DESCRIPTION:

Discover two of Mongolia's most fascinating regions, the Altai Mountains of Western Mongolia, where Kazakh hunters celebrate their traditional culture and magnificent Golden Eagles, and the diverse ecosystems of the Gobi Desert.

 

The journey begins in Bayan-Uglii Province at the Golden Eagle Festival. Each year the region's Kazakh hunters attend the festival with their Golden Eagles, known as berkut, entering them in competitions testing speed, agility, and accuracy. Ceremonies, dance performances, a parade in the provincial capital's city square, and a Kazakh play in honor of the hunters and their eagles are among the highlights of this unique experience.

 

Continuing the expedition in the vast and dramatic Gobi, explore an incredible array of unforgettable landscapes, including the sand dunes of Hongoryn Els and the deep desert valley of Yol Valley National Park. Visit the Flaming Cliffs, the legendary site where the first nest of dinosaur eggs was discovered, and Tugregiin Shiree, where paleontologists unearthed the "Fighting Dinosaurs" fossil. Spend three nights at Three Camel Lodge, our award-winning eco-lodge in the Gobi. Visit nomadic gers ("yurts") decorated with the colorful textiles of Western Mongolia's Kazakh craftswomen.

 

A highlight will be attending the spectacular Golden Eagle Festival, with up to 60 Kazakh hunters and their magnificent Golden Eagles.

 

CONSIDER:

Accommodations can be basic much of the time.

 

OPTIONAL EXTENSIONS & ADD-ONS:

Lake Hovsgol, a unique region where one can see both the camels of the Gobi and the reindeer of the taiga. Five Mongolian ethnic groups, Buriat, Khalk, Darhat, Urianghai, and Tsaatan meet here and Shamanism has a strong influence.