Mountain range is West Beauty Mountain. Arrive at your ger camp in time for lunch.

After taking a rest, you will drive on to the Khongor Sand Dunes, home to the ‘Singing Sands’. These spectacular dunes obtained their name from the noise made by the shifting sand in the wind. Feel the breeze in your hair as you ride a camel across the dunes before returning to the ger camp. Isolated from the rest of the country, the Singing Sands were a best-kept secret for thousands of years. Take an easy camel ride in this area for 1 hour and a walk amongst the dunes.  Return to your ger camp for dinner. (B,L,D)

Overnight – Standard Ger Camp with shared bathroom facilities

This morning, drive to Khavtsgait mountain (approx. 3-4 hours) where you will see petroglyphs dating back 3000-500 years (elevation-1800m). The petroglyphs were etched into the mountainside by Mongolia’s early nomadic cultures and depict scenes including hunting, and animals. The hike to the top where the petroglyphs are painted involves a steep ascent of about 60 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes along the rocky mountainside. Once you reach the summit, you’ll find a flat area to explore

Continue your journey to Bayanzag, also known as the Flaming Cliffs, a site famous for its significant paleontological discoveries. Named by American explorer Roy Chapman Andrews during his 1922 expedition, this area became renowned when he uncovered the first dinosaur fossils and eggs, measuring 10-15 cm, ever found on such a scale in the world. These discoveries cemented the Flaming Cliffs as one of the most important fossil sites globally.

Arrive at your ger camp and embark on a scenic walk around the stunning Flaming Cliffs. The sunsets over the Gobi are particularly spectacular in this area and you will witness this before returning to your ger camp for a relaxing dinner. (B,L,D)

Overnight – Standard Ger Camp with shared bathroom facilities

After breakfast, drive to Ongi Ruined Monastery (3.5 hrs). The ruins that you will see were formerly two temple complexes – Bari Lam Khiid (1810) situated on the north bank of the Ongi river where the tourist ger camps are now situated, and Khutagt Lam Khiid (1760) which sits on the opposite side of the river on the southern bank. The 2 complexes are collectively known as Ongiin Khiid and once housed four Buddhist universities as well as being home to 1000 lamas. Anti-religious communists destroyed the site in 1937 and over 200 lamas were murdered, with many more forcibly conscripted into the communist army. The ruins were deserted for years until in 1992 a small group of monks returned and rebuilt one of the temples, with a few staying on to live full-time. A ger has also been set up with a small museum that houses some artifacts from the original complex.

After a stop to pick up some takeaway lunch, continue driving to Arvaikheer provincial capital town of Overkhangai province (approx. 3 hours). Upon arrival, you will check into your hotel. (B,L,D)

Overnight – Arvaikheer Hotel (or similar)

After breakfast, we drive through the central part of Mongolia to Kharkhorin Town. You will notice the scenery change with more livestock and yaks in this region. Enroute we will stop by a local family who has yaks and horses. Lunch will be in Kharkhorin Town.

Visit the Erdene Zuu Monastery and Museum. In the 13th century, Kharkhorin was the ancient capital of the Mongol Empire. However, in 1270, Kublai Khan moved the capital to Daidu (present-day Beijing), leading to its decline, and the town was twice destroyed. Later, Altan Khan, one of the Mongol rulers, built a Buddhist Monastery complex on the ruins to prevent further looting. This became the Erdene Zuu Monastery complex. Many of its parts were destroyed by anti-religious communists in 1937. There are main temples and a Tibetan temple.

Continue to the Kharakhorum Museum, one of Mongolia’s best, featuring a replica of the ancient capital, historical artifacts, and a yurt where you can engage in traditional games and learn about ancient Mongolian script. (B,L)

Overnight – Ikh Khorum Hotel (or similar)

After breakfast, head back to Ulaanbaatar (358km / 6 hrs), driving through mountains and dunes. Lunch will be taken on the way. Arrive at Ulaanbaatar and transfer to your hotel. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure.

Please note: The ger camp for Days 8, 9 and 10 will not have shower facilities. You may want to stock up on wet wipes for these upcoming days. (B,L)

Overnight – Best Western Premier Tuushin or similar

Today you’ll take a two-hour flight to Bayan-Olgii Province, where 90% of the population is Muslim Kazakh. This is the westernmost province in Mongolia, and it has the feel of a wild west frontier town. Meet your support crew for the next leg of your Mongolian adventure before stopping at a local restaurant for lunch.

Drive from Ulgii Airport to Altai Town and on to your Altai Ger Camp (approx. 3 hours), your base for the incredible Golden Eagle Festival which is sure to be a real highlight of your trip. We set up our ger camp especially for the festival, using gers borrowed from the local families. Our remote camp is built amongst the eagle hunters’ gers, giving us incredible opportunities to interact with them – they may even join us for a meal! Our own cooks will serve freshly prepared meals in the dining ger each evening, keeping you well fuelled for the festival.

There are no showers during this time and toilet’s will be camping style including a tent and portable seat. It will be cold and can sometimes be wet or snowing, so ensure that you have suitable clothing for this leg of the journey. Each ger will have a wood burning stove and blankets will be provided however you will also need your warm clothes and sleeping bag. As there is no electricity at our temporary ger camp, we will have a number of generators that will be used, including for cooking. You will be able to charge your devices using these generators, or in the vehicles, however time may be limited so we advise you to bring full power banks to supplement these other methods.

Please note that other guests of Crooked Compass will be staying at this ger camp, and you will be mingling with them in the dining ger. After enjoying a freshly cooked dinner, settle into your ger and get a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow is festival day! (B,L,D)

Overnight – Basic Ger Camp – no showers, camping style toilets

Enjoy breakfast in the dining ger before visiting a local horse race. Mingle with the locals who have come to celebrate their unique cultural heritage. Witness Kazakh hunters in all their glory, and see a parade of falconers on horseback, their prized eagles perched on their arms. After the parade, each hunter will demonstrate how well their bird obeys his commands by placing his eagle on a nearby cliff edge and calling it from below. It’s a spectacular sight to see these birds of prey soar down to their owners and alight on their arms.

Witness the eagle hunter competition, beginning with a parade by eagle hunters with their hunting outfits and accessories. The most elaborate and beautiful adornments receive the highest marks. This is followed by thrilling competitions where the Golden Eagles are evaluated for their speed, agility and accuracy. The festival provides a unique opportunity to be up-close be part of the festivity and take many incredible photographs.  (B,L,D)

Overnight – Basic Ger Camp (no showers, camping style toilets)

This morning after breakfast you will head out for another fascinating day at the Eagle Festival as you witness trained golden eagles display their speed and agility. To test their eagles’ skills, hunters drag a fox’s skin behind their horse, and the fastest eagle to land on the skin is considered the best hunter.

Witness traditional Kazakh games, such as aitis, a poetry duel and kyz kuar, a dating game played on horseback.

Tonight, we invite our Golden Eagle masters to join us at dinner. (B,L,D)

Overnight – Basic Ger Camp (no showers, camping style toilets)

Have a relaxing morning before setting off to visit a local Golden Eagle Master’s family and join them in their home for lunch. Continue to Ulgii town in the afternoon where you will transfer to a local ger camp. (B,L,D)

Overnight – Standard ger camp with shared bathroom facilities

Following breakfast, we take a flight from Ulgii back to Ulaanbaatar (2 hrs) and transfer to our hotel. You will then visit Gandan Monastery, home to over 150 monks and with a huge gold-plated statue of Buddha as its centrepiece.

Enjoy a free afternoon before joining your group for a farewell dinner. (B,L,D)

Overnight – Best Western Premier Tuushin or similar

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and time at leisure until your departure to the airport for your onwards flight (flight not included). (B)