Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Ulaanbaatar
You'll meet your driver at Chinggis Khaan International Airport for the transfer into central Ulaanbaatar and check into your hotel. The afternoon and early evening are free, so settle in and get your bearings. Later on you'll join the rest of your group for a welcome dinner, and there's a folklore concert featuring Mongolian cultural performances to catch after eating.
- Start point
- Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (Ulaanbaatar)
Included Activities
- Welcome dinner
- Folklore concert
- Day 2
Ulaanbaatar to Gobi - Mukhar Shivert Gorge
You'll fly from Ulaanbaatar into the Gobi Desert and then drive out to Mukhar Shivert Gorge. The hike through the gorge runs about 70 to 80 minutes total, so bring water and wear good shoes. Watch for lammergeiers soaring overhead, ibex on the rocky slopes, and wild sheep moving through the terrain. You'll reach a waterfall partway through where there's time to catch your breath before heading back down. After that, you'll settle in at a ger camp for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike through Mukhar Shivert Gorge to waterfall (approximately 70-80 minutes total)
- Wildlife observation - Lammergeier vultures, ibex, and wild sheep
Landmarks Mukhar Shivert Gorge Yol Gorge - Day 3
Khongor Sand Dunes
This morning involves driving across the Gobi to reach Khongor Sand Dunes. The highlight here is the 'Singing Sands' that actually make noise when the wind moves them around, which is pretty unique. You'll have lunch back at the ger camp and rest for a bit in the afternoon heat. Later, you'll spend an hour riding a camel across the dunes and then walk around on foot to get a feel for the landscape. Dinner happens back at camp after you return.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Camel ride across Khongor Sand Dunes (1 hour)
- Walk amongst the Khongor Sand Dunes
Landmarks Khongor Sand Dunes West Beauty Mountain Altay Mountain range - Day 4
Khavtsgait Mountain to Bayanzag (Flaming Cliffs)
You'll drive roughly 3 to 4 hours to Khavtsgait Mountain to see petroglyphs from 3000 to 500 years ago. A steep 10 to 15 minute hike takes you to the summit where you can explore the rock art. From there you'll continue on to Bayanzag, also called the Flaming Cliffs, which is famous for paleontological finds. There's time for a walk and you'll catch the sunset before returning to camp.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike to Khavtsgait Mountain petroglyphs (steep ascent approximately 10-15 minutes)
- Walk around Flaming Cliffs
- Sunset viewing
Landmarks Khavtsgait Mountain Bayanzag Flaming Cliffs - Day 5
Bayanzag to Ongi Ruined Monastery to Arvaikheer
After a 3.5-hour drive you'll reach Ongi Ruined Monastery and explore two historic temple complexes that once held four Buddhist universities. You'll visit a small museum set up in a ger displaying artifacts from the original site. Then it's another 3 hours to Arvaikheer town where you'll check into your hotel for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Takeaway lunch), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Ongi Ruined Monastery
- Museum visit with original artifacts
Landmarks Ongi Ruined Monastery Bari Lam Khiid Khutagt Lam Khiid - Day 6
Arvaikheer to Kharkhorin
You'll drive through central Mongolia heading toward Kharkhorin, and there's a stop at a local family's place where you can see yaks and horses up close. From there, you'll reach the Erdene Zuu Monastery complex, which has several main temples plus a Tibetan temple dating back to the 13th century. After exploring the monastery grounds, you'll check out the Kharakhorum Museum nearby. It has a replica of the ancient capital, artifacts from different periods, and a traditional yurt set up inside where you can try some old Mongolian games and learn about their script.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in Kharkhorin Town)
Included Activities
- Visit Erdene Zuu Monastery and Museum
- Visit Kharakhorum Museum
- Traditional Mongolian games and ancient script learning at museum yurt
Optional Activities
- Stop at local family yak and horse ranch
Landmarks Erdene Zuu Monastery Kharakhorum Museum Kharkhorin - Day 7
Kharkhorin to Ulaanbaatar
The 6-hour drive back to Ulaanbaatar covers 358 kilometers through mountains and dunes with lunch packed for the journey. You'll arrive at your hotel in the afternoon with free time to rest or explore on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Day 8
Golden Eagle Festival
You'll fly 2 hours to Bayan-Olgii Province, Mongolia's westernmost region where Kazakh people make up 90 percent of the population. After meeting your support crew and having lunch at a local restaurant, you'll drive roughly 3 hours to Altai Town and your base ger camp nestled among eagle hunters' homes. This is your headquarters for the festival with meals prepared fresh each evening in the dining ger.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Freshly prepared meal in dining ger)
Included Activities
- 2-hour flight to Bayan-Olgii Province
- Interaction opportunities with local eagle hunters
Landmarks Bayan-Olgii Province Altai Town - Day 9
Golden Eagle Festival Day 1
Starting with breakfast in the dining ger, you'll head to a local horse race. Then you'll watch Kazakh hunters showing off their eagles, birds that are positioned on cliff edges and called down to the hunters' arms. The main event is the eagle hunter competition with a parade of hunters wearing elaborate adornments, followed by competitions that test the Golden Eagles' speed, agility, and hunting accuracy.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Local horse race
- Eagle hunter parade
- Eagle demonstrations from cliff edges
- Eagle hunter competition with speed, agility and accuracy evaluations
- Day 10
Golden Eagle Festival Day 2
This is another full day at the Eagle Festival. You'll watch trained golden eagles show off their speed and agility. Hunters drag a fox's skin behind their horse to test the eagles' hunting instincts, and the fastest eagle to land on the skin wins the title of best hunter. You'll also see traditional Kazakh games including aitis, which are poetry duels, and kyz kuar, a dating game played on horseback. The top Golden Eagle masters join you for dinner that evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Dinner with Golden Eagle masters)
Included Activities
- Eagle hunting demonstrations with fox skin test
- Witness aitis (poetry duel)
- Witness kyz kuar (dating game on horseback)
- Dinner with Golden Eagle masters
- Day 11
Golden Eagle Master's Family Visit to Ulgii Town
You'll start with a relaxed morning, then visit a local Golden Eagle Master's family home for lunch. Spending time in their home gives you a real sense of their daily life and traditions. In the afternoon you'll continue to Ulgii town and transfer to a local ger camp that has shared facilities.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch with Golden Eagle Master's family), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit local Golden Eagle Master's family home
- Lunch with family
Landmarks Ulgii - Day 12
Gandan Monastery
After breakfast you'll take a 2-hour flight from Ulgii back to Ulaanbaatar and transfer to your hotel. The day includes a visit to Gandan Monastery, home to over 150 monks and featuring a large gold-plated Buddha statue. You'll have free time in the afternoon to relax, then join the group for a farewell dinner in the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Farewell dinner)
Included Activities
- 2-hour flight from Ulgii to Ulaanbaatar
- Visit Gandan Monastery
- Farewell dinner with group
Landmarks Gandan Monastery - Day 13
Departure from Ulaanbaatar
You'll have breakfast at your hotel with the rest of the day at leisure until your departure to the airport for your onward flight.
- End point
- Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (Ulaanbaatar)
- Meals
- Breakfast
