Eagle Festival & Gobi Desert

This adventure will lead you to a destination few have explored—Mongolia’s remote western frontier, where the landscape is as captivating as the cultural fusion it holds.
Here, Muslim and Mongolian traditions intertwine, creating a unique tapestry of heritage and hospitality. Travelling through this rugged terrain promises a series of unforgettable encounters and an exhilarating journey of discovery.

Today, we fly to Olgii, the capital of Bayan-Olgii province. Unlike most of Mongolia, which is predominantly home to Khalkh Mongolians, Bayan-Olgii is largely inhabited by ethnic Kazakhs, the majority of whom practice Islam. The town even features its own modest mosque, a symbol of its distinct identity.

Upon arrival, our local team will warmly welcome you and accompany you westward into the heart of the National Park. Along the way, we’ll visit Kazakh families living in traditional Gers—larger than the typical Mongolian version and richly adorned with handmade carpets and vibrant textiles. Over a cup of tea, we’ll share delicious Kazakh dishes such as Kuz (salted and smoked horse meat) and Bisbarmak, engaging in heartfelt conversations that offer deeper insight into the customs and values of Kazakh life.

For more than 2,000 years, Kazakhs have forged a deep bond with nature through the ancient art of eagle hunting. These remarkable Golden Eagles—always females for their size and prowess—are taken from the nest as chicks and trained intensively for up to a year. They assist in subsistence hunting, capturing foxes and wolves that threaten livestock. After several years of loyal service, these majestic birds are released back into the wild—a testament to the mutual respect between hunter and eagle.

• Flight: Depart Ulaanbaatar at 7:25 am, arrive in Ölgii at 8:40 am
• Drive for 2-3 hours
• Meet with a family that practices eagle hunting

Altai Tavan Bogd is a pristine wilderness spanning 636,161 hectares along the western edge of Bayan-Olgii province, stretching across the Ulaan Khus, Tsengel, Sagsai, and Altai soums (villages).
Tucked away in Mongolia’s far west, this national park is a dramatic landscape of snow-capped peaks, ancient glaciers, and vast, untouched valleys. At its heart stands Khuiten Uul, the tallest mountain in Mongolia, soaring to 4,374 meters above sea level. The park follows the sweeping arc of the Altai Mountain Range for over 200 kilometers, where Mongolia meets China, Russia, and Kazakhstan—a natural crossroads of cultures and frontiers.

Altai Tavan Bogd is not only rich in natural beauty but steeped in history. Hidden among its rocky surfaces are tens of thousands of ancient petroglyphs, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Scattered throughout the landscape are mysterious Turkic Stone Men and ancient burial mounds, silent sentinels of the region’s deep past.

Today, we’ll travel through the park’s stunning landscapes on a 5 to 6-hour journey that leads us to the Tsagaan River Valley by early afternoon. This valley is a cherished summer grazing ground for nomadic herders and a sacred space for the Tuvan people, who continue to practice their age-old Shamanistic traditions.

• Enjoy a scenic 5–6 hours’ drive through breathtaking landscapes
• Visit and connect with a local Tuvan family

After breakfast, we’ll make our way back to Ölgii, a captivating town in western Mongolia and the capital of Bayan-Ölgii Province. Perched at 1,710 meters above sea level, Ölgii is celebrated for its vibrant Kazakh culture, breathtaking mountain scenery, and its role as the gateway to the majestic Altai Mountains. During our time in town, we’ll explore the Ölgii Museum to delve into the rich history, art, and traditions of the Kazakh people, followed by a visit to the bustling local market for a taste of daily life and local craftsmanship.

• Explore Olgii town

Located at 45 km from Olgii town we have a beautiful fresh water Tolbo lake.
The lake is situated at an altitude of about 2,100 meters (6,890 feet) and is surrounded by stunning natural landscapes, making it a popular spot for nature lovers, photographers, and travellers seeking to experience the tranquillity of the Mongolian wilderness. The lake is known for its breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains, rolling hills, and vast steppes. The crystal-clear waters of the lake reflect the surrounding peaks, offering a picturesque setting for photographers and nature enthusiasts. The surrounding area is also home to various wildlife, including migratory birds, which makes the lake a great spot for birdwatching.

Eagle hunters celebrate their heritage and compete to catch small animals such as foxes and hares with specially trained golden eagles, showing off the skills of both the birds and their trainers. (Nowadays hunting live animals is not practiced during festivals anymore, instead eagles chase fox skin dragged by its owner on horseback.). Prizes are awarded for speed, agility and accuracy. Festivities which incorporate an opening ceremony, impressive parade, cultural exhibitions, demonstrations and handcraft followed by sporting activities and competitions take place 3 km out towards the mountains. Dressed in full eagle hunting outfits and mounted on groomed decorated horses, the hunters compete for the different awards of best-looking eagle and owner, best eagle locating its owner from distance etc…Other sporting activities include camel racing, archery, “Kiz Kuar” century old woman chasing game, “Tinge Lu” the competition where horse riders snatch coins from ground and the highly entertaining traditional game “Kokbar”- goatskin tug war on horseback.

• Festival activities

Upon landing drive directly 250 kilometers south, in the beautiful region of Baga Gazriin Chuluu. This area features a large granite formation right in the heart of Mongolia's sandy plains.

On this expansive plain, you'll discover the remnants of a small monastery known as Delgeriin Choir Monastery. Upon entering a Ger for the first time, you will be welcomed by a grand 12-walled structure. Monks utilize this intricately decorated and carved Ger to chant during the colder months when the stone monastery becomes too chilly. In the late afternoon, you can drive and hike around the region. You will wander through towering granite hills that appear to stretch endlessly. As you explore, you'll stumble upon scenic ruins of a small monastery nestled in a serene, protected valley. Additionally, Baga Gazriin Chuluu is home to a spring known for its eye-healing qualities, where locals harness the magical water for eye ailments.

The time has come to depart and head back to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia’s capital. You’ll have the afternoon free to explore at your leisure. Consider enjoying a captivating cultural show, where you can witness amazing contortionists, traditional throat singing, and colorful, rhythmic Mongolian dances.

• Depart Ölgii at 9:20 AM, arrive in Ulaanbaatar at 12:20 PM
• Explore the Choir Monastery
• Discover the stunning rock formation of Baga Gazar
• Visit the ruins of the solitary monk's monastery

After breakfast, we will set off on an adventure to the Gobi Desert. The scenery will shift dramatically from lush green grasslands to rugged, lifeless terrain. We expect to arrive at Tsagaan Suvraga by the afternoon. This impressive cliff rises 30 meters high and stretches 100 meters wide, with the wind having intricately shaped this extraordinary formation over millennia.

From a distance, Tsagaan Suvraga resembles the remnants of an ancient town, complete with crumbling structures. Ancient illustrations capture scenes of people hunting ibex with long bows, while petroglyphs of wild animals and cattle are etched into the rocks. Additionally, the caves in this area showcase various Turkic inscriptions, seals, and images.

A fissure stretches from east to west, cutting down from the upper slopes of a mountain into the steppe. Through this crack, one can observe strong mud columns rising from below. The vast chasm resembles the gaping jaws of a mythical creature. Some caves feature multiple chambers, including one that extends over 70 meters in length.

• Explore the majestic Tsagaan Suvarga cliffs

Today we will be driving to the South Gobi province town Dalanzadgad. The Gobi Desert extends through Mongolia and China, measuring 1,610 kilometers from southwest to northeast and 800 kilometers from north to south. It covers an area of 1,295,000 km2, making it the world’s fifth largest desert and Asia’s largest although most of the Gobi is coated in bare rock rather than sand.

During the winter months, the Gobi is a cold desert with frost snow on its dunes. In addition to being far north, it is situated on a plateau between 910 and 1,520 meters above sea level, which leads to the cold temperatures. The Gobi receives around 194 millimetres of rain per year on average. In the winter, snow blown from the Siberian Steppes enters parts of the Gobi, providing additional moisture. The Gobi experiences temperature extremes ranging from –40°C in the winter to +50°C in the summer due to these winds.

We'll take a trip through the majestic Altai Mountain Range's breath-taking gorges. The Yolyn Am located in the Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park, will be visited. Those green valleys were carved by ancient rivers.

Wild Argali sheep, Ibex, desert gazelles, and Golden Eagles are also possible sightings.

• Visit small museum of the park
• Visit Yolyn am gorge
• Hike through the gorge

After enjoying a substantial breakfast, we will journey 180 kilometers west to the Khongoryn Els. This location boasts Mongolia's largest sand dunes. Reaching heights of up to 275 meters in some spots, these dunes stretch over 100 kilometers from east to west. The sands exhibit alluring curves that culminate in sharp points, creating beautiful wave patterns. Behind the dunes, the striking black rocky formation of Sevrey Mountain stands majestically. The Gobi Desert holds the title of the world's coldest desert, where frigid winds sweep across the plains throughout autumn, winter, and spring. With little shelter available, inhabitants must rely on extreme survival techniques to endure the harsh conditions. Gobi nomads are renowned in Mongolia for their unwavering commitment to hard work. We will encounter families who breed two-humped camels and discover their simple, humble, industrious, yet remarkable lifestyle.

• Explore the Khongoryn Els Sand Dunes
• Hike to the tallest dune for those who are interested.
• Visit a family that breeds camels

Our journey today will take us to Bayanzag, commonly known as the "Flaming Cliffs." This extraordinary site is where the renowned palaeontologist Roy Chapman Andrews discovered dinosaur bones and eggs. The scenery showcases a breathtaking mix of red sand, rugged formations, and greenery. We will wander around the cliffs, explore the area, visit the museum, and learn about the discoveries and expeditions from the early 20th century.

• Explore the Bayanzag cliffs, the site where dinosaur skeletons and eggs were unearthed

Today, you will visit Ongi Monastery in northwest Mongolia, where the monasteries lie along the Ongi River. The tranquil Delger Khangai Mountains enhance the area's beauty. You'll explore the southern complex with various administrative buildings and 11 temples, while the northern complex, established in the 18th century, had 17 temples and four Buddhist universities. Originally built in the 17th century, these monasteries were destroyed in 1937 and once housed over 1,000 monks. A small monastery now stands among the ruins, with remnants displayed in the Ger Museum.

• Explore the remnants of the Ongi Monastery

Today, we explore Karakorum, the capital of Genghis Khan's Mongolian Empire in the 13th century. Established in 1220 on the ruins of Turug and Uigur cities in the Orkhon Valley, it was completed 15 years later under Ugedei Khan, known for its multiculturalism. The silver tree from Möngke Khan’s palace became a symbol of the city, which thrived from 1220 to 1260 as a political, trade, and cultural hub. However, from 1260 to 1380, it lost its capital status when Kublai Khan moved the capital to Beijing, reducing Karakorum to an administrative center in the Yuan Dynasty.

After the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty collapsed in 1368, the government returned to Mongolia, allowing Karakorum to regain some significance. However, in 1388, Ming troops destroyed the town, leaving no trace of it. In 1580, Abtai Sain Khan and Lord Tumenkhen sought the 3rd Dalai Lama's counsel on building a temple, leading to the restoration of the Main Zuu temple in Erdene Zuu monastery in 1588.

Erdene Zuu Monastery, once a large complex with 100 temples and over 1,000 lamas, now comprises three remaining temples: Dalai Lama, Zuu of Buddha, and Lavrin Temple, all within 400 m X 400 m walls. Visitors can explore the monastery grounds.

The Karakorum Archaeological Museum, though small, features a well-designed space with good lighting and clear English labels. It showcases hundreds of artifacts from the 13th and 14th centuries, as well as prehistoric tools, pottery, bronzes, coins, religious sculptures, and stone inscriptions from various archaeological sites.

A half-excavated kiln is set into the museum floor, alongside a scale model of ancient Karakorum from the 1250s, inspired by William of Rubruck's descriptions. Another chamber features a Turkic noble tomb with wall paintings, gold objects, and jewels, accompanied by a short video of the burial site.

You can also visit the Turtle Rock and the Phallic Rock, as well as a small market that showcases local artists’ work.

• Explore the Erdene Zuu monastery
• Discover the Karakorum Archaeological Museum

The moment has arrived to depart and make your way back to Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. You are free to spend your afternoon as you wish. You will have the opportunity to enjoy a beautiful cultural performance, featuring talented contortionists, while you take in the vibrant and rhythmic dances of Mongolia.

• Attend folklore show with throat singers
• Shop for souvenir or cashmere